On the eve of the first anniversary of its inclusion in the World Heritage List, Réunion was honored by the City of Nice this Friday. In the presence of the president of the regional council of the Island, Didier Robert, the deputy mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, inaugurated the Réunion Village, established in the Albert I Garden. In a warm and exotic atmosphere.
A generous sun is shining over Nice this Friday. Crowds jostle at the doors of Réunion Village, Albert I Garden. The officials are awaited. A photographer breaks the silence with a joke: “Aren’t they tired of making us sweat?”
Although the uncomfortable 24° C doesn’t help with the patience, some prefer to pass the time by virtually transporting themselves to the Francophone island in the Indian Ocean.
Eating, breathing, and seeing Réunion
The ribbon is cut. The Réunion Village, inaugurated by the deputy mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, and the president of the Island’s Regional Council, presents a semblance of a flea market.
Food, local landscapes, fauna: all aspects of Réunion are represented. Even the famous Piton de la Fournaise is promoted at an entire stand at the end of the Albert I Garden.
Notably, one can see a simulation of the volcano’s activity, made of fiberglass. “A pump inside, powered by a cable, releases the smoke,” explains the person in charge, while a documentary shows striking images of its 2007 eruption.
A stand offering tastings of local dishes is also available for the gourmands. And it’s safe to say many are jostling to treat their taste buds. Meanwhile, the lazier ones prefer to eat on trays and listen to Creole music that enlivens the site.
Estrosi and Robert exchange gifts
And as for the officials? No, they did not forget to deliver their speeches on the platform, mingled among the stands of Réunion Village! It’s Didier Robert who speaks first.
Amidst light feedback, he shared his determination to “make tourism one of the regional priorities. Just because we are 10,000 kilometers away does not mean we do not share the same passion for the Metropolis (with Christian Estrosi).”
The mayor of Tampon (Réunion) concluded his speech with a gift to his friend, the deputy mayor of Nice: a small golden turtle. After offering formal thanks, the former Secretary of State for Overseas France (2007-2008) declared that “the recognition of the island’s territory as a World Heritage Site is a big step forward for Réunion’s international influence.”
The mayor also made a promise: “We will create an Overseas House in Nice. I want our Réunion citizens to help me dedicate time to this island 365 days a year.” He too concluded his speech by offering Didier Robert the city’s medal.
It’s a sign that the friendship between Nice and Saint-Denis – twin cities for 50 years – is far from dwindling.
