Singer Chris de Burgh discusses his family’s annual pilgrimage to Mauritius, his love of Normandy and why he has never visited India…
FAVOURITE DESTINATION?
Mauritius, which my family and I have been visiting for 15 years. A friend recommended it some time ago. Now it’s become an annual pilgrimage. We stay at the Le Saint Geran Hotel; it’s in a fantastic location on a sand-fringed peninsula.
WHAT DO YOU DO THERE?
A typical day starts with a terrific breakfast at the hotel with lots of fresh fruit. Then we’ll lie on the beach, sit around the pool, or swim in the sea. We have a light lunch, and evening buffet. Sometimes I’ll join a local band on stage at the hotel’s new year’s eve party.
ARE YOU INSPIRED BY TRAVEL?
Very much so. I’ve been travelling all my life. I was born in Argentina, and have lived in England, Ireland, Africa and Malta. I’ve got to like travelling; I’m always touring and do around 90 concerts a year. There is always somewhere new to explore.
WHERE DO YOU FEEL AT HOME?
My secondary schooling was at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, so I’m fond of that part of the world. It’s quintessentially English, with village greens, pubs and cricket pitches, and resonates strongly with me.
IDEAL TRAVELLING COMPANION?
My wife Diane and family because we all get on together so well. Every year we go on a cultural holiday. Last year we visited Normandy, following in the footsteps of the 1944 invasion. This year we took a wine history/art tour.
EARLIEST TRAVEL MEMORY?
Either coming back from Buenos Aires to Ireland via Liverpool when I was about five, or being on big ships and stopping off at ports in West Africa en route to see my father, who was working in Nigeria. I’ll never forget local boys diving into the water when you threw a coin overboard.
ANYWHERE YOU’D LIKE TO VISIT?
I’ve been to Australia, Russia and many of the places I wanted to see as a child. But I’ve never visited India. I’ve had many invitations to play there but it hasn’t worked out. People say it’s beautiful, but I think I’d react badly to the poverty. – Daily Mail