Another new hotel. Sheesh!

August 9

Ok, I know Madagascar is a poor country and I am pretty much ready to go with the flow once I'm there but that isn't going to stop me from griping about trying to plan before I get there. 

It turns out the 'the Madagascar plan' has some Nazi history so no 
 Google image for that. No swastikas on my blog is a loose rule I have. 
 Instead you get this children's online geography course on Madagascar

Last post I mentioned that my hotel on Nosy Bohara sent a message that they had a family event in September and can't host me.  

I realized afterwards, that I was booked in October.  But I can't be bothered to email and clarify (in French) so I just found a different hotel (more expensive but hopefully better?).

Then yesterday I was checking my bookings and I noticed that my hotel in Antananarivo, in which I am booked three times, was asking me to upgrade my room (three times) to include a private bathroom for $12 a night.  Umm, the literal name of my room is "Twin room with Private Bathroom"!  I checked and here is the amenities now.  Note the CROSSED OUT toilet and shower!  Nope.  

I made this giant so you can see the crossing out.  

Again, I'm not invested enough to ask questions.  So, I went in and found another new hotel for my three stays in Antananarivo.  This time the hotel that the tour starts in has rooms but I found a different place nearby that had a suite (with a toilet, I'm 90% sure!) and included breakfast for not much more.  But again, they are getting more money out of me.  I will remind myself that dropping money there is not a bad thing, they need it more than me.  But expect more grumbling if this happens again.  

I am now booked at Sole Hotel.  It looks somewhat utilitarian.  Don't fall in love, we may lose this one too. 

the 'suite' 

The view of the outside is less than comforting.  

It ain't the Ritz... 

August 14. 

I got an email from my new hotel asking if I want a transfer from the airport for $22.  That's probably a good deal.  I'll have to think about that one.  The only other time I booked an airport transfer (Ecuador), it didn't show up.  

Once I land in Antananarivo, I have to go through immigration and get my visa which I hear can take some time (or not, who knows anything anymore...).  Maybe I should just grab a cab when I get through.  It will be late though.  Still mulling this one over. 

Non-hotel related topic.  I called my favourite money exchange place.  No, they and no one else will have Malagasy Ariary (MGA).  I will have to take USD or Euros and convert there. I don't love the double hit on exchange but it is what it is.  

Other than that, I haven't done much research/planning. I haven't even had a chance to read more of my Lonely Planet.  So, let's pull the plug on this post and start fresh later.  

A lemur:  This is an Aye-Aye. It is hard to find/see so it's a big 'get'.  But it looks to me like the stuff nightmares are made of so I will be fine if I don't 'get' an Aye-Aye, thank you very much 🕇🧄🧛

bye-bye aye-aye