Day one - Antananarivo

Day one - Antananarivo

I am on a deck right outside of my hotel room.  In my room, great wifi, 5 feet on the other side of the wall, not so great.  But I would rather be outside than in my room so here we go. 

I set my alarm for 8am.  I guess I set it but did not turn it on.  So, I woke up at 10.  Breakfast was until 11am.  I got there at 10:45 as they were putting up the chairs.  Am I too late?  No, of course not madam, who we have to be nice to or we will get fired, just this way.   I was not the last one to arrive so guilt lessened. 

Remember when I bought that little madagascar book so I could use the little map insert.  I forgot the map insert.  I downloaded google map app and set out for Lake Anosy.  As I sit here on my deck, I can literally see it.  But this morning I was setting out blind.  As I was leaving I told the guy at the front desk where I was going and he sort of pointed me in the right direction and warned me to watch my phone.  The phone I had to have out to find my way.  

I found my way.  I think I missed one turn but when I tried to take the google route home, the street I missed was, how to put this..., not strolling dumb tourist friendly.  

I made it to the lake, walked to the jetty, peninsula, the thing that sticks out into the middle of the lake.  There is a lovely little park around that side of the lake.  $5000 to enter (about $1.50).  Worth it.  At least two new birds.  Probably as common as pigeons but I like to get off to a good 'lifer' start. 

Black Heron, in process of 'mantling'

Squacco Heron.  Handsome fellow.

The infamous stadium

I and all of my stuff made it back to the hotel safe and sound.  I met one of my tour people, Guiddo on the way in.  He is from Germany.    

Our group meets in two hours and the tour begins.

Later that day.  

I met my group.  One person dropped out which is good.  There are 15 on the tour.  I think four couples and the rest are single.  Five Americans; two couples (mom, day, daughter and her husband), one single guy from New Jersey.  Two from Germany;  one single woman, one single man.  Three from the UK, one couple and one single female.  A couple from Serbia (?) living in Amsterdam.  One single woman from Hong Kong living in Kenya.  And two single women from Canada (including yours truly).  If my math is wrong, I forgot someone.  

Our guide's name is Coco.  He is from south Madagascar.

Free Rum.  Choice of ginger, coffee or cinnamon.  I went with coffee.

I would 100% been sharing a room if I didn't pay for the single room.  One single woman is getting a free single room, you're welcome.  

Tomorrow we are flying out of Antananarivo around 7 pm to the coast.  In the day, we are taking a tour of some palace or castle or some such.  I am going because the group is going.  Bird park will have to wait.  

Early to bed tonight.  After I slept in so late today, I have to be prepared for an early morning tomorrow.  

 The next day (day two Antananarivo)

Company at the next table at breakfast. 

It is two days later but I cannot get wifi so I may not be able to update.  I'll give you this bot for now and will try to at least get blogger app to load on my computer so I can do some I posted updates . 

Two days later, I'm in Madagascar!

 I am tucked in my little Madagascar bed eating airport Pringles, but I thought I should check in.

Arriving in Vancouver

Let's start at the beginning.  So many days ago (two?) I got up at 2:45 am to get ready to leave for the airport at 3:45am for my 6 am flight to Vancouver.  My saintly friend Valerie M. drove me.  You may remember that I booked a super early flight in case ANYthing went wrong and I had the ferry as a back up.  Well nothing went wrong so I had a several hour layover in Vancouver. I bought some Pringles and read my book.

By the time I bought my Pringles, 
I was the only bag left on the carosal.

Flight to Paris was equally uneventful.  The food was mediocre at best.  I was already scrambled for what day and time it was.  It was dark but it was daytime according to my internal clock.  I watched three movies and four 45 minute tv episodes, French with subtitles to keep me awake.

I had about two hours in Paris to get to M gates in Terminal 2E.  And the 2E train was not working so they has buses running.  No problem, I made it just as people were starting to line up to board.  I was looking for blue passports and quick dry pants to see if I could find another tour person.  Barely any and no one near me to talk to.  

When I got on the plane and to my seat, my seat mate was a Canadian, also heading to a tour but with a different company.  That was the extent of our initial conversation because I fell asleep before we even left the ground.  It was a long flight, over ten hours.  This time it was bright daylight outside but my internal clock was saying it is time to sleep.  So, I slept some, read my book some and chatted with Karen some. She is also solo traveling.  We had a lot in common but her trips involve rafting and biking and mountain climbing.  So, really nothing in common at all!  haha.  

Anyway, near the end of the flight I asked where she is staying in Antananarivo. The Belvedere!  Did she order an airport transfer?  Well, yes she did.  And that's how I scammed a free ride to the hotel.  I gave the guy a huge tip so not actually free, but technically free.  Whichever, it's a win for me!

Multilevel line ups to visa and border control.  I've got my passport sticker and stamp so I am good to go. 

Before we left the airport, I exchanged 400 euros.  I have a brick of cash now.  I don't even know what I got, she didn't give me a receipt.

my room is really dark, or I don't know how 
to use my camera, or both.

30 minute ride to the hotel.  Lots of clusters of men standing around the streets at 11:30 at night. No women I could see.  So, no walking around at night.  

It was hard to see what the hotel looked like in the dark but it seems to have lots of open to the outside areas.  My room is nice.  There is a second bed up on a loft. I'm going to have to take pictures in the day with better light. Or after I figure out my camera.  Or both.

This should be fun.  I am trying my water purifier for my water tonight.  So, we should know by tomorrow how well it works.  Fingers crossed! 

It starts as bacteria and turns it into nuclear waste

This is a terrible post but I am publishing anyway because I am too tired to care.  Good night all.  

Last day before I leave. Everything is completely under control...(ish)

 September 19

7:45 am.

Check in day!  6:15 am for Air Canada to Vancouver (I paid for the bag, against all of my natural instincts).  7:15 for Air France to Paris and onto Antananarivo.  Window seats always. 

I have to work today, I'm not sure why I made that decision, but at least it is from home. I can finish packing over lunch.  Gotta get that bed cleaned off for the cat sitter.  Which reminds me, I should probably confirm that he is still on.  ....   He is.  

Yoiks! 

Just last minute piddely things to do now.  Clean out the fridge, run the dishwasher, take out the garbage.  Apparently write a list of things to do so I don't use this post as a list of things to do.  

4:24 pm

I worked today. I figured, I won't book in any students and I can do some packing etc. over lunch/coffee breaks.  Umm, that did not work at all.  I literally went backwards on packing!  How?! It's supposed to be quiet at work at this time of year!  Poor Robynne.  

My fridge has not been emptied.  My garbage has not been taken out. My list hasn't even been written.  Valerie M, little time temptress, is ordering take out Chinese so I am doing that before I do anything else.  I'm trying to remember if I even ate lunch or if I just unpacked in some sort of fugue state.

8:08 pm 

You are probably thinking I've come on here to tell you that I am done packing.  Wrong, of course.  After dinner, I went and picked the poor straggling, struggling tomatoes in my back yard, cut them up, bagged them and froze them.  And a bit of rhubarb.  Then I fried up some prawns to add to the left over chow mien to freeze for lunches when I get back (sorry, Kelly, future fish in the microwave!).  Then I bagged up some cream that is 2 week past the best by date so I can add it when I make yogurt when I get back.   Did the dishes.  Took out the garbage (actually, that last one is a lie but soon).  

All the while I was deciding on which sandals to take.  I took a vote of four.  Three for the Keens, one for the other.  The boys all went for the keens (Rob, Dwayne and Melissa).  The girl (Amy) went for the exposed toenails.  I have been wearing each pair as I work about the house while not packing.  Keens it is.

Oh, and I started my malaria pills with dinner.  

Ok, time to get serious.  I'm going in.  It's packing time (again). 

9:18 pm

Ok, you bunch of nervous nellies. I'm packed!  I almost forgot to add my bathroom bag but I did not.  It's in there.  All for around 25 pounds.  Plus one tiny but heavy carry on.  

You may notice that I gave in.  I am using the wheelie duffle.  I should have just given in to fate when I switched over to tech quick dry pants.  I remember dividing tourists in Ecuador:  those in technical pants and those in just normal pants.  We were in normal pants at the time but there was a definite leaning to the tech pants crowd.  

I think that is it for the night.  This is the last you will hear from me until I am en route.  

One last stolen Lemur image:  

Mongoose Lemur

The final countdown...

Just in case you have the 1986 song, The Final Countdown by Europe, in your head like I do ... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw
I was 1000% sure this was a Rocky song, but apparently not.  

September 15

Time to get serious, people!! This is not a drill.  I am leaving in 4 days, 14 hours and 52 minutes!

I was printing some confirmations.  I noticed that my 'booked' seats are not showing on my Air France flights.  That was a rabbit hole, and two hours later...  

After unsuccessfully trying to book them on the AF website, I just called them. I could book my seats for the Van->Paris and Paris->Van flights but not the three in the middle.  But that led me to figuring out when I can do my online check in'.  7:15 on Tuesday for outgoing.  And Oct 11 for my return flight.  Alarm set in my phone for both. I downloaded the AF app to my phone so I would be ready.  

And then I remembered the unattached Air Canada flight to Vancouver. That one is Tuesday at 6am.  Sure, why not.  Alarm set.  AC app downloaded. I am going to be so awesome at work on Tuesday...  

I went to the bank yesterday and emptied my bank account so I would have enough money to buy my Euros.  

Packing has not progressed.  

Bloody hell, I just noticed that I have to pay for a checked bag to Vancouver.  I guess that will affect my packing choices.  Will it be cheaper to pay $31 for a checked bag.  Or buy new bug spray and suntan lotion etc. in Madagascar?  I'll probably use the charm offensive (stress on offensive) when I check in and hope for the best.  

September 17

It's Sunday.  I leave in three days.  Today is my day to pack.  So, I went downtown with Valerie M for 'something to do'.  What is wrong with me?  Now I am sitting for a bit to cool down after my walk home and instead of turning on the tv which will  be the kiss of death for getting anything done for the rest of the day, I decided to start up my travel computer and make sure all of m necessary websites are accessible.  I seem to have new passwords every trip.  Anyway, all set.  Here I am writing this from my wee computer.  

And then I uploaded this meta-photo from the blogspot app on my phone!  Doubly set!

I bought my Euro yesterday.  It better be enough.  13 nice crisp 100 euro bills. Hopefully I'll have some left over for a future trip to Germany? TBD

I did my last load of laundry today.  I am charging the many electronic things that I am taking (computer, camera, water filter thing, e-book).  

Ok back to the task at hand - PACKING!!  

September 18

Today I set up some payments to go out while I'm away.  I don't need a hit to my credit score on top of my actual money situation.  On that note, my bank felt the need to rub it in. 

Packing

12:10

12:11

Last minute details.   Made the decision to take an extra pair of pants. Sewed my secret third pocket into my second pair of pants. Culled two shirts to make room for extra pants.  

I can't find my waist wallet from my last trip.  Stop at the mall and bought a new one at Bentley's.  How is that place still open?  

I'll sign off here with a hairy eared dwarf lemur