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.  

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

Flights? Extra days?

So, so far, all I've done is pay the deposit on my tour.  I have been researching flights.  I want my cake and to eat it too so I am making it too complicated.  There are two viable options for flights:  Air France or Air Ethiopia.  One connects in Paris and the other in Addis Ababa (I'll let you all figure out which is which).  Because I am me and super annoying, I thought, 'Hey, wouldn't a couple of days in Ethiopia be fun!".  I have an extra week of vacation approved already at the end of my tour.  Why not?  Well, I'll tell you why not.  

Air Ethiopia doesn't fly into Antananarivo every day.  I REALLY have to practice how to spell/say Antananarivo, it's the capital of Madagascar and the main airport.  But I digress (I think for the first time so everyone have a drink!).  Anyway, back to Antananarivo.  The only flight into Antananarivo from Vancouver (let's not even discuss Victoria which for some reason adds $2000 and an extra day to the itinerary - drink two!).  The only flight is three days and arrives the day of the tour start. AND there is a little warning on google flights about the connection in Addis Ababa often being late.  Umm, I don't have the stomach for that kind of risk.  

Air France, on the other hand, 22ish hours, one overnight, quick connect in Paris and then direct to Antananarivo.  Comparable price. Gets there a day before the tour starts (to allow me to go to the bird park!).  I tried every which way to Sunday to figure out how to land in Addis Ababa on the way back but it is too expensive for a whim (potential foreshadowing).  

vs 

I still haven't booked flights. I am doing this research in bits and bites because I am so busy at work right now and my evenings are all about social time. 

I was almost ready yesterday before I got invited to the pub.  But then I decided to wait one day because, even with points, this flight is going to cost me almost $1000 and if I waited that one extra day, it goes on my next visa bill.  Did I mention my travel budget is currently $0?  

But alas, that extra day...  Gave me time to think about what to do with that extra week of vacation days.  I looked at Atlas Obscura Madagascar.  Most of the 'cool, hidden and unusual things to do in Madagascar' are not in Antananarivo.  And you all remember my unhealthy obsession with dead people and my interest in the historical side of my vacation spots...?  Yea baby!, the PIRATES CEMETARY!

Where is this magical place you ask?  On an island off the east coast of Madagascar where I will be nowhere near.  

Is this possible?  Do I want to do this?  Yes, yes.  Is it worth it?  I have no idea.  Is it stupid and expensive?  Yes, yes.  Do I have to decide right away?  Kind of.  I have to book my return flight.  I can add a few days after the tour to allow for a trip to Ile St-Marie (where the graveyard is).  Of course, the airline that flies there, only flies there a couple of times a week.  So, I would have to plan my Air France return flight to work with my Air Madagascar (Tsardia) flights.  What could go wrong?  Oh, the return flight from Ila Sainte-Marie/Nosy Boraha gets cancelled and I miss my flight home from Antananarivo?  Ya, well, that could go wrong.  Hmmm.  More pondering required.  What did I say a mere three minutes ago about not having the stomach for risk?  

My brain hurts.  Here is a picture of a lemur to finish up.  (actually, not finished, more below the lemur)

Update.  So, I should know better but I discussed my plan with my friend Val who, as you all know, is my travel buddy.  She isn't coming on this trip but that doesn't stop her from wanting to live vicariously through me and also being a very bad influence.  She said - go to Pirate Cemetery.  You only live once (which is kind of a perfect reason to hang out in a cemetery I suppose). She did caution to check weather conditions because the only real danger (other than ghost pirates) is not getting back to Antananarivo on time for my flight home.  

I mean really!  Low wind, low rain, moderate temperatures.  Did I mention it is the end of whale migration season!  This is happening! 

As my friend Rita reminded me, plan backwards!  Excellent Advising Workshop advice!

So, first I booked a hotel on Ile Sainte-Marie (Nosy Boraha).  You know, just a little bungalow on the beach.  Nothing to see here.  Hotel Club Paradise.  That's the actual name!  Not just what it looks like! 

So, that important bit of business done.  Next I checked the dates of flights to get from Antananarivo to Sainte-Marie. They are only a couple of times a week.  My Madagascar tour ends on Oct 5.  A flight leaves on Oct 6.  So far so good.  Return flight on Oct 10.  Done and done.  Booked. 

Now that I have a non-refundable flight leaving from Antananarivo, I should probably get to Antananarivo.  Onto my RBC travel site.  I found an Air France flight with a connection in Paris going there. And a Delta/Air Kenya (but really Air France) flight on the way back with a layover in Nairobi and Paris.  It is that or a different flight with  tighter connections in Paris and Amsterdam.  This way I get one more hour in Paris to buy wine and cheese at the duty free.  I booked Oct 12 to come back, just in case there is any issue with the Sainte-Marie flight, I have one extra day to boat/car it back to Antananarivo.   

Next decisions.  Where to stay on those random extra days in Antananarivo.  But that will have to wait until I have some dinner.  

Here's a picture of Ile Sainte-Marie (north) and Ile aux Nattes (south).  

SCREAMS!!!  OH MY GOD!!!  FAINTS!