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.  

Packing, shopping, fretting, the usual for the last days before launch

 August 30

I went to the travel clinic yesterday.  But first I had to find my vaccine card.  I could not find it where it is supposed to live - in my travel wallet with my passport. I have to admit, I never really unpacked from Morocco.  I just left my travel stuff in my backpack and shoved it in a closet.  So, I pulled that out and emptied everything onto my bedroom floor.  No vaccine card.  I never did find it but I guess the 'unpacking' is the start of the packing process.

I'm glad I am already booked for everything.  Nothing like a very serious travel nurse reading off all of the things that will kill me in Madagascar.  I might have reconsidered.  Let's be honest, probably not but still. 

I had to get a Polio booster!  I am going to vacation in a place where I might get polio.  POLIO!  And let's not even talk about the rabies, plague, dengue etc.  

I got my Dukoral.  And I am going to do the malaria treatment.  I haven't done that for years but I feel like all of the National Parks and huts hanging out over water make malaria a possibility and the shady health care and questionable infrastructure makes me want to avoid it if at all possible.  I will be leaving too early for Flu vaccine and Covid booster so fingers crossed for those two. 

September 9 

September 10

Ackkk.  just barely over a week to go before I leave.  I started my 'packing' today, which always starts by just throwing things I might need at my spare bed.  I still haven't decided on a bag yet.  I bought a new wheelie duffle with pack straps, trying to get the best of all options.  I am almost certain I won't take that.  Something about wheels makes me feel like i'm cheating. Even though I am old and broken and booked on an organized tour, I can't let the 'backpacker' ideal of myself go.  So, bag: TBD.  

I took my Dukoral today.  I took my Malaria prescription  to the pharmacy yesterday.  I just have to remember to pick it up.   I counted my medication.  I like to take a full two rounds in case I lose a bag.  I have enough for 1.85 trips.  I don't have time to get a refill so if I lose a bag, I will ration I guess.  It'll be fine.  I've only had my medication lost once (to leaking bug spray) which is when I learned, double and divide!

I think I forgot to mention that I bought a new camera to replace the one I destroyed in the Antarctic. I actually bought it months ago but it was another hit to the budget.  But I need a decent camera.   You'll all remember the camera situation in Morocco.  We can't have that again (a compact point & shoot - although it did take some good photos IMO). 

September 11

So, the no need to shop situation just couldn't be tolerated, clearly. I was on my way to dinner last night with 15 minutes to spare so I stopped in at MEC.  I like to use hotel kettles to purify my water and avoid buying plastic bottles.  My travel nurse agreed with this as a plan, but since I don't know the kettle situation on all of the stops, she suggested I get a SteriPEN as well.  Kind of expensive but it will probably be usable for years, the rest of my trips, the rest of my life...

Anyway, I bought the cheapest version.  It purifies water using UV light.  Here's a short video.  

September 12

I ordered Euros today.  I was trying to figure out how much I need vs how much I have in the bank so I can actually pay.  Lots vs nothing.  So, I just ordered lots and I'll figure out the rest of it when my Visa bill is due.  Did I mention I found €145 in my travel wallet from my last trip.  I read on the G website to take big, crisp, new bills.  So I ordered 100s.  My €145 is all 5s and 10s.  I'll save those for the Paris wine and cheese, airport gift shop extravaganza on the way home.  

Speaking of my last trip, my guide Mohammed and his family in Morocco are all fine after their terrible earthquake.  I'm still in a WhatsApp chat with my group.  I really hope the Madagascar group is half as good as the Morocco group/guide.  

September 13. 

One week to go! 

12:10 pm

12:11 pm

Ok, time to wrap this post up and send it out to the world.  

Here's your dose of lemur: 

Pale fork-marked dwarf lemur