After waiting for about an hour and a half for a taxi bus with open seats to drive through Mahamasina, we eventually made it to Antisiranana, 105km north. Took about 3 hours. The bus we flagged down had been in transit for about 22 hours, going from Antananarivo, the capital, to Antisiranana. Everyone looked tired and cranky, but happy to be finishing up the drive. We met a nice Jehova's Witness who spoke pretty good English; she was traveling to a small village just outside of Antisiranana, where her husband was waiting for her.
Antisiranana is the sixth largest city in Madagascar, with approximately 75,000 inhabitants. It is a pleasant, slow-moving city on the bay with a few more western comforts than Hell-ville. Though I was still unable to find dental floss or antibacterial gel anywhere.
Caryl found us an amazing hotel named Le Jardin Exotique, complete with a beautiful garden with ocean view, lemurs, and even a turtle. The staff is also amazingly friendly.
Pictures:
1. Downtown Antisiranana.
2. Lemurs at our hotel.
3. Abandoned French building - Madagascar was a French colony until 1960.
4. & 5. Cute park at the northern edge of town.
6. Lighthouse.
7. Statue of Joffre, a French General during WWI.
8. Antisiranana Chamber of Commerce.
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