Le Relais Des Plateaux Antananarivo

... seating and it was that other airline's same rented 727 that still smelled of urine. Oh Joy! After arriving back at Jo berg, S. Africa, Lisa went to her connecting flight back to Capetown and once again I spent the day at the Jo'Berg airport before my flight home. I didn't count on having to go through an x-ray to get back into the ...

... Ambalavao we headed to Andringta national park for our first trek. It was a beautiful park, spending three nights in tents as we treked though the mountains. On the third day we climbed Pic Boby, the second highest peak in Madagascar. It rained quite a lot during the trek including a huge downpour as we were coming down from Pic Boby soaking us again. Luckily between the rain, the sun was hot to dry us out ...

... everything using "non merci" another 3,764 times as I make my way around the entire downtown area in less than an hour. Antananarivo is large but spread out and the downtown is very small and extremely run down. Even the closed U.S. Embassy looks like it is in disarray and untouched since 1960 or so. I happen upon two guys playing cards on a side street of the market and sit down to watch. My French is coming back to me already and I am ...

... the stories and the views. Dr T is a bit disappointed. He expected a palace a la Versailles ... . We took too much time for our visits, so the croq farm is not going to happen anymore. We do stop for a picture of a zebu: they are all that skinny! I like the meat but I do not think it tastes like beef: it is more like game (wild boar, Mic). Arriving at the hotel, we are just in time to see the sun go down over 'our' trees. Tomorrow is a bit different, you will see... .

... hot room." It has a kitchen nook, bathroom hole, and shower space inside the one room, and by Peace Corps standards, it's alright. It's an adjustment from the shack mansion on the beach, but this house is made out of concrete and seems to be much sturdier. And as nice as it is living with a family in a beautiful house, I am looking forward to having a space of my own. That should happen in September. My roommate ...

... and constant reminders from her that this is the prime time that people get decapitated from flying objects, I realized she was right and Peace Corps and both our families would ream me if they knew we'd left the house. We'd already started, though, so we figured we'd at least see. After 20 minutes of almost buckling under the wind pressure, we made it to the house. We were able to see that our belongings were still there ...

... guys running, which makes the place pretty quiet, but I felt to guilty to use one when I could walk just as easy. And there are actually alot of women in the streets which you don't really see in Rajasthan. And more than that they dress very western (think miami) in the city, I have been so used to being in places, since november, where showing a shoulder is a bit much, so it all looks a bit risquee to me ...

... and the roads are bad. I'm bringing a lot of zip lock bags and praying my motion sickness medicine gets here before I leave. I can't say I'm especially looking forward to the broussing, but it seems like something I should do at least once. Anticipating my discomfort, however,I've already booked my plane ticket for the way back. I am going to decorate my house for Christmas today. My mom has sent me decorations, and even though I wanted to put them up as soon as I got them, my ...

... goodies) and one from Uncle David and Aunt Colleen! It is SO nice to have music! I look forward to getting your call tomorrow..... and Kristy called, but it was really bad reception and I couldn't hear so I told her to call back later tonight. I hope she does call back!!! Ok, I better go, but i wanted to say hi and that I love you all. Talk to you tomorrow (or maybe next monthm Jen!) Lots of love, Amis :)

... a few hours in the evening and a few hours in the morning which is nice. Today a local carpenter came and started building shelves for us. We dont have any furniture yet- we are sleeping on a single sized foam matress and cook and prepare food on the floor. A friend stopped by and said it is "pittyable" living like this- he said we were living like poor people! Our friend is going to build us a table. We are getting into our new routine- it is so nice ...