HOME AT LAST

After about 36 hours of traveling, canceled flights, and delays, we arrived back in Boston about 6PM on February 24th. We spent the past few days in Tana buying the odd trinket or so and trying to avoid any political turmoil. I gotta say that traveling in a country whilst they are having a coup d'etat is quite an experience. And when you stand out like a sore thumb as a "Vahaza" (foreigner) does in Madagascar (skin color), it makes things all the more interesting. On Saturday night there was a curfew posted in the whole country for 8PM. There was a "manifestation" or opposition political demonstration scheduled to occur in the afternoon. At about a quarter to 8 all the power in the city went off. We were at our hotel and did not know what was to occur. We watched out the windows and listened for anything abnormal.

Turned out the government shut the power as a method to disburse the crowds. No problems occurred.

I met several new friends on this trip from all over the world. I lost some 40 pounds and got a wonderful tan. I got to spend over half of the "bad part" of winter as a beach bum living in a grass hut on the coast of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. After 22 years of running a company, this was an ideal way to "decompress", "debrief", "chill out", or whatever other terms may be appropriate.

Madagascar is an incredibly interesting destination to visit. Unfortunately they have not saved their history in the form of museums or the like. Doug and I went to the main museum in the ex-prime ministers palace, which along with the Rova or Queens Palace, were torched in 1995 with severe damage. The Rove is still under reconstruction. The only real items left in the museum were colonial items from the French and English ruling days. By the way we were the only two in the museum and they had to turn the lights on for us. With 18 ethnic "tribes" that continue to not get along so well, the history is something you have to really reach for. When one tribe overrunns another they simply burn and destroy what is gained and so goes the history.

For interesting reading there is a tale of a 17th century shipwrecked sailor named Robert Drury who was held captive by various kingdoms in Madagascar for over fifteen years. He was 14 or so at the time of the shipwreck.His tale is thought to possible be the original Robinson Crusoe story.
Look it up.

I wish those I met and all the Malagasy well, and hope to return to the island next year.

Here are some photos to enjoy. More are on Facebook. Go to facebook and look me up at slhuss@gmail.com and We can get you access.

Steve Huss