Well we survived the night of toxicity from the insect killer albeit the floor was littered with dead bugs that didn't - importantly I suppose we were bite free.
Travel day today - 5.30 am we had continental breakfast overlooking the pool and then off to the airport at 6.15am. Whenever the staff see bags they descend on them - I have decided they are equivalent to ATMs as transferring them equals tips ......today 2 guys took our bags the short distance from ground floor room to the restaurant - I had to ensure they were removed from a large groups pile who were heading to Isalo - then another couple of guys descended on them for the short distance to the car! I don't begrudge it - none are well dressed and money is hard to come by.
We went to the new airport and a rather under the weather Njavi booked us in - a dicky tummy - so we said our goodbyes and he went back to the hotel to wait for the plane to leave whereupon they would start their 2 day drive back to Antananarivo.
The flight - albeit we had a schedule change - it went via Morondava instead of Fort Dauphin - left on time and we arrived on time with all our luggage! I have decided early flights are best - late afternoon is when the hassles happen as schedules get operationally skewed.
We were met by Radu our first guide at Antananarivo - he collects a group off the Nairobi flight tomorrow so will also be taking us to the airport.
We stopped at a patisserie on the way back to buy some lunch - they had one ham and cheese roll but had run out of cheese so couldn't make another only cheese one - so we shared put the ham in one end and cheese in the other and had half each - the pastries, an apple turnover and pain au raisin were very good as cooked today but when we opened our treats a doughnut for John and a mille feuille for me we realised albeit looking good in the cabinet - they were not fresh today - probably not even yesterday!
We declined our city tour we have been to Antananarivo 5 times now and have seen enough - it was also hot - so we decided to chill at the Lantana hotel.
Having done some reading I decided to explore the spa and had a massage. I had two ladies at once which was quite novel - ok when they were doing arms and legs as they had one each but back and front were more interesting; at one point I thought I might have a permanent ring from or get my head stuck in the face hole on the massage bed. The good thing was they massaged my stomach - an area often left untouched in the west. All in all not a bad experience for approx £15.
We decided on an early meal and opted for pizza - not bad but the base, albeit thin, could have been crisper; dessert was very nice fruit and ice cream....mint for me strawberry for John.
We had a hot chocolate brought to our room at 7pm and John who was already dozing in the chair went to bed.....he's already dreaming of our next leg which was bought for him as a special birthday present a few days safari in one of his favourite places the Masai Mara.