Village Fête

On our last night in Madagascar, we were invited to a local fisherman's home. Captain Florent, as he is known in Ramena, has a successful business and a wide-spread reputation as the best sailor in town. I traveled with him on stormy seas to an island in the Emerald Sea and can attest to the fact that we did not capsize. This is saying a lot considering that massive waves were thundering into the boat from the beginning---Ma! We quite nearly sank!

Florent, his boat, and the (now calm) Emerald Sea

To celebrate still being alive and the long friendship that has existed between Florent and my hosts, Gilles and Anouk, everyone in the village came together for the meal. Anouk and I, after having outfitted ourselves several days earlier with traditional African dress, decided not to deny the fans, and came in full regalia.

The evening consisted of appetizers, which turned into the main course of crab stew, which turned into the second main course of brochettie (zebu kababs), which turned into the third main course of grilled fish. By the time the coconut rice, rum, and (more) zebu kababs were being passed around, we put our hands up in surrender and fell to the ground. It was the party of the year with children, grandparents, "vazahas" all dressed up, and fisherman dancing all around.