27 August 2008 - Day 2, part 1 - Ambositra to Fianarantsoa, 170 km
We awoke early but not reluctantly, there was a long day ahead of us but the anticipation of many new sights. We had a continental breakfast in the restaurant and after the bill was paid, Rijt carefully strapped our suitcases and the school supplies, back onto the roof of the 4x4.
We were taken to a wood carving and marquetry workshop behind a souvenir shop. This operation was owned, along with several similar ventures, by the same family that owned Hotel l' Artisan.
We were shown around the workshop by the foreman who gave us a demonstration of the tools and techniques involved in the various processes. He made a wooden heart with a dark wooden heart fitted inside a lighter wood. Everything in the workshop was very manual and basic but the objects made were varied and wonderful.
We spent a long time in the shop looking at all the carved and inlayed objects. Boxes, games, plaques, statues, hair-slides, animals, bottle-stops, cars.... We bought quite a variety of items as gifts and souvenirs.
After the workshop we walked with Tahiry into the busy heart of the town looking at all the variety of new sights and smells. We walked around the market and we were the focus of attention for many of the people but especially the children who called out "Vazha" and followed us around. The market had stalls selling local produce including fruits, vegetables, dried fish and Zebu meat. There were also stalls selling cheap, often second hand clothes and footwear.
Following Tahiry's advice, we bought large bags of small, wrapped, boiled sweets from one of the roadside open front shops. These sweets were to be given to children that gathered around us when ever we paused to take pictures on the rest of our journey.
The journey was as interesting as the day before as we wound our way through the varied countryside. Tahiry kept us informed with local facts and figures and points of interest which made the long journey to Fianarantsoa go quickly.
We stopped for lunch in the restaurant of the Tsara guesthouse in Fianarantsoa while Rijt and Tahiry went to find rice and chicken.
The Tsara guesthouse is a collection of beautifully maintained colonial buildings. it's manicured lawns, bushes and grounds were maintained by a immaculately dressed crew of locals. The dining room had a high ceiling and we were able to sit next to the open windows that overlooked a green valley inlaid with fields and crisscrossed by raised boundaries that provided paths to transport people and goods.
The wonderfully presented food was delicious and the deserts were superb and photographed at the insistence of the girls. This was a lovely restaurant in a superb building in a wonderful setting. The choice for vegetarians on the menu was somewhat limited though this was the best restaurant so far!
After lunch we went to a bank and once again withdraw great wads of Ariary and then guided by Tahiry, Amanda and Robin took a walk through Haute VIlle while the girls stayed with Rijt in the 4x4. Haute Ville is the highest and oldest part of FIanarantsoa whose cobbled streets and old wooden framed houses are now a world heritage site subject to a lot of restoration work by conservation volunteers.
Ww walked to an open area near the cathedral at the very top of the town, this offered magnificent views over the surrounding fields.
After filling up the 4x4 we headed back on to RN7 towards Lac Hotel at Sahambavy.