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| For the last few days we've traveled with two Slovenian tourists, Irene and Leon, who make wonderful company. With them we hired a pirogue, or dugout canoe, to take us snorkeling along the barrier reef that lies a few kilometers offshore. The reef supports riotous and colorful sea life; the diving here is supposed to be top class. Afterwards, our pirogue sailed down the coast to a Vezo fishing village. We bought fish and lobster and enjoyed a beach picnic. | |||
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Sailing
north along the coast presented no challenge because the wind blew our way. Coming
back turned out to be another story. Madagascar pirogues, or dugout canoes, use
a single mast and lateen sail. They have an outrigger for stability. | |||
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Fisherman ply shallow areas
and use a mask to peer into the water from their canoes. They hunt for lobsters
and grab them by the antennae. | |||
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| The Vezo tribe are descended
from African slaves who settled the area and became fisherfolk. | |||
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| Catch of the day. | |||