Toamasina and the Northeast - Madagascar - page 479

scoop from the shell. T-shirts & CDs are available at shops surrounding the market. Jeun-
esse Photo on the west side has an excellent selection of postcards.
CARANDBICYCLEHIRE Renting a car in Toamasina is more expensive than in Tana.
Most agencies require advance booking. Alternatively ask at your hotel reception (staff
usually know someone willing to hire out a private vehicle) or stop a decent-looking taxi
and negotiate. You'll be obliged to accept the driver's services, but that isn't necessarily
a bad thing since they know the area. The bulletin board at Score supermarket frequently
displays vehicles for hire.
Amazing Grace [281 C2] Villa Rabary, Rue Victor Hugo; 53 301 52; f 53 339 58
MR Auto [281 C2] Bd Joffre; 53 308 70; m 033 11 049 91. Recommended by an
expat who frequently uses this business; reasonable rates.
SICAM [281 B6] Bd de l'OUA; 53 321 04; f 53 334 55; e [e-mail] or
[e-mail] . Hertz representative.
Tropical Service [282 B4] 23 Bd Joffre; 53 336 79; f 53 334 80; e tropicalser-
[e-mail] ; www.croisiere-madagascar.com . Generaltravelagent;fulldetailsonweb-
site under 'locations voitures'. They also take booking for the ferry to Ile Sainte Marie.
LoulouLocationVelos [281C4]BdJoffre; m 0320441483/0331470178.Bikehire:
12,000Ar/day, 6,000Ar/half-day, 2,000Ar/hr.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO The regional tourist information office [281 C2] (ORTT) is
based at 83 Boulevard Joffre ( 53 912 14; m 032 41 581 16; e [e-mail] ;
www.tamatave-tourisme.com ; Mon-Fri 08.00-11.30 & 14.30-17.00, Sat 08.00-12.00 ).
MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO THE POOR IN TOAMASINA
HELP Madagascar (Health, Education & Life-skills Projects), a Christian charity,
helpsunschooledadolescentsanddropoutsre-integratebackintotheeducationsystem
through an intensive one-year literacy and numeracy programme. All-day classes, a
hot lunch, and medical/clothing assistance are part of the programme. A visit to this
school is an inspiring and heart-warming experience. HELP also provides free health-
care and medicines for the very poor so if you have any spare medications do make a
donation.
Contact Colin or Kim Baldwin Radford at Villa Jubilee, Tahiti Kely, Toamasina (be-
hind Darafify restaurant); 53 307 30; e [e-mail] ; www.helpmg.org .
Regional Museum [281 C3] ( Bd de la Libération, at intersection with Bd Joffre;
Tue-Sun 09.00-16.00 ) Don't plan on making a day of it, but if you have some time to kill