Delays ...

A South African Airways 'plane's tail with Kulula 'plane in the distance

And so here I sit, waiting to fly back to Madagascar. And I'm reminded of all that I love about that country, as well as the many frustrations - one of them being  Air Madagascar! I checked in early and calmly, booked my large piece of luggage through (there was no mad dashing around) and then discovered that the 'plane we would be flying to Tana in was just there, in Tana, grounded, not going anywhere any time soon. Apparently there is another 'plane on its way. Apparently we will leave over four hours after our scheduled departure time. But at least there's no snow around, and good cappuccinos are plentiful.

Madagascar's national carrier is anything but consistent, and there are many urban legends floating around about their changing of routes at the last moment, taxiing off the end of the runway, flying with oxygen masks deployed for no reason (and dangling in the passengers' faces), and other non-confidence-inducing stories. One thing they are supremely consistent in is being late.