When we arrive according schedule early in the morning, Rija -our friend, guide, driver - and his loyal companion Dyna are there to pick us up to bring us to the hotel. This time we sleep in Tana Jacaranda Guesthouse, beautifuly situated on a hill overlooking Tana and Rova Palace.

The lady at the desk is very friendly and makes no problem of the fact that we want to check in so early. We climb the steap chairs with our luggage and we invite Rija and his brother for a cup of coffee - not realizing it's only 7am and we've waked up the entire hotel.

Later that day we walk through Tana - the huge stairs still a fascinating sight, the mutilated child-beggars still heart breaking - have lunch at Hotel de France and drive to Rova - the old royal palace on top of the hill. Unfortunately it is covered in scaffolds, but the view over Tana is fantastic. The Jacaranda trees are blooming and their purple flowers are visible everywhere. In the evening we eat at Le Rossini, just around the corner of our hotel.

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