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Favorite thing: * its old city, a place that is delimitated by Bd Poincarré, avenue de France and quai Orsini. An interesting place to see late remnants of Arabs' trading posts, sculpted wooden doors, old Indian mosque. It is a lively corner though, especially at the beginning of the evening when people go out for nightlife (eating out , for instance) and in the morning, when "boutres" (wooden boats) are up and downloaded with rice, cotton, cement... Just wander to see people living, nice gardens with flowered trees.

* its center (follow Avenue Mahabibo)
Go there for bustling markets (fruit, artcrafts, bottled sand, ...). This part epitomizes Islam influence on the region as the city counts eight mosques, among them the old Indian mosque and the Comorian mosque. Alongside with that, other "colonial" style buildings such as la Residence, Androva hospital... and a huge cathedral.

* its seafront
At the end of Avenue de France, a great view of Mahajanga bay ... as well as a multi-centennial baobab tree, "Le vieux baobab", that gives its name to a hotel as well.
Go there at night when people are in seafront, entertain themselves with guitar serenades and eating kebabs... as well as see a all-light huge boat, sparkling in darkness... Pics will come!

Note that Mahajanga has the second port of Madagascar. Traditional trage exchanges were of weapons, slaves, precious gems, spices, fabrics. Nowadays, it traded with mostly Africa, Middle-east, Asia and Europe. Apart from Malagasy peoples (Sakalava, Tsimihety, Merina), the city counts important Arab, Comorian, Chinese, Indian-Pakistanese natives' communities, that makes it the most cosmopolitan region in Madagascar.

Fondest memory: Seafront at night when people are out to entertain themselves with guitar serenades and eating kebabs... as well as see a all-light huge boat, sparkling in darkness... Pics will come!

A view from the hill that houses the Rova (palace) in a Merina fortress that is in ruins. This used to be King Radama I headquarters in Mahajanga and Boina region