Discover the best chocolate shop, hidden royal history, and travel tips for visiting with a baby. Explore Robert Chocolaterie and Rova Ilafy.
Table of Contents
- Main Journey
- Events
- Tips for Traveling with a Baby
- Local Travel Tips
- Travel Reflections
1. Main Journey
Continuing Our Rental Car Tour in Antananarivo
After visiting Rova (Queenโs Palace), we decided to continue exploring Antananarivo by rental car. The morningโs light drizzle continued, making the city feel even more atmospheric.
A Quick Stop at Andohalo Catholic Cathedral
One of our first stops was Cathedrale Catholique dโAndohalo, a beautiful Catholic cathedral in the heart of Antananarivo. As we entered, we noticed a mass in progress. We quietly observed from the back, careful not to disturb the service, before stepping out.
Eglise Catholique Faravohitra โ Closed Doors
Our next stop was Eglise Catholique Faravohitra, another Catholic church. However, its doors were tightly shut, and we couldnโt enter. Instead, we took a quick family photo in front of the church before moving on.
An Unexpected Change in Plans
By 11:30 AM, we had already visited most of Antananarivoโs main sights much earlier than expected. So, we asked our driver, Digi Grandpa, to take us to Robert Chocolaterie before lunch at Seoul Hotelโs Korean restaurant, followed by a visit to Rova Ilafy.
However, Digi Grandpa hesitated, saying that traffic was too bad to visit all three places in one day. We asked how far we could go, but he seemed unsure.
After some discussion, we decided to skip Robert Chocolaterie and the Korean restaurant, prioritizing Rova Ilafy instead. But then, Digi Grandpa told us that Robert Chocolaterie would already be closed by the time we got there and that the drive to Rova Ilafy would take two hours due to traffic.
We werenโt too worried about skipping lunch, as we had packed plenty of snacks for Sweetie. So, we told him to head straight to Rova Ilafy. But instead of responding, he remained silent.
A Suspicious Detour
Before heading to Rova Ilafy, we first needed to withdraw cash, so we asked Digi Grandpa to take us to an ATM. As soon as we mentioned this, he finally started driving. The situation was starting to feel a bit off.
While on our way to the ATM, we unexpectedly passed Robert Chocolaterieโjust five minutes from where we had been. This was strange because earlier, Digi Grandpa said it would take 30 minutes to get there and that the store would already be closed.
Robert Chocolaterie โ Award-Winning Chocolate
Since we were already there, we stopped inside La Chocolaterie Robert, a chocolate shop known for winning international chocolate competitions. The store was filled with various chocolate treats and desserts. We carefully selected about 250g of assorted chocolates and shared some with Digi Grandpa before heading to Rova Ilafy.
2. Events
Rova Ilafy โ A Short but Strange Visit
Despite Digi Grandpaโs claim that it would take two hours to reach Rova Ilafy, we arrived in just 20 minutes with no significant traffic.
Rova Ilafy was the birthplace of King Radama II, now converted into a museum. The building was completely empty, with no other tourists in sight. It seemed like a place that only those with a rental car could visit, making it understandable why it wasnโt a popular tourist spot.
Questionable Entry Fees
As we approached the entrance, two staff members told us we needed to pay an entry fee of 5,000 Ariary per person. We asked for a ticket, but instead, one of them disappeared into a corner and returned with a paper stating 3,000 Ariary.
A moment ago, they had claimed the entry fee was 5,000 Ariary, but now they were showing us a different price. It was odd, but we decided to pay the 3,000 Ariary fee and enter.
Inside, photography was prohibited, but honestly, there wasnโt much to see. The exhibits were minimal, and the entire tour took less than 10 minutes.
A Final Ticket Surprise
As we exited the museum, we finally received our ticketsโexcept the price printed on them was only 200 Ariary per person.
It was frustrating but not surprising. Rather than arguing, we decided to let it go and take a quick look around the surrounding area before heading back to Antananarivo.
3. Tips for Traveling with a Baby
Plan Extra Time for Traffic (But Donโt Always Trust Localsโ Estimates)
Locals may exaggerate travel times, so always double-check distances and estimated travel durations using Google Maps or other navigation tools.
Watch Out for Inflated Entrance Fees
Some tourist sites may change entry fees on the spot, especially when they see foreign visitors. Always ask for a ticket before paying.
Pack Snacks and Water
Some locations, like Rova Ilafy, lack nearby restaurants or convenience stores, so bringing your own food is essential.
4. Local Travel Tips
The Unexpected Sight of Madagascarโs Public Laundry Areas
On the way back to Antananarivo, we saw a large public laundry area, similar to the ones in Indiaโs ghats. A vast number of people were hand-washing clothes together, showcasing a daily aspect of local life.
Rental Car Issues and the Truth About Gasoline
When we asked about the next stop, Digi Grandpa casually mentioned that our tour was over because the rental car had to be returned by 4 PM.
It was only 1 PM. Even if we drove back to the city, we would still have over two and a half hours left.
Since we hadnโt eaten lunch yet, we asked him to take us to Seoul Hotelโs restaurant. He hesitated, saying he didnโt know where it was, even though we provided the address. Instead, he suggested a restaurant near the train station.
We insisted on going to Seoul Hotel, and after a long silence, he finally started driving.
As we neared the city, we also noticed that the carโs fuel gauge was still more than three-quarters full.
A few days ago, we had refilled the tank with 200,000 Ariary worth of fuel (around $60). Given the fuel left, it was clear we never needed to refuel in Andasibe.
When we confronted Digi Grandpa, he simply replied, “I donโt know.”
5. Travel Reflections
The Disappointing End to Our Journey with Digi Grandpa
When we first met Digi Grandpa, we genuinely appreciated his help and enjoyed our time with him. We even set aside a generous tip to thank him for his service.
But by the end of the trip, we couldnโt ignore the small deceptionsโmisleading travel times, skipping planned stops, inflating gas costs.
As we ate our Korean meal at Seoul Hotel, we sat in silence. The food tasted like home, but the situation left us feeling drained.
When Digi Grandpa finally arrived to pick us up, Bong brought up the gas issue again. Digi Grandpa repeated, “I donโt know.”
We reminded him that we had refilled the tank unnecessarily, costing us at least 120,000 Ariary extra. He suddenly claimed, “This car only needed 30,000 Ariary worth of fuel.”
Bong, frustrated, asked, “Then why did you tell us to fill up in Andasibe?”
Again, he responded, “I donโt know.”
As he dropped us off at our hotel, he waved goodbye to Sweetie with a cheerful “Bye-bye!” as if nothing had happened.
A few days passed, but we never heard from him or the rental company again.
It wasnโt just about the money. It was the realization that someone we trusted had been lying to us.
That night, we tried to cheer ourselves up with a nice meal at Le Petit Verdot, one of Antananarivoโs top-rated restaurants. The food was delicious, but our minds were elsewhere.
Digi Grandpa, why did you do this?
And just like that, our Madagascar rental car adventure came to an end.
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