Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog: Where in the World: Ile Aux Nattes

Where in the World: Ile Aux Nattes

In 2003, I had an opportunity to visit Madagascar, which is the fourth largest island in the world off the Eastern coast of Africa. It is one of the most impoverished countries on earth. I hadn't done a lot of international travel prior to that, but going on this trip really inspired me to travel more. Now I've been to a lot of different countries, and I have to say that so far, I have had no experience compare to traveling in the third world. And, so far, have visited no place as exotic and unique as Madagascar.

While we were in Madagascar, we also took a short airplane trip to a tropical and wonderful island of Ile Sainte Marie. On one of my day trips, I happened upon a man with a dugout canoe (a pirogue) who told me and my travel companions about how we could take a ride to the tiny islet of Ile Aux Nattes, which we did. Below are some pictures of the pirogue we took to the islet and of a wonderful day spent playing in the waters on the shore with a local family.

The necklace below is one that was inspired by the colors of the land and the sea, and the pleasure of spending a day on the shores of Ile Aux Nattes. It features Amazonite chips, brown and white pebble beads, silver seed beads, and silver metal beads with a toggle clasp.