Coelacanth

This morning I went to Moroni’s National Museum, which is in thrall to the coelacanth, the national emblem. It’s generally believed that the Mozambique Channel and the area around the Comoros holds an important population of these prehistoric-looking creatures, but they are found so infrequently I don’t know how ichthyologists have really figured this out. A few specimens have been hauled out of the sea around the Comoros in recent decades so it could well be the global hotspot.

After the museum, due to the humidity I took a very slow walk through the hectic Volo Volo market, towards a café. The sweat rag was seeing much action. I refuelled on a tandoori panini and continued walking down the Corniche Road where I was fascinated by the contrast between the black volcanic rock, blue sea and green vegetation.

Late afternoon I found transport to the sunset spot of Itsandra Beach, which was busy with youths playing football and groups of young girls bathing. I chilled there for a while, reflecting on a very pleasant first full day in les Comores.