I have been to HAITI, (hi-ee-ti it rhymes with Tahiti), twice. French is the official Language but most people speak Creole, (a mixture of languages that come from Africa French and ’’Pidgin’’). The first time was for a few hours when we were on a Cruise and the second time was for a week at Club Med, (it’s now closed).
Haiti shares the Island called Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. The population is over 7 million people and this is the poorest Country I have ever been to. I was appalled at what I saw when I was there.
~O THE FIRST TRIP O~
Our Cruise Ship landed in Cap Haitien that is in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a small City that have about 800, 000 people who there.
Our Ship landed off shore and we were taken to the port in small boats. This was the first Island I had been to in the Atlantic/Caribbean that I had visited. I was use to the Hawaiian Islands that you see flowers every where that I was shocked to see none here, (I have since learned that Jamaica has a lot of flowers).
We saw the 2 Forts called the Souci Palais and the Citadelle. Haitian art is bright and primitive and very inexpensive so I bought a few paintings from some artists who were displaying their work on the street.
While my Husband was paying for the paintings I saw a young boy who was standing next to us. In my poor French I asked him if he knew where I could buy some flowers. He told me to wait one minute, (in French), and rushed off.
While we were waiting I saw some Policement with riding crops in their hands. I couldn’t see on horse and I became scared. We decided to go back to the Ship.
He came back just at that moment holding out a wither plant that he had pulled out from a garden, (the roots were on the plant and they were covered with dirt). I wrapped the roots in Kleenex and my Husband gave him a dollar. I would have thrown the plant away but he escorted us to the dock and waved good-bye to us as we took the boat back to the ship.
~O THE SECOND TRIP O~
When I went to Club Med we flew on Air Canada from Montreal to Port au Prince, (the Capital City of Haiti), and then drove for about an hour to reach the Club, (that was on the Caribbean Sea). This was a FAM, (a free trip for Travel Agents).
Although this Club Med is not open there are a few things I would like to tell you about it. The major Staff were all employed by Club Med. The other Staff were people who lived near the Club. They were paid the same wages that Club Med pays their Maids, Electricians and people who work in the Kitchen as they pay in every Club they own.
Every evening the trash was sorted into 2 large bags. One bag was food that was still eatable and the other was trash. The bag that had food you could still eat was put close to the Highway so the people who lived in the Villages could come and get some food.
The Shows every night were incredible. One evening we had a Folklore Show that showed us all the dances and songs that the Haitians love. Another night their was a Voodoo Show. It was magical. On the way back to my room I almost stepped on a snake. They had used snakes in the Voodoo show and I believe there are no coincidences in life so I decided that snake was telling me never walk alone at night!
One day we were swimming in the Sea. I looked up and saw a bark canoe. In it were two Men who looked like they were from Africa. It was interesting to watch them fishing with a branch of a tree that had a sting on it. They caught a fish and when they took the hook out I saw the hook was a pin that had been opened.
One day we went to see Port au Prince. Club Med had a small Tour Bus and a local Guide. Our Guide told us that over ’’2 million people lived there and that was 60 % of the population of Haiti lived here.
On the way we saw green fields where hundreds of Cows were grazing. Our Guide told us all of the Ranches belonged to the McDonalds Restaurant Chain. I never ate at ’’the golden arch’s’’ until they began to pay the Haitian’s proper wages.
As we got closer to the City it continued almost to the center of the City there were rows of tin Shacks. They built with enough space between them for one Man to walk through the passage. All of them were on a River. On the River banks I saw people washing cloths, plates, cooking ware and cutlery. Others were scooping up water to put in pains to take back to their huts to cook with and some people using the River as a toilet!
When we reached the City there was so much smog from all the Factories there. All of the architecture is French.
We drove past the Our Lady cathedral, the Heroes of Independence Shelters to see the statues of the fathers founders of Haiti who were the Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines & the Warrior, Post Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reach a large Market.
It is called the Iron Market, (not everything for sale is made of iron) and their were rows of stalls. I collect Giraffes and I saw hand carved wooden one, (that was about 2 feet high). Our Guide had told us to bargain so when I asked the Man how much it was he said, ’’$3.00’’ I offered him a dollar, (thinking we would settle on a middle price of $2.00). He held out his hand for my dollar. I gave him the $3.00 he asked for and walked away. After that I couldn’t bargain. I bought Tshirts for everyone in my Family and paid the price the Merchant asked.
After our visit to the Iron Market we went to see the National Museum. The displays showed old textile machines, some older items they used in the port and some art works, (of their famous painters Wison Bigaud, Prefetwe Duffaut, Petronville and Hector Hyppolite).
Before we went back to the Club we had lunch at the Hotel Villa Creole. I had the best Chicken Gumbo Soup.
On the way back I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep because I didn’t want to see what I saw again.
~O BEWARE O~
The water is not safe to drink.
You will see a lot of prostitutes and beggars.
I took Malaria pills and if you decide to go you should as well.
~O MY FINAL THOUGHTS O~
If you want to visit Haiti have your Travel Agent check the computer to see if there are any warning alerts.
Keep you valuable in a safe at your Hotel and change all of your money at Banks or your Hotel. I would suggest you get as many small bills as you can because items aren’t expensive.
For more information the web site is:
https://haitionline.com
Things have changed a lot since I was last here but I’m not sure it is the best place for you to visit yet.
The reason why I am posting this review today is that this is the Island where Christopher Columbus ’’discovered America’’. In the United States they are celebrating their most important Holiday, Thanksgiving, (Thanksgiving is more important than Christmas).
Happy Thanksgiving to ever citizen of the United States who reads this review.
Comments are always welcome and ratings do not matter.
©LL2002