A few weeks ago we had the chance to visit a remote island off the south west coast. After a beautiful car ride through the lush countryside we arrived in the port city of Les Cayes. It was the first place we had been to outside of the earthquake zone which meant no rubble, no pancaked houses and no tents. From there, we hopped on a small motor boat with an outboard engine that used all of its might to push us slowly towards Ile la Vache. We passed fishermen in dug-out canoes and crabtrabs bouyed by plastic bottles. We also passed young boys free diving for lobster far from shore. And then we arrived. The beautiful beaches and pristine water welcomed us to our weekend home. The pictures speak for themselves!
Hello Tania & Graham...this is Kate's mom, whom you met while we were visiting Bologna. Perhaps you remember that I lived in Haiti in my early teens and have a consequent passion (and clear memories!) for the country & it's people. Kate forwarded the blog which I am enjoying greatly. I loved the picture of you in Kenscoff! A place to cool off from the heat in P-O-P! Is the restaurant still on top of the mountain overlooking the city? Thank you for the Happy Haiti pictures. My heart continues to break as the cholera spreads...it was very nice to see the loveliness of the country. And the Club Petionville? We had dinner & a movie (a very old one!)there every single Sunday night. Alas.....
ReplyDeleteThank you again for sharing your life in this amazing country! Joan Kenealy
Glad to read the Happy Haiti report. News broadcasts are full of the riots. Brings back not so good memories of Beirut days. Praying you are both safe.
ReplyDeletePenny
Ciao Graham and Tania,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see that we share this point of view as well as the urgency to present a different image of Haiti. I wrote something similar when I was there.
http://www.imaginethereisno.org/2010/07/11/haiti/
It is important that words like "pity" and "shame" are at least accompanied, and soon replaced, by "beauty" and "fun".
Keep it up!
M
Thank you for all of your comments!
ReplyDeleteJoan - it's wonderful to hear from you. That night in Bologna over a glass of red wine seems like a long way off now. Indeed, Kenscoff is still the choice spot to cool off from the heat. However, the Petionville club is now a 55,000 person tent city! The club house still stands and the owner is renovating the restaurant and the tennis courts - but I'm sure it's hardly as you remember it. There is, mind you, a wonderful little english language library in the club house that has apparently existed since the US occupation. We try to visit each Friday - perhaps you know it too?
Penny - The protests are becoming more and more frequent, but so far not too violent here in PaP. We're staying safe!
Mario - we love reading your blog! Thanks for the link back the 7/11 post. Many great thoughts there.