Our itinerary in Haiti gave us a chance to witness, in one whirlwind week, nearly the full spectrum of life as it is lived now in Haiti.
We began at the top.
By the time we landed in Port au Prince and made our way through customs and onto the white bus that would be our second home for the week, the sun was setting. So our, first glimpses were of color and light as we blazed passed, with only hints of what lay behind in the gathering darknss.
Up out of the city center, into the hills of Petionville, and into the grand entry of the Karibe Hotel, where we were greeted by this scene in the sparkling, marbled foyer.
And as we stepped in, this on the ceiling up above us.
Back in the van and through the night streets for dinner at a rooftop restaurant called, "The View," then, while I knew Ashley was at home, waking almost hourly with baby Drew, I slept straight through the night.
The next morning, I went out on my patio to take in the scene. I heard roosters crowing, and soon the voices of children marching in line, in uniform up the hill to school. This was the scene across the valley from my room:
Tents and tarps and concrete blocks, and one grand home with sloping green roof, all gripping the steep slopes on the hillside across the valley from the Karibe.
Took this video:
Then made my way inside, and to the opposite side, where this view unfolded:
Under the warming sun and lush greens of the hotel grounds, I picked up a wireless signal and Skyped home to my family in Boston, at that point scrambling their way through the morning frenzy of breakfasts and jackets and boots and mittens and - don't forget Scout the Dog - and then into the car and off to preschool and elementary school then, with Baby D screaming his little head off hating the car and desperate for nap and...
I said goodbye, unsure when we'd be able to connect again, and then joined my traveling companions for a leisurely buffet breakfast. Then we checked out, piled in the bus, and headed out.
First stop - the United Nations compound....
We began at the top.
By the time we landed in Port au Prince and made our way through customs and onto the white bus that would be our second home for the week, the sun was setting. So our, first glimpses were of color and light as we blazed passed, with only hints of what lay behind in the gathering darknss.
Back in the van and through the night streets for dinner at a rooftop restaurant called, "The View," then, while I knew Ashley was at home, waking almost hourly with baby Drew, I slept straight through the night.
The next morning, I went out on my patio to take in the scene. I heard roosters crowing, and soon the voices of children marching in line, in uniform up the hill to school. This was the scene across the valley from my room:
Tents and tarps and concrete blocks, and one grand home with sloping green roof, all gripping the steep slopes on the hillside across the valley from the Karibe.
Took this video:
Then staged this photo of my contemplative self:
Then made my way inside, and to the opposite side, where this view unfolded:
Under the warming sun and lush greens of the hotel grounds, I picked up a wireless signal and Skyped home to my family in Boston, at that point scrambling their way through the morning frenzy of breakfasts and jackets and boots and mittens and - don't forget Scout the Dog - and then into the car and off to preschool and elementary school then, with Baby D screaming his little head off hating the car and desperate for nap and...
I said goodbye, unsure when we'd be able to connect again, and then joined my traveling companions for a leisurely buffet breakfast. Then we checked out, piled in the bus, and headed out.
First stop - the United Nations compound....
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