For Peace Corps Volunteers living on the Central Plateau, Cap Haitian was a nice city to spend a long weekend in. Sure, the road was unbelievably rough, but there are nice hotels, restaurants, and beaches. Of those beaches, Labadee is one of the nicest and is basically set aside for Royal Carribean. According to the Miami Herald, Royal Carribean and the Haitian Government recently inked a deal to expand the cruise line's operations in Haiti significantly.
I don’t fully realize why I put myself through it until days afterwards when the tightness subsides, the soreness in the muscles evaporates and the numbness of my body dissolves making movements like standing, sitting and walking possible without grunting or wincing. It is only after all this that I begin to recall and can share the stories of the many amazing people and encounters had along the road. And it is only after this that I have the mind to really appreciate the beauty of the experience. And equally be astonished by the absurd contrasts of unequivocal spirits against relentlessly hard living. The French poet and philosopher Andre Malraux after visiting Haiti for the first time decades ago said of it, “Surrealism finally has a country.”
Websites do more than give information. They tell stories. Unfortunately, the website of the Haitian Embassy in Washington DC is not doing a good job of conveying, what is one of the most interesting histories in the Western Hemisphere.
We all know that Haiti once had a tourism industry...before the HIV/AIDS scare, several coup d'etats, and the kidnapping crisis. The much more difficult questions concern whether Haiti could/will have one again and whether time spent in this sector would be better spent on infrastructure, education, etc.
I absolutely reject tourism in Haiti, unless I’m the tourist. Yes it’s a selfish position but I don’t want anyone else enjoying the pristine beaches and secluded waters of Haiti’s coastline. Honestly and realistically that probably won’t be an issue in Haiti for years and years to come. Read more »
In step with our new tourism page, I’ve recently come across Nouveau Kiskeya (NK), an 11,500 acre land development project near Port-au-Paix. Read more »
“Imagine gazing at the Caribbean's turquoise waters from a hammock strung between two palm trees. The hotel chefs who offered either fresh lobster or shrimp for dinner will soon bring the dishes to the beach. Cocktails are quickly refreshed.
An ideal, relaxing vacation — in Haiti.” Read more »
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