In our armchair travels we have been exploring the Central American countries and now we take a hop about some more Caribbean countries. Our first stop is Haiti a country that shares the Hispaniola Island with the Dominican Republic to its east. Even though it is still recovering from the 2010 earthquake there are many places to explore and things to see.
The Capital Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince the capital of Haiti is located on the Gulf of Gonave. All about the city you can see colorful gingerbread-style houses from the turn of the 19th century.
Grand Rue Artists is where you can see the amazing artwork. Artists have found a place among junkyards and body shops where they take scraps and found objects and turn them into works of art. Founder and elder member artist Andre Eugene sculpts in wood, plastic and car parts and another artist Jean Herard Celeur also creates larger than life statues from different scrap parts.
Musee du Pantheon National has found its home in a large concrete building that is topped with white cones and mosaic decorations. Here is an extensive collection that pertains to national history. The exhibits are dedicated to the native Tainos tribes of the island, rooms that tell the stories of the Spanish and French invasions and others that reveal the plight of Haitian independence in the 1800s. Among the highlights is the anchor from the exploring ship belonging to Christopher Columbus.
Barbancourt Rum Distillery welcomes visitors on Fridays from November to May. The tour offers the history of rum in the region and includes an explanation of the aging and distillation processes. The favorite of the company is the Estate Reserve Rum that has been aged 15 years and can be sampled and purchased.
Maison Dufort is a recently restored gingerbread-style home that is open to the public. It is a great example of Haiti’s unusual architecture.
Champs de Mars are a series of parks that have been split by wide boulevards
and make up the Place des Heros de l’Independence. This area greatly suffered during the earthquake and has been closed off.
This is where you can find several statues of Haiti’s founding fathers – Toussaint Louverture,
Jean-Jacques Dessalines on horseback,
Alexander Petion,
and Henri Christophe.
There is also the iconic statue The Marron Inconnu of an unknown slave blowing a conch-shell trumpet. Once the last of the rubble gets removed the area will again be opened to the public.
Marche de Fer the market was constructed in 1889 and is a red-metal structure. Here you can purchase food, art and voodoo paraphernalia. The southern hall offers all kinds of food with incredible scents. The northern hall offers a giant craft market.
Parque Historique de la Canne a Sucre a sugar mill that has become a museum. Many of the exhibits are open air and are surrounded by colonial-style buildings that consist of factories and shops. There is a collection of sugar cane presses, boilers and part of the aqueduct that was used to drive the mills.
You can see the narrow-gauge railway that carried sugarcane to the factories. The park here is an outdoor venue for concerts and every October hosts the Artisanat en Fete, Haiti’s largest crafts fair.
Fort Jacques was erected following independence in 1804. It was built by Alexandre Petion and named in honor of Jean Jacques Dessalines. It offers great views over Port-au-Prince.
Plage Publique is a popular beach between the Kaliko Beach Club and Wahoo Bay. Here you can relax or play in the sun. There are food sellers, you can get drinks and there are sound systems.
Exploring Haiti
La Citadelle la Ferriere is a colossal fortress that clings to the ridges of Bonnet a L’Eveque Mountain. It was built by Haitian slave rebels in the early 19th century intended as protection again French invasion. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Sans-Souci Palace found in the northern hill not far from the Citadelle. It was once home to Henri Christophe, the Haitian king, and leader during the independence wars against the French. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and its great halls and grounds can be toured. Visitors can see the spot where King Henri committed suicide with a silver bullet in 1820.
Lovely Jamel is another UNESCO World Heritage site that is the main hub of arts and crafts in Haiti. Visitors can see boutique galleries and many souvenir emporiums. The town also has a pretty municipal beach and promenade with palm trees and seafood grilling.
Close-by is the Bassin Bleu. This cataract is part of the Petite Riviere that runs through the southern mountains. A few tour groups go each day to see glimmering plunge pools and little grottos and caves. It is enjoyable to swim in the midst of the tropical jungle with ferns and orchids.
Saut-d’Eau is known for its natural beauty and for its religious significance. These falls come flowing down in two mighty streams through the lush tropical greenery. It is held in high esteem by local Voodooists and by Catholics who come to them in a mass pilgrimage each July.
Visitors are in awe of the colossal Massif de la Selle, where the legendary Furcy Forest can be found.
It cascades down the ridges and peaks that rise over 2,500 meters above the Caribbean Sea. It is famed for its pine forests, wooded trails, and breathtaking views.
Pic la Selle is the highest point in Haiti’s Chaine de la Selle and is one of the highest in the entire Caribbean region. It towers over all, close to the border with the Dominican Republic. There are many accessible tracks and trekking trails.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/haiti/port-au-prince-around/attractions/a/poi-sig/358064
https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-haiti/
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