HAITI    DIARY  2

From Diary 1 and Port au Prince, I continue in - well; Port au Prince.
19. Considering I have quite little to entertain myself with, I try to sleep to late-ish. Then the plan was to catch-up on some e-mails and laundry. Unfortunate, there is no electricity, and that complicate things. It seems like my hosts are getting another day at home, and they are able to sleep a lot.

At half pass nine, I set out for a stroll around the suborn, and eventually make it to the green square. Everything seems so quiet, and here use to be packed with cars and people. It feel safe, but it is fare from a normal situation by now. There is still a lack of gasoline, and most can't go to work.
Back at home, I heat some leftovers, work at the computer till it is low on power, take a nap and do some stitching on my pans. Then it is just pass two, and I'm booooored! No power, no internet, nothing to do.

At five, I got cabin-fever, and to maintain my last glimpses of sanity, I set out for a stroll to the bus station and local market. The sun have disappeared behind the mountains, but I try to capture some of the market - although I have to be a bit careful about making too close photos: Not everyone appreciate it. The trash shorting is still going on, done by mouth.

At home, there are still no electricity, but at seven, it returns - for about four minutes. The house it pitch black, and candles are not available. It might be a early night... Then the diesel-generator is brought to live, and charging and cooking are a priority. It is getting a bit hard to add new motives to the diary, as I only get to see a Port au Prince. I comfort myself with: The Dominican Republic will have quite the same nature, and here were only a few specific sights I wanted to see. Port au Prince - again.

20. It is kind of a great day with power, hot shower, internet and the maids is coming. I celebrate by doing my laundry, and spend the rest of the morning on my computer - just to pass time. Only three more days to be bored here in my private prison...
I manages to stream some WCR from Sweden seamless, but can't read my Gmail? I cook some dinner for my self, as it seems like I'm home alone again.
At three, I head out to the big supermarket to top-up the food supply. That is a short and expensive experience, but the best of the day. Back home, I watch some WRC with a huge bowl of tea and cookies. 

I have not taken more than two photos today, and the evenings usual work is over way too fast. Not even a slideshow...

21. I've been promised an accompanied exit from my cell, but I have to wait for my attendant to wake up. Last night, I heard new protests are planned on Friday at nine, where I hope to fly out at five in the afternoon. I can't get hold in my flight company, nor reserve another seat on the internet site.
Alternately, I could go over land, but everyone from the Danish embassy in Mexico to my local friends strongly recommend me NOT to. This is not the type of adventure I signed up for!

At ten, we head down-town to the governmental buildings, big squares and quite some people this Thursday morning. Some areas on the way look almost posh, others are generally made up in raw concrete.
At the central part, groups of heavily armed police are found on every corner. A couple of days ago, the police routinely checked a car without number plates. It contained an American and six other foreign citizens and a lot of arms, among then sniper weapons. They were later released without seeing a judge, and flown out by the American embassy. No wonder here are police in the streets!

I don't really need to walk these streets, as I get good pictures from the moving car. Well, I could do without the antenna...  I see some more of the famous landmarks, and then we head out to a significantly more scrappy area. It seems like the shops have never moved indoor again, after the last earth shake. It seems like walking around, making photos, is not an option here. I feel fine only doing bye-shoots here! The slightly crappy car we drive in, is a perfect photo-hide.
Where I had this strange feeling of Port au Prince was actually more rich or posh than Kingston, I now see another part. And not the worse, as we can't go there. Central Port au Prince

Then we reach one of my original targets; the Iron Market; Marche de Fer. It is from 1889, made of iron and the half, that haven burned, half a year ago, is quite impressive. An area right next to it was flattened by the most recent earth shake, and form now a huge parking lot.
First we meet a friend, then we walk into the huge hall. I have to be a bit careful with taking pictures, as I'm exposed now, but here sure are many motives. While I try to make a photo of the impressive entrance, I'm hit by a truck in the back. The traffic is intense, and not bound by many rules.

Inside are everything from everyday use items over voodoo to souvenirs. Some turtles are part of a voodoo ritual along with dolls and bottles of - something. We do several loops around the big hall, and I see a lot of items, I don't want. I find a single little hammered and painter metal palm, then my friends seems to get claustrophobia. From here, they would have shown me the national museum, but I have seen museums enough for a lifetime. Then we could get a closer look at the government buildings, but again, I am ungrateful. But a tour up to a village in the northern hills sound great. Iron Market; Marche de Fer

The part of town we passes are defiantly not the better part, and I enjoy having a local driver for once. Then it opens up, and the roads are kind of sealed again. We pass the huge brewery, bought by Heineken, and then we are out in the countryside.
Here are banana plantations, different vegetables, some cows but also some industry. The distant mountains look so dry, but a big city have been build on them recently. Here are still the markings from the tire burnings on the main road, but it seems quiet now. We pass Chapin and get into Jerusalem. Outskirts of PAP

It have been built the recent years to house the people who lost their houses in the hurricanes and earth shakes. First here were tent camps, now concrete houses are build. Nothing, but the church seems to have been build completely.
We pick-up a friend, and head into the area. It is on gravel roads, that never really have been made. Besides from the concrete blocks, the area is dominated by tin-plates, dust, huge stick-Euphorbias and loos goats. The Euphorbias have silk-plants on the top, not unlike the hair-piece of a certain precedent. We head for an area known as Canaan, and visit another friend. While they chat, I make a loop in the township.

People does not have much here, but they seems friendly enough. However, I do decline an offer to see two dressed-up young women's home. I find a bread in a bag, and munch on it, as I head on by the dusty roads. The boys are waiting for me in the car, and we head over to a street joint, selling the national course: White rice with chicken and red paprika sauce. I'm glad I found some bread...
We head back to the local guy, and I grab a nab in the car, while they eat. Canaan

Then it is back through the little area with fields and then the huge factories, behind a massive wall. In front of the wall, a market is taking place, mainly with factory produced everyday items and consumer goods.
We head to the other side of the huge Port au Prince valley, and it is way more rich. We pass a little and very intense marked, but it is getting late, and we head home. It have been a great execution, and I get to see some other parts of Haiti. The Iron Market, Central PAP, Canaan village.

22. I get a lift to the airport by a huge de-tour, and it seems like it is going to be another hectic demonstration day in Port au Prince. At the counter, they can't promises me they will fly. At the same time, they are puzzled over I didn't come ten minutes before for the morning flight. Well, if it had showed up on their internet site or they had replied to my e-mails!

I find the only cafe, which I can access until I get my boarding card, and I have to pay US$7 for a cardboard-glass of green tea - which I hate! It is going to be a long day.

The small part of Haiti I did get to see was not as destroyed as I had feared. However, due to the demonstrations and roadblocks, I only saw a real small part. I only drown 100 kilometres myself, and probably not more than 2-300 with  my host. I only made 640 photos HIGHLIGHTS. That in mind, it was an expensive tour:
 

I have only experience nice and happy people, and I hope they will get it sorted out. I have not fare from experienced the nature as I would have liked to, but I might get a pretty good feeling of it on the other side of the border, when I reach The Dominican Republic.