So, when we choose our trips - most of the time - the deciding factor will be educational value. At least so long as we are hauling kidlets with us, I suppose in a few more years when it is just himself and I we might choose places we've already been and just want to return to, or maybe strictly for rest and re-coop purposes - but for now education value plays a large role. This particular cruise was chosen primarily for the middle three stops. In Panama we chose an excursion which took us through the canal, in Caragena we chose an excursion that focused on the history of Columbia (particularly their Spanish colonial history), and in Costa Rica it was a nature exploration. Haiti, obviously, was limited in opportunity.

Let me address the expected reaction to visiting Haiti in a cruise ship at this particular time. When booking the trip, himself actually called the cruise line to ask questions about this stop. Here are the answers he got:

1) The area we visited was not affected by the earthquake - I can confirm this as all the buildings, including the mud and stick huts we visited, were completely undamaged.

2) The resort employs 300 Haitians, if the ships stop coming in, in addition to the other problems facing these people, 300 more would loose their jobs.

3) The ship not only unloaded masses of people intent on buying goods from the locals (and we did), it also unloaded pallet upon pallet of supplies. They have been delivering supplies regularly ever since the earthquake.

4) Haiti wants the ships to continue coming.

I felt very good about helping the artists from whom we purchased items directly. And I am tickled with our purchases of folk art. I love it you know... Direct aid, every dime directly to the parties involved, no corruption - no graft - it was a good thing.

A picturesque point as we made our way into the bay


Unloading our little group - guess who in the foreground.


Our own private (there were maybe 30 of us) beach for the morning.


A little Haitian flora - these sweet-peas where enormous!


Food crop - Haiti does not produce nearly enough food to feed themselves - but the pineapple is lovely n'est pas?


Our host - cultural and naturalist educator. He was gracious - and humorous - to a fault and seemed very proud to share with us. Our excursion, in addition to our lovely private cove, included some cultural display - home construction - artists at work - music - a little (very little) explanation of voodoo (I know, I know) - food preparation...


The boy and I bring up the rear as we enter the "home" meant to demonstrate traditional construction techniques.


These men are preparing cassava bread - from the root of the plant. The man in the foreground is pounding the flour and singing non-stop as he worked. He had a smile to light the day.


This man is actually baking the bread in an obviously large round form - we got to taste it. It was slightly sweet and, having been cooked in the open like this, very good - hearty, honest bread. I'd eat it any time. Don't you love his face?


Traditional Haitian hand drums. The whole time we are in this area there is a group playing.


She is grinding coffee beans, the aroma was heavenly.


This lady was making peanut butter - no additives. We got to sample - still prefer my sugar laden Jif


Now time for music, dance, and shopping!


We purchased a statue from this carver - I'll post a picture later.


We picked up a painted tile and several small fridge magnet sized paintings from him as well. Will try to get a picture of our purchases, but these may prove difficult to photograph - glare and all.


Poor boy pressed into service as a dancer - the young are always picked on - at least he is traveling incognito... The group who played and sang for us was called Pink Floyd (he was wearing a bright pink shirt) and the Yellow Submarines (they wore yellow t-shirts). They were fun - I bought a CD from them, self recorded and copied on their computers - very "un-produced", but I love it.


These final three shots are just beautiful spots - I must say, the small area we visited was stunningly beautiful. The people here struggle mightily, but I don't have to tell you that. Haiti is a mountainous country and much of their land has been denuded of trees - they have no other fuel. As a result there is much erosion and what little of their land is agriculturally appropriate is being spoiled - their ability to produce food shrinking all the time. I don't know how you begin to solve their problems.