If readers have been following recent events within Syria, they will know that Friday has become the day when things kick off between the government forces and those seeking to extend the “Arab Spring” as it is now being called. So, I was rather curious as to what the mood would be in Damascus last … Continue reading
Category Archives: Places We Go
Visiting Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Viewed from a distance, Port-au-Prince seems a pleasant and mellow Caribbean port city: Once one is out on the streets though, the fact that all is not well in Port-au-Prince soon becomes apparent. And the January 12, 2010 earthquake only served to push Haiti closer to the top of the Failed States Index… Destruction, dysfunction … Continue reading
The Countryside Of Moldova
Moldova can get very cold. This picture below is of the ice on the front of our rental car after some time spent in freezing rain – not the easiest driving conditions. And this was in November, so I imagine winter conditions are even more sporty: However, with the weather taken out of the equation, … Continue reading
Visiting The Grand Cemetery Of Port-au-Prince
Visiting a cemetery may sound rather dull to some of you, but nothing is in Haiti… The Grand Cemetery of Port-au-Prince (or Grand Cimetiere De Port-au-Prince in French) is a vast necropolis of raised tombs that sprawls across a large section of the downtown area: We were told by the Haitians that the Grand Cemetery … Continue reading
Visiting Kenscoff, Haiti
Remember those luxury SUVs I described pushing their way through Petionville? Well, the homes of their occupants are mostly found along the route to Kenscoff: Kenscoff itself is more laid back and off the beaten track. However, at nearly 6,000 feet of elevation, its cool mountain air does sometimes attract residents of Petionville and Port-au-Prince. … Continue reading
The Refugee Camps Of Port-au-Prince
These places are everywhere and they are seriously fucking dangerous. And it is me saying they are dangerous and you know my standards, so rest assured that they really are dangerous. Many Haitians will not go anywhere near them which means you shouldn’t either. In fact, the one time we did drift near one for … Continue reading
Visiting Petionville, Haiti
Following a long day experiencing the post-apocalyptic anarchy that is Port-au-Prince, I thought the leafy suburbs of Petionville, which are the center of gravity for Haiti’s elite and home to many businesses and banks, would be a welcome place to sip a cool drink and decompress: However, that mental picture of Petionville was pretty effectively … Continue reading
The Velvet Rocket 