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Published: March 13th 2007
Haitian Bus
One of so many voyaging buses along the south coast, loaded to the max!! they even use the roof! We are told that if you are willing to ride on the roof and as you see in the pictures there is many that choose to do so, the cost is only 50 Gourdes instead of 150 Gourdes. Tuesday March 13th 2007
Let us tell you that updating everything is something of an adventure here… The last time we made the long hike to the town of Grande Goave to update our last posting, arriving there to find out that the electrical power was out (no Surprise here!)! We were told that the power had been out for some 4 days by then, something to do with a fallen tree near by. With no idea as to when the power will be restored, we where kindly offered by the owners the internet service, that we could rent a local generator in order to use their internet connection. Finalizing the monetary agreement, the generator was delivered and we were up and running on the internet, with the rented generator humming in the back ground. .
On Wednesday we again took the hike to town to go to the outdoor market, since it is only operational on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We walked along the beach until we arrived, some time after lunch. We found out that most everything was already sold!! We could only find three tomatoes and so it was a very long walk for three tomatoes!!! All
worth the experience, but we wish we would have found some fresh fruit and some local avocados (the size of cantaloupe) we were so craving! On Saturday we will arrive as early as possible not to make the same mistake twice!!!!
We purchased a fish trap, with is called a NASSE0 here, built by a local villager. They build these traps out of roseau bark, somewhat like a bamboo type tree. They weave it all into a large, intricate, working trap that measures about six feet long by four feet wide by two and a half feet high. The trap has two small entrances that fish and lobster can enter by, but once inside, it is almost impossible to exit the trap. The trap is baited with pieces of oranges and apricots!!! We would normally bait it with scraps of fish and/or red meat, but EVERYTHING is totally eaten here, so no meat scraps to put in the traps (everything excepts the bones…heads, tails, everything is eaten). We made a deal with a local villager/fishermen named Lila, that by helping him out with the purchase of everything we would share what the trap produced. We would hopefully have a
few lobsters coming our way and all the fish could be kept by him, in exchange for him monitoring the nasse on occasion. Not a large investment on our behalf, just some 500 Gourdes for the trap with a total of 850 Gourdes including the line, which converts to some $20.00 US! This small investment on our behalf helps the fishing community and encourages them to continue the efforts they are putting in the support their families.
This morning, during our almost daily contact with the Reseau du Capitaine, (a daily high frequency radio net which takes place on broadband frequency 14.118 Mhz, casting every morning out of the Montreal area from 7am to 8am EST) we found out that the weather is positively improving from last week. Last week there were days with freezing -35ºC, and today a +5ºC is forecasted!! With many setting route for the early spring sugaring off parties!! Enjoying the very tasty maple syrup, great food, and yes, as the tradition calls for……a whole lot of drinking!! (One thing to remember is that it is still not spring and mother nature can still send more of her winter furry……hopefully not).
No complaints from
us here in Haiti, as the weather here is the same most every day! With temperatures of 90 degree F + during the day and sunny every day since we have arrived here in the beginning of December. It rains a few rare times during night time, but all clears up by morning.
We have more good news for the village of Bria, that we will share with you once everything is in place. At the moment, we are setting everything up as to make the trip back to Bria and we should be there within the next week or two. We will keep everyone posted on the developments.
Until then, we wish you all well and hope to hear from you soon. Love your messages and comments…..puts a smile on our face every time we read them.
Cheers,
Annie & Eric
Aboard s/v My Love III
In Haiti
Web: www.WeBeSailing.com Keep your great comments/ e-mails coming, we love to hear from you.
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Fay
non-member comment
So close and yet so far xxx
So great you managed to rent a generator and contact us!! Sorry to know you had to walk so far for three tomatoes. Puts it all into perspective though (for me sometimes going to Loblaws is a pain in the a...e) . So .... Spring is approaching for you .... us too. Thanks to Bush's initiative (thinks this will bring him in line with Kyoto!! Not a hope in hell!) we have pushed the clock ahead earlier and are enjoying brighter evenings and .... more than that ..... the smell of Spring is in the air. We are all rejuvenated!! Can't wait to hear more about Bria ....xxx Luv to you both ..... from me xxxxooooxxxxooooxxxxoooo