Another Glimpse of Haiti . . . Looking Back . . .

For over a week now I've been watching the news with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know everyone is overdosed with this heartwrenching story as it unfolds, one desperate chapter after another. But I cannot turn away; I need to remember, to remember a Haiti that was kind to me for a short visit there some years ago. Very kind. So please bear with me . . . though I am far away, and only have the slimmest of slim connections with Haiti, this is the only way I can show solidarity with a people in the grips of a nightmare. Other than donating to relief efforts, which I did.
.
The below portrait is of a gentleman named Maquel Jean-Baptiste. He was renting a room from the people we stayed with near Petionville, and plays, or did at the time anyway, guitar for a group called Boukman Eksperyans. Do check them out on YouTube, they are well known. Maquel, I know it's been a while, but I'm hoping you are ok. I will never forget the days we played guitars together. I remember how you laughed when I said I thought you might be the reincarnation of Jimi Hendrix . . . and I meant it . . . I really hope you are alright, man.
.





































On the beach, in Jacmel . . .
.






















One of the most striking art forms practiced in Haiti is that of cut iron work, like the below piece, which I believe was done by a sculptor named Gabriel Bien-Aimé. On his truck he had painted "l' Ange Gabriel", or the angel Gabriel . . . We visited his studio, I will post some pictures of him and more of his art soon . . .
.





































This portrait is of Julian and his wife. Julian worked for the people we stayed with. One day I hiked three hours down a river valley with him, he wanted to show me where he lived, and introduce me to his wife.
.
Julian and family. . . please be safe, please be well . . . I have not forgotten your home, how you put your chair out in front of your "case" for me to sit on after that long walk . . .
.





































And down in that river valley, people were washing clothes in basins, just as they are in the streets of Port au Prince today . . .
.






















The billboard at right here was proclaiming the creation of a childrens' rights agreement. In Haitian creole "Timoun" means children. I loved that word . . . Wi pou dwa timoun yo !
.


















.
.