To say central Port-au-Prince is a no-go zone is poppycock. It would be ill-advised to stumble around drunk at midnight, but a brilliant Sunday morning beckoned for a walk. My planned route kept expanding as each street revealed markets atop rubble, cracked ‘gingerbread’ houses, modernist architecture, and smiling faces toting Bibles in their Sunday best.
A particular delight is the central market, Marché de Fer, a minaret-ed building originally constructed to be the main train station of Cairo.
The city center requires no planning, just explore.
And Point, Miles and Martinis shares the news that Delta flight frequency is increasing, in addition to the New York JFK flights.
Supersize taptaps ply the streets
Marché de Fer market
Sleepy on a Sunday morning
But the markets outside all a bustle
Clever fruit stacking
So much beautiful architecture laid waste
Miraculously, some buildings in the center stand as if unaffected
A 'gingerbread house'
Modernist architecture
Ministry of Social Affairs
Streets are marked by subtle marks with abbreviated names
Street football game
Commerce springs from every corner of the damaged city
Colorful cityscapes
Walking south, a marvelous cluster of trees shades the road
Poignant graffiti
Back to New York
I’ve enjoyed reading about your Port-au-Prince travels. Where did you stay and what part of town?
@aadvantagegeek – I stayed at Le Plaza right in the heart of Port-au-Prince off the main square. Years ago it was a Holiday Inn and was favored by reporters after the earthquake. The facilities are good and the rate, like most all hotels in Haiti, discounted well below pre-earthquake rates.
The current hot spot for hotels, dining and wealthy locals is the suburb called Pétionville.