We awoke bright and early Thursday morning for the adventure we were ready to face. This day would be a day of travel to Cap Haitian. We were prepared for the five hour trip which we had been told we would take.
Our travel team consisted of Paul, myself, Shane (a 20 year old missionary), and Love (a 20 year-old Haitian who was to act as our translator).
Our crew conveined just after sunrise on Thursday and we walked up the road to the main part of town in Montrious. We hopped on the back of a tap-tap that was to take us to Saint-Marc. Click here to learn about a tap-tap. This was about an hour trek. It was rather delightful because we were lucky enough to score an open air tap-tap. I love to feel the wind through my hair. I love having an open view to check out the sites and sounds of this beautiful country. More than anything, I love the fact that I don't get motion sickness in open air! While much of this day trip is a blur (or blocked from my mind), I do remember one sweet young boy that jumped on our tap-tap mid-way through our journey. He was a precious boy, about 8 years-old, that was obviously on his way to class in his private school uniform. I greeted him with a traditional Haitian greeting and it was returned likewise with a huge smile. We sat next to each other for part of the journey until he paid his fare to disembark. While he jumped off of the back of the truck, I noticed his pants were wet. Hmmm.... Then the kind woman across from me pointed to the seat and let the gentleman next to me know he was about to get wet. That is right-that sweet little boy had wet his pants. Paul humorously stated that he just didn't know what to do sitting next to "that beautiful white woman"!
Well, we finally arrived at Saint-Marc and had to get off our tap-tap because it was turning around in its route. Saint-Marc is also where we were told that we would be getting on our bus. Well, after some very loud discussions in a language I have yet to learn, we discovered that there was some traffic jams ahead due to a bad wreck. The "bus" would not be able to make it around. Love, our translator, was able to secure us transportation in the form of motos. Motos are nothing more than a small motorcycle. Now let me tell you we had 3 VERY large Army duffle bags weighing in at 50 pounds each full of toys, shoes, clothing, and high protein foods for the children of Justice Rescue. We "hired" 3 motos to take the four of us and 3 large bags around the wreck. (Truly a sight) Just imagine a small motorcycle with our ebony skinned driver holding the large duffle in front of him on the handle bars. Behind him was Paul and myself with out skin white as snow that causes us to stand out as an alien in this country. STOP LAUGHING-It's not nice!
Well, once around the wreck, we hope in yet another form of transportation. Technically a tap-tap, this was a 12 passenger van. Now, evidently the "12" in 12 passenger was just a mere suggestion because at my last count, there were 19 people in this vehicle. Our bags were securely (or not) tied on top. Here are the only two pictures I could manage to take while riding.
Eventhough it felt like we were sardined in here for hours, I believe we only rode in this for about 30 minutes until we approached yet another wreck blocking the rode. We paid for our ride and grabbed our bags. This time we opted to just walk around the wreck and see what was waiting for us on the other side. Now remember, we thought we would be getting on a nice comfy air-conditioned bus back in Saint-Marc.
Around the wreckage, Love began talking to the locals. He found out that there was another bus station in Gonaives, about an hour away. Excellent! We loaded on another open-air tap-tap. This time I opted for the standing tour. I found me a comfy (or not) spot near the cab where I could hold on to the luggage rack and ride. The open air was pleasant-refreshing.
Among all this commotion, I still had not had time to realize how crazy our day had been so far. When in Haiti, you do what you gotta do. That is exactly was we were doing-whatever we could to get to the kids at Justice Rescue.
So, we finally arrived in Gonaives. The tap-tap dropped us off at an area that looked like an old school bus junk yard. I began to panic because I thought we would be getting on one of those busses. (I have been told to NEVER get on the yellow school bus in Haiti. They drive like bats out of #@**. They are dangerous!) Again, the loud yelling and shouting begins again. I have now discovered that this is just how most Haitians communicate. They yell! Well, we were ushered to yet another tap-tap. Shane, Love, Paul, and I all just looked around at each other. No of us said a word but you could read it in our eyes-"You want us to get on THAT? To Cap Haitian?" We all knew the next part of our adventure was 4hours on winding mountain roads. It appeared we had no other choice. It was a tap-tap or no go.
Problem was-in our American eyes- the tap tap was full to capacity. This was a covered tap tap so would not allow for standing room. It was already FULL FULL FULL! We expressed our concern to the driver. I, for one, was NOT getting on that with that many people! This was the one and only time that my "princess" attitude emerged on the journey but I am glad I spoke up.
The driver had a solution! He started pointing at the locals and telling them to get off. I am assuming he did this because he knew he could get more $$$ from the white folk!
A few got off and we got on. I requested the end seat because of my motion sickness. I didn't know what was about to happen.
Off we go. Packed like sardine-or worse. Winding road this way. Winding road that way. To the left, the mountain goes straight up. To the right, a hundred foot drop off. Winding. Winding. Winding.
Suddenly the tap tap comes to a complete and abrupt stop.
Traffic jam.
After 15 minutes or so, Shane and Paul decide to venture on ahead by foot and see what is going on. Traffic jam was right! Evidently a semi had fallen off the side of the mountain blocking other vehicles from going around. Now, traffic laws are only suggestions in this country so other vehicles had started to try to pass because they simply were tired of waiting. This had caused some head to head stand offs between busses and semis. Mixed among those beasts of vehicles were smaller cars and tap tap.
Two and a half hours spent on the side of a mountain. After by-standers took over the situation using Haitian ingenuity, yelling, moving of cars by bouncing them to the side, and working together-We FINALLY got going again.
This pic was taken while riding about 60 mph sitting on the back of the tap-tap.
This pic was taken while riding about 60 mph sitting on the back of the tap-tap.
After traveling for a total of 8 and a half hours, we arrived in Cap Haitian. We disembarked the tap-tap and waited along the side of the road for the security guard at Justice Rescue to come "Rescue" us.
And Paul wondered why I handed him a baby wipe! HaHa
Near dusk we arrived at our home for the next few days-Justice Rescue.
Was it a crazy trip? Yes
Did it happen how I thought? No
Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!
Continue to follow the blog to find out what happens next...
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