Road to Trinity House, Jacmel

After a restful night at the Oloffson, we started out bright and early on our way to Jacmel, a seaside town 3 hours from Port-au-Prince. What a journey. It began with uneven roads through markets where merchants sold wares surrounded by sewage and garbage. Once we passed through these areas, clearly screaming out for sanitation and aid (which coincidentally are areas where aid workers are not allowed to go!) we were on a straightaway to Leogane, the epicenter of the earthquake. 90% of Leogane is said to be completely destroyed, which from the look of things, appears to be accurate. Most of the properties we passed were decimated or appeared structurally unstable and a multitude of tent cities and bedsheet cities (which pop up when tents are not provided) dotted the area. After Leogane it was on to the mountains, a windy road rivaling the one to Yungas (in Bolivia and considered the second most dangerous road in the world).

The horn serves a completely different purpose than it does in the US. Beeping basically means, I'm coming around a turn and will ram into you unless you steer clear. This signal is for anyone coming - animal, pedestrian or automobile. Pretty exciting. I spent my time trying to let go and take in the amazingly beautiful countryside. Every now and then we encountered UN vehicles clearing up landslides and government crews clearing rubble from the roads.

We arrived at the Trinity House (a St. Josephs' home) completely overstimulated in every sense by the incessant beeping of passing vehicles, the heat and continuously bumpy in the road, the colorful landscape and people, the smell of the ripest fruit and roadside cooking fires and spices, and the taste of bile rising in the throat every once in while on a particularly windy stretch.

It feels like we have been here for weeks, we have learned so much and taken so much in. This country is truly amazing. More tomorrow about meetings with the people on the ground.

Bon nui!