This Summer MPCA will go on its first international
trip. In the pioneering spiriting, Haiti
will be our first destination. In 2004, Haiti, the first black republic in the
world, celebrates her 200th anniversary. The result of the known successful slave revolt,
Haiti’s rich cultural and natural heritage is magical…I served in Haiti as
volunteer and then stayed for two more years. Despite the bad press, Haiti
truly is a beautiful and wonderful place. MPCA’s trip includes a mix of fun,
sun and community service.
Brief History of Haiti
Located in the Caribbean, between Cuba,
Puerto Rico and Jamaica, the island of Haiti was originally inhabited by the Tainos
meaning "men of the good". They lived throughout the greater
islands of Cuba, Haiti and Puerto Rico and had migrated from South America
centuries before Columbus. The Tainos are said to have been gentle, calm and
very hospitable. According to early Spanish historian observers, there were as many
as 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 Tainos on the island in 1492. Around fifty years
after the arrival of Columbus in the Americas, most of the Tainos in Haiti were
wiped out through the hardship of their condition as slaves, organized
massacres or diseases they contracted from the Spaniards.
In 1503, the first blacks landed on the island
to work on the mines as a mean of ending Indian slavery. These blacks, however,
came from Spain and not from Africa. In
1625, the first French adventurers landed on the island of La Tortue (Tortuga
Island) in the northern part of what is today the Republic of Haiti. Tired of
their attack, and also because of the results of war in Europe, Spain signed
with France the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697, ceding to the latter the
western part of the island. The French renamed their possession St Domingue, a
translation of Santo Domingo, the Spanish denomination of the eastern part of
the island. The French then developed St Domingue into the richest colony in
the world. To build this wealth, France imported thousands of slaves from
Africa who were submitted to virtually the same abuses and mistreatments
imposed on the Indians only on a larger scale.
Over the next hundred plus years, the African
slaves waged an ongoing struggle until on January 1st, 1804 Haiti emerged into the
world as the first black independent republic. It’s revolution against
colonialism and slavery was the first successful black movement resulting into
an independent state headed by blacks. In honor the memory of the Indians who
had been massacred by the Spanish, the island renamed under its original Taino
name, Haiti. Haiti in Taino means "high ground”. For more information,
check www.discoverhaiti.com
Here is some of what MPCA is thinking about
Jacmel
MPCA will visit and enjoy some of the Carnival
activities in Jacmel. Located in the Southeast department of Haiti, Jacmel has
both natural beauty of sea and mountains. This old coffee port was once the
jewel of the southern coast, decorated in French colonial architecture and
fringed with black-sand beaches. A recent renaissance has attracted artists
from all over Haiti, Europe and the USA.
Many of Jacmel's Victorian gingerbread homes now
house galleries and shops. The city also enjoys a bustling market, open
on Saturday. Nearby is the Bassins Bleu, a series of tiered waterfalls
and pools. A 12km (7.5mi) trek from the
city of Jacmel, usually done on horseback, leads to the Bassins Bleu, three
cobalt-blue pools joined by spectacular cascades. Dissolved minerals give the
falls their distinctive color. According to legend, water nymphs live in the
grottos and sun themselves on a rock in Palm Lake, but disappear at the sound
of mortal footsteps. Given the number of mortals hanging around, you probably
won't see them. To learn more about Jacmel, simply click on http://www.discoverhaiti.com/sights_jacmel_052000.htm
Cap Haitien
Haiti's second largest city, with a population
of around 100,000, has more of a Latin feel than the capital. The
Spanish-influenced architecture has bestowed on Haiti's former capital, once
called the 'Paris of the Antilles,' a grid of shady streets that are easy to
navigate and pleasant to stroll. Orange peels drying on sunny surfaces
throughout the city are destined to one day lend their flavor to luxury liquors
Grand Marnier and Cointreau, but before shipping off to France fill the
tropical air with a lazy citrus aroma.
Much of Haitian history has taken place in and around the
northern city, and there are several forts in various stages of
dilapidation lining the once strategically important coast. Sans Souci
Palais, commissioned by Henri Christophe in 1810 as a capital building and
rival to Versailles in France, lies in elegant ruin outside of Cap-Haïtien.
Five kilometers (3mi) away is The Citadelle, the impenetrable fortress
that may be Haiti's most recognizable landmark. Built over 15 years by more
than 20,000 'workers,' (read: slave laborers) it held enough supplies to outfit
5000 troops and the royal family for an entire year behind 40m-tall
(130ft-tall) walls. It's now a national park.
If you'd rather recline somewhere sandy in the sun, some of
the country's best beaches are along Rue 21, winding into the hills
northwest of the cape. Here, too, is some of the most beautiful coastal scenery
in Haiti, with lush forested hills tumbling into the Atlantic Ocean. For more details about Cap-Haitien, http://www.discoverhaiti.com/sights_cap_012000.htm
Parc Nacional Macaya
At the tip of Haiti's southern claw, Parc Macaya is the country's best-known national park, and rightly so. The mountains, criss-crossed with rough but beautiful trails, are covered in lush rainforest. The most challenging hike takes eight days round-trip, and the view from the top of Pic Macaya (2347m, 7700ft) is worth every blister. Guides are absolutely essential, and might even loan unprepared hikers a machete, necessary for hacking through the undergrowth. There are two University of Florida campsites within the park, and both are extremely basic.
Croix des Bouquets
Croix des Bouquets is a market town east of
Port-au-Prince and boasts the biggest livestock market in Haiti. In the early
1950s, long-time resident Georges Liautaud began making amazing metal crosses
for the local cemetery. He was 'discovered' by art collector De Witt Peters,
who convinced him to make freestanding figures depicting Voodoo spirits and
figures. Today, Liautaud's apprentices, known as the 'Blacksmiths of Voodoo,'
have created a veritable art colony with workshops well worth visiting. The
best place to see birds in Haiti is Trou Caïman, known to locals as Eau
Gallée, northeast of Croix des Bouquets. The large marshy lake is home to a
colony of 150 greater flamingos, seven species of heron and rare ibises and
ducks. To the southeast, Étang Saumâtre, the country's largest saltwater
lake, supports more than 100 species of waterfowl and more than a few American
crocodiles. For more info about Haitian art, click on http://www.discoverhaiti.com/artsynop.htm
Parc Nacional Forêt
Farther south, the Parc Nacional Forêt de Pines is
the largest remaining tract of pine forest in Haiti. The road to the national
park portion of the forest has glorious views, though one can also see the
effects of the deforestation and erosion that plagues so much of the country.
At the official entrance to the park, there are some cabins for rent (if you
can find the caretaker) and opportunities to camp beneath the stars.
Who can go?
The
trip is open to MPCA members, family and friends. However, we are planning for a maximum of 25
people. On a first come, first serve basis.
How can you go?
For more details or to volunteer, please contact us
at info@minoritypca.org
