Several days ago I was in my dining room with my kids going crazy and then I phoned my contact in Cap Haitien saying he was with a potential translator and it was time to do some “hard core” negotiating. My children enjoyed jumping on my lap seeing the skype icons asking me what i was doing and trying to type with me as we were in the middle of negotiating a deal. As it ended i read these words “this is Haiti... things go wrong and get used to it.”
We’ve been trying to get hold of a contact in St Marc. Tried phoning, emailing and phoning some more. No joy. We’re banking on him finding us a hotel and giving us a ride down from St Marc to Port au Prince as well as having a meeting. No response, nor joy in connecting. It’s now dark as we are riding in this truck. Driving with light was difficult enough. In the distance are some thunder storms. We know because we see the heavens lights up from time to time. We’re now crammed in the car.
St Marc comes and we still are unable to connect. Our contingency is simply to find somewhere. After asking various people and even a motorbike escort taking us out of town to a dark guest house and then a drive back into town we find the hotel oriental. The generators were pumping out its weakened light as we went in and found our place of solace. The heat was fierce.
Our drivers and translator are leaving us tomorrow and we have no way down to Port au Prince. This could well be one of those “this is Haiti” moments.
... TBC
Ben and Tom
ReplyDeleteIt is quite surreal reading your excellent blog while sitting having tea and scones in the Yorkshire dales.
Keep up the excellent work.
Anne