Paradise, Found.

Disclaimer: Started this update last week but it took forever to upload the photos - sorry it's a bit dated...

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Let me begin with the usual apologies for my lack of updates - life continues to be very busy and fun,

making finding the time to blog a challenge. I'm working on getting better, I promise.

I just returned from an amazing Labor Day Weekend - so here's the update:

Knowing that we had a 3-day weekend, some friends from the Embassy and I decided that we wanted to head out-of-town on some type of adventure. We settled on Ile a Vache (literally, Island of the Cows) - off the southern coast of Haiti. Map here:

I immediately took on the role of group organizer, or cruise director as I was (sometimes) affectionately known, and our small group of 8 people eventually turned into 21.

So, early on Saturday morning, our convoy of 6 SUVs set out from Port-au-Prince headed south to Les Cayes. Getting out of PAP was, as always, a challenge - but once through the city and out the other side, the road opens up and one really gets a sense of the amazing topography of this country. It was about a 4.5 hour drive to Les Cayes - first through the mountains and then along the coast. I rode shotgun in my friend Blake and Sara's car - and we, along with their dog Oakley - held up the rear of the convoy. We ate snacks, played trivial pursuit, laughed a lot and marveled at the beautiful countryside. For once, I'll let some pictures do the talking:

Your standard Haitian 18-Wheeler - you'll notice the live sheep hanging on the side

Mountains outside of Port-au-Prince

Lush vegetation coming into the southern coast 

The six-car convoy

After spending the morning in the car, with frequent bathroom breaks, we arrived in Les Cayes at around 1 in the afternoon. Having no idea where we were going, we drove through the city - a very neat city, by the way - making frequent u-turns, which are always interesting with 6-cars on a market day. Anyway, we eventually made it to the dock where two Boston Whalers were waiting to take us and our stuff over to Ile a Vache.

Just as we were leaving Les Cayes, the sky grew black and it started to thunder and lightning in the distance - I think we were all wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. But, after a quick 30-minute boat ride, all of our fears were assuaged as we approached the island - sun still shining.

We pulled-up to the dock at the resort and were immediately greeted with rum punch as our bags were unloaded. Vacation had begun.

Ile a Vache as two resorts, Port Morgan and Abaka Bay. We chose the latter and I could not have been happier with our decision. The resort was located directly on the water - my room had a deck and then you stepped right down to the sand. In addition to the rooms, there was also a bar, outdoor and indoor dining area, and a sort of recreational space - all-in-all perfect for a weekend getaway.

The next two days were spent eating amazing food, drinking rum punches and Prestige (the Haitian beer), relaxing, playing soccer/frisbee/volleyball, kayaking and hiking. Ile a Vache is the quintessential Caribbean island - with 2 resorts, a swamp area, deserted beaches, a few mountains, a very picturesque town and lots of neat caves for exploring. Not to mention a sunken pirate ship. Again, I could go into much more, but the photos can do the talking:

Our own private cove

Traditional fishing boat for our meals

Abaka Bay on the left and our cove - taken from our hike across the island

Looking across the island from the top of the hill

Beautiful house overlooking the ocean

Looking out over the harbor from the town, resort pet included.

Church on the water

Fishing boats in the town

The beach at Abaka Bay

View from the deck of our room

And again (no special effects, just a standard photo)

The dock - my favorite photo

Looking back at the resort from the dock

Yours truly - looking graceful as always

 Unfortunately, after 2 amazing days it was time to head back to real life. We divided up into an "early boat" and a "late boat" for the departure. If you know anything about me, you'll know which boat I was on.

Our significantly smaller convoy - 3 cars this time - left Les Cayes around 2:30pm for the drive back, stopping at an old French fort on the way home:

The fort at the end of a peninsula - begging to be explored 

View from inside the fort

Driving back through the mountains on the new road

We arrived back in Port-au-Prince around 7:30pm and I'm proud to say I drove my friend's car the entire way home - an introduction to Haitian driving (just in time for my new car...stay tuned for that update).

There's so much more to say about the weekend but I hope this begins to give you some idea. I really am falling in love with this country and the people - as you can see, with just a little patience there isn't much not to love.