So the team went for a trip to Central Haiti yesterday - we had the priviledge of going to Sodo Falls http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saut-d'Eau This was a truly wonderful experience. Although, I must say that my anxiety level climbing up waterfalls on the anniversary of my fall off a cliff last year was pretty high! But I'm glad I did it!!!
We then came home, had supper and then off to have rum sours at The Montana. For those of you who remember, this is the hotel just up the road from our compound where we used to go for drinks and dinner. The Hotel was completely destroyed in the earthquake, taking the lives of many people - including canadians. The conference center and patio/pool are still there and were just re-opened.
It was difficult to be there without the magesty of the hotel in the background. Tears were shed by many of us who'd been to this place pre-earthquake.
I spoke to the owner of The Montana - again, hearing her story, as the many other stories that we hear in Haiti - she is lucky to be alive and "by the Grace of God" it was fate that made it so that she wasn't sitting in her office - as she normally would have been at that time... the plumber who was supposed to be there at 9am that day, had to re-schedule twice that day and finally arrived minutes before the earthquake. She said that many of her long time staff who had become family had died in the earthquake.... she also said that she couldn't dwell on all of the sadness - all she could do was try to move forward. I thanked her for her courage and her braveness. I thanked her for re-opening the patio and told her how much this place meant to us. She in return thanked us for being such wonderful patrons of the hotel - and knew exactly who we were. She thanked us for all the work we do in Haiti...
Did I mention tears were shed?
After that heart wrenching visit - we went to Karamel - a dance bar to dance! SO much fun!!!
I HEART Haiti!!!!
(I'm very sleep deprived)
Bon Bagay!
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