We have done a fulfilling trip with the poorest Haiti in the Americas, such as the citadel of the sky "Citadel"

The image of the turmoil of the Haiti earthquake stuck together, the Ministry of Foreign AffairsOverseas safety websiteThere are only dangerous stories on. Still, because it was a unique occasion, I made plans fully and challenged. If you traveled from Africa, it would be such a reputation as a poor country. Because there were not a few tourists, we could see the world heritage like a castle of the sky on the charter chart.

Hello,Takuya Sudo @ circle around the world bicycle @ Charridermanis. It was Haiti which tourists and backpackers rarely go there, but it became one of the memorable countries. Because it is a country with few people to introduce, I will summarize it in the article this time.

◆ How to walk Haiti
A spagniola island in the Caribbean sea is about the same size as Hokkaido. There are two countries on one island, one in the west side is Haiti, two thirds in the east side is the Dominican Republic. Flights from Moscow through New York arrive in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Blacks who speak Spanish, not familiar English or French, were fresh. It is a country with only black people, but I feel air in Latin America. It was a Dominican Republic that had only an image of baseball, but supermarkets spread, McDonald's and IKEA are also there, and I was surprised by the development that there is a state-of-the-art subway.

In Haiti, the memories of Africa once traveled overlapped. An aunt of a stall to trade at the edge of the road to the movement of a person who is just finished. Where does it flow from There are shops where used clothes and bicycles are lined up. Even though Myanmar who steered economic growth from the military dictatorship most recently did have a lot of smartphones, it seems that the old generation Garaka is still mainstream. I nodded, 'The poorest country in the Americas.' Because it is an old French colony in the field, French comes fromHaiti CreoleThe word is used. As far as I can speak it is quite close to French, but the notation of letters was quite different.

A sign of "Attention to the Tsunami" written in Haiti Creole.


To Haiti there is a bus of Caribe tour from Sando Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. Because the capital city Port-au-Prince was concerned about security, in the northCap-Ha Chien (Cap-Haitien)To aim for the city called.SpiltMilkIf you are writing a blog that says, in May 2014Articles visiting Kapai ShanI was referring to. The bicycle is kept in the cheap hotel in Sando Domingo.

It cost 60 USD (about 7000 yen) to and from the bus, it was necessary to pay taxes separately going 25USD (about 2900 yen) and returning 10USD (about 1200 yen). Because Dominican Republic and Haiti have an hour difference in spite of the same island, attention is required for the return flight. For bus fare, if you go out on chicken, rice and soup, spagettie luncheon substitute if you return home. Arrival at the Kapaians on the first day was in the evening, departure to Sando Domingo on the third day was the morning, only the second day was able to act.

Move on this large yellow bus.


The currency of Haiti is "gold", but sometimes we call 5 gold "1 dollar" as a remnant of the fixed exchange age. If it is said to be 500 dollars of Coca-Cola's PET bottle for 5 dollars, it is correct to put 25 gold (about 65 yen). This money was so dirty as to be the best in the world. I have looked at cloth-like borrow bills yet, but I heard that Haitian bills are also fermented, a faint smell will occur. The treatment of local people was also cluttered, rolling the received fishing like crush and garbage and thrusting into the pocket.

I am also collecting small notes in various countries around the world, as expected, this country is abandoned.


The coins were also used around, so that the person drawn was not sure who it was. Unevenness also got worn away, and it was a surface that was slippery.


If the economy does not develop and the country becomes a country where tourists do not visit extremely, it will be difficult to find a cheap hotel. Haiti was similar. I will walk from the capital station's bus stop, looking for bedding on Garmin's GPS. Hope was about 15USD (about 1800 yen), but as expected it was room for 25USD (about 3000 Yen) per night was as hard as possible.

Accommodation at hotel named "LA SAGESSE HOTEL".


From the price point it was a room where about 10USD (about 1200 yen) was felt reasonable, but there is no help if there is no choice.


Unfortunately electricity has not come, so turn the generator on at night. I remembered Africa's journey that the light bulb became dark depending on the condition.


The legs of the people of Haiti are the tramp bus called "tapap" which remodeled the deck of the small truck. Just like Ghana 's "Trotoro" and Tanzania' s Daradara, the buses in the developing countries are nothing but speedy names. Because I am poor, I can not accept selfishness, I shrink my shoulders and shoulder and sit down with my body small. When the big wife of the ass got into such a state, all the passengers laughed bitterly. The center was vacant, but it was obvious that it would not fit there, so the person sitting at the very end slid to the center. Peaceful and peaceful time flows.

Tapaku caught in traffic jam.



This is the inside of the car. Large speakers who came in the center are disturbing when considered ordinarily, but it is indispensable to local people, cheerful music flows. While listening to this music, it seemed like I was watching a music video as the scenery flowed from the loading platform.


Although it is a short time, I tried movie shooting. It is like a world of music video.

Take a tapap of Haiti and the scenery is like a world of music video - YouTube


It may be confusing if you are not used to the crowded garbage. However, I also had experience in Africa, and it calmed down conversely. If you are in a place where ordinary people live, there is not much worry of danger. In Haiti, easy items such as drinks and sweets, soaps and toilet paper can be produced in your own country. It is said to be the poorest country in the Americas. I thought that the level of the surrounding country which is a competitor compared to Africa is also high and in a privileged place. Although the product line is sparsely popular, I was deeply impressed by the supermarket that read the bar code.

A policeman who carries out traffic control instead of a signal which does not move.


People and motorbikes and cars crossing the intersection without signal of Haiti - YouTube


A city with a church.


It was easy to walk because it was maintained like a go board.


A roadside market full of objects.


View of the street corner.


Despite the fact that there is no electricity in the city, you can get cold juice on the street. Indeed poor countries did not even have this, so even this alone was in a good mood.


Chicken meat and rice she ordered at the cafeteria.


◆ Citadel of the Heavenly Citadel
In the vicinity of this capiisan, Haiti's only world heritage "Citadel, Saint-Sauce Castle, Ramiere National Historical ParkBecause there was, we went sightseeing by being shaken by the tapap of the bus. It was 20 gold one way (about 50 yen) with tapapse from capaishan to Millo village. The historic buildings in the early 1800 honor of Haiti independence are preserved. After arriving in the village of Miro, if you walk a little, you will pay an admission fee of 5USD (about 600 yen) at the entrance to the office.

Millo village in idyllic atmosphere.


Immediately jumping in is the trace of the palace called Saint-Susin, which began construction in 1807 and was completed in 1813. Built on the Palace of Versailles in Paris, the king at the time of independenceHenry ChristopheIt was inherited as having resided. In 1820, Henri Christophe chose suicide in the area because of the growing dissatisfaction in the country.

I am concerned about the appearance that will be gorgeous at the time of completion.


The former palace is now just a ruin.


When I looked up, the blue sky without a roof complemented the empty building.


A panoramic view from a place far away.


After Saint-SauceCitadel · LaferiereLet's go up to the mountain castle called. Because we used a motorbike taxi here, we paid 5USD (about 600 yen) on one way. I will go up with a steep mountain path as if it is still like this. Since the altitude exceeds 900 m, trekking is better than sightseeing if walking up. In the early 1800s, Citadel Laferière was a fortress built in preparation for the re-invasion of France, the formerly religious country, of Independent Haiti. I did not have the chance to fulfill that role, but the magnificent sight that rises without decay is now the centerpiece of Haiti sightseeing.

A beautiful mountain castle.


Go through the gate and into the castle.


Please look at the size of the castle compared to the person on the rooftop. I can not believe it was 200 years ago that this huge building was made on the summit of such a mountain.


Pile of bullets.


I looked around the inside of the castle as if to capture the game dungeon.


On the rooftop there is a space that can run around like a schoolyard in school.


I found a building like a house.


As a boy, adventurous spirits are tickled.


A movable battery is a well made construction.


It is enough to be disappointed with a fine appearance with no waste.


It is a castle made on top of the mountains of rugged mountains, so the view overlooking is exceptional.


I could see the far ocean.


◆ The future that children make
What I remember most of my visit to Haiti was the appearance of overflowing children. Half of the people living in the capital is the impression that they go to school. My older brother is reading a textbook with a young boy. Children who are staring at me as if walking around the city. If you waving your hand to attract, you smile a smiling face. When I become a baby, I'm happy because it shakes my hand from the other side with a smile without clouds. It made me feel happy that the baby around 1 to 2 years of age held by her mother 's arms had made the hands stretched out with a full smile.

Only schools that can hear energetic voices.


The on-street sales such as candy and juice against children are also in full swing.


Catch the child while going to school.


Female student 's ribbon is an item that can not be removed in talking about Haiti' s journey. Ribbons of various colors tailored to the school uniform shirt changed city to bustling. Whether the tapap driver says "just go a little", the little girls on the way to school come on board. The ribbon of the head seems to be flying butterflies, and the cabbage loosens unintentionally in the interior of the car which became bright at a stroke.


The eyes of children who were curious about foreigners were lively and dazzling. As Daruma got down, it is very cute to hide in the house as it is found. I took a picture with the camera that came out because I thought "I went somewhere".


A girl who imitates her mother and puts things on her head drops it, so it attaches her hands. I did not dream that the impressed scene I saw in West Africa will be repeated in the Caribbean.


Because it is 2 nights 3 days, we have a dense journey. It was awkward at the time of planning, but it was really good that I could visit Haiti. Education seems to be solid, too and the country which is enjoying from now is increased one more.

(Sentence / photo: Takuya S. Narou Charriderman
Cycling around the world for a bicyclehttp://shuutak.com
Twitter@ Shuutak)