Haiti.

Its a country that most people today associate with coups, earthquakes, and unrest a sort
of irretrievable chaos. Before traveling to Haiti, most travelers know little about the country.
Even after performing an own research lets face it, theres little info on Haiti beyond the
news. Haiti is complicated; even local citizens are quite aware of that. What makes Haiti so
fascinating is the fact that it tempts one to question, to experience, to learn and to re-learn an
invitation to penetrate as closely as a visitor might to its innermost layers.
-The land (the island of Hispaniola) got discovered on December 5, 1492, by Columbus.
The country has a history of truly brave people, who fought off slavery and survived civil wars,
countless massacres, and indeed oppressive leadership. The Haitians achieved their freedom
being also as the first black republic in the world in 1804 and had remained independent to this
day.
Political, Economic, and Social difficulties, combined with some natural disasters, have beset
Haiti with chronic poverty and other severe problems. The country got hit by hurricanes and
tropical storms in 2008 that killed over a thousand citizens and by an earthquake in 2010 that has
left dead a total of 120,000 people.
-Haiti has borders with the Dominican Republic to the East, which covers the rest of Hispaniola,
to the south and west by the Caribbean Sea, and to the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Cuba lies
nearly 50 miles (80 km) west of Haitis northern peninsula, across the Windward Passage, which
connects the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Jamaica is around 120 miles (190 km) west of the
southern peninsula, across the Jamaica Channel, and Great Inagua Island (of The Bahamas) lies
roughly 70 miles (110 km) to the north.
-The culture of Haiti is a mix of African, and European traditions due to the French colonization
of Haiti, as is also evidenced in the Haitian language, religion, and music. The culture also
incorporates additions from native Taino and Spanish imperialism. "Papa Doc" Duvaliers rule
was noted for its use of Haitian folklore to terrorize the population, such as the Tonton Macoute.
While speaking of their eating habits and traditional cuisine, some citizens believe that a healthy
baby is a fat baby, and this direction of nutrition and health continues into adulthood. Since
weight has connections with health, for Haitians, good nutrition means eating a lot.
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Not considering the negative information that makes the headlines, Haiti is a vibrant and fun
place to visit. To help you better plan your trip to this country, here are some places to visit in
Haiti:
Marigot
Located near Jacmel, it's a great city to visit with mountains like Loma La Peloma and Mt. Pico
Duarte also known as Massif du Nord - the highest peak in all the Caribbean. During the
summer, fruits such as mangoes are the sweetest in the region.
Petionville
Petionville is a tourist attraction destination with a bustling nightlife and a competitive business
scene. There are lots of bars and a dozen of restaurants to choose from. It is very safe and stable.
Les Cayes
Les Cayes is home to one of Haitis biggest ports. Its the worlds leading producer of Vetiver,
which smells magnificent. Its a quiet yet bustling town, and you can get there in four hours by
car from the capital.
The Citadelle Laferrire
It represents the largest structure in the western hemisphere; being also the first monument built
by slaves after they had won their freedom. It is a very popular tourist destination. Bring your
hiking shoes and lots of water if you plan on visiting this mammoth fortress. Theres a sevenmile hike thats also very challenging.