A Haiti vacation, anyone?

By Bob | Permalink | September 6th, 2007

Raise your hand if you woke up today and thought that it would be a nice time to visit Haiti.

Seeing no hands raised, I am going to assume that there aren’t many of you dreaming of visiting the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. That is a shame because not only are there really cheap flights to Port au Prince, Haiti being offered by American Airlines, but it is also a country that could be a fascinating place to visit for those inclined for an adventure.

You know the reasons why you shouldn’t visit Haiti. It is poor, it is violent, it is unstable and it is lacking a tourist infrastructure. But what about the reasons you should visit Haiti? For one, you will likely be the only one of your friends to ever go there. For another, it is a beautiful country once you leave the capital. For yet another, the Haitian people will welcome you with open arms and the money you spend while staying there will help an economy that sure needs helping.

If those reasons aren’t enough, I suggest you read Tracy Kidder’s inspirational book about Haiti – Mountains Beyond Mountains. It made me want to wake up this morning and travel to Haiti.