Friday, March 6 - CAH Port-au-Prince and Leogane

After a hearty breakfast of fresh baked buns, boiled eggs and mango we boarded our bus to drive across town to the office and retail store for Comite Artisanal Haitien (CAH). We were met there by Gisele Fleurant who has directed the work of CAH for close to 30 years.

Our bus at the MCC Guesthouse. Kevin is just getting on and Annuel, our driver, is waiting for everyone else to show up.

Everyone is on the bus and ready to go. In the picture: Ebie, Kelly, Connor, Charlie, Jean, Ginny and Kevin.

We stopped at the nearest supermarket to change some dollars into Haitian Gourdes - $1 = HG46.50. Ginny, Jean and Charlie are happy that they now have some Gourdes in their pockets.

The entrance to the CAH retail store. We shopped up a storm.

All of us with Gisele Fleuarnt, CAH Director (Gisele is on far left).

I got into the picture too.

Gisele rushing to catch our bus so we can be on our way to Leogane to visit stone carvers.

Right next to our bus, artists had set up a display of paintings, hoping to sell to us. We did buy a few. 

The drive out to Leogane took a little over an hour. Thankfully, we were in an air conditioned bus that was not nearly as crowded as this local bus/truck.

Patrick, our guide from MCC, led taught us a Haitian song to help while away the time.

Both Patrick and Rachel, husband and wife, were rousing song leaders.

We had a great time on the bus. 

Our bus was too big for the road when we finally got to Leogane, so, we all got out and walked a ways to get to the carvers homes.

Johnson was working on a soapstone carving of a woman in the shade next to his small house. 

Johnson's basic tools include a wooden mallet, a steel chisel and his feet that act as a wonderful vise to hold the stone carving he is working on. 

Houses in the stone carvers' neighborhood are neat and tidy and brightly painted. 

Ginny bought this plate made by Gillot who is pleased that Ginny appreciates his work.

Gisele helped us to negotiate prices, sort out who made what and make sure that everybody got fair prices - carvers and customers. 

Kim bought this special carving from master carver Eduard Boncy. The carving is a replica of a large bronze sculpture in Port-au-Prince that is known as the 'unknown slave'.

Eduard was obviously pleased that we chose to buy one of his carvings. 

Our visit is over and Kevin is heading toward the bus. 

Sheila, the only female carver in Leogane, joins 3 of her carving friends on a motorcycle for a ride into town. 

On the way back to the bus we encountered this father transporting his daughters and nieces home after school. Six people on one motorcycle.  

On the way back to Port-au-Prince, Gisele stopped the bus and got off to discuss new product design with one of the metal work artisans she knows. Gisele is always working on new product ideas with artisans and ensuring that they meet product quality demands.

Public transport on the way back into the city.

We stopped to visit the Haitian National Museum - Musee du Pantheon National Haitien (MUPANAH). It was originally designed to be a mausoleum for Francoise Duvalier 'Papa Doc' but was converted into a national museum that honors the original former slave founders of Haiti.

We returned to the MCC Guesthouse for supper and to discuss the day's adventures. Tomorrow we will drive up to Croix des Bouquets to visit cut metal workers.