Saturday, March 14 - Haiti and DR Learning Tour Wrap Up

Today we are enjoying a nice relaxing day at our resort in Puerta Plata. Lounging by the pool, walking on the beach, swimming in the Caribbean and just enjoying the warm sea breezes that keep the coconut palms waving to us.

We enjoyed a great learning tour to Haiti and the DR. Some highlights:

The colorful houses in Port-au-Prince.

Meeting Gisele Fleurant of CAH, one of the pioneers of fair trade in Haiti, and still going strong.

Rachel and Patrick of MCC and singing on the bus in Haiti.

Meeting with stone carvers in Leogane - one of the veteran carvers, Eduard Boncy, a carver for 49 years.

Colorful and constant traffic in Port-au-Prince.

Gisele with her cut-metal artisan friend J. Rony in Croix des Bouquet.

Charlie with his prize paper mache long horn steer.

Medard, one of the first cut-metal artisans to work with Gisele and CAH - more than 30 years experience.

Jean and Medard with the beautiful piece Jean purchased.

Visit to Jacmel and the Fleur de Experience shop of Isidor Jocelyn.

Connor's tiger mask bought from Isidor in Jacmel.

Artist and painter, Plasimoad Gerald in Jacmel.

Painted wooden serving tray by Plasimoad.

Lunch and Sunday afternoon at a seaside hotel in Jacmel.

Sharing refreshing green coconut in Jacmel.

Talented aritsans at Caribbean Craft making products for Ten Thousand Villages, Tom's Shoes, Anthropologie, West Elm and Pottery Barn.

Visiting Caribbean Craft with Jude, Sales Manager.

Kitchen cooks, Vernada Pierre and Otilia Pierre, at TIMKATEC.

Elementary school girls at TIMKATEC.

TIMKATEC, helping to build a brighter future for Dora and Josie.

Beautiful flora of Haiti and the DR - hibiscus.

Stained glass window in the old town Santo Domingo cathedral.

Visiting the old fort in Santo Domingo.

Brightly shining sunlight just before a rainstorm that chased us inside.

Drying out and filling up at the Zoro restuarant in old town Santo Domingo.

Celebrating Kevin's birthday at Zoro.

CONACADO cacao bean drying tent in Hato Mayor. 

Ripe cacao beans at Meijia's farm ready to be broken open.

Bananas on Meijia's farm.

Enjoying life in the cacao forest on Meijia's farm near Hato Mayor.

Amipola tree, bright orange flowers, on the hillside near Hato Mayor.

Relaxing and enjoying the good life at our resort in Puerta Plata.

But, above all, getting to know the talented crafts artisans of Haiti and cacao farmers of the Dominican Republic:

Gisele Fleurant of CAH and her friend, talented cut-metal artisan, J. Rony.

Lynn Meijia, 4th generation cacao farmer, one of 10 founding farmers and former president of CONACADO - now 10,000 farmers strong. His personal commitment and ethics summed up in this quote from him:
"We are here on earth not to serve ourselves, but to serve others."

Needless to say, we all want to return to Haiti and DR someday to enjoy the beauty and the culture and to visit our new found friends again.