Haiti, the image of Port-au-Prince, a city that is hard to breathe!

Many people ask me, "Why do you want to travel to Haiti? Frankly speaking, I can't tell you why. I decided to go to Boston to meet friends and travel, and wanted to talk about some places in Central America. Unfortunately, I found that the cheap ticket from Florida to Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, was not expensive, and then I swiped my card.

After booking the plane ticket, I began to collect information on the Internet and gradually got to know this almost completely strange country. There is really little information about tourism in Haiti, and a lot of information says that Port-au-Prince is an unsafe place, so don't walk alone in the street late at night.

Fortunately, I found the only host in Port-au-Prince who was willing to receive me on the sofa surfing, and I was relieved after confirming my accommodation a few days ago.

I think most people will pay a little attention to Haiti or have heard of Port-au-Prince because of the 20 10 earthquake (almost all the pictures from Port-au-Prince were badly damaged by the earthquake), in fact, so am I. But usually this kind of international news will soon disappear in Taiwan Province Province, and people will soon forget it, especially as it is a small Caribbean island country far away from us.

Recalling that my first impressive contact with Haiti in my life was at the university, I took the tour guide exam, and the first question in the world history exam asked, "Which of the following countries was once a French colony?" The correct answer among the four options is Haiti. I am right about this question. There was a time when I had some memories of Haiti. Later, with the passage of time, Haiti quickly disappeared from my mind.

On this trip, I always stay in Port-au-Prince for five days. On the one hand, I am really embarrassed to disturb the sofa owner for too long. On the other hand, I am almost tired of this city. Port-au-Prince may be the most unacceptable city I have ever been to, but in retrospect, it is actually a very unique place and an unforgettable experience.

As soon as I got out of the airport, I got on the bus and went to the sofa owner's house. Actually, it's not too shocking. I feel that Port-au-Prince is a very hot city with chaotic traffic and many people. In the next few days, I began to try to take local public transport to extend my reading time. After entering the markets, streets and bus stops where local people live, the influence on me began to grow.

The first is language. I know nothing about Creole and French spoken by Haitians. I can only try to speak English and French, but about half of Haitians will ignore you when they hear English. Once I asked for a meal in a small restaurant. As soon as the proprietress heard me speak English, she shook her head and turned into the kitchen. I didn't even have a chance to ask questions, so I had to touch my nose and go to another restaurant for dinner.

Then there are people. The ancestors of Haitians were slaves left over from the French colonial period at that time, so 99% were black. Walking on the road, I am often the most conspicuous one, especially in Haiti, where there are few tourists. That feeling is really strange, most people won't smile at you.

(If I take the initiative to smile, the probability will be higher), I will stare at you with my eyes wide open and see what you are doing, and I have a feeling of being looked up and down all the time. Then, before coming to Haiti, when all the people and information they found threatened that the security was not good, this sense of insecurity would be even stronger.

Then there is the environment. Haitians are used to littering everywhere, and it is normal to defecate directly on the roadside. Therefore, the streets and alleys of Port-au-Prince are full of rubbish, and there are mixed smells, coquettish smells and strange stagnant water at any time. Especially in places where people gather, it is basically like a group of dense people and cars crowded in a garbage dump. Port-au-Prince was originally planned as a city with a population of 500,000, but now there are two million people living in Port-au-Prince, so it is a very crowded city.

The most unacceptable thing is the price. It is hard to imagine that Haiti is a country with extremely high prices, which is out of proportion to the average income of the people here. For example, the most expensive thing is accommodation, so forget about backpacks here. A double room at forty dollars a night is the cheapest, with an average of fifty to seventy dollars.

(Further reading: Accommodation in Haiti costs 30 yuan a night), a bottle of 1200cc bottled water costs two yuan, usually three to five yuan for a meal and ten to forty yuan for a taxi. Of course, the cheapest way to eat and drink is a roadside stall, but I really dare not compliment. This is the only price I can accept most.

These days in Port-au-Prince, I feel at a loss every day. Especially when walking in the street, with the scorching sun overhead, mud and garbage under your feet, and the dust raised by chaotic crowds and roaring cars, you should always pay attention to being pushed onto the road by the crowd or driven onto the sidewalk by cars, and always be alert to pickpockets and ditches and potholes protruding or exposed under your feet.

After walking in the street for an hour, I almost have difficulty breathing, but it is difficult to find a summer shop or shelter at any time. When I returned to my residence, I felt free from disaster and rebirth. I immediately ran into the bathroom to wash out a layer of dust from head to toe, and I couldn't dig out the booger in my nose.

I can only say that the local people living in Port-au-Prince are really suffering. In addition to the disproportionate income and price, the 20 10 earthquake made matters worse. Up to now, many places are still being rebuilt or it is impossible to start over. The deterioration of law and order in slums is understandable. At present, many armed United Nations troops can still be seen in the streets.

Although the environment is difficult, Haitians are working hard for their lives, and the streets and alleys are full of human mobile vendors with goods on their heads. On the road, I often see younger brothers who try their best to earn some money, cleaning windows and dusting cars coming and going.