This is the Presidential Palace. It is bigger than the White House, that's for sure. Like I mentioned before, there are beautiful parts in the city, this is obviously one of them. It is just hard for me to see the stark differences between poverty and riches.
This is a park located right next to the Presidential Palace. I was impressed to see some beautiful parks with playgrounds that were large and inviting. BUT, there are no children playing in the parks or playgrounds. I learned that the playgrounds are off limits and children can only play there on special holidays.
Another picture of the park.
This is the monument that commemorates the slave revolt and the subsequent independence of Haiti. The statute is of the slave who blew the shell to call the other slaves to fight for their freedom.
While I was in Haiti, I tracked down the birth family of the two children a friend of mine who lives in Germany had adopted. Amazingly, I found them and was able to take photos of them for my friends children. They were older when adopted, so they have a lot of memories of Haiti. My friend's daughter always wants to know how her birth family is doing. The mother had died and so the father who lives in Cite de Soleil could not afford to care for six children alone. The two youngest were relinquished and subsequently adopted. I was so glad to have been able to take photos for my friend's kids. She had mailed me a photo album to take for the birth family, but it did not arrive in time for my departure to Haiti. I will bring it next time I go. I met the family at this monument and we took photos.
This is Aristide's statute. Doesn't he look tall in the statute? Reality is that is really short in real life.The bottom of the statute is carved stone that shows people holding him up. In his hands, he holds a dove.
