Hotel Oloffson

On July 6, the Viv Ansanm gang burned down the historic Hotel Oloffson.  Built in the late nineteenth century it survived coups, dictatorships, hurricanes, earthquakes, and economic collapse.  Through it all, Hotel Oloffson was a beloved destination for journalists, artists, intellectuals, musicians, and peace corps volunteers.  Many have fond memories here - walking up the front stairs to the terrace wondering who was already there, making new friends at the bar, listening/dancing to RAM on Thursdays.  The memories are all that is left now although Richard Morse has committed to rebuilding when he is able to do so.  May it rise from the ashes.  The full article by Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald follows. 

I finally got around to watching the  No Reservations episode in which Anthony Bourdain travels to Port au Prince.  While it is a shame that he did not visit Haiti’s secondary cities or countryside, he and his team were able to capture some of the beauty, the tragedy, and the potential of Haiti.  He comes away understanding Haitians are trying their best to get their lives, communities, and country back on track.  You can catch the entire episode (in three parts) on Youtube.

“Are you a Missionary?  What is Your Religion?”  Two common enough questions when Haitians are getting to know foreigners.  Haiti is a religious country and even the smallest villages have multiple churches if not a library or a clinic.  While every imaginable denomination has a presence in Haiti, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Vodoun form an uneasy trinity.   Haitian Vodoun is a vibrant, fascinating religion.  One need not be a Vodouisant to experience it, appreciate it, and learn from it.