A love letter to Jacmel, Haiti
Canadian Steve Krause's photos of the Haitian city he first fell in love with as a missionary in 2003
The remains of a vessel washed ashore a couple of years before this photo was taken in 2003. The last time I was in Jacmel in August of 2009, there were only a few pieces of scrap remaining. I would be surprised if there was anything left of it at all now.Steve Krause
Home: I lived on the 4th floor of this apartment building during 2002/2003, and then a few houses farther down in 2006. The small pink building to the right marked "Merci Jesus Shop" stands where Simon Bolivar lived while he was in exile planning the liberation of Venezuela.Steve Krause
The Hotel de la Place, at the town square in Jacmel, across from city hall.Steve Krause
The Micro Credit National building at La Place (the town square) in JacmelSteve Krause
Canter truck on the road between Leogane and JacmelSteve Krause
On the road from Jacmel to LeoganeSteve Krause
Haitian constuction team pouring the roof of a building. There are virtually no access to concrete pumpers in Haiti, and so this is the typical method, where the concrete is mixed at ground level and put in buckets passed rapidly up the ladder from one worker to the next. Note the supports for the wooden ladder, as well as the concrete roof itself, are just branches cut to length.Steve Krause
Our favorite place to stay while in Jacmel. Head east from Jacmel, and continue past Cayes-Jacmel. The hotel is just before the public access area of Ti Mouillage beach. The area is not at all crowded (except during Carnaval), and the owner Patrice Lemaistre and his family are great hosts.Steve Krause
The courtyard of the Amitie Hotel at Ti Mouillage, east of Jacmel.Steve Krause
L'amitie Hotel: Imagine waking up to this every morning! Unfortunately, I'm usually only able to experience it for a few days each year, when I escape to JacmelSteve Krause
Grounded tug: Just a few hundred yards from the Jacmel wharf. The most recent Google Earth images show that there's not much left of it now, other than the shell.Steve Krause
Fou: One of the cutest kids in the world, as far as I'm concerned. 3 years old in this picture, she's now about 10. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get in touch with her family at all since the earthquake to confirm that they're OK.Steve Krause
Looking back at the yard of the Amitie Hotel east of Jacmel, while standing about 100 feet out into the water (where it is about chest-depth).Steve Krause
Terraced mountainside on the way back from JacmelSteve Krause
The Hotel de la Place, at the town square in Jacmel, across from city hall.Steve Krause
In Jacmel, Haiti. Just before the January 12th earthquake (which did not damage this building), Choice Hotels International indicated that this would become a Choice Hotel, and that they would open up another 120 room boutique hotel in Jacmel as well. This would be the first chain operated hotel in Haiti in over a decade.Steve Krause
Jacmel funeral procession, going from the Cathedral to the cemeterySteve Krause
PARADISE. Bassin Bleu, which is a bit of a hike up the mountains just west of Jacmel. An absolute must see for anyone visiting the area. (I suggest not going after any recent storms, as the water gets muddied, and the colour of the water is absolutely breathtaking when it is clear).Steve Krause
How to cut down a coconut tree...Taken a few hundred hards from the main bus station in Jacmel. At first we thought this person was climbing that ridiculous tree to collect the coconuts, but he actually managed to cut it down, section by section... with a MACHETE.Steve Krause
Looking north from my apartment during one of Jacmel's typical torrential downpours.Steve Krause
Decorated kalbas shell at the Hotel de la Place restaurant patio in Jacmel.Steve Krause
Nancy and Lovely, two of the most adorable kids ever. Still haven't been able to contact them or their family since the earthquake.Steve Krause
Looking over lower/old Jacmel, and it's Victorian era buildings. The yellow building on the left with the red roof is the old customs building, and the wharf is immediately to the left of the frame. Notice the small Haitian flags strung out across the neighborhood; this happened to be Flag Day.Steve Krause
Sunset at Ti Mouillage, east of JacmelSteve Krause
Flag Day in Jacmel: Taken just east of the Customs building, along the street leading to Kay Freres (Catholic School) and the LDS church.Steve Krause
Overlooking Avenue Baranquilla (the main East/West strip through Jacmel), taken from the patio of the Ambience restaurant.Steve Krause
Bay of Jacmel: The view from my apartment in Jacmel. In the immediate foreground below is the Iron Market, with the upper part of Old Jacmel behind.Steve Krause
The sun sets behind the mountains west of Jacmel. In the foreground is the LDS church.Steve Krause