The Jacmel Experience

This small city is friendly, beautiful and relaxing, well in a controlled chaos sort of way. My second day in Jacmel a group of us decided to venture off to Bason Blue a place that is considered the most beautiful place in Haiti, according to the Lonely Planet DR/Haiti guide book. Gayly and I traveled there alone and a group of 10 other people came in different groups. Gayly and I walked the whole way which started at the rivers edge, we walked through thigh high water and at this point I knew the adventure was in full swing. Walking up to the sign post for Bason Blue I was excited, we walked through a banana and coconut lined path with houses and farms on the side. Then the path started to incline and before I knew it we were walking up a 22% grade that seemed to last forever but it definitely last at least 4 km. Hot and sweaty in this humid place can knock your spirits ability to think you can complete the journey but having a determined friend with you helps keep you going. I had Gayly and he would thankfully not stop walking and this kept me going as I was thinking if it was worth it. We walked to where I paid 100 gourde the rough equivalent to $2.50 to enter and then we purchased a bag of plantains and some chicken pastries for another 100 gourde. The water at Bason Blue is colbalt blue and beautiful. After a while the rest of the people showed up then we started jumping off the cliffs, swimming around in the refreshing water and having a great time. A few hours later we made the trek back home and thankfully it was down hill this time.
Jacmel is a great place I have had the best BBQ chicken here, swam in clear water, met friendly people and have had a few firsts. The first time I held a baby, first time I have ate plantains and ate cow intestine, it tastes like a Slim Jim if you were wondering.