i'm not really great with skinny mountain roads with clear views over the edge...but, i survived the 2.5 hour trip to jacmel and back.

we traveled with valris (one of my favorite flag makers) with the hopes of teaching some of the older kids the voudou flag making process. when we arrived at the foundation it was packed, noisy and full of life...hugs for everyone.  some even remembered me from the last time and called me mr. magician because of the tricks we did.  the place looked great with tons of new murals and paper mache trucks, bowls and fish drying in the sunny courtyard.  about 9 of the older boys 12-16 had prepared drawings on cloth for their flags and they were really good.  we found an outdoor carpenter that managed to make stretchers from recycled wood from destroyed buildings...all by hand...no electricity or modern equipment.

valris showed the boys how to stretch the cloth and back it with a rice bag for stability and then how to sequin and bead their designs.  i was surprised to see how focused they were.

maybe a couple may even become self sufficient artist...which would be wonderful.

after a long day of travel and work...the only hotel left standing was a "luxury" place with most of the guests from the un,unicef, salvation army and the likes...what a different world.  the view from our balcony was the bay with seas to the horizon.  water is calming to me...so, what a wonderful treat.

before the ride home, we ventured int the back forty with dirt pathways to little shacks.  this was my first visit to one of my favorite painters...destin domond.  he was there and greeted us with open arms and an open house stuffed with his work....of course some are coming back to baltimore.

the closer we got to the epicenter of the quake...the more we got rocked back into that sad reality.

i realize that i can't solve or fix haiti's problems.

i hope that i can live a life that i believe in and that my coming to haiti will be as a pebble dropped into the pond...affecting a few close by and having a chance of affecting a few far away.

i can't wait to share my experiences and purchases...

be back soon...

signing off from port au prince, haiti 2010