Remember as a child playing Oregon Trail how fording a river by oxen was a fairly precarious option that often ended in the death of a few of your clan?
Today I had the most terrifying moto ride of my life. We were heading up to a waterfall in the mountains, across the river from Jacmel. As we approached the river with people bathing and washing clothes in it, I wondered, where is the bridge? Then we plunged into the water, up to our ankles on the foot rests (the water was seemingly inches from our bums, though probably more like a foot). We made it across and then bumped along the rocky dirt road with lots of potholes, blind turns, and piles of rubble. As the driver went around turns he blared the horn. Occasionally goats, pigs, donkeys, or women carrying various things on their heads would scoot out of the way. I'm not sure if it was scarier going up hill or down...I'm just glad Justin was squeezing me with his legs from behind (yes 3 adults weighing down the motorcycle).
When we arrived to the waterfalls, I was delighted to see the most gorgeous clear BLUE water I've ever seen. We swam in pools and jumped from rocks. We were all by ourselves, which was lovely, if not a little scary, as we were supposed to be with a "guide," who left us and told us to bring the rope back when we came back (used for climbing up a rock face). Thankfully we found our way back to the road to meet our moto-man again and head back the way we came, over and down the treacherous winding hills, through the beautiful Haitian countryside, and finally through the river...this time the driver took off his shoes. When we arrived back to our place in Jacmel, Carnival preparations were in full swing. It's the last Sunday before the big Carnival parade, and everyone is already trying out their costumes and practicing their musical instruments. It's even more of a mad house than usual...
What can I say? Another beautiful and interesting day in Haiti.
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