Tuesday, July 22, 2008

NEW ROUTE FOR CARIBE

dr1 reports:
The Caribe Tours Company, the largest bus company in the Dominican Republic, has opened a new route to Dajabon and Haiti's second city, Cap-Haitien. The new route will go through Ouanaminthe (Juana Mendez) on the Haitian border and continue on to Cap-Haitien on the north coast of the neighboring country. This is the second international route covered by Caribe Tours. The first links Santo Domingo with Jimani and Petionville, in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital. The new route will make it easier for independent tourists in the DR to visit the legendary Citadelle monument in Cap Haitien.

UPDATE JULY 24:
The nation's largest bus company, Caribe Tours, took dozens of their buses out of service yesterday to stage a protest in front of the offices of the OTTT. The OTTT had rescinded the permission obtained by Caribe Tours to operate a direct connection between Santo Domingo and Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti, which was supposed to start this week. Caribe Tours buses tied up traffic for several blocks around the Quisqueya Stadium. In a press release, the company said that they have no idea why the OTTT has blocked their routes. Previously, Caribe Tours had obtained permission for the route from the Armed Forces, the Customs Office, the OTTT and the corresponding authorities in Haiti. Caribe Tours says they have all the permits required for the routes from the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Ministry of Armed Forces, Customs Department and even the OTTTT and the competent authorities in Haiti.
STAY TUNED!

4 comments:

TY said...

Wow this is great, the trip will be long and agonizing but a nice alternative to the southern route. I was in peace corps in HAiti and go backl on occaision so I am glad to hear they have opened the more affluent and prosperous northern part of the country.

Anonymous said...

Ty, What can you tell us about Haiti today? I used to go there frequently in the 70s (yes, I'm that old!) but have been reluctant to return recently because of the unrest and uncertainty there. But I dearly love the country and its people, and I have many fond memories - not to say photos - of my visits there.

Have you been there recently? Would you suggest regular but savvy tourists could go back?

TY said...

It has changed dramatically as you know. It is not safe for fair complexioned visitors or those who speak absolutley no French or Kreyol. I go about twice a year now and continue to be amazed at the level of continued unrest and destruction all throughout the southern region from Jacmel back down to Port au prince and Bellville. If you decide to go be sure to be as demure and low key as possible. There is a very very under the radar gay community that needs to be as cautious as possible for obvious reasons. I generally stay at a spot on Rue Capois and Champ Mas the name chages so fast. I will try to find the most recent email thery sent me and see what name they are using now. I never travel there direct now. It is wiser and safer to enter the country over land via Santo Domingo. THe caribe tours bus leaves DR at 11:00 in the morning and gets to Petionville at around 8:00 or 9:00 unless there are delays at the border, It leaves Petionville at 7:00 in the morning and gets into DR around 6:00 or 7:00 barring any delays at the border. The ticket is 100USd roud trip and another 70USD between the border taxes in and out. Hit me up for more info>

Anonymous said...

Ty, thanks for this update. It's a sad situation for sure, to befall the oldest Black republic in the world and the second oldest republic in the western hemisphere.

I'll take your offer and hit you up a little later via your own blog so as not to hijack this thread.

Thanks, TD, for posting the informative stuff as well as the eye candy. We do need both!