Hispaniola + Southern México

there was enough to see and do in the small towns and villages of the surrounding valleys to easily fill up a week on its own. 

But after 3 days and nights in the Valley of Oaxaca, it was time to head north towards México City, making stops in the states of Puebla, Tlaxcala, Estado de México, and Morelos.  The city of Puebla jumped to the #1 spot on my list of favorite Mexican cities, thanks to its phenomenal food and gorgeous colonial centre;  Teotihuacán’s gargantuan pyramids were a gasp-inducing highlight, as much for seeing them as for climbing them;  Morelos’ capital, Cuernavaca, had a lovely centre and fascinating museum – but it’s the chilaquiles I had for breakfast there which linger on as my most memorable Morelense experience.

Enough, right?  Nope!  I love México, don’t get me wrong — but I needed to get off the mainland, go somewhere new – a new country, a new adventure.  Somewhere close, but off the beaten path.  Nowhere fit the bill better than Haiti.  Enough time had passed since the horrific earthquake of 2010 to begin seeing some ‘rebirth’, but certainly not enough for it to regain its once formidable place at the forefront of Caribbean travel destinations.  It was the perfect time to go.

Getting to Haiti from México City took me through Santo Domingo, where I was lucky enough to have a couple of days to visit the Zona Colonial and take in many of America’s “firsts”, including the first cathedral, street, and hospital.  Looking back on it, visiting the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the same trip is almost essential to fully grasp the effects of the island’s turbulent history on its two very different countries.

Haiti is not your typical travel destination, and it’s certainly not for everyone.  But those who venture there will be rewarded by a unique experience filled with fascinating history, an amazingly proud and resilient people, breathtaking landscapes, and a real, unfiltered adventure, with all that comes with it — to quote one of my oft-heard sayings, “If I’m not taking malaria pills, it’s not a real vacation!”