Labadee, Haiti
Monday, May 5th, 2008
Labadee is interesting in that although part of Haiti, it is really a privately-owned beach-front resort built and established by Royal Caribbean®. This means that the nitty gritty that may be considered unsafe in Haiti is beyond the bounds of the tourists visiting this gorgeous locale. Inasmuch, the cruise ship sets up more than ample activities, including jet-ski, parasailing, and – in my case – snorkeling.
The boat is anchored and the guests take a “tender” (a smaller boat) to the shore line. There, multiple lounge chairs are set-up on the beach, drinks are offered shore-side, and various bands perform Reggae music with CDs for sale. It is all terribly commercial, contrived, and rather forced, which is a shame for such a beautiful location. But, acknowledging the questionable safety of the nation as a whole, perhaps there are some internal benefits to the residents of Haiti that may not be seen to the general public.