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Guide to Port Au Prince, Haiti
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Port Au Prince
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Port Au PrinceSituated around the innermost point of a bay with an identical label as itself, the Haitian capital of Port au Prince seems to exist to stand by the assertion that a sprawling metropolis consists of tightly linked and overstuffed residential districts, industrial sectors with much grime, congestion, and neckties to show for, and lots - that's right, lots - of influence in their country's economic and governmental matters. Not all is bad in Port au Prince, however. Since ridding itself almost entirely of those infamous dealings, which put a media spotlight on the Haiti for years in the latter half of the 20th Century, Port au Prince has made itself to look quite colorful, and its people have come to be known as some of the friendliest in the South Caribbean Sea - those of the Dominican Republic have even noticed their neighbor's tourism industry garnering lots of beneficial attention. Many cultures within the Caribbean region are known to be festive and celebratory when it comes to special occasions, and folks in Haiti are no different. In the midst of its famed Iron Market, its imposing Cathedral of St. Trinity, and the wondrous Museum of Haitian Art, events mark many days of the calendar in the capital. Whether personal or universal, there's always something going on to cheer one up; plenty to get one buzzed as well! You can be an archaeologist, here to visit the city's prized National Museum, an anthropology buff intent on discovering the means with which people used to live on the island prior to establishing glass- and steel-concocted constructions, or simply a curious fellow with one agenda: to travel somewhere unique. Today, though everything you might touch may not be gold in its quarters, Port au Prince gives reason for the world to celebrate in the fact that loveliness can still be found in at least one of the most densely populated locations in the Western Hemisphere.
When to go:
Like several southern Caribbean locales, Port au Prince is lucky both to experience a mild climate and retain the status quo for as long a period as possible. All four seasons seem appealing at the start - particularly when sized up with those of more northerly nations - and regardless of whether you're in for a few spells of extended downpours or intense wind patterns, everything appears to look better in Port au Prince overall than anyplace else. Summertime is the capital's peak activity segment - you may wish to avoid Port au Prince altogether when it is teeming with street life to the point of literal discomfort. Spring in the region receives high marks for its track record for dryness and temperate weather.
Getting there and around:
Eight miles (13km) from downtown Port au Prince, Haiti's most active flight terminal sits restlessly, serving dozens of flights per day, with more destined and arriving to/from international lands than places within the country's own borders. Taxis and buses are available to take you to your hotel or a general transit hub within the capital. Pickpockets aren't entirely absent from the streets of Port au Prince, but if you keep a good hold on your belongings, whether you're walking throughout each district or trying out the city's public transportation system, all possession you've brought with you will surely stay on your person.
Attractions:
Did you ever wonder what a life-size gingerbread-styled house would be like to view in real-time? Journey out to Delfly Mansion and you'll see a French delight that's bound to put a smile on your face. (Just don't try to bite in.) Though it is quite old by a modern city's standards, the mansion is an impressive site and worth a look.
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