Overall Score
The capital of the state of Haiti is Port-au-Prince. The first mention of this geographic point is from 1706, when a French ship Prêns, which means in translation means the local cove, entered the local cove. The captain of the ship gave the yacht the name Port-au-Prince and continued his voyage. It was not until 1748 that the French returned again, and construction of the port and the city began.
Since the local population soon became almost entirely dead, they began to bring in African slaves. The latter were needed to work the mines and the many plantations of the sugarcane fields.
Porte-au-Prince was the center of the island of Haiti for most of the 18th century. After the Revolutionary Rebellion began, the Central government was not far behind, and the local slaves rose up in revolt. As a result, Haiti became an autonomous state and Port au Prince became its capital. The city was the home of the Haitian rulers, who bore the coveted titles of emperors and kings. Because the natives, accustomed to being in bondage, were truly drunk on freedom, local rulers were often the victims of riots and revolts. Trying to build their own aristocracy, accumulate capital, and build economically profitable enterprises on the island did not help.
In 1915, the American troops landed, turning Port-au-Prince into a base for mining in Haiti. Since 1957, the head of the government, Paul Duke, was called Papa Doc. Thanks to his terrible «tontine macoutes»-who were regarded as zombies by the local people of the voodoo religion-he established a virtually unlimited power. During the period of his rule, Port-au-Prince became a city of grand palaces, while on the other, it became progressively poorer. Time and again the city was the scene of rebellions and mutinies against Daddy Dock, and there were frequent explosions. After the death of François Duchailleux, his post as president was filled, but in 1986 he was removed from office. Due to faulty construction materials and widespread corruption, nearly all the buildings were destroyed and more than 200,000 people died.
Port-au-Prince has a few interesting features. The local museum tells the story of the village. Among the artifacts is a picture of the ship Christopher Columbus. There is the Cathedral of the Most Holy Mother of God and several interesting palaces.
Overall Score
- Tap water: No, not drinkable
- Religious government: Religious
- Population: 990,000 people
- GDP: $705 / year
- Power outlets: 115V60Hz
- Internet: 4 Mbps
- Best wireless: Digicel
- Tipping: Restaurant staff in Haiti should be tipped around 10 percent of the bill. Taxi drivers can be given a discretionary tip if they are helpful and efficient. Most Haitians don’t tip, but it is customary to tip in tourist locations and all gratuities are graciously accepted.
- Apartment listings: AirBnb
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best coffee 24/7: Banj
- Best hospital: Kings Hospital
- Best short-haul air carrier: Air France
- Best intl air carrier: Air France
- Monthly costs for expat: $1350
- Monthly costs for family: $2500
- Monthly costs for local: $700
- Meal: $9.5
- Small Cola: $1.3
- Beer 1 Pint: $1.7
- Coffee: $1.4
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