The Fishing Boats of Jacmel

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For some reason, I am absolutely fascinated with old fishing boats. Their peeling paint and worn down appearance make me so curious to learn their history. Who made them? Who owns them? What are they used for? All questions I would love to know but usually don’t find out due to language barriers when traveling.

When I was in Jacmel, on the southern coast of Haiti in February as part of my visit with Heart of Haiti (#Bloggers4Haiti), our hotel was located right on the sea with stunning views of the Caribbean. I noticed a collection of old fishing boats below on the beach and decided to walk down and explore.

The view from above on the verandah was so inviting it was hard to leave our hotel. But curiosity got the best of me. I’m an explorer at heart not one to sit on the beach.

Many Haitians that live in coastal areas rely on fishing as their income. However, there is much need for modernization of boats and equipment. The majority of Haitian fishermen still have old, run-down canoes without motors and use handmade nets to catch their fish. Not a very effective way but the only way for many Haitians who live in the most extreme poverty in the Western Hemisphere.

As I walked down the old wooden stairs to the beach and got closer to the boats, I noticed a few fishermen nearby chatting away in Creole, the native language of Haiti. I wished I could talk with them but although Creole sounds a bit like French its combination with African languages makes it an entirely different language.

I wondered how old these boats were and what kind of fish they caught. A question I never got answered but still think about today.

As the sun set, I couldn’t resist taking a few more shots of the changing light on the boats. Their colors seemed to bounce off the sea. I wished I had more time to explore the beauty of Haiti then only five short days. Her history, culture and natural beauty seduced me in an unexpected, delightful way. Sometimes these kinds of rare finds are the best when traveling.

I realized too that you can’t look at the world with expectations. You must embrace traveling with your eyes wide open, patient and ready to take everything you see in. No judgement. Just acceptance on the differences. Otherwise you are greatly missing a lot of the beauty of travel.

This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: Afloat. To view more entries, click here. 

41 thoughts on “The Fishing Boats of Jacmel”

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Janet! 😀

      Reply ↓
  2. Jane Lurie – Hello! Berenice Abbott said, “Photography helps people to see.” It is satisfying when someone looks at one of my images and remarks that they now see something in a new way. I hope that my photographs delight and surprise you.
    Jane Lurie on said:

    Good work!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      😃

      Reply ↓
  3. maamej – Australia – I'm a single white Aussie mum of anglo-celtic background with a teenage son whose dad is from Ghana in West Africa. I’m blogging to share experiences, insights & funny stories about living in a mixed family. I also blog about health, politics, culture, racism and food.
    maamej on said:

    Lovely shot of the boats through the trees. They are very photogenic in close up too, & wise words about travel.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you!

      Reply ↓
  4. moondustwriter – Thank you for visiting Moondustwriter. One of the many exciting things I've had the honor of doing is writing and publishing in multiple genres (including education) in E. African for E. Africa. As a writer, it is a thrill to write for children (on all continents) who want to learn. I've been part of the blogging community for more than 15 years. Some old timers may remember the award winning (2011 Twitter Shorty ) blog community - One Stop Poetry. I was the co-producer of that fast growing blog community. I am a published writer, poet, artist and photographer. I have written, as well as edited, for periodicals, radio, blogs and fellow writers. I presently research and edit for academia (what was I thinking?) There are many facets to this moon - my joy is in meeting you!
    moondustwriter on said:

    Oh your shots are wonderful. I love the tropic and the colors

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much!😀

      Reply ↓
  5. Alison and Don – Occupation: being/living/experiencing/travelling. In our sixties, with apparently no other authentic option, my husband Don and I sold our apartment and car, sold or gave away all our stuff and set off to discover the world. And ourselves. We started in Italy in 2011 and from there have travelled to Spain, India, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, South America, Egypt, Japan, etc. - you can see the blog archive. We travelled full-time for nearly six years, and then re-established a home in Vancouver. We now travel 2-3 months per year. We are interested in how the world works, how life works, how the creation of experience works, how the mind works. As we travel and both "choose" our course, and at the same time just let it unfold, we discover the "mechanics" of life, the astounding creativity of life, and a continual need to return to trust and presence. Opening the heart, and acceptance of what is, as it is, are keystones for us both. Interests: In no particular order: travel, photography, figure skating (as a fan), acceptance, authenticity, walking/hiking, joy, creativity, being human, adventure, presence, NOW. Same for Don except replace figure skating with Formula One motor racing.
    Alison and Don on said:

    Oh I would have been exploring like you for sure! I love doing that- poking about in the ‘ordinary’ parts of a place we visit. Don and I call it ‘flaneuring’. And of course you found out all you really needed to know about the boats – their life and beauty. Love your last paragraph.
    Alison

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Alison! 😀

      Reply ↓

  6. Pingback: Afloat | My Atheist Blog

  7. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge-Afloat | WoollyMuses

  8. Peggy Ryan Designs – Bologna, Italy – I'm an educator, photographer, arts marketer & Italy travel expert. Instagram: @gracefully_global | Twitter: @gglobal_blog
    mfryan on said:

    I really love your closing words. Very powerful and an important mantra for frequent travelers.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much! 😀

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! ☺️

      Reply ↓
  10. Lola Jane – Monterey Peninsula, California – Advocate for planet Earth, grandmother, Philippine born, US Air Force Veteran. I blog about topics related to conservation and the environment, living in the California Central Coast, and Philippine-related development topics, to understand challenges faced by developing nations like my home country. I believe we are all connected -- no matter what part of the world we live in -- and positive that we have the capacity to solve our problems…if we know what they are.
    Lola Jane on said:

    Great shots and post, Nicole — I love what you wrote here “You must embrace traveling with your eyes wide open, patient and ready to take everything you see in. No judgement. ” 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Lola Jane. That is my mantra in life.

      Reply ↓

  11. Pingback: Photo Challenge; Afloat | tnkerr-Writing Prompts and Practice

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Debra. It was quite beautiful.

      Reply ↓

  13. Fabulous old boats – what stories they could tell…. Like you, I love old things, and coming across the unexpected makes a trip for me 😀

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you! Yes the unexpected is always wonderful.

      Reply ↓

  14. Beautiful images. I have always been fascinated by fishing boats as well – as I have never been one to just hang around doing nothing on the beach. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! 🙂 What is next for you and your work? Any fun trips?

      Reply ↓

      • For the time being, not travelling to any far away places. But of course I am always on the move. I am teaching a workshop in Oslo this week and then head back to Seattle on Sunday. But, yes, it’s about time to find a new and exciting project. 🙂

      • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
        thirdeyemom on said:

        Sounds exciting!

  15. anotherday2paradise – Durban South Africa and Florida USA – I enjoy writing about absolutely anything, and started blogging with WordPress in 2012. This was my 'Hammock Lady' blog, and I really enjoyed sharing my travels here: http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/ In November 2013, I decided it was time for a change of scenery, so I started my blog afresh, and here it is. I love to travel, and have been fortunate enough to do two round-the-world trips and visit more than forty countries so far. This year we visited our 7th continent, Antarctica. I enjoy photographing wildlife, especially in my backyard in Florida. I was born and brought up in England. My husband and I emigrated to South Africa in 1970. We now live in Florida, USA. I have a son and a daughter and five gorgeous grandchildren currently aged between 6 and 21 years. I'm so happy that you've taken the time to visit my blog, and would love for you to join me on my travels. Sylvia.
    anotherday2paradise on said:

    Loved your closeup photos of these old fishing boats, Nicole. They really look like they’ve done a lot of work in their time. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all understand each other’s languages? 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Sylvia!

      Reply ↓
  16. Nilzeitung – West Europas – Danke für ihren Besuch.!!"dieser Seite im Aufbau". Es stimmt, dass es keine Freiheit ohne Pressefreiheit gibt. Wahrer Frieden des Journalismus ist eine der Säulen der Demokratie (Salah El-Nemr) se/nz.
    nilzeitung on said:

    Reblogged this on Nilzeitung.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks!

      Reply ↓
  18. Angeline Suze – Love travel and photography. Living in Northern California. Photos of locations visited are personal file photos. I’m on Instagram: suze.munoz
    Angeline M on said:

    Beautiful place! And I, like you, can’t sit on a beach too much; I have to get out there and explore, even if it’s a place I’ve been to before. I love your last paragraph!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Angeline!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Andrew! I have enjoyed your colorful studio art!

      Reply ↓

  20. This images were similar to those we saw when living in Mexico. I too love the old fishing boats. These look like they have weathered a lot. Love that last paragraph of yours Nicole…so true.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks LuAnn!

      Reply ↓

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