Having visited a number of island communities over the years I am reminded of the struggle the people who live there have each day. The poverty, the health care and the living conditions are so far removed from our standard of living it makes us thankful for our life style. One feature that leaves a lasting image for me is the smiling faces of the children.
There appears to be a radiance coming from their faces and a genuine feeling of happiness. I always wonder how those little school children, dressed mostly in white, attend school looking like they just jumped out of a catalogue.
One church caught our attention in the small town where hurricanes devastated the land several times. We entered the church and met an old pastor who filled us in with a story of survival. Three times the church was destroyed. The congregation decided to build a church from concrete blocks brought in from the mainland at great cost. Since 1923 this church has been standing and acts as the safe house during bad weather. Every thing in the church was made by hand and donated to the church by thankful people in the community.This Presbyterian church has become a centre of interest by those who visit the island.
Our ship took us to a remote part of Cozumel Island and gave us an opportunity to visit the ruins and historic sights. Part of this island is so developed it looks like cony island and looses it's appeal for many visitors.We loved the whole cruise and will have another in the future. Travel by any means is good but in a luxury liner is priceless.
There appears to be a radiance coming from their faces and a genuine feeling of happiness. I always wonder how those little school children, dressed mostly in white, attend school looking like they just jumped out of a catalogue.
One church caught our attention in the small town where hurricanes devastated the land several times. We entered the church and met an old pastor who filled us in with a story of survival. Three times the church was destroyed. The congregation decided to build a church from concrete blocks brought in from the mainland at great cost. Since 1923 this church has been standing and acts as the safe house during bad weather. Every thing in the church was made by hand and donated to the church by thankful people in the community.This Presbyterian church has become a centre of interest by those who visit the island.
Our ship took us to a remote part of Cozumel Island and gave us an opportunity to visit the ruins and historic sights. Part of this island is so developed it looks like cony island and looses it's appeal for many visitors.We loved the whole cruise and will have another in the future. Travel by any means is good but in a luxury liner is priceless.
Nancy commented on the clean and tidy and cheerful appearance of the Haitians in the midst of the squalor that we view most of their living conditions. Back in Canada after the earthquake, a Haitian friend expressed disbelief that Haiti was considered a 3rd world country. When asked if she hadn't noticed the difference in living conditions between here and there she said that she thought that it was just because of the climate.
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