Yet cruise liners still stop on day trips to stunning beaches and the Oloffson Hotel - (Petit Trianon in 'The Comedians') has rooms named for all the stars that stayed in better times. The house Band RAM fronted by the hotels owner as lead singer, are not to be missed.
Voodoo remains a powerful force in this culture.
I was based at Port Salut in the south west for a while. It may have been improved in the last few years , but the road from Port au Prince to Port Salut stopped me complaining about African roads ever again - ever.
Port Salut is a reminder of what much of the rest of the county may have looked like before deforestation and overgrazing.
Despite all its setbacks, Haiti remains a unique culture.
