Greetings! I've had mixed feelings on whether or not to post pictures of the destruction here in Port-au-Prince. It is ubiquitous and all consuming, but it does not necessarily define the city. Here, as with any place after a disaster, life goes on. People eat, shop, pray, visit loved ones, and try to find happiness in any situation. However, after a visit to downtown to see the Presidential Palace and National Cathedral, I realized how necessary it is for everyone to see the damage that remains three months after the earthquake!
Three months has passed and it still amazes me how little rubble has been removed. It is a sobering realization that under every destroyed building and pile of rubble there are bones of those that perished.
The National Cathedral, or the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, was completed in 1914, and completely destroyed on January 12, 2010. In addition to its religious significance, the cupola also served as a lighthouse, guiding ships into Port-au-Prince harbor.
The Presidential Palace was also severely damaged by the earthquake, and has really come to symbolize the extent of the destruction. Here are two pictures: soon after I arrived, and now that renovation has begun.
No comments:
Post a Comment