I'm currently resting in my sleeping bag, peering out into the dark, gazing at the black outlines of the trees contrasting the blue night sky. Illuminating the bleak surroundings; hundreds of fireflies pop about in fits of light like the flashbulbs of cameras.
By far the highlight of the day was meeting Sylvestre Leon. At a vegan cafe named "The Zen Fusion", Josh and I trudged in with rather grim spirits. We were warmly greeted by a man with a Caribbean (I thought Jamaican) accent. He seated us and asked us what we'd like to drink. Hearing the accent, I couldn't contain my curiousity. As he returned with the drinks, I asked, "If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?"
"Why, I yam from here, the Delaware Water Gap", he said with his eyebrows raised and his forehead wrinkles bunching up together.
"I mean, the accent, where's that originate?"
"Oh... I yam from Haiti."
"Oh okay. I thought that was it! My father went to Haiti before to do a bit of construction. He was around Port-Au-Prince."
"Ah yes, the capeetal."
"Yeah." A momentary lapse in conversation had me racking my brain for facts.
"One of the first colonial countries to rebel and declare their independence, right? From the-"
"The only country to ever declare their own independence! From the French! Of all nations!" He bursted proudly.
Sylvestre Leon would talk of Haiti's complete and total history, intertwining it with one of the most beautiful and moving speeches about human kind I have ever heard. I can literally tell you I was almost moved to tears.
He spoke about the racism of Santo Domingo (colonized by the Spanish and of lighter complexion) toward Haiti. Haiti and Santo Domingo shared the same island in the middle of the Caribbean. Unfortunately, systematic racism was created by the colonizers. An island of people that used to be neighbors now abhor each other because of the color of their skins and the ideals taught to them by their colonizers.
Sylvestre went from talking about this to how humans need to follow their own path through creation and originality. Damnit, I'm fucking this up. Sorry Sylvestre. I'll use an analogy or example he gave us.
"If there's a person walking across the street and you see them give you a smirk, a smile or a wave. That's it, man! That's some positive energy that a person can feel. They can't help but to look ya way, and feel that positivity. After your adventure, people will listen to you! You guys are doing it! You're sharing something special!"
It was incredible stuff. He went on for almost forty-five minutes. Josh and I thought we could bring peace to the world and conquer the universe.
Oh yeah, the food was tits.
I'll allow the rest of the pictures to tell today's story.
Just beyond the stalled train on the railroad tracks is the Delaware Water Gap. What's the water gap? Next photo.
Off in the distance; the Delaware Water Gap. The Delaware Water Gap is a sliver through the Appalachian Mountains created by the torrents of water pumped by the Delaware River. The total geological history of the Gap is pretty incredible, beginning its present formation over 450 million years ago!
Checking out an abandoned house on Old Mine Road. Old Mine Road is 140 miles long and one of the oldest continuously used roads in the US. Originally used for mining transportation by the Dutch along the river, its been turned into a National Park Area. All of the old houses from the 17th century are still here, abandoned. I don't think this is one of those Dutch homes though.
Okie dokie, time to leave.
The greenest greens I ever did see. Putting on photo editing stuff also makes it even more green.
"okie dokie time to leave" hahaha, but very nice post otherwise as well ;)
ReplyDeletehaha, i tink it was fake... hopefully. Thanks
DeleteUm THAT ROOM. No.
ReplyDelete