Bits Of Me In a Nutshell: Journey Across The Border

Since i was vacationing in the Dominican Republic for over a month, i decided to head over to haiti for a week to visit some family and also to attend a funeral. This post is about the 8 hours long journey i took from Santiago de los Caballeros Dominican Republic to Port-au-Prince Haiti.

Step 1. It all starts with you having to call the bus company; i used Coach Line Express, either the early morning of, or the night before just to reserve your spot on the bus. When all that is handled, pack your bags, but beware of what you pack because "they" check the suitcases that go under the buses and take things that they want going and coming, their bogus excuses is that they don't want untaxed things leaving country X or entering country Y.

If you have the luck of staying in Santo Domingo, you can skip this step, but i had to take a cab to Metro bus station where i bought my ticket to the capital: this is a 2 hour long bus ride, all before dawn.

8 something i arrived in the capital where i proceeded to take another cab to Coach line Express bus station. When i arrived i realized i did not do step 1, which was reserve my spot, so i was put on standby and had to see whether or not there would be enough empty seat on the bus, luckily there was. Its a $40 American dollar bus ticket, and a $25 American dollar tax for leaving DR (rip off) they take your passport and return it to you when you reach the frontier/border. You will be on the bus for a while, about 5 1/2- 6 hrs until you arrive at the border. They feed you ham & cheese sandwiches, juice and water, so if you don't think this will suffice, bring your own food.

(Beautiful body of water near the boarder)

(SOOO many seek refuge here after the earthquake who now have no home)

When you reach the border, they return your passport to you while on the bus, then are asked to leave the bus to get your passport stamped SALIDA, beware of your property and don't be a victim of the scammers who ask for passports and money, if you paid at the station thats all the money you'll spend until you come back, and also be mindful of the beggars they are good, its their job. The only thing i don't like is that they are pushy both the Haitians and the Dominicans *let it be my choice whether i want to give you money, I'm from New York i see this 24/7*

(Everyday Life For them)

...When you walk back to the bus, don't be alarmed, like i said before they will open every suitcase and check for this, just make sure you are watching your property.

(The Gate that Separates Haiti and D.R)
Back on the bus you go, and within a matter of minutes you have passed the gate which separates the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Within a few minutes of entering Haiti, you are prompted to get off the bus again and get your passport stamped ENTREE, for legal entrance into Haiti(make sure that you fill out all of the forms given to you, also making sure that you store everything somewhere safe).