Technically, I Was Not Lost

I have been truly lost a handful of times in my life.  A few times while backpacking through Europe I was lost.  Seriously lost.  Like no clue where I was.  A couple of times I have been lost in the Boundary Waters.  Those times were sort of scary, highly frustrating, and nerve wracking (especially because I either didn't speak the language or was responsible for teens).

 However, there have been MANY times in my life when I have taken off for a place, pretty sure I knew how to get there, but the way was hazy in my mind.  When that happens, I often have friends or others with me who may or may not appreciate the fact that I don't know the exact way to get to where we were going. Sorry to all those folks.

On those occasions, though, we weren't really lost.  We just weren't where we were supposed to be and I wasn't sure how to get to where we were going..  Yesterday for me was one of those days. 

I had to go to the store for shampoo, conditioner, lunch stuff, etc.  I have been to the Star 2000 on Delmas many times, and I know the route perfectly.  Nothing too exciting.  I decided to go to a different store in a completely different direction.  I headed out for the DeliMart near the Caribbean Lodge.  This required taking a different set of taptaps, ones I had never taken before.   I knew there was a Sol gas station on the corner, I knew it was on the way to the American embassy, and I knew it was just a short walk from the corner where I would get off to the DeliMart.  

All that knowledge was correct, and I got off the first taptap at the correct corner.  It had a Sol gas station.  It just wasn't the corner near the DeliMart.  I started walking, thinking the store was just down the road.  On was on Tabarre, so I knew where I was, I just didn't know how to get to the store from there.  After walking quite a bit it was obvious that the store was not on that road.  However, I chose to keep going because I knew the store wasn't behind; it might be in front of me still.  

I walked about two miles (in flip flops) before coming to the first intersection, which I recognized.  I turned left and saw a Sol gas station on the right a little ways up.  That was the Sol and corner I was looking for!  The DeliMart was just around the corner (if you're on the right corner!).  I did my shopping--I wasn't too impressed with this DeliMart--they are not all created equal.

Impulse purchase--$1 U.S.

I made one impulse purchase--nail polish remover.  A couple of days before leaving for Haiti, I had a manicure and pedicure.  The polish on my hands wore off quickly, but the polish on the toes has taken longer.  In fact, I still have polish on my big toe after three and a half months (I know, TMI).  I didn't think to pack polish remover, so I've just been dealing with the slow chipping off process.  The polish remover caught my eye in the store, and I thought "Why not??".  I haven't used it yet.  I'm debating whether to use it, or wait and see if, in five weeks, I still have polish on the last of my toes.  This is partly how I entertain myself in Haiti!

Getting home should have been easy.  Come out of the store, turn left, cross the street, grab a taptap, etc.  I forgot the part about turning left again at the corner after crossing the street.  Oops.  I asked the driver of the taptap I got on whether he was going to Rte. National #1.  Yes.  I hopped on.  I quickly realized that it was not the same road I had walked along.    I wasn't where I thought I was, but I knew where I was going.  So, technically still not lost.  The taptap route ended at Rte. National #1, and I started walking left (I still have a hard time with compass directions here).  About half a block later, I knew exactly where I was!  From there it was simple to grab another taptap and head home.

I feel as if I'm starting to "own" a small portion of Port-au-Prince.  I think I'm ready to branch out now.  I'd like to tackle downtown or Petionville next and see whether I can find my way around those two places!