Market Day Experience

Just before Easter our Market Days in Ouanaminthe (days where people can cross to buy things in the DR without a passport) were extremely hectic. People lost a day of trade due to the border being closed for Good Friday so there were double (it seemed) the amount of people in town. I had to get over to Dajabon in the DR on one of the days. An 8 minute ride took 1 hour. We (my motorcycle taxi and I) got stuck on the bridge. People were walking, carrying things on their heads (chickens, supplie etc), wheel barrels, motorcycles, trucks and 18 wheelers were all trying to get into the DR or trying to come into Haiti. I would guesstimate about 10 - 12 thousand people. Yes 12 000. It was CHAOS.

The officials TRY to have "lanes". Walkers, wheel barrels, motorcycles and vehicles. NO ONE listens and everyone goes everywhere which in turn blocks vehicles and motorcycles. Then the motorcycles rev and inch forward. Spreading so much gas fumes it becomes toxic.
Then the 18 wheelers decide to "inch" forward and almost topple the mottos (aka ME, the driver and others)
THEN the DR officials come along with batons and whips to "create" order. All it creates is a wave of anxiety that makes me prepare to jump and run if the need be. I actually checked for escape routes if things went sideways. It is bizarre to be in the middle of it and know that things could go very bad very fast.  And you can FEEL the panic and chaos. The feeling reaches you before you are able to see what is going on. At one point I had to hold the front tire of another moto just to keep him from ramming into me. And you have to watch for mufflers of other bikes. People get burned so easily on them. We got across and I waited hours before going back hoping things would dissipate which it did.

Lesson learned. If I can avoid crossing on Market Days I will do so................................................



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