Haiti's Northern Coast: A Vintage Clothes Picking Frenzy in Trou du Nord
i just stepped off the dusty minibus at tro du nord and the heat hit me like a wet blanket-28°C on the thermostat, feels‑like 29.6°C, which is basically a sauna with a view. the humidity is 61%, the pressure is 1012 hPa, and the ground‑level pressure is 1011 hPa. if you get bored, the hills of dajabón are a short drive away, and the caribbean beaches of petite anse are just a short drive away. i plan to drop by both next week because i heard the water is clearer at dawn.
someone told me that the thrift shop on rue des colons never opens before the third hour of the day, and that the owner will only accept cash-no cards, no change. i heard that you need to bring a bottle of cheap rum as a tip, otherwise the shop stays locked like a vault. i grabbed my battered backpack, loaded with a couple of jars of water and a half‑empty soda, and went searching.
a drunken tourist at the beach bar shouted, "the biggest find in town is a 70‑year‑old bomber jacket that still smells like diesel and mango!" the locals swear it’s the only place where the vintage vibe actually survived the hurricanes. i took that as a sign, and dove into the market.
i read a reddit post from r/haiti_travel that said the local "flea‑market" closes at 4 p.m. sharp, but the real underground shops stay open until the night sky is full of fireflies. i guess that’s why i’m always late to dinner-shopping for threads before the sun decides to die.
the pressure’s a gentle 1012 hPa, which means the sky’s "nice" but honestly it’s just another excuse to keep the windows closed while i’m hunting for that perfect retro tee.
the weather’s basically a wet sauna. i just checked that it’s 28°C with that sticky‑hot vibe, feels‑like 29.6°C, and humidity at 61%. if you get bored, the hills of dajabón are a short drive away, and the caribbean beaches of petite anse are just a short drive away.
local hotspots:
- café du pacha (tripadvisor link) - the spot where i grabbed a coconut latte and a croissant that looked like it had survived the 1960’s. the owner told me the coffee beans are shipped from the mountains of côte d’ivoire and roasted on a tiny gas stove. tripadvisor
- thrift corner - an informal corner where kids swap sneakers and locals hustle for vintage. i heard from a regular that the owner’s sister has a stash of 80’s denim that never gets listed online. yelp
- local market of dajabón - a 45‑minute drive that feels like stepping back in time. the sellers wear embroidered shirts that look like they’ve survived every haitian festival. facebook
additional link: atlas obscura
practical advice
- bring a reusable bottle, the tap water is drinkable but tastes like a limestone cocktail.
- don’t forget a mask, the dust from the trucks can get into your eyes faster than the humidity.
- negotiate in haitian creole phrases like “bon apitite” for clothes-locals love the effort, even if you mangle it.
the vibe of tro du nord is a mix of fried plantains, cheap rum, and that buzzing hum of neon signs that never quite flicker off. i might not be a digital nomad who updates my followers every second, i’m just a guy who wants to leave tro du nord with a wardrobe that looks like it survived a hurricane and still looks fresh. the weather is relentless, the humidity is a beast, but the people? they’re the best currency i’ve ever spent.
the next stop is a night‑time scooter ride to the caribbean coastline, then maybe a quick dip in a sea that’s still warm from the sun. stay tuned, i’ll post more photos once i find a charger that works.
the map:
photos: