On a previous Caribbean cruise we visited Antigua but didn’t meet any amateurs because we landed at “English Harbour, “the wrong side of the island.”  Most hams were in St. John’s.
   This time we got to the right side of the island but we met the “wrong” man.  I had written to Barney, VP2AA, asking to meet him but he didn’t answer.  In Antigua I called him up but after being questioned at length, by a man I had the feeling that was Barney himself, I was told that Barney wasn’t home and probably would return late.  On our way to visit another ham we saw a house with a big beam.  Quite happy that we had found a ham, we entered and ... surprise ... who was there and finishing his lunch?  Barney, VP2AA, who allegedly was not home and was returning late.  Barney declared: “I’m not interested in meeting foreigners ...,” letting me understand that my face was too pale to be accepted by him.  This was the first time I met discrimination among hams and I’m sure it is a rare exception.
   Searching for friendly amateurs we found two CBers, Jim, the “Red Fox,” an American; and Arnold “Kitty Hawk,” an Antiguan.  Both were very enthusiastic about ham radio and with their help we met Jerry VP2AC, a newsman, excellent ham and DXpeditioner.  There aren’t many like him on this island.  I recommend skipping Antigua; touristically I could not find there anything interesting.

 

KP4

PUERTO RICO

   Everybody is a friendly host in Puerto Rico.  The climate is hot but pleasant, the sights are magnificent and there are plenty of hams.  What else could we ask for?
   We docked early in the morning and went sightseeing, - Old San Juan, San Cristobal, El Morro fortress - all a photographer’s delight.
   We spent the afternoon with Jose, KP4DDO, a college student who was active in every contest and pile-up, and guest operated his station, signing portable KP4.
   Jose has decorated a large wall of his radio room with specially selected QSLs which fluoresce with beautiful colors when illuminated with an ultra violet lamp.
   With Jose we went to see Eliot, KP4DSH; and later Alicia, KP4CL; and her husband Felix, KP4CK.  Although we had met these people before, the Spanish hospitality has no limits.
   Puerto Rico should be visited by everybody who goes down to the Caribbean, not as a DXpeditioner, because there are plenty of KP4s on the air, but just for the beauty of the island.

 

HI8

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

   There is quite a large number of Dominican amateurs in New York City, operating under the Reciprocal Operating Agreement, or with American call if they already acquired US citizenship.  They were very helpful, informing their friends back home about our visit, so when we docked at Santo Domingo, Felix, HI8FED; Jose, HI8JD; and his very pretty daughter, Maira, were waiting for us at the pier.
   Together we went sightseeing, visiting the oldest cathedral in the Western hemisphere, dating from 1512, where we were told that the remains of Christopher Columbus are kept.  There is another cathedral in Spain making the same claim.  That’s like Chris could make up his mind where to get his much deserved rest.
   Later we visited the new amateur radio club house, built with funds collected slowly from enthusiastic, but not very wealthy hams.
   I was told that is quite easy to get a Dominican license, not only a “portable HI8,” but a real HI8 call.  The call will be HI8X.., the letter X after the district number shows that the license belongs to a foreign ham.
   One of the best and most expensive hotels in Santo Domingo, “El Ambajador,” employs 3 or 4 amateurs.  Peri, HI8PM, the hotel’s chief accountant, said the hotel will reserve the most adequate rooms, will even help installing the antenna, for any amateur wishing to spend a nice Caribbean vacation and DXpedition in the same time.
   We visited Felix’s family and of course his station HI8FED.   Felix is an MD and a college professor.  We had dinner in his house and we ate local specialties, most of which I’ve never seen before.
   Periandron, HI8NDV, and Bolivar, HI8BC, came there to see us, and that’s just what they did; they looked at us with friendly smiles and answered every question with the same magic sentence: “No speak Ingles.”
   Later, on the way to visit Jaime, HI8JE, our car passed several military check points.  The soldiers waived their machine guns, looked at the passengers, but not even Steve, my scared and suspicious looking father-in-law, presented any problem.  Steve was very lucky because he was traveling with a Romanian passport and did not have the required visas; we just smuggled him in and out, from island to island.
   There was quite a ham gathering at Jaime’s house - about 15 amateurs with their wives.  They presented me with a beautiful “welcome award,” hand made on a very thick parchment, written in Spanish.  I don’t understand what it says, so I prefer to think it’s a “welcome award.”  Otherwise, how would I justify having it framed and hung in my radio room?
   I recommend a vacation-DXpedition on this island, but it would be very useful if you learned some Spanish before going.  On your way there you could stop in my radio room, read my “award” and tell me all about it.
   Don’t miss the chance to meet local hams.

 

HH

H A I T I

   I was very curious about this country.  Most of what I read and heard about it was not very flattering.  The regimes of Papa Doc and Bebe Doc, and the terror of the Toton Macoute did not seem to be very attractive even for a short visit.  And because Haiti was the only place in the Western Hemisphere where amateur radio was practically illegal, I did not have too much sympathy for it.
   In Port-au-Prince, on our way from the docks to the center of the city, I noticed two men following us at about 40 yards distance.  To make sure about the surveillance, we crossed the street several times and the also crossed it.  When we stopped; they also stopped.  At an interesection I left Eva and Steve turn the corner and continue walking, and I was waiting for them.  When they arrived I greeted them the friendliest way I could fake and said:
   “God morning monsieur, there many people on the streets, it’s possible we may loose each other.  Better let’s walk together.”
   The gentlemen, and I am using this term very loosely, looked surprised and angry but did not answer.  I enterred a store and when I came out they were gone.  I hope I did not hurt their feelings too much.
    During our short stay, I disliked the pushy guides and taxi drivers; the noisy, aggressive and hard bargaining merchants; and the extreme poverty displayed everywhere.  But I have to recognize that the Haitians are artistically talented; the best woodcarving and the most beautiful primitive paintings in the whole Caribbean area are made here.
   I visited Julius, HH2JT, at that time the only active ham in the whole country.  Julius, an American running a large assembling factory, a very nice guy, was not too active on the air.  Julius had an excellent rig, a very good location on a hill outside Port-au-Prince, and being the only ham in Haiti, he enjoyed a special status.  However, this situation was not always desirable: when he was calling a rare DX station for his DXCC, he had to fight not only the pile-up calling the same station, but many other stations calling him.
   In Julius’s house I picked up a local newspaper and read the headlines:
   “Senator Barry Goldwater is in Port-au-Prince.”
   “He’s also an amateur radio operator - K7UGA, “ said Julius.
   “I know,” I answered, “I collaborated with him in amending the Communications Act, so that immigrant hams can apply for American licenses even before they get US citizenship.”
   “Let’s go and see him,” suggested Julius.  We drove to the best hotel in town where we supposed Sen. Goldwater would stay.  Julius went inside to inquire and I - having a 6th sense to locate hams - went directly to the swimming pool.  There he was, resting under the sun, Barry K7UGA.
   “Senator Goldwater,” I said, “I am George, WB2AQC.”
   The Senator seemed pleasantly surprised and quickly jumped up.  I guess his jump was too sudden because it triggered two uniformed special guards hiding in the nearby bushes.  They were moving fast towards me, pointing their submachine-guns.  Fortunately, the Senator was between them and me, and he came forward with a big smile and shook my hand.  The guards missed their big chance to prove their bravery and retreated to the bushes.
   In the meantime, Julius, Eva and Steve arrived and I introduced them.
   We had a nice time talking about ham radio, but finally, we had to return to our ship.  At the departure we said good-bye to Barry K7UGA, and just to be on the safe side, I bowed toward the bushes, yelling “Au revoire monsieur.”  Some tourists walking by looked at me with suspicion because I was talking to the bushes, but I knew what’s good for me!
   I recommend buying woodcarving at the Iron Market, paying a third of the asking price.  Don’t ask too many questions, and don’t talk politics with anybody.

6Y5

JAMAICA