Hotel Olufsen

Hotel Olufsen, Haiti

I stayed at the Hotel Olufsen in the early 70’s -- a typical tropical setting like you would see in a Bogart movie. Large high back rattan chairs. Hurricane doors. Ceiling fans. All open to the outside. A gingerbread mansion made completely of mahogany and used at one time as the presidential palace. A marble tricolor floor in the stairway to heaven pattern.

I found myself one day, the sole patron of the lovely pool and was soon joined by the owner and his young son. Al Sise was probably in his fifties, and his boy 8 years old or so. He was enjoying a foot long cigar, reading the newspaper when the boy picked up a book and asked what it said. Put it down, it's not yours was the answer. But just what does it say? It says Greek mythology. And the boy placed it back on the table. What does that mean was the next question. The father did his best to briefly describe the subject. The next question was where are all the Greeks now? They all own restaurants up in Chicago and New York.