The people of Cap-Haïtien are at peace. For example, a young woman walks her dog at 9 PM along Boulevard Carenage, lined with restaurants and hotels. When was the last time someone walked their dog in the streets of Port-au-Prince? Strolling along the boulevard or the paved square in front of Cap-Haïtien’s cathedral, you might imagine yourself in any other Caribbean country—were it not for the darkness, open sewers, and occasional piles of litter. Electricity d'Haiti hasn't provided power in the country’s second-largest city for over three years. While the darkness and glaring unsanitary conditions are a blow to the pride of Cap-Haïtien’s residents, life goes on for those who can afford it. Restaurants and bars are packed. Locals sit outside their homes, sipping whiskey and hosting barbecues with friends. Children enjoy ice cream at almost every corner.

On weekends, the boulevard comes alive. Due to insecurity in Port-au-Prince, residents of the capital escape to Cap-Haïtien for weekends where the nightlife doesn’t stop, far from the automatic gunfire that plagues other areas.