Follow the LEADer: Derek in Liberia: Ducor Hotel

A few shots of/from the Ducor Hotel, a former 5-star hotel crowning Liberia's capital atop Ducor Hill.

I had a bunch of great wordy and (what I thought were) insightful thoughts on how the present state of the hotel could allude to a metaphor of lofty aspirations of greatness that were undermined by violence but how Liberia is now poised for a slow but steady comeback,

but I proof-read it and decided it just looked like I was trying too hard. Ha!

-Some kids having fun sliding down to the deep end on plastic 6 gallon water jugs

In any case, a few weeks after arriving in Monrovia I thought I'd venture to Ducor Hotel because I heard it was the best place to catch some bird's eye view shots of the city. The Nigerian UN peacekeeper guarding the entrance encouraged me to climb to the top where I could then see the ocean to the south, as well as the peninsula on which Monrovia rests stretching out to the east, and the outskirts reaching out past 'New Bridge' off to the north and west.

The Ducor Hotel, I'm told, used to be a bit of an icon for Liberia as it hoped to serve as a figurehead of progress and development in West Africa. The wealthy and influential would come from the surrounding countries to stay, have meetings, do business, and relax. Unfortunately, during the war, the hotel was repeatedly looted, with its 300 rooms eventually serving as homes for squatters.

Rumors have been spreading for some time now that contracts have been signed which will allow the hotel to be rebuilt but other than the eviction of the squatters, there is no evidence that work will begin any time soon.

Okay, so I'm still trying to draw lines between the Ducor Hotel and the greater Liberian situation in general... so how about this: 25 years of political instability can do a shocking amount of damage. While the situation is changing, it is estimated that it will take much longer to rebuild than it took to tear the country down. There is much work to be done but Liberians are hopeful for change, and that it may come as soon as possible.