Lookin' Lizard

Urban Decay: The Ducor Hotel

The Ducor Hotel used to be one of the most prominent hotels not only in Liberia but in all of Africa. Built in 1960 on the highest point of Monrovia, the 5-star hotel had 106 rooms and it was eight stores high. Ducor Hotel was frequented by politicians, diplomats and business people from across the continent. It hosted many important meetings between African leaders and its various amenities (French restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts) made it popular with tourists and visiting professionals from all around the world.

Sadly, Ducor Hotel closed in 1989, just before the coup of Charles Taylor which led to the First Liberian Civil War. These days it is a mere shell of its former glory, but still has a beautiful mystery about its empty rooms...

Sad...

One more from the Africa trip. We saw this little boy crying by the roadside one day. It appeared that some other kids may have been picking on him. We called him over and gave him some candy.

For those that are interested...

What I have posted to my blog over the past week or so have just been a small part of what I saw and experienced along with the rest of the delegation that traveled to West Africa. For those that are interested, the full album of photos can be found on the Facebook page of Faith To Face Ministries:

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=295069&l=0dc938f8b2&id=95416148043

"Hawking"

Some girls trying to sell us fruit outside the van as we prepare to leave Elmina. The locals call it "hawking". There are even "no hawking" signs on parking spots and sidewalks.

Fishing boats

Boats lined up near the shore at the village of Elmina in Ghana.

Point of No Return

Today I visited the Elmina Castle in Ghana. This old fort was used for years as a final stop in the african slave trade.

The inhuman treatment of these captured africans was almost too much to hear about. The small room where they were detained still has a faint stench over 200 years later.

Below are shots of the fort as well as the "point of no return" the gate the slaves had to go through (one by one) to board the slave ships and bid Africa farewell forever.

Location:Ghana

Fortune Teller

A fortune teller by the road in Accra, Ghana... with a cash register!

Way to use your head

Women in a marketplace in Ghana carrying a variety of items on their heads.

Akwaaba!!

I have just arrived in Ghana! Next three days will be spent with the local pastors touring local schools and holding revivals. Then we conclude with a sightseeing tour of Cape Coast (the last stop in Africa before slaves sailed for America)
Of course I'll be posting photos, so stay tuned!

Scenes from the city

One of the local marketplace areas we see as we drive the streets of Monrovia.