Monrovia

Last night it rained and rained and it was still raining this morning.  Today was a trip to Monrovia to evaluate a couple of boys for the orphanage.  The rained stopped so the drive in was okay.  We didn't have to navigate the large pothole.

The traffic makes the list of the second worst I have been in, Uganda was the worst.  It is amazing there were not any accidents.  People are just stuffed into the taxis.  There was this small car that must of had 14 men it.  They were 8 in the back seat. The double lines that divide the roads are used by the motorcycles both ways.

The city of Monrovia is  crowded and dirty.  The streets are narrow.  Everything is black from the mold due to the high humidity here.  Some of the buildings have been painted. I 'm told they have to do this every couple of years.  There are nice areas,  but this is basically a slum. I have seen bad areas but nothing like this. The  city is coming back from the destruction of the war.  The locals say it has improved over the last couple of years. For me it is hard to imagine it worse.  There are some markets and craft areas which were non existant a few years ago. There are many United Nations people living here.  We did stop at a grocery store that was full of American type groceries.

One thing I really miss is the fresh fruits and vegetables.

In all this poverty there is a bit of humor.  I am convinced that if I bought a lottery ticket here I would have a good chance of winning the chicken feet or the wings. One of the prizes was a case of Heineken Beer or some rice.  I tried to get a picture  of the sign but only got half of it.

When we got home we got another deluge of rain and temporary waterfront property. The rainy season will be ending soon and then it becomes hot and dry.  I n many ways this is better then when the temperatures are triple digit.

Emotionally, this was tough day. It is hard to imagine what the Liberians have been through with the war and rebellion, the  poverty . The  world they live in is what someone called "peaceful unrest.". The President here is an American educated Liberian . Her name is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.  They say she is working at bringing the country back. As in so many countries, corruption is high.

Tomorrow , we leave for Ethiopia, with the still very heavy luggage.  We are praying that they will not hassle us.  We can carry  30 kilos, I have over 40. 

We will overnight in Addis Abba before heading to Mojo.