Streets of Liberia...

This was truly the poorest place I have ever seen. There is destitution everywhere...nothing seems untouched. When we walked down the streets we watched the families in their shacks preparing "dinner" on makeshift fire pits, their naked children smiling and waving as we passed. Many thanked us for taking their photos..."thank you?" I often thought...like it was an honor that I did them when it was me who should be thanking them for allowing me to further sully their dignity and photograph them in what we, as Americans, would consider their "disgrace." But they were proud of what they were...what they looked like. They wanted the world to see the photos, for me to share their stories...too many stories, so much sadness.

In this montage of photos are a few of the everyday sites of Monrovia...there are always children on the streets, the biggest potholes EVER, and gas stations every few feet where the pumps don't work so the men there funnel the gas into your cars from what looks like a sun-tea jar! Most businesses and government buildings have wall around them usually with barbed wire, but on one they were creative- that is the photo of the jagged shards of glass on top! The "MonaLiza" Italian Restaurant was next door to our hotel, but Jackie and I were never quite brave enough to eat there...or even step inside!!!