Ducor Palace at Mamba Point

(Paul) DUCOR PALACE HOTEL was not only the nicest hotel in Liberia - it was a national landmark perched at the peak of Mamba Point with ships sailing into port on one side, the US embassy compound down below on another, and the whole of downtown Monrovia spread out for miles, a hundred feet below.

Ducor Palace was always a shangrala of peaceful poolside drinks and cold air conditioned modern restaurants in the middle of mad, loud and bustling Monrovia. Sharp dressed businessmen and diplomats filled the lobby with its beautiful Art Deco spiral staircase silloetted againtst  huge plate glass windows.  Sky-blue-suited Pan Am stewardess would clatter across marble floors, and the view from the 5-star restaurant on the top floor was absolutely stunning.

Yes, an era truly gone with the wind. Only the shell is left ... along with a rusty, faded signboard out front with the presidents picture on  it promising to rebuild.

The view coming up the driveway.

A promise for the future.

The inside staircase.   There is no glass in the windows.

The swimming pool.

What a view.  We are standing on the pool deck overlooking the ocean.

DUCOR Palace is also where my high school, ACS (American Cooperative School) had our Senior prom in 1982. Beautiful ballroom. That evening was my first time to sit next to and have dinner with a US Ambassador - Ambassador Sharp - a perk of being the Senior Class President.