Robertsport Take 2

We finally made it to Robertsport, and it was worth the wait! Robertsport, named after the first president J.J. Roberts, is in Grand Cape Mount County, along the coast towards the Sierra Leonian border.

This time around, it was a much faster, easier and altogether more successful trip! And the beaches were gorgeous. We stayed in some great tents at Nana’s Lodge, right on the beach. There’s also supposed to be great surfing here, featured in the Sliding Liberia film. Instead, we sat on the beach, and tanned.

Beach holiday...or how civil unrest ruined our vacation!

I'd heard Robertsport was beautiful. On the coast, between Monrovia and the Sierra Leonian border. Great beaches, great surfing. I couldn't wait to get out of the city for a mini-break.

We finally made it out mid-afternoon. Weaved our way out of the city, through the traffic, through the markets. But when we reached the first checkpoint, we were told that the road was blocked. Apparently there was a blockade along the road near the Guthrie Rubber Plantation.

Should we turn back? We continued. Maybe it'd be okay. Maybe we could find another route. But it wasn't mean to be. It was true; there were protests at the rubber plantation and the road was blocked. We were told it'd be best if we turned around.

We reached the second checkpoint. It was the closest we got to Robertsport: 66km away. Sigh.

Turns out the protest was about pay and benefits. I think it's been resolved, and the workers got much of what they demanded. The road to Robertsport is probably clear now. But all was not lost. I did manage to get to the beach a couple of times on the weekend. Made it to Cece beach just north of the city. And if you were wondering what the beaches in Liberia look like...