Valentine’s Walk: A Journey Through a City of Rivers, Ocean & Resilience

Monrovia is not a city you simply pass through — it is a place that reveals its magic to those willing to walk it, breathe it, and feel its rhythm.

This Valentine’s season 14th and 15th February 2026, I gifted myself something simple yet unexpectedly meaningful: two long walks across Monrovia. These walks became a rediscovery — an intimate encounter with the city’s warmth, heritage, and enormous promise. I could see the destruction caused by years of civil war yet through that imagine what it was!

On day one, my journey began in Sinkor, one of Monrovia’s vibrant districts, near the UN house and the Monrovia City Corporation, walking toward the city centre towards the Monument hill. Day two I started in Sinkor again and walked towards providence Island and beyond. Each landmark I saw brought out a thread of Monrovia’s identity — academic, civic, diplomatic, political — woven together into a living story.   

February 14: Valentine’s Day Walk: Climbing Monument Hill

The walk into the city and ascending towards Monument Hill, near the former Ducor Hotel, felt symbolic: a climb into a wider view of Monrovia’s past and its immense possibility! There stands the historical monument of the first President of Liberia, H.E Joseph Jenkins Roberts. 

From the hilltop: The Atlantic Ocean stretched endlessly, rivers wrapped gently around the city, and neighbourhoods dotted the green landscape. A breathtaking vantage point that hints at what Monrovia once was, and what it could become again!

February 15: Providence Island and the Free Port of Monrovia 

The following day, I walked past Providence Island — a site deeply embedded in Liberia’s historical narrative. From there, I followed the coastal route: beyond the port, with its economic heartbeat toward the cement factory, where industrial structures meet ocean and river vistas. This walk felt like turning the pages of Monrovia’s history — heritage, enterprise, resilience, and natural beauty.

A City Framed by Water — and Extraordinary Potential

Monrovia is uniquely positioned: surrounded by rivers and the ocean, blessed with warm, welcoming communities and anchored in profound historical and cultural heritage. With thoughtful preservation and urban renewal, Monrovia holds enormous potential for: Cultural tourism, Heritage revitalization, Sustainable waterfront development and Global recognition — the whole city could be a future UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Walking allowed me to see Monrovia closely — its beauty, its possibility, and its heart. Monrovia is resilient and full promise. It is a hidden gem: one that deserves to shine again. It will bounce back!   

Happy Monrovia day 02/16/2026