Wednesdays 10:00PM ET
Djibouti
September 13 2:30PM ET
The main draw of Djibouti has got to be location, location, location. This arid, barren, hot and dusty little nation sits on the corner of the far eastern coast of Africa, surrounded by Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia to its west, and the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the east. Its coastal plains, volcanoes and mountain ranges don’t yield much in the way of important, highly coveted resources, but it’s only a 12 mile swim across the Red Sea to Yemen, the Arabian Peninsula and the prodigious promises that lurk beneath that region’s soil. For this reason, Djibouti has emerged as free trade zone, transit port and an international transshipment and refueling center. It’s also a patch of refuge to the thousands of immigrants and refugees who’ve spilled into the country in recent years.
Currency: Djibouti Franc (DJF), US $1 equals 178.002 DJF
Location: Djibouti, Djibouti
- The city overlooks the Gulf of Tadjoura.
- Thanks to years of colonialism, there’s a distinct French flavor.
Location: The Lakes
- Dormant volcanoes and lava fields lie about a day’s journey from the capital city.