TDY Gouge - Djibouti

Djibouti - Djibouti itself resembles a landfill. There is garbage everywhere. The rooms on the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors are nice at the Sheraton Djibouti (253 25 1287phone /253 35 5892 fax) ...what one would expect from a Sheraton. They are $120 per night and include breakfast. However, the rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors are heinous. There are roaches in the bathroom as well as roaches in the small refrigerators that are in the rooms. Some of the toilets work and some don't. When I turned on my shower the bidet also came on. Shower shoes are a must. An added bonus is the odor in the hallways and rooms. It was a cross between a locker room, cat urine, and rancid milk. These rooms go for about $70 and do not include breakfast. There is a bar. Mixed drinks and beer are $6 a pop. The bar also serves finger foods with a killer hot sauce. There is also a restaurant downstairs. It is a little pricey but not too bad. The Mer Rouge is a fairly good restaurant about 10 minutes away by cab. This is not a place you want to bring the family to for a vacation.

Heads up -- as of Dec 02 crews were having to stay in the marine compound, NOT being allowed to go downtown due to security. Expect fuel delays - rumors of a contract dispute/work stoppages with the fuel guys. This is a "gas and go" kind of place.