Djibouti: Where the Red Sea Meets the Unexpected

so i just got back from this tiny country called Djibouti and let me tell you-it's not what i expected at all. i mean, i knew it was hot. but 26.24°C and feeling like 26.24°C? that's just mean. no variation. no mercy. just constant, unapologetic heat. i checked the weather before i left and it was basically telling me: "good luck, buddy." if you get bored, Ethiopia and Eritrea are just a short drive away, but honestly? i was too busy melting to care.

i heard from a guy at the port that the best seafood in town is at Le Golfe, but another dude at the bar said it's overpriced tourist bait. so who knows? i went anyway because i was starving and everything tastes better when you're sweating through your shirt. the lobster was decent, but the real star was the view-endless blue stretching out like someone dragged a paintbrush across the horizon.

"Djibouti is where the Red Sea meets the unexpected,"

a local told me while sipping tea. i didn't get it at first, but then i saw the mix of cultures-French, Arab, Somali-all swirling together like spices in a stew. it's chaotic, but in the best way.

if you're into history, someone told me the Day Forest National Park is worth the trip, but i skipped it because i was too busy chasing down the best coffee in town. apparently, Djibouti has a thriving coffee scene, which surprised me. i found this little spot called Café de la Gare that served the strongest espresso i've ever had. it felt like someone had strapped a jet engine to my chest.

and the people? they're something else. i met a guy who claimed he'd sailed from Yemen to Djibouti on a raft made of old fishing nets. i didn't believe him, but he had the sunburn to prove it. that's the kind of place Djibouti is-full of stories that sound too wild to be true but probably are.

if you're planning a trip, just know this: Djibouti isn't for everyone. it's raw, it's real, and it's not afraid to slap you in the face with its heat. but if you're up for an adventure that doesn't come with a guidebook, this place might just steal your heart. or at least make you sweat through your clothes.

for more info, check out Lonely Planet's Djibouti guide or TripAdvisor's top things to do. and if you go, tell them i sent you-they'll have no idea who you're talking about, but it'll be funny to watch their faces.

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