I've bought a holiday home there now, but the best place to stay in my view is the Heure Bleue Palais (00212 5 2478 3434; www.heure-bleue.com), a spectacularly lavish hotel.

Britain has stayed away from the Somalia quagmire in the past 20 years because, in its old view, it has no interest to be a front running member with regard to the question of peace and stability in Somalia.

No, what is in these canals can stay there, in Jeannie's view.

TimeOut guides are good for city stays in my view, but LP wil do as well of course.