The vast Place Mahmoud Harbi (Place Rimbaud), which was being renovated at the time of writing, is dominated by the minaret of the great Hamoudi mosque , Djibouti City’s most iconic building. Eastward, the chaotic Quartier 1 is a criss-cross of alleyways where stalls and shops are lined cheek by jowl. Spreading along Blvd de Bender are the stalls of Les Caisses market . Crammed with every type of souvenir from woodcarvings to clothing, it’s a colourful place for soaking up the atmosphere.
