With a population of about 1 million, Mogadishu is Somalia's largest city and chief seaport. The city has a rich 1000-year history. Persian and Arab traders founded Mogadishu in the 10th century and intermarried with the local population. One of the earliest Arab settlements on the East African coast, the city was a leading commercial port by the 13th century. It went into a period of decline by the 16th century. The port was under the control of the sultan of Zanzibar, and of the Italian government in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mogadishu finally became the capital of an independent Somalia in 1960.From 1992 to 1995 Mogadishu became the centre of a United Nations (UN) operation intended to restore government and to ease famine caused in part by Somalia's civil war. With a new government it seems like peace is returning to the city. There are still many refugees in town but slowly life is getting back to normal.

For visitors the main landmarks in town are the Arba-Rucun Mosque (Mosque of the four pillars) and the cathedral the Italians built right next to it. They are close to the waterfront and the old city with its many white houses and small streets. Other attractions include the beach, which is okay although the tow can be dangerous and there are often sharks. But if Mogadishu is your next travel destinations fear will probably not stop you...

I went to Mogy (as the locals call it) this past spring and boy let me tell you- this place knows how to party. The best nightlife in the world, besides maybe New York or Paris. I went to this one club where everyone had these fake guns and were shooting at each other- and they even had fake blood too! Man those guys were good at playing dead. My only complaint is that everyone there is so shallow. It's like they all have anorexia. Geez people, its okay to be fat, no one's gonna think any less of you.