Menelik is the central transit point for travelers coming into town, particularly at night. It is a common ground for taxi drivers, venders peddling their wares, restaurants, and salesmen. If you are a tourist, you are easy to spot, and if you dare go close to any shop, you will be accosted by eager vendors yelling familiar phrases such as 'good price for you my friend' or 'special price' or 'come look, looking is free'. If you windowshop you will be strongly pressured to buy, as businessmen will literally follow you around for over an hour even if you go into a restaurant to eat, they may be waiting for you when you come out. Nothing is free in Djibouti, and I am suspicious that the international military presence has both precipitated and exacerbated this phenomenon. Like may countries, people loiter and expect you to pay them if you park anywhere near them...however, I have paid pennies in South American countries, where here they are offended for anything less than five dollars. If you ask for directions they expect payment. Even if you pay them, they will follow you around, trying to get you to go down certain streets, alleyways, and into particular shops and nightclubs. Beware that this is ill advised, of course. There are also many prostitutes here, and judging from my current employment status in the US Navy, I treat the consequences of inebriated gropefests and failed prophylactics.
