It may not be picture postcard perfect and may be a little frayed around the edges but it is a real living town.

The people are some of the friendliest you will encounter anywhere in the world. Within half an hour of stepping off the boat everyone will be greeting you on first name terms!

The mix of African and Arab influences in the culture and food make it a fascinating place to spend a few days. It is only a 20 minutes walk to Shela and the beautiful beaches further around the island. A great antidote to safari fatigue.

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Minsk is a pretty little city, much nicer than one might expect. The best time to go is in the summer when the weather is inviting and the streets, parks and shops are lively. Prices are good and tourists are few. It is a safe country to visit. With the exception of taxi drivers, who can be very greedy, most residents are very courteous and polite to tourists.

I have written a guide to Belarus which can be found at: www.travelswise.com/belarus.htm

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This cafe is rough and raucous, with the most varied clientele ranging from footpads to intellectuals, musicians, businessmen, down-at-heels actors, students and dons from the nearby AUC (American University in Cairo). This is one of the few places left in Cairo that savours the city's past and colourful diversity, but it's a past that is firmly in the present. It's a great place to have a beer and thrash out the issues of the day, practise some Arabic or simply to make contact with a real cross-section of Cairo life. Moving among its French decor - faded mirrors, marble tables and creaking ceiling fans - is Saad, the wonderfully eccentric barman and a real character who will welcome you warmly with wonderful Egyptian humour. This place is a must for the adventurous but not for the fainthearted. I loved it throughout my twenty years in Cairo and know I still have a place there whenever I return.

The Hurreya Cafe, Midan Bab al-Khalq, behind the AUC. It's on the corner, across the square from the market.

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Cairo is Africa's biggest city and one of the great cities of the world, where donkeys compete for road space with beaten up Peugeot 504s and clapped out Ladas. The first thing we did in Cairo was head to the market to meet the people. They were as expected - chaotic and eclectic. It's not everyday someone chops a camel head up with an axe right next to the cafe where you are eating. But the clothes seemed cheap and the spices exotic. And every deal seemed to start with a chat, a smoke, and a cup of coffee before business was discussed, which makes sense.

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Very hip younger crowd. A liberal understanding of the modern society, with a touch of class and panache.

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Despite their reputation as 'just unarmed Americans with healthcare', visitors will be struck by how friendly Canadians are, particularly in Vancouver, which combines a softer 'west coast' feel with the old-fashioned decency typical in small Canadian towns.

Not everything is glossy in Vancouver - it has the warmest winter temperatures of any Canadian city and there are a lot of street-sleepers, even more than you would find in other large cities like Toronto or London (UK). While the right response is charity and compassion, you may encounter aggressive behaviour if you do try to give money - this happened to me twice in three days last month.

Despite that, a big thumbs up to the gentle people of Vancouver... now if only they could do something about the rain.

Everywhere, especially in coffee shops (try Blenz: www.blenz.com/stores.aspx) and Stanley Park

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The place to be out and about at night. If you want to be seen with the right people, make sure you are seen there. Great places to eat, drink, dance, and most importantly, people watch.

Calle 92 with Kr 15

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Two Socks is a man who lives in Barcelona, and is possibly the funniest and wisest bloke in the world. He hangs about in Placa Real and looks like the lovechild of Bob Marley and Ruud Gullit. He's very friendly and can speak eight languages, so if you see him go and ask him if he wants to play pool or basketball. He'll definitely be up for it and might even take you for a beer and some ham and a dance with his girlfriend. Legend.

Placa Real (just off La Rambla)

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