Fish n Chips

There is a great place here for fantastic fish and chips. Mogadishu Barracks nestles at the side of a crowded road leading out of Abuja.

Upon finally succeeding to find a parking space inside the soldiered gates of the barracks you have to squeeze through a gap in a ring of shops, minding the humming generators, overhead wires and holes in the floor. Once inside, in the soft yellow light made murky from the dust and smoke, you can make out a giant circle of bush bars. In the centre are many BBQ's with whole fish sizzling on top. The atmosphere is relaxed and jovial, with people just chilling out and catching up at the end of a busy day.

When you've selected the best fish, and bartered the price, you can sit at any of the plastic tables and enjoy a cool drink. A bowl of water will be brought to you with some washing up liquid to wash your hands. Using your hands is the best way to eat fish I think - at least you can filter out most of the bones before they impale your throat.

Without fail, every time I've been, we've been serenaded by a guy with a guitar. His repertoire consists of classics such as 'Welcome to the Hotel California' and a couple of Bob Marley hits. With some kind of trilby/cowboy hat perched on his head, he's so cheery that he provides great entertainment even if his singing is phenomenally bad.

Last time we were at the barracks Nigeria was playing Ghana in the African Cup of Nations. The celebrations at each goal were great to see - one style I particularly favoured was a man dancing in circles like a chicken with his plastic chair still attached to his arse. Great stuff.

Always a jolly good evening to be had at Mogadishu Barracks!