The Acropole Hotel

We spent a few days in Khartoum at the Acropole Hotel. Every country where archaeologists have worked in the early 20th century seems to have a hotel of reputation where archaeologists and others of that ilk seem to flock. It reminded me a bit of the Baron Hotel in Aleppo, a certain amount of charm, lots of faded atmosphere and a very skewed cost to quality ratio. It's nice enough and has one extremely important factor; George the owner. A very suave and polyglot Greek who runs the hotel with his brother, his wife and brother's wife. George is also one the most capable fixers in Sudan. Although that comes at a price, a high price.

Kate came back from paying our room bills and George's "expenses", slightly pale, shakey and in dire need of good drink. Unfortunately Sudan is dry, extremely dry. People at the airport have anything resembling alcohol (and a fair amount if things not resembling alcohol) is confiscated immediately. So not only do you pay through the nose, there is no compensating numbness thanks to a stiff drink. Although there might not be enough alcohol to make you forget how much you had to spend on the Acropole and George.