Khoms (Al Khums), Libya

Capital City

At just over 200,000 residents, Khoms is no quaint seaside town. The bustling port city has a complicated history, having changed hands between various empires over the centuries. While it was once a thriving trading hub, those glory days are long gone - the port is now a modest affair, handling bulk carriers and the occasional container ship. The climate is unforgiving, with a hot desert climate that can make life a grind. And the city's turbulent past has left its mark, with the 2011 Libyan Civil War seeing Khoms change hands between Gaddafi's forces and rebel groups. For all its history, Khoms today is a functional but uninspiring place, best suited for those with a taste for bureaucratic headaches and a high tolerance for the rigors of life in a former outpost of empire.