From the outside the place looks like a suburban house, in the front, English lessons are going on. Creep round the back and this is where over 6000 books are sold. It beats Good-day books in Ebisu hands down for location. It's a spacious wooden, two floor house surrounded by trees in a very quiet spot in Ikebukuro. If you see an unpretentious guy who looks like he's been living in India with Ravi Shankar that'll be Nick. He's been in Japan for 14 years, gone through teaching, running bars and now onto cafe/bar owner. In case you're wondering, the shop name came from his days travelling the world when he used to live in the Sahara hanging out with Bedouins. His hobbies are drinking and reading, need I say more? Over a cup of tea and a Hemingwayseque hangover, Nick told me of the new extensions to make the place a cafe-bar for people who want something besides Starbucks plazzy cups of coffee. A look at the proposed menu indicated the literary feel to the place. An Edgar Allen Poe pint of beer, which'll be difficult to say after four or five, a Shakespeare shandy. I'm just hoping he doesn't make a Doestoevsky anything! I've never been able to say that one. Speak to Nick if you have any ideas about anything entrepreneurial, he'll sort you out, he's also got cheese and wine events going on too, just ask him about times and dates. If you have any events he can put them on his notice board. Head back out the same way you came and get to the Marui dept. store crossroads. With the Clarion hotel on your left walk to the junction and turn left and keep walking along the major road on the left of the street. Eventually, you'll get to Yamaya store. You'll be bowled over by the prices of the foreign food. This is not your standard foreign food store.....it's cheeeeeep. Salsa dip, 200 yen, muesli, 200 yen, 3 Mars bars, 150 yen, Bounty bars 150 yen. It's a big store and you're greedy so take a backpack. When you're done shopping head back to the Metropolitan exit and check out the new Hub pub near the Dubliners on the 2F. Avoid the sad old gets who've been in Japan too long and there you go, the perfect day in Ikebukuro.

"An Edgar Allen Poe pint of beer, which'll be difficult to say after four or five..."