A year ago, the Party didn't even exist; some Salafi preachers had deemed democracy haram—forbidden under Islamic law.

With a minimalist decor and generous use of white, this is a superstylish house, with purple heartwood floors.

Of course, closure of the West station took away the hotel's raison d'être. In May 2012, the local newspaper reported that this historic hotel, by then rated the town's worst (exemplified by its final review: Please avoid at all costs), was to be converted into 31 first-time-buyer one-bedroom flats.

That soup is repeating on me.