Mogadishu's Al-Uruba Hotel

Many of Somalia's finest examples of classic Italian architecture were destroyed during the war. (P. Heinlein/VOA)

The al-Uruba Hotel was once a jewel of the Mogadishu waterfront district. (P. Heinlein/VOA)

Soldiers who now occupy the shell of the building have the advantage of enjoying the cool breeze coming in off the ocean. (P. Heinlein/VOA)

Every inch of the once-grand hotel complex has been destroyed. (P. Heinlein/VOA)

The neighborhood around the al-Uruba remains a high-security area even though the streets are deserted. (Peter Heinlein/VOA)

Damage to the support structure will make the building more difficult to salvage. (Peter Heinlein/VOA)

A hint of the grandeur that was pre-war Mogadishu. (Peter Heinlein/VOA)