If there were a popularity contest among countries in West Africa, Togo would probably be a strong contender. Only a pencil-thin strip of land, it still receives rave reviews from travellers and tourists. Its capital city, Lomé, and the beaches that surround it are the big draws for most vacationers, while those who push farther off the beaten track are wowed by its unique village cultures and the vivacity of their markets and festivals. Togo's recent political turmoil has driven off the throngs of the last few decades, but the attractions that brought them in the first place remain largely the same.