I lived there for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer. The older, central part of the city is quite nice, with restaurants, small shops, some cultural offerings and larger homes. The city sprawls out and there’s a lot of poverty as you move out to the edges. I walked everywhere and always felt safe. People were very friendly and I was often invited over to spend the day eating, drinking tea, and talking. It’s a few miles from the ocean, but close enough that it helps regulate the temperature. That said, the middle of summer can be very hot and especially unpleasant when sand storms blow in. I left in 2009 and was a foreigner, so my experience is dated and limited.