Thursday, Oct 17 — Algiers
We land in Algeria and take a taxi to the Sofitel Algiers Hamma Garden. After some room swapping, as the moket موکت in our first room smelled musty. Our new room has a terrace and is nice.
We walk over to the Jardin d'essais station and take the Algiers Metro to its final stop, Place des Martyrs and wander towards the Casbah. We find Cafe´Malakoff, a friendly and decoratined place. We order two espressos and try some local sweet cake. A local boy hangs out with us for some time.
We change money in the black market at Port Saïd Square.
Friday, Aug 18 — Algiers
Good breakfast in the hotel. Met a great chap from Zimbabwe, a Mr. Z Koudounaris.
We have a great walking day. First we walk to the Cable car station - Botanical garden and ride up to the Martyrs Memorial. Then we hail a local car to the Hotel El Djazair (St George). I have a Blanc d'Aboukr Algerian white wine on the flowered and leafy terrace. While at the hotel, we visit room 141, the Eisenhower Suite, where he stayed during WW II. We then wander down the hill and visit the Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Art. We walk further down the hill and through the Parc de la Liberté, where there a lot of cats living, some very cute. We walk along the main street and find the Sacré Coeur, which looks a bit like a coal power plant cooling station you'd find in China! We then wandered along the main street of the city, Rue Didouche Mourad, and grab an espresso at the nice El Marssem | Didouche Mourad.
We zigzag along various side streets, admiring the gorgeous French colonial architecture, and even find a wedding preparation event, where the bride is getting her hair done. There is a band playing and a man lets off fireworks. We find a small local cafe named Restaurant El Walimaand and have a tasty chicken couscous with broth, our first this trip. We then find a mobile produce market on the back of a truck. We then wander over to the Place Audin, where we find the the young, hip and the beautiful of Algiers. We walk by the Grande Poste in its magnificent building, but it is closed for renovation. We then visit the Dinner at lovely Restaurant Le Normand.
Saturday, Oct 19 — Algeria
We wak and check out the Jardin Botanique. We move to room 803 of the Lamaraz Arts Hôtel, Avenue Rabia Mohamed. The room is a penthouse mini-suite on the top floor witha terrace and amazing views to the sea. We do some laundry. We take the Algiers Metro to its final stop, Place des Martyrs, and taxi up to the Church of Notre Dame d'Afrique with it's amazing vantage and views. Lovely dinner at Restaurant El Djenina مطعم الجنينة.
Sunday, Oct 20 — Sétif
We drive a windy road through the Hodna Mountains to the Beni Hammad Fort,a World Heritage Site. We then drive to Sétif, and stay in the Hotel & Restaurant Setif. We have a nice dinner of soupe de lentille and chicken shawarma at Restaurant Bab El Hara Dimachki, and then walk around town for a bit.
Monday, Oct 21 — Djemmila
We tour Djémila world heritage site.
Tuesday, Oct 22 — Timgad
Timgad
Wednesday, Oct 23 — Constantine
Constantine day tour; evening flight to Djanet in the Sahara, and late check into room 226 (by the placard) or 223 (painted) of the Tiniri Hotel. Either number, do avoid, as the room smelled awfully of sewage, even with the bathroom doors shut.
Thursday, Oct 24 — Sahara camp
We drive to the Tassili N'Ajjer National Park and marvel at its beautiful, Star Wars-like rock formations.
Friday, Oct 25 — Djenet
We continue touring Tassili N'Ajjer National Park, and in the late afternoon, head back to Djanet, visit the local market, under tight supervision, and head back to the Tiniri Hotel to freshen up. This time I inssist on a better room.
Saturday, Oct 26 — Tipaza
We visit Tipaza World Heritage Site, and then the Mausoleum Mauretania tentative WHS.
Sunday, Oct 27 — Constantine
We drive to Constantine, and check into room 404 of the Constantine Marriott Hotel.
Sunday, Oct 28 — Constantine
Here
Sunday, Oct 29 — Annaba
We drive to Annaba and check into a mini-suite on the top floor of the Hôtel d'Orient with three Juliet balcony doors. We have a great walk and eventually find a fish restaurant, called either Ali Jouanou or Restaurant Nassim-la Caroube, and have a wonderful grilled fish dinner. Our driver home is watching tv, while texting, while driving around windy Algerian suburban roads at night. He is insane.
Sunday, Oct 30 — Tunis
We drive to Tunis, Tunisia.