| Page Views: 1,757 Last Visit to Algiers: February, 2008 | ALGER LA BLANCHE ~*~*~ EL-DJAZAIR AL-BAHDJA by Aurorae - last update: Feb 25, 2008 |
~ The pearl of Maghreb ~
I wish I had arrived to Algiers by the sea, that is how you get to experience the first flavour of this majestic city. But the plane isn't that bad either, at least there is a lovely overview of the Bay of Algiers and how neatly everything looks. And it continues to be so once you land.
I expected dry, arid lands, rocky and sandy landscapes and ruined constructions... Nothing is farther from the truth! Algiers and the surroundings offer some of the most exuberant vivid vegetation and fine architecture, excellent roads and infrastructure, it's a mixture of traditional and classy, ancient and modern... and there are contrasts, especially once you move away from the core of the city, where you find supreme elegance, stylish beautiful white buildings with blue balconies and windows from the French colonial period, that's what marks Algiers' nickname Alger la Blanche - Algiers, the White.
|
|  |
The very core is the old Ottoman city called Casbah, UNESCO world heritage site, an exciting labyrinth that will send you back in time. Then, in the finer outskirts lots of pompous ultra modern buildings and villas, some residential areas from neo-Stalyin baroque (quoting one of my friends in this fantastic expression), over to some poor houses in the very outskirts, ruined in the mud, but all well equipped by satellite dishes.
|
There are lots of sites of interest to visit in the city, a lovely seafront promenade to stroll, the hilly area offers lots of places with a magnificent view, lots of museums, an opera house, beaches, nearby archaeological sites, vast green fields and forests... The climate is mild and pleasant during the winter (when I visited), with lots of sunshine (in spite of being a rainy season for Algeria!) which is a wonderful escape from gloomy, cold and dark European weather in winter...
And the people! Friendly, kind, hospitable, helpful, smiling...
Algiers indeed was a wonderful discovery! And I simply have to go back!
| | |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
Aurorae's Algiers Travel Tips
 Comments for Aurorae about Algiers | | | | |
MITNIC Wed Mar 25, 2009 09:53 UTC
very informative tips with plenty of good photos. Thanks Jelena. | maykal Fri Nov 21, 2008 16:39 UTC
Fantastic page! I am so jealous reading this, as Algiers has been on my wishlist for a very long time! Thanks ;@P Maykal | eternel2002 Tue Sep 16, 2008 21:26 UTC
Hi Jelena.. I like your pages about Algiers.. very good tips and nice pictures. Excellent :) | MM212 Fri May 30, 2008 10:33 UTC
Exquisite page and beautiful photos. Would like to go to Algiers one day. Thank you for sharing. |
|
|
email me
add as friend
