"Algeria" Wilaya de Blida by midlifecrisis

I spent a year in Algeria, based in and around Blida, while on a student gap year - I was teaching English in a teacher training institute. While there I travelled extensively thoughout Algeria. This was not a country geared for any form of tourism, so I hitched, camped and often stayed with local people, who were hugely hospitable.

Sadly, the country since slipped into many years of warfare between the government and religious fundamentalists, and despite recent calm has for all intense and purposes been closed to Westerners since. It is still very dangerous for anyone visibly 'foreign' to travel without armed escort in most parts of the country.

Let us hope that things improve, as this is a country full of natural treasures, amazing historic sites and a vibrant culture.