Africa’s largest country lies just a short hop from Europe. The north, with its snow-flecked mountains and stunning coastline, is home to urbane and charismatic cities such as Algiers and Constantine, as well as some of the most magnificent Roman sites in existence including Timgad and Djemila, both vast, perfectly preserved Roman towns with barely another tourist in sight.
We have arrived in the late afternoon with Nora and her friends in the small fishing port of Cherchell. We were registered by the police and allowed to stay in the port, but later the army showed up and kicked us out from there. Our new friends tried to help us and they were calling some...
From busy Algiers we have moved to the small town of Tipaza, bent along a stretch of rocky coastline. Among honeyed beaches, shady pine trees, and gently rolling hills, the sweeping turquoise sea serves as the backdrop for a layered history of golden ruins overlooking the coastal cliff...
We left Jijel with our friendly police escort on time, the plan was to go to Djurdjura NP. But just a few kilometers from our destination, we were stopped and blocked by local Gendarmerie Nationale – they did not allow us and police to continue to Tikjda. So, after some refreshing...
We have arrived in the late afternoon in a famous and liberal beach town Béjaïa. It is overlooked by the mountain Yemma Gouraya, whose profile is said to resemble a sleeping woman. The other day we met Ferhad – a very friendly and helpful local businessman, who showed us around the town...
We were driving with our friendly police escort through the Kabylie Hills to the coast. The first overnight we made in Jijel. We have parked next to the abandoned Kotama Hotel on the beach. Then we took a walk around in bad cloudy weather. Unfortunately, the beach is really dirty...
We left Djemila sharp 14:00 with our armed police escort to Jejil. We drove steep and curvy roads of the Petite Kabylie hills. It is the mountainous area of the Bibans and the Babor Range, subranges of the Tell Atlas range bordering the Mediterranean. The Petite Kabylie is separated from...
A local police escort leads us through the great landscape to the breathtaking ruins of Djemila. We have parked next to the entrance and rushed to the site. The huge archeological complex contains remains of the ancient Roman town of Cuicul. Tucked into the strikingly beautiful Petite...
Sétif is one of the oldest towns in Algeria spread on Hautes Plaines in the altitude of 1096 meters. But unfortunately, there is nothing to see. It is an industrial and commercial hub, anything that was built yesterday has been knocked down and replaced with something built today. The...
We made shortstop in Lambèse on the way to Setif. The remains of the Roman town and camp are dominated by a praetorium (commandant’s house) dating from 268, the rest of the archeological site are ruins of two triumphal arches, temples, an aqueduct, an amphitheater, baths, and many private...
Late afternoon, we have finally arrived in Timgad – one of the finest Roman sites listed in UNESCO. Since the Archeological site was just closing, we took a local tasty pea soup and some barbecue (600 DZD) in a nearby fast-food restaurant. We saw, that some police officers have...