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Renewal of the Algiers Casbah
A “Casbah”, in its traditional meaning, is the center of a city, usually walled in and fortified to some extent. As such, the Casbahs of cities and towns stretching from Morocco in the west to Damascus in the east are often living museums, a time capsule of the way life used to be centuries ago. Algiers has been Algeria’s leading cities for hundreds of years, and its Casbah is home for tens of thousands of people. The problem, however, is that the Algiers Casbah is rapidly decaying due to an assortment of factors: age, neglect and over-population being the worst culprits.
Annaba, Algeria: 3,000 Years of History
It was no accident that seafaring explorers from far off Phoenicia (today’s Lebanon) hoisted their flag at the site of Annaba more than 3,000 years ago. Then as now, Annaba is a natural port that backs onto a fertile hinterland. If you sailed the Mediterranean and needed a secure home base with a good supply of food, Annaba was the place to be. Of course, it wasn’t always called Annaba. The Phoenicians called it Hipponensis Sinus, and when the Romans took the city after defeating Carthage in the Second Punic war, they changed its name to Hippo Regius.
The Sheraton Club Des Pins Resort in Algiers
You might think that Algeria wasn’t the type of place to support a large, luxurious hotel... and if you do, you’d be wrong. The Sheraton Club des Pins Resort and Towers is located just west of Algiers, about 25 miles from the airport. It is the only beachfront hotel in Algiers and the pristine Club des Pins Beach is one of the finest beaches anywhere. This exclusive private beach is washed by the blue and green waves of the warm Mediterranean Sea. The hotel itself is massive, futuristically styled and surrounded by gardens and greenery.
Snow in Summer: Algeria’s Hoggar Mountains
The Hoggar Mountains, also known as the Ahaggar Mountains, rear up out of their sweltering sandy base in Algeria’s forbidding southeast Sahara desert region. Volcanic in origin but severely eroded by wind and water over the long millennia, the Hoggar Mountains are not easy to get to but those who do make the arduous journey say that it’s well worth the time and trouble. The nearest town to the Hoggar Mountains is Tamanrasset (or Tamanghasset), a dusty oasis mainly populated by Algeria’s Tuareg people. This nomadic tribe has lived in the Sahara for millennia and they know the trackless desert wastes like the backs of their hands. A Tuareg guide hired in Tamanrasset can show you the most interesting areas of the Hoggar Mountains, and get you back to town after you’ve seen the sights.
From the Sahara to the Somme: The Zouaves
Zouaves were soldiers of the French Army who were recruited from Algerian Berber tribesmen and the large European emigrant population that lived in Algeria from the 1830s up until the independence of Algeria in 1962. Known mainly for their bright and flamboyant dress, Zouave regiments had a reputation for being fierce warriors who would charge into battle with wild cries and sabers at the ready. Typical Zouave uniform dress included a red fez or turban with a contrasting silk tassel, a short blue jacket, a wide sash and bright red baggy pants, or pantaloons. Naturally, these uniforms were quite visible and within a year after the start of the First World War the uniforms were standardized to monochromatic khaki. Zouave regiments also fought in World War II, although much of their organized participation was limited to the opening and closing stages of the war.
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