Ghardaïa and around it
Algerian Airlines rescheduled our flight to Algiers from early morning to 1.45 p.m. It was for the better. We slept late, rested at the hotel, had lunch, and drove to the airport in Ghardaïa without rush. However, our program for the day in Algiers was cut short. We had time for a walk in the Botanical Gardens and to see the Martyrs’ Memorial and that was all.
Algeria became a part of France in 1830. Formally, it had the status of a French territory and it was even represented in the French National Assembly. In reality, Algeria was a colony with the same tragic consequences for the Algerian people as for the other African nations. The Algerian War of Independence began in 1954 году and lasted 8 years. When General de Gaulle became Prime Minister of France amid the Algerian War, he held a referendum if Algeria should become independent. The majority of people in Algeria and France voted in favor. Signed in 1962, the Évian Accords granted Algeria its independence but with conditions. One of them gave France a 5-year lease of a site in Algerian Sahara to continue nuclear tests.
The former colonialists are not much loved in Algeria. Although many Algerians speak French and the signs are still in this language, the country’s official languages are only Arabic and Berber.
The French left Algeria, and the Soviet Union, seeking to seize spheres of influence in Africa, sent its specialists. Algerians still remember with gratitude the help of Soviet engineers.
Our group left but I had one extra day in Algeria. I took the metro to the city center and just roamed around. Unlike in other places, police paid no attention to me and did not try to protect.
Algeria is a cheap country. I changed $50 and it was too much for 2 weeks. Out of this amount, 10 dollars were paid for the dress. Breakfast and dinner were included in the program. The food we bought ourselves cost almost nothing. I did not spend money on souvenirs, spices, etc. I bought 2 boxes of local, very tasty Turkish-type sweets for home and that was it. Unfortunately, we did not see the famous Algerian wine anywhere and were not able to try it.
That was the end of my summer-to-fall trip to Bulgaria, Syria, Lebanon, France, Monaco, and Algeria. Everything went well, I did not get sick, I met many interesting people along the way and hopefully made new friends. From Algiers, I flew home for a 2-month rest before embarking