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Photo Samples, Algeria
Algeria is a great place! A few
decades ago, the country (now Africa's largest) was a modern, thriving state
moving rapidly forward, however, a cancelled electrion, political turmoil
and the spread of violent Islamism has certainly pushed the country back.
Still, these days it's very nice and quiet, and due to the absence of mass
tourism, people are so much more firendly than in amrrakech
and Luxor where every tourist is seen upon as a source of income, and who
should be pestered the most. Perhaps he'll buy something...? Well, Algeria
is very far from that. Here, we find the genuine Arab friendlines, and
no-one try to sell anything to you. And, it doesn't count negatively that
there are lots to see in this historically interesting country, just waiting
to be discovered. Better now than in 10 years time when the mass tourism has
discovered Algeria.
As usual, all photos are, of
course © Claus Qvist Jessen, and none of them are to be used without my
permission.
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The famous Martyr's Monument, perching
on a hill south of the town centre. Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Street market scene;
Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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All Arabs love sweets, such as these
decorated marzipan cookies;
Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Dates for sale; The Kashbah of Algiers, Algeria.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Selling vegetables to a small horde of
veiled women; The Kashbah of Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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A great
day trip from Algiers is the coastal town of Tipaza, 70 kms to the west
of the capital. It's UNESCO status comes from the fine stone coffins, a
Roman necropolis dating back to the BC days. Even the views are
fantastic! Tipaza, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Stone coffins with a view;
Tipaza, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Christian church;
Tipaza, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Roman stone coffins; Tipaza, Algeria.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Street scene; Constantine, Algeria. The
reason to go there seems to be the relatively short trip to the Roman
ruins at Djemila. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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One of a couple of entrance portals at
the Roman ruins of Djemila, Algeria. Djemila is (of course) a UNESCO
site - and deservedly so. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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A Roman road; Djemila. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The mail temple of Djemila, Algeria.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The side of the main temple; Djemila,
Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Typical Roman coloumns at Djemila,
Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The entrance to the Roman hammams (baths)
Djemila. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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From the Roman hammams (baths) Djemila.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Tiled floor in the Roman hammams (baths)
Djemila. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The beutiful UNESCO town of Ghardaia,
M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Even the roundabouts are colourful and
traditional; Ghardaia region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The central square of Ghardaia, M'Zab
Valley, Algeria. The white "circle" is an ancient meeting place for clan
leaders. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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From the Kashbah of Ghardaia, M'Zab
Valley, Algeria. Like Algiers, the Kashbah is the oldest part of town,
dating back to the 13th Century. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The Mouzabite women in the UNESCO-rated
M'Zab Valley are all white and keep everything except for
one eye completely covered. They are extremely shy
and hard to photograph, as even the men seem totally obsessed to prevent
any photos. I almost complied. Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Have a smoke at the colourful bazar of
Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Henna colour; Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley,
Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Very young veggie vendor; Ghardaia,
M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Pouring tea at the bazar of Ghardaia,
M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Butchers market; Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley,
Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Old Mouzabite friends; Ghardaia, M'Zab
Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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White seems to be the fashion colour
among the Mouzabites in Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Young curious boys; Ghardaia, M'Zab
Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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From a distance: The small town of
Bonoura close to Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. Note two different
minarets; the centre one is Mousabite, the other "Arab". The two groups
don't really mix. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Still Bounoura, now with the dried-out
M'Zab River in the foreground. Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The old fortification walls at Bounoura,
Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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One of a few traditional mosques in
Bounoura, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. The Mouzabite people
traditionally use the funny square monarets, the Arabs from the north .
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The top mosque of the 14th Century town
of Bounoura, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The traditional square minaret of the
top mosque of the 14th Century town of Bounoura, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab
Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Elderly Mouzabite gentleman of Bounoura,
Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Old house just inside the town gates of
Ben Isguen, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria, another of the 800
year old towns in the region. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Small boy in a hurry; Ben Isguen,
Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Not much has changed during time; Ben
Isguen, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Building worker; Ben Isguen, Ghardaia
Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. Most Black guys in the region seem to
come from Mali further south. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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The watchtower of Ben Isguen, Ghardaia
Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. Admission is difficult, as it's possible
from the top to see the women working. Such a thing is no-go!! © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Nomad tea set-up; Ben Isguen, Ghardaia
Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Inside the town entrance of; El-Attouf,
Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. El-Attouf is the oldest of the
towns in the M'Zab Valley, dating back from the 12th Century. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Inside the mosque at the top ofEl-Attouf,
Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. To the right is the cemetary.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Small "shrine" showing the directio to
Mecca; El-Attouf, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Old houses; El-Attouf, Ghardaia Region,
M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Again, traditional minaret in the
El-Attouf, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Workers and friends. Again, the Black
man is from Mali, which rightfully doean't prevent the two men from
being friends. El-Attouf, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Curious kids; El-Attouf, Ghardaia
Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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Shy boy; El-Attouf, Ghardaia Region,
M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen |
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In the new part of town: Espresso coffee
- very Algerian. El-Attouf, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria.
© Claus Qvist Jessen |
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