Photo - Algeria

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.

The famous Martyr's Monument, perching on a hill south of the town centre. Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Street market scene; Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

All Arabs love sweets, such as these decorated marzipan cookies; Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Dates for sale; The Kashbah of Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Selling vegetables to a small horde of veiled women; The Kashbah of Algiers, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

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

Stone coffins with a view; Tipaza, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Christian church; Tipaza, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Roman stone coffins; Tipaza, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

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

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

A Roman road; Djemila. © Claus Qvist Jessen

The mail temple of Djemila, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

The side of the main temple; Djemila, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Typical Roman coloumns at Djemila, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

The entrance to the Roman hammams (baths) Djemila. © Claus Qvist Jessen

From the Roman hammams (baths) Djemila. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Tiled floor in the Roman hammams (baths) Djemila. © Claus Qvist Jessen

The beutiful UNESCO town of Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Even the roundabouts are colourful and traditional; Ghardaia region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

The central square of Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. The white "circle" is an ancient meeting place for clan leaders. © Claus Qvist Jessen

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

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

Have a smoke at the colourful bazar of Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Henna colour; Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Very young veggie vendor; Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Pouring tea at the bazar of Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Butchers market; Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Old Mouzabite friends; Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

White seems to be the fashion colour among the Mouzabites in Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

Young curious boys; Ghardaia, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

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

Still Bounoura, now with the dried-out M'Zab River in the foreground. Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

The old fortification walls at Bounoura, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

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

The traditional square minaret of the top mosque of the 14th Century town of Bounoura, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen

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

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

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

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

Inside the mosque at the top ofEl-Attouf, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. To the right is the cemetary. © Claus Qvist Jessen

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

In the new part of town: Espresso coffee - very Algerian. El-Attouf, Ghardaia Region, M'Zab Valley, Algeria. © Claus Qvist Jessen