Transportation
Travelling is easily done while
you stay in the Mediterranean belt. Communications
are excellent, and you can choose between train,
bus, shared taxis, and even aircrafts. It is not
expensive, and runs smoothly. The moment you set
out into the desert, distances, and few travellers
will destroy the image created up north. While
many roads are good, others are only recommended
for 4WDs and lorries. While you get from Algiers
to many minor city effectively with planes, you
can't go on travelling the same way, as all connections
are either from, or to, Algiers. But all in all,
moving around is easily done, considering the
mere size of Algeria.
Taxi Services
Taxis are available in larger cities, but they
are rare in Algiers except at the airport and
major hotels. At present, it is very dangerous
to flag down taxis on the street -- order a taxi
by telephone instead. Taxi fares are negotiable,
but be sure to agree on the price before getting
in. Louages, little six-seater Peugeot 504 station
wagons, run between towns and are a good way to
meet Algerians. Altour, the national tourist organization,
has an office in Algiers and most other major
cities. The organization can help with transportation,
and it also offers excellent desert tours, though
it's possible that they'll have only French- or
Arabic-speaking staff.
Air
All internal flights have to
be paid for in foregin Currency and you may will
need to show your currency exchange form to purchase
a ticket. In most cases you need to book your
seat well in advance of your intended flight.
Train
You can travel by train between Oran, Algiers,
Constantine and Anaba. Trains also run south to
Bécher and from Constantine to Touggourt.
Bus
There are long distance buses which on the whole
are comfortable, fairly reliable and fast but
are fairly expensive. You may have to book a few
days in advance if you want to get to Tamanrasset. |
Social Scene
Visiting Algeria, Africa's second
largest country, tourists are awed by the magnificence
of the Sahara Desert, comprising 85% of the country.
Westerners amazingly observe the goat and camel
herds of the region's nomadic tribes. Tourists
are fascinated with a newfound knowledge and reverence
of Islamic tradition and culture, and dabble in
the usage of the Arabic language.
For those seeking
a European flavored social scene, Algerian cinemas
feature French and English films, and numerous
coastal town restaurants serve mainly French and
Italian-style food.
|
For the sports and leisure
enthusiasts, horseracing and football are popularized
in Algeria, while the Northern coastline offers
fishing, swimming, sailing and water-skiing.
Algeria
offers tourists the opportunity to immerse themselves
in a rich Islamic culture, and to pleasure in
a European sampling of fine dining and entertainment. |
