Algiers, Algeria

Algiers is the coastal capital of Algeria, a north African country of 41 million people. Most of the population lives in the northern region along the Mediterranean Sea. 60% of the country is desert ("Sahara" means desert in Arabic), 98% of the people are Muslim and Arabic and French are the main languages spoken.  Most of the wealth in Algeria comes from natural gas and oil, but the people appear to be poor and housing is in poor condition.

Algeria has a rather violent history.  They were ruled by the Arab Ottomans for 300 years, then by the French for 132 years, earning their independence in 1962.  From 1991-1999, the country had a civil war between the government and various Islamic rebel groups which resulted in 150,000 deaths. A 300 foot tall martyrs memorial sits atop a hill commemorating the war for independence from France.  Other notable places to visit in Algiers include the Casbah, the old part of town that sits on a hillside, the grand post office, various mosques, botanical garden and the Notre Dame D'Afrique Catholic Church.

Housing near the Martyrs Memorial 

Martyrs Memorial commemorating the fight for
independence from France after 132 years of colonization

A view of Algiers from Martyrs Memorial hill

The Grand Post Office

French colonial architecture -- balconies like you see in the
French Quarter of New Orlans

Notre Dame D'Afrique Catholic Cathedral

A park near the Bab el Oued, the entrance to the Casbah part of town

View of Algiers as the ship entered the harbor