Algiers Favorites

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Favorite thing: Here are the three pictures that I used to make the panoramic picture of my front page. Each of them, look separatly, gives a more accurate and sharper view of one sector of the city, especially if you enlarge them. They are from left to right and from east to west.

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Favorite thing: Place Emir Abdel Kader is a small square in the middle of Rue Ben Mehidi Larbi. Before the independence, it was named Place Marechal Bugeaud and its statue stood in the center. Marechal Bugeaud was celebrated because in 1842, he had won over the legendary figure of Algerian resistance to the French invaders, Emir Abdel Kader. After the independence in 1960, Abdel Kader finally won and had his posthumous revenge: the square was renamed Place Emir Abdel Kader and his statue was erected instead of the one of Bugeaud that had been exiled to France, in his birth village!

Favorite thing: Rue Ben Mehidi Larbi (Ex Rue d’Isly) is one of those streets that run parallel to the seafront, a little higher. It is lined by numerous shops. It connects Boulevard Mohammed Khemisti to the Casbah and in its middle stands Place Emir Abdel Kader.

The superb Grand Poste (sorry, I have no photo but look at Aurorae’s excellent Algiers page) stands at the corner of Rue Ben Mehidi Larbi and Boulevard Mohammed Khemisti

Favorite thing: Boulevard Mohammed Khemisti is a wide avenue that climbs steeply the hill on which Algiers is built. The wide center is for pedestrians and planted with numerous flower beds, palm trees and Mediterranean trees that are trimmed to give as much shade as possible. Algerian enjoy walking it.

Favorite thing: The seafront boulevards are well shown on this photo. On the center and right, Boulevard Ernesto Che Guevara. The hillside is lined with a series of great looking buildings that were built .around 1920. The basement is a cool archway. On the left, with trees, Port said square. On the far left, Boulevard Zirhout Youssef continues Boulevard Ernesto Che Guevara. The hillside is also lined with a series of great looking buildings such as the Daira and the APC (Assemblée Populaire Communale : City People’s Assembly) which is equivalent to the Town Hall.

In the background, the old city, the Casbah, inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage list.

Favorite thing: On the front photo of this page, I have tried to give the feeling that you get on arrival in the harbor by gluing 3 photos to make a panoramic view of the bay.

The shot on this tip was taken when leaving the harbor on the ferry. It is not really panoramic but gives also a good view of what you have in front of you before landing or when you leave Algiers.

Favorite thing: This shot gives a close up on a mosque. I feel it the "Mosquée de la Pêcherie" (Fishery’s Mosquee) but I would be glad if some one could ascertain the identification.

Thank you Jelena, your Algiers page gives the confirmation that it is actually Djamaa El-Djedid, also named "/Mosquée de la Pêcherie".

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Favorite thing: Since Algiers is on the coast, there is an endless shoreline full of wonderful beaches surrounding it. There is a large choice and most of them are public, and accessible at least on foot, although many can be reached directly by car.