ALGERIA & FRANCE
The Algeria Series, reflection post. I suppose this trip should be one of mixed thoughts and feelings; however, I can’t help but count my losses (my drone link) and move on. Additionally, I consider myself lucky to be able to travel a lot, and ultimately, the last thing that’s going to help me is to dwell on any of the negative stuff.
CONFISCATED DRONE
FLIGHT MAP
GREAT CROWD
Here, we met a group of Swedes, an English couple, an Irish lad, and a South African. Honestly, I’m not overexaggerating when I say we got on like we had been best friends all our lives; indeed, we did! The bond was insane, and the click was instant—something extremely rare even in the backpacker world!
The Algeria Series, reflection post
LOCALS
One bad experience occurred, but as the saying goes, one swallow doesn’t make a summer. If I’m honest, I’m not sure I blame the officer for taking it off me; rather, it was the way the entire thing was handled that bothered me. Additionally, I wouldn’t have minded a little common sense.
SECURITY
I know that at one time, I was required to take a police escort LINK. However, overall, I found Algeria to be very safe. For instance, from walking through the Casbah to being surrounded by thousands of football fans at night, I never felt unsafe. Moreover, police are everywhere, and Algeria takes their security, especially airport security, very seriously. Consequently, it is very unlikely to be an issue.
The Algeria Series, reflection post
THE TRIP
After an amazing experience staying at a chateau and flying with the birds, I arrived in Algiers ready for five action-packed days in Algeria. To begin with, I took a tour of the Casbah, Algiers’ old town, where I enjoyed the architecture and attempted to eat my bodyweight in food. Additionally, today was the day when I thought I would be getting a beating from a policeman who, in the end, just wanted a photo. Speaking of beatings, I spent five hours in the police station the following day when the airport security took exception to my drone, and unfortunately, that would be the last time I would see it.
PUSHING A TAXI DRIVER
My run-ins with the law continued in Batna when I mistakenly pushed a police officer, thinking he was an annoying taxi driver, before eventually going for a tour of Timgad. On my final day in Algeria, I was in awe of Constantine; it is, for sure, the highlight of Algeria. Subsequently, my trip home took me to Marseille, where I could enjoy the day chilling out in what is now one of my favorite French cities.
The Algeria Series, reflection post
FINAL THOUGHTS
Constantine was a shock and the thing I will remember most but saying that I will still not forget the incidents with the police, it all could have ended very differently!
NEXT UP
Off to Portugal to meet the family and then Croatia for my mates stag, click to read!
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
134/229
This post is part of The Algeria Series, click to explore or for episode 1 click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
