ALGERIA & FRANCE
I suppose this trip should be one of mixed thoughts and feelings but I can’t help to count my losses (my drone link) and move on. I consider myself lucky to be able to travel a lot and 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 some a group of Sweds, an English couple, and Irish lad and a South African. I’m not overexaggerating but when I say we got on like we had been best frineds all our lives we did! The bond was insane and the click was instant, something extremely rare even in the backpacker world!
LOCALS
One bad experience but as the saying goes one swallow doesn’t make a summer and if I’m honest can I’m not sure I blame the officer for taking it off me just the way the entire thing was handled. I wouldn’t have minded a little common sense.
SECURITY
I know at a time I was required to take a police escort LINK but overall I found Algeria to be very safe, from walking through the Casbah to being surrounded by 1000s of football fans at night. Police are everywhere and Algeria take their security, especially airport security very seriously, so it is very unlikely to be an issue.
THE TRIP
After an amazing experience staying at a chateau and flying with the birds I arrived in Algiers ready for 5 action packed days in Algeria. First was a tour of the Casbah, Algiers old town where I enjoyed the architecture and attempted to eat my bodyweight in food. Today was also the day where I thought I would be getting a beating from a policeman who in the end just wanted a photo. Talking about beatings, I spent 5 hours in the police station the following day when the airport security took exception to my drone and 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 pushed a police officer after thinking he was an annoying taxi driver before going for a tour of Timgad. My final day in Algeria had me in awe of Constantine, it is for sure the highlight of Algeria. My trip home took me to Marseille where I could enjoy the day chilling out at what is now one of my favourite French cities.
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
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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.
