Monday, 12 Feb. Absolutely ridiculous travel day. Early drive to Constantine’s airport. Flight to Algiers, about 150 miles west. It’s worth noting that Tunis, our ultimate destination, is about 150 miles east of Constantine.

After an hour’s delay, drove to a local modern mall for lunch and a look-around. It was an unremarkable mall, except for the discovery that businesses in Algeria do not accept credit cards! That we only learned the fact now reflects how uninteresting the country’s products were. nobody had bought anything.

After an hour there, we returned to the airport. Spent well over 90 minutes in line for immigration. To get out of the country. Each person, citizen or foreigner, spent no less than two minutes in front of an agent, while he did I-have-no-idea-what. Just crazy. I stress that this is to leave the country.

Made it to the gate in time for the flight only because it was delayed. Even though it was only a 90 minute flight (east), they served a small meal. Chicken, of course.

Recapping Algeria. Cheerful people. But very proud, which I think makes them quick to anger. The Ruins were all I’d hoped for, though my leg injury severely restricted my enjoyment of them. Constantine is a remarkable city of bridges, though the abundance of trash tarnished the views and my memories. Algiers’s infrastructure is badly damaged, perhaps beyond repair. The total lack of a view of any upper class society (not a single high-end car on the roads) indicated to me that the wealthy hide their money and toys in Europe. Despite being a democracy, the government seems to have a boot pressed firmly down on any progress. It was an interesting visit, but I wouldn’t say a fun one. No way would I ever return.