Algeria 2016: 04 Oran - Paris of Algeria...

“Some journeys don't have endings, they lead to new beginnings. These are the journeys that lead to great adventures!” - Alex Haditaghi

(A good view of Oran port from the view point)

Day 04: 07 October 2016 (Friday)
Route: Oran - Algiers
Distance: 432 km
Hotel: Albert City Centre Hotel, Algiers

Oran is an important coastal city that is located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most largest and important city after Algiers due to its commercial, industrial, and cultural importance. The name Oran is derived from the Berber word ‘uharan’ that means two lions. A legend says that in 900 AD, lions still lived in the area. The last two lions were hunted on a mountain near Oran and are elsewhere referred to as mountain lions.

(A painting of an old souk)

(Picking ripened dates)

(Watching the golden sunset from the beach)

(A popular seaside resort for tourists)

(Algerian wedding on the beach)

We had breakfast at the hotel restaurant. By 8:00 am we checked out and started our tour of Oran City.

Our first visit is to the Fort Santa Cruz, one of the three forts in Oran. The other two forts are Fort de la Moune at the western end of the port and Fort St. Philippe, a replacement of the old castle of the Saints, at the centre of Oran. The three forts are connected by tunnels. Fort Santa Cruz was built on the Pic d’Aidour above Gulf of Oran in the Mediterranean Sea, at an elevation of above 400 metres.

(Miles of sandy quiet beach)

(National Army on the alert at all time)

(Driving uphill on the mountain road)

(Fort Santa Cruz perched on the hill top)

(Chapel of Santa Cruz with the statue of Virgin Mary)

A small chapel, known as the Chapel of Santa Cruz, stands close to the fort. This chapel has been refurbished with a tower, which has a huge statue of the Virgin Mary, said to be a replica of that at Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseilles, styled as Notre Dame du Salut de Santa Cruz.

(A good view of the city and harbor)

(The chapel is under renovation)

(The many arches of the chapel)

(A clear blue sky)

(The day began to get hazy) 

We drove uphill to another view point for photo shots. There are a museum and a mosque under construction and renovation. There is a small green mosque perched at the edge of the hill. From here we could sight the old cable car towers and the Santa Cruz Fort overlooking the harbour.

(A museum under construction)

(An old unused cable car tower)

(View of the fort and the harbor)

(Stairs leading to another view point)

(A small cubical green mosque on the hill)

We visited Oran's major square, place du 1er November, a popular tourist attraction. It is a beautiful place in the middle of town, where the old Theatre-Opera and the old City Town Hall are located. The center of the place are marked by a fountain and a nice monument dedicated to Algerian heroes Emir Abdel Kader and Sidi Ibrahim. The Oran's tram Central Station is situated close by.

(Driving through the city of Oran)

(Oran Square, Place du 1er November)

(Memorial monument in the centre)

(Statue of victory on top of the monument)

(The Opera House at the end of the square)

(A major tram line running accross town)

As we are travelling, the men decided to skip Friday prayers. Not many shops and restaurants were opened on Friday and we wasted some time looking for a place to eat. We had our lunch at a small restaurant in the suburb. Lunch was beef on skews, beef burger, rice and French fries. We bought some dates from the roadside vendor to be consumed during the journey.

(The many monuments in town)

(Oran Trade and Convention Center)

(Driving around the town of Oran)

(Seats to rest tired feet, with a good view)

(Clean streets, busy traffic)

(Colorful murals on the wall)

(Many parks and gardens)

(One of the many brown brick buildings in town)

(Many new modern architecture)

After lunch we visited Abdul Hamid Ibn Badis Mosque for some photo shots. Our visit was cut short as the mosque was starting to get crowded with people from all over who came to perform their Friday prayers.

(Abdul Hamid Ibn Badis Mosque)

(A modern mosque with a capacity of 25,000)

(Higher institute of learning and a centre of Islamic Art)

(Spending Algerian Dinar on souvenirs)

(Major traffic jam on the way to Algiers)

From Oran we drove back to Algiers and checked-in Albert City Centre Hotel for the night.

(Fine French dining at the hotel restaurant)

        2016 Algeria: 05 Algiers👉

👈2016 Algeria: 03 Tipaza/Oran

Algeria 2016: 05 Algiers - Glistening White Buildings...

“Being kind, being compassionate, being respectful does not make you weak. More often, it's the harder path to take...” - Liza M. Wiemer

(Jardine D'Essai du Hamma)

Day 05: 08 October 2016 (Saturday)
Route: Algiers City Tour
Hotel: Albert City Centre Hotel, Algiers

Algiers is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population was estimated to be around 3.5 million. Algiers is located on the Mediterranean Sea and in the north-central portion of Algeria. Sometimes nicknamed El-Behdjaor alternatively Alger la Blanche for the glistening white of its buildings as seen rising up from the sea. 

(Early morning start for Algiers day tour)

(The Grand Poste - a fine example of French architecture)

(Plenty of time for Algiers sight-seeing)

(One of the many rainbow colored modern buildings)

The modern part of the city is built on the level ground by the seashore; the old part, the ancient city of the deys, climbs the steep hill behind the modern town and is crowned by the casbah or citadel, 122 meters above the sea. The Casbah and the two quays form a triangle.

(Martyr Tower commemorating the independence) 

(A statue of a soldier)

(The shape of three palm leaves)

We visited the Maqam El-Shahid Matyr's tower or the Martyrs' Memorial. It is an iconic concrete monument commemorating the Algerian war for independence. The monument was opened in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence. It is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves which shelter the ‘Eternal Flame’ beneath. At the edge of each palm leaf stands a statue of a soldier, each representing a stage of Algeria's struggle. The monument has been erected on the site of an ancient military fort.

(Visiting the Museum of Mujahid)

(Housing the memory of the dead during the war) 

(A panoramic view of Algiers city)

(A glimpse of Algiers Port)

(Modern apartments in the suburb)

The site includes a crypt, an amphitheater and the Museum of El Mujahid. No photography was allowed in the Museum but we were given a special permission to have a few group photos in the main hall. 

(Jardine D'Essai, a test garden and a zoo)

(The many species of flora from all over the world)

(Intertwined branches forming an arch)

(Walking around under the shade of unique trees)

(Buttress roots of huge trees in the garden)

(The Martyre Tower viewed from the garden)

(A weekend recreational place for families)

(Beautiful fountains decorating the garden)

(The garden was extended many times)

(A section with bamboo trees)

We next visited the Jardine D'Essai du Hamma. The experimental botanical garden is a 58-hectare garden with an estimated 1,200 different species of plants. It is now still considered one of the most important botanical gardens in the world.

(Finding the exit out of the garden)

(Exiting the experimental garden of D'Essai)

(The entrance of the Jardine D'Essai subway station)

(We are taking the train back to our hotel)

(Taking the right train to Tafourah)

(The station was empty around this time of the day)

(Travelling during off-peak hours)

From Jardine D’Essai we took a Metro ride from Jardine Station to Tafourah Station, five stations away.

From the Tafourah Metro station we walked back to our hotel where our van was waiting to drive us to a restaurant outside town for lunch. It was situated somewhere near the local agent's office. We had Beef stew with kuskus and had Iceberg banana split Ice cream after. On the way back we stopped at a perfume shop to buy rose scented olive oil. 

(Arriving at Tafourah station near Albert Hotel)

(A replica of the Arc De Triomphe)

(A replica of ancient ship by the beach)

(The many views of city of Algiers)

(A must eat everyday - a dish of pickled olives)

(A glimpse of the Grand Mosque of Algeria under construction)

Back in the hotel we took a nap for about an hour. Then later took a stroll along the shopping streets and bought some souvenirs. On the way back to the hotel we walked to the Algiers Port passing by the Parliament House and the old Grand Post Office.

(A souvenir shop selling local souvenirs)

(Walking along the shopping streets of Algiers)

(Place de 'Emir-Abdelkader)

(The statue of 'Emir-Ebdelkader)

(One of the many mosques along the streets)

(Waiting for the sunset at Algiers Port)

(Archades of the Ville Blanche)

The port of Algiers is open to the Mediterranean Sea and it is located in the north-western part of the Bay of Algiers. We took a stroll on the boulevard Zirout Youssef and the bridge which spans over the railroad.

We had dinner in the hotel with the rest of the group.

(Cruise ships moving in and out of the port)

(Walking back to the hotel keeping to the main road)

(Our dinner at the hotel restaurant)

 2016 Algeria: 06 Algiers/Djemila/Constantine👉

👈2016 Algeria: 04 Oran/Algiers