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Algeria Algeria is a land of rich cultural history, people known for a tradition of welcoming visitors with a cosmopolitan flair that bridges the Maghreb with Europe. The land is as diverse and welcoming as the people with terrains ranging from Mediterranean beaches, to the beautiful Atlas Mountains and to the south, the stark beauty of the African Sahara.
Algeria is an exceptionally family friendly country where Islamic culture offers much that many foreigners will find relaxed, sober yet joyful and without the hustle and bustle of other Mediterranean destinations. Many civilizations have left their marks on Algerian culture leaving Algeria with a unique style all its own in architecture, art, language and historical sites. Algeria has two officially recognized languages Arabic and Amazigh as it is known locally. Many Algerians are also fluent in French.
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Algiers
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Al-Jaza’ir, ‘El bahdja’, “Alger La Blanche” (Algiers the White) … This shiny city is the capital of Algeria and the most important Mediterranean port of northwest Africa. With its warm Mediterranean climate, hospitality, good hotels and restaurants, different museums and parks, nice beaches and its unique beautiful bay, Algiers is an exciting city where tradition and modernity live together.
Algiers formerly:
Algiers has a great and long history. It was governed by successive conquerors, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Spanish, Ottomans and finally, French. It played a strategic role in World War II as the headquarters of De Gaulle’s Free French army, as an important operation centre from 1943 until the conclusion of the war. After 1957 Algiers become the epicenter of the Algerian war of liberation against French until 1962 when Algeria took its independence, the movie “The Battle of Algiers” shows well this period of Algerian war liberation and a part of Algiers history.
Next: Traditions
Traditions
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General: • In every district you can find many mosques, hammams ( that the price to access is ridiculous) and shops selling traditional cakes … • ‘saha’ means thanks, say ‘bismillah’ before starting work, eating, and “hamdouleh” after eating. • All the meat is ‘hallal’ (cattle, sheep, chicken) and there is no pork selling. • It’s not appropriate to refuse tea or coffee which is offered to you.
Traditional food: Dishes (Couscous,Tchekhtchoukha ,Bourek ,bercoucous ,Trida ,Mhadjeb , chorba, Mechoui ) Sweety food ( Baklawa, Kelb Ellouz, Zlabia, dates,Kesra) Music: Music in Algeria, in general, offers a rich diversity of gender: Chaabi style music remains very popular with stars such as El Hadj El Anka and Dahmane ElHarachi making their mark on the local music scene. For those with a more classical taste in music, Andalusi music, brought from Al-Andalus by Morisco refugees, is preserved in many older towns. But the RAI spend the most known abroad. Rai is a pop flavoured opinionated take on folk music, featuring stars such as Cheb Khaled and Cheb Mami.
Traditional Clothes: Women of Algiers are known for wearing Haik (a long piece of cloth draped over the entire body and head) but nowadays it’s increasingly rare. Photos In weddings, women represent their region with their traditional dress and it’s a real pleasure for the eyes: Bedroune and Seroual Chelka for Algiers, Chedda for Tlemcen … Village men wear a Burnous (a long, hooded robe) and baggy pants.
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Where to go? What to do? Would you like to go out? ... Wish fulfilled. Indeed, Algiers no shortage of places to unwind after a hard day’s work, meet friends for a chat or just satisfy your stomach :) So, a host of activities awaits you: billiards, bowling, cinema, karaoke, concerts, ‘Kheima’, nightclub and cafés. The white city offers also plenty of choices between traditional cuisine at ‘Dar Gnawa’, ‘Touareg’... Grilled at ‘Le Bon Gibier’, ‘Grill Room’ ... French cuisine at ‘Le Normand’, ‘L’Auberge Du Moulin’, or Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian and Turkish cook. you understood: more cosmopolitan cuisine! As it is a coastal city, there are also restaurants specializing in fish, so you can enjoy excellent dishes of fish and shellfish while contemplating the sea at ‘Chez Sauveur ‘ for example. To learn more about Algiers, its history and its culture, we will put together a custom planning, but for now here’s a preview of what awaits you: The Casbah: Original nucleus which earned the Moorish city of El-Djazair the nickname of “Algiers the White”, this millennium citadel has symbolized the identity of our people and our nation for centuries. The Bastion 23 (Rais Palace): This beautiful monument was part of the old city, built around a set of neighborhoods that were the city of El-Djazair in the Ottoman era. Now, it is a museum. The ‘Jardin D’Essai’: Created in 1832 and in perpetual enrichment, the ‘Jardin D’Essai’ is an ecological jewel that looks like a patch of greenery on the coast of Algiers, with impressive flora of over 3000 species. Notre Dame D’Afrique:
Basilica directed toward the southwest, while churches should be turned toward the east. This originality allows it to have an over viewing Algiers stretching along the sea which is one of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Ketchaoua Mosque (Plateau Of Goats in Turkish): This place of worship Muslim is an awesome mixture of Roman-Byzantine style and Turkish-Arab. The MAMA (The Museum of Modern Arts of Algiers): This is the first time in Algeria and one of the few in the world that a large commercial structure, in this case former galleries, is assigned to a cultural mission. The Army Museum: Tells the history of Algeria from the times of the Kings Berber to Heroes of the liberation War, through the ages: Carthaginian, Roman, Vandal, Byzantine, Arab-Muslim, Spanish, French and Ottoman. The Archeological Park of Tipaza: Located at the edge of a turquoise sea, the archaeological park is classified world heritage of UNESCO since 1982. The most important part of the park consists of Roman ruins and monuments, but it also contains vestiges of the Punic period. Few kilometers away, there is The Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania ( The Tomb of The Christian) lost at 261 meters altitude in the middle of a parkland. This monument native type is a magnificent ruin of Numidia era (40 AC). Maqam Echahid, The TNA (The Algerian National Theatre), The Great Post,Djamaa El Djedid, Djamaa El Kebir ,Arts and Popular Traditions Museum,The Bardo Museum,The National Museum of Fine Arts, The Mujahid Museum.
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Useful information Visa: 1. The visa is not required for nationals of the following countries: Libya, Mauritania, Guinea, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and Mali. A valid passport is sufficient. 2. Nationals of a country where there is no representation in Algeria, can obtain a visa at the border for regularization of residence for a period of 3 (three) months. 3. For the other countries, foreigners who want to come in Algeria must have a valid passport with a visa, a return ticket and enough of money. People must check their exemption of visa before they leave, if a visa is required, they must apply for in advance at an embassy or consulate. They will find there more information about the conditions.
Hosting: You will be living with a host family; or at one of the LC member’s house. Transportation: To move between your hosting home and the AIESEC’s office you can take: Taxis: There are collective taxis which will cost you 0.2€ and normal taxis which takes you wherever you like (the price depend on the length of the road). Buses: The bus ticket varies between 0.20 and 0.30€. Trains: The train ticket varies between 0.20€ and 0.70€. NB: There will always be someone to guide you.
Other useful information: Currency and exchange: 1 EUR = 99.0132 DZD 1USD = 74.7500 DZD
1 DZD = 0.0100997 EUR 1 DZD = 0.0133779 USD
Average prices: Sandwiches.........................................................................................70DZD-200DZD Pizza........................................................................................................120DZD-400DZD Burgers..................................................................................................120DZD-200DZD 50CL bottle of water..................................................................... ..20DZD 1L bottle of water.............................................................................35DZD Lemonade......................................................................................... .50DZD-140DZD 1L of milk.............................................................................................25DZD Bread ....................................................................................................9DZD Chocolate...........................................................................................10DZD-400DZD or more, depending on the quality of the chocolate and the quantity Cigarettes...........................................................................................90DZD-200DZD
(0.70€ - 2€) (1.20€ - 4€) (1.20€ - 2€) (0.20€) (0.35€) (0.50€ - 1.40€) (0.25€) (0.09€) (0.10€ - 4€) (0.90€-2€)
LC BENAK Time zone: GMT+1 Electric voltage: The wall outlet voltage of 220V and 50Hz is used. “TAXIPHONE”’(pay phone): A Small shops where we can make a call, buy phone cards, and sometimes do a photocopy. You can find it everywhere. How to call Algeria: +213 Important phone numbers: Central Police Station > 021735350 Police Emergency > 17 SAMU > 021235050 Fire department - Emergency Preparedness > 14 and 021711414 Ambulances > 021606666 Poison Control Centre > 021960808 or 021574545 Information >19
Climate:
Northen Algeria
Farther inland
Sahra Desert
Winter
5°- 20°
(-7°)- 19°
15°-28°
Summer
30°-40°
30°-38°
40°-45°
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