Said is a "fixer" - extraordinarily so. Who else claims to fixed Colin Powell's toilet and been rewarded with a state department paid visit to the US.
(Said == Sayeed)
- from my iPad
Location:Setif
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Day 14 addendum
Forgot to mention that Said's resume includes hosting Michael Palin during his Sahara TV/book journey. Also claims to have convinced the boss (Palin's wife) that it was safe in Algeria.
Said is a "fixer" - extraordinarily so. Who else claims to fixed Colin Powell's toilet and been rewarded with a state department paid visit to the US.
(Said == Sayeed)
- from my iPad
Said is a "fixer" - extraordinarily so. Who else claims to fixed Colin Powell's toilet and been rewarded with a state department paid visit to the US.
(Said == Sayeed)
- from my iPad
Day 14 Algiers and Setif
Gruesome night courtesy of Air Algieria. Of course we were late and flew to Algiers via Djanet putting us on the ground at 6am-ish. Interesting to see plane fill up with backpacker/trekkers in Djanet - where did they come from? Our bags off the plane very last but there in the arrivals lobby was Faysal ready to whisk us to Hotel Safir.
Very grand I must say. Howard is with us but this will be the dividing of our ways. Inspirational guy - his passport has at least one set of extra pages.
Faysal preps us for departure at 11:30am. We are driving to Constantine (not flying) and with a new guide, Said.
Rest rather than sleep and then F&S are 1 hour late and the hotel can't retrieve the wifi password - go figure.
Head out to Setif this afternoon. The 3 hour drive took 4. I suspect it always takes 4. Put it down to Algerian optimism.
Said's english is spectacular. He is the total package. Guide, sometime journalist, raconteur and self-confessed womanizer. The guy is a riot and we are absorbed by his stories, his politics and hyperbole - not to forget the continual stream of relevant guide-worthy information. Great stuff. James has cheered up considerably.
Faysal is having a good time too - keep the driver happy, keep the driver happy, Algerian mantra. Unimpressive lunch in Boira.
Short debate and we decide up-scale dinner plans in order that we get wine with dinner at place in the 'burbs of Setif that Said knows - of course.
first a city walk. Really good vibe in this totally non tourist town. Historic as point if start of revolution.
Unbelievably good street food
- decided to do street food for lunch tomorrow.
13c mosque
And this crazy fountain in the main street of old town where single girls come to drink the water as it's good luck in finding a man.
Not a problem in Algeria, they are everywhere surely.
F&S getting into the swing of having cooperative tourists
Interesting architecture
Lisboa restaurant. Simple and excellent local cuisine.
Two bottles of Syrah.
wifi is acting up and needs reboot.
- from my iPad
Very grand I must say. Howard is with us but this will be the dividing of our ways. Inspirational guy - his passport has at least one set of extra pages.
Faysal preps us for departure at 11:30am. We are driving to Constantine (not flying) and with a new guide, Said.
Rest rather than sleep and then F&S are 1 hour late and the hotel can't retrieve the wifi password - go figure.
Head out to Setif this afternoon. The 3 hour drive took 4. I suspect it always takes 4. Put it down to Algerian optimism.
Said's english is spectacular. He is the total package. Guide, sometime journalist, raconteur and self-confessed womanizer. The guy is a riot and we are absorbed by his stories, his politics and hyperbole - not to forget the continual stream of relevant guide-worthy information. Great stuff. James has cheered up considerably.
Faysal is having a good time too - keep the driver happy, keep the driver happy, Algerian mantra. Unimpressive lunch in Boira.
Short debate and we decide up-scale dinner plans in order that we get wine with dinner at place in the 'burbs of Setif that Said knows - of course.
first a city walk. Really good vibe in this totally non tourist town. Historic as point if start of revolution.
Unbelievably good street food
- decided to do street food for lunch tomorrow.
13c mosque
And this crazy fountain in the main street of old town where single girls come to drink the water as it's good luck in finding a man.
Not a problem in Algeria, they are everywhere surely.
F&S getting into the swing of having cooperative tourists
Interesting architecture
Lisboa restaurant. Simple and excellent local cuisine.
Two bottles of Syrah.
wifi is acting up and needs reboot.
- from my iPad
Location:Setif
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