Sunday, March 25, 2012
First run in w/ law
James gets arrested for importing honey and apple. Here he is being processed before seeing the judge.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Getting Ready
Time to take this bad boy out for some field trials. Ok, desert trials.
Location:Crescent Dr,Palo Alto,United States
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Day 16 Medracen, Timgad, Tazoult
Started off with the visit to the Constantin museum that we couldn't do yesterday (arbitrary closure). A wealth of material, well laid out. The floor mosaics are stunning.
Headed south towards Batna but first made a detour to see the mausoleum at Medracen.
Lots of unknowns - like why did it collapse (bad renno job?), why the most recent renovation just abandon the site and disappear?
No matter an impressive structure.
Then on to Timgad but before the ruins lunch at a local families house. Delicious Algerian dishes we hadn't seen before.
Our host is a retired guide who taught Said the ropes 20 odd years ago and was deactivated today for us.
The thing that is different about Timgad is the state of preservation and it's sheer size
- Djemila still has it beat in the location/situation department. There's something magic about seeing the deep ruts in the Decumanus Maximus made by the chariot wheels.
The theatre is stunningly complete, courtesy of the French.
Also one of only two known public roman libraries is here
along with fourteen (14) separate bathing complexes. The market has fabulous carvings over the 16 stalls and the public multiple-seat toilets look like a great place for a debate. Trajans arch is magnificent
and the "capitol" with it's two (of four) extremely tall columns reconstructed. This temple was a three-way venue with 3 sides of a square dedicated to Jupiter(4 columns), Juno (3 columns) and Minerva (3 columns).
The associated museum which houses the fabulous mosaics lifted from the floors has been closed for 10 years. No one knows why. There still mosaics in place on the floor of the Grand South Baths. The steps to the forum are where the famous motto: Venare, lavari, ludere, ridere, occ est vivere. (hunt, bathe, play laugh, that is life) can be found carved. Still working..
Washing machine
Next we zinged the short distance to the museum at Tazoult where we did see mosaics from houses in that garrison town. Formerly the home of the third legion (Legion III Augustus). Took a stroll to the huge (reconstructed surely) praetorium, a four side arch.
Then the fun was over and time to start the 5 hour drive back to Algers and the return flight. But dinner - Said and Faysal were all over our suggestion to return to Setif and eat the fabulous street food of two nights ago. Topped off with some pastries that involved transversing a crazy ad hoc street market where I saw an amazing knock off of an iPhone4. Chinese I was told - but aren't the real ones Chinese?
Dropped Said at home then Faysal dropped us at the airport. We insistedhe takeoff home and sleep. Now it's 2am and we are at the gate waiting for the 3:25am to Francfort.
- from my iPad
Headed south towards Batna but first made a detour to see the mausoleum at Medracen.
Lots of unknowns - like why did it collapse (bad renno job?), why the most recent renovation just abandon the site and disappear?
No matter an impressive structure.
Then on to Timgad but before the ruins lunch at a local families house. Delicious Algerian dishes we hadn't seen before.
Our host is a retired guide who taught Said the ropes 20 odd years ago and was deactivated today for us.
The thing that is different about Timgad is the state of preservation and it's sheer size
- Djemila still has it beat in the location/situation department. There's something magic about seeing the deep ruts in the Decumanus Maximus made by the chariot wheels.
The theatre is stunningly complete, courtesy of the French.
Also one of only two known public roman libraries is here
along with fourteen (14) separate bathing complexes. The market has fabulous carvings over the 16 stalls and the public multiple-seat toilets look like a great place for a debate. Trajans arch is magnificent
and the "capitol" with it's two (of four) extremely tall columns reconstructed. This temple was a three-way venue with 3 sides of a square dedicated to Jupiter(4 columns), Juno (3 columns) and Minerva (3 columns).
The associated museum which houses the fabulous mosaics lifted from the floors has been closed for 10 years. No one knows why. There still mosaics in place on the floor of the Grand South Baths. The steps to the forum are where the famous motto: Venare, lavari, ludere, ridere, occ est vivere. (hunt, bathe, play laugh, that is life) can be found carved. Still working..
Washing machine
Next we zinged the short distance to the museum at Tazoult where we did see mosaics from houses in that garrison town. Formerly the home of the third legion (Legion III Augustus). Took a stroll to the huge (reconstructed surely) praetorium, a four side arch.
Then the fun was over and time to start the 5 hour drive back to Algers and the return flight. But dinner - Said and Faysal were all over our suggestion to return to Setif and eat the fabulous street food of two nights ago. Topped off with some pastries that involved transversing a crazy ad hoc street market where I saw an amazing knock off of an iPhone4. Chinese I was told - but aren't the real ones Chinese?
Dropped Said at home then Faysal dropped us at the airport. We insistedhe takeoff home and sleep. Now it's 2am and we are at the gate waiting for the 3:25am to Francfort.
- from my iPad
Location:Algers airport
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Day 15 Djemila and Constantin
Excellent choices at petit dejeuner this morning here at Hotel Setif
Walked to local museum. Best yet. Stunning roman floor mosaics and generally well presented information.
Loaded up at 10am and headed NW for 1hour drive to Djemila. Totally stunning site. Never seen anything like this as we drive in.
First a visit to the museum where an extraordinarily passionate local escorted us around the museum, just 100m from the site, and using a pointer and a scale model of the site, oriented us. Great preparation for the actual visit.
Did a majorvstroll around in a state of awe. Here are just a few pics to try and catch the scene.
Great sewer system.
Lunch at local hostelry of soup and couscous. Very good
Back in the car for the drive to Constantin, city of bridges, where we are staying at out last hotel, hotel Cirta. A fast walk, Said moves, and we are at the top of "Le rocher" for a visit to the palace of the bey. Sort of interesting
Quick stop for some baklava
and flirtation of the assistants
Then the bridges across the gorge
More walking
A few pastis at the hotel, dinner and crash.
- from my iPad
Walked to local museum. Best yet. Stunning roman floor mosaics and generally well presented information.
Loaded up at 10am and headed NW for 1hour drive to Djemila. Totally stunning site. Never seen anything like this as we drive in.
First a visit to the museum where an extraordinarily passionate local escorted us around the museum, just 100m from the site, and using a pointer and a scale model of the site, oriented us. Great preparation for the actual visit.
Did a majorvstroll around in a state of awe. Here are just a few pics to try and catch the scene.
Great sewer system.
Lunch at local hostelry of soup and couscous. Very good
Back in the car for the drive to Constantin, city of bridges, where we are staying at out last hotel, hotel Cirta. A fast walk, Said moves, and we are at the top of "Le rocher" for a visit to the palace of the bey. Sort of interesting
Quick stop for some baklava
and flirtation of the assistants
Then the bridges across the gorge
More walking
A few pastis at the hotel, dinner and crash.
- from my iPad
Location:Constantin, Hotel Cirta
Said's take on the desert photos
Said took a look at our "tuaregs" courtesy of the iPad. He had some interesting observations.
Towa is not Tuarog but in fact a Shambi, Bedouin tribesmen who don't enjoy a reputation for honesty and integrity.
M'hamid is probably Malian, certainly not Tuarog.
Abdullah is classic Tuarog.
The way turbans (cheche) are tied is significant. Abdullah exposes a small amount of hair to indicate he is single.
Dinner last night was Shorba (soup) followed by bourek, Turkish originally but this with Algerian touch. Derricious.
Majeb was the name of the street food.
- from my iPad
Towa is not Tuarog but in fact a Shambi, Bedouin tribesmen who don't enjoy a reputation for honesty and integrity.
M'hamid is probably Malian, certainly not Tuarog.
Abdullah is classic Tuarog.
The way turbans (cheche) are tied is significant. Abdullah exposes a small amount of hair to indicate he is single.
Dinner last night was Shorba (soup) followed by bourek, Turkish originally but this with Algerian touch. Derricious.
Majeb was the name of the street food.
- from my iPad
Location:Road to Djemila
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