Archive for April 23rd, 2008
On Location: Chance Encounters among Algeria’s Roman Ruins a Trip Highlight
As we drove along the mountain roads to the Roman ruins site of Djémila, the views of the countryside, gorges, and farmlands were simply breathtaking. Along the way we were treated to mint tea and homemade cookies. When we arrived at Djémila—a World Heritage Site with some of the best preserved Roman ruins in North Africa—we ended up having a very special, and serendipitous, experience. A group of college girls from Bejaia—some in veils, some without… some with hoop earrings and jeans, others in traditional dress—heard us speaking English and approached us. We managed to exchange bits of conversation—in broken English, French, and Arabic—laughing all the while, taking photographs of each other, and all of us completely enjoying this lovely chance interaction. Everyone in our groups commented on how really amazing it is to visit a place where tourism has hardly touched the local people. What a wonderful memory for all of us…
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