I am obsessed with Algeria? 🇩🇿
It all started when I found a $500 roundtrip direct flight to Algiers and suddenly needed to go there immediately. This coincided with a goal to take my first solo trip. As I outlined a tentative itinerary, I learned about the cities on its Mediterranean coast: Oran, Algiers, and Constantine. The history there is astounding! Algeria was an important trading hub for Carthaginians, Romans, and Vandals, and over time, the country has been ruled by Berbers, Arabs, Persians, and of course the French.
But my jaw dropped when I saw photos of southern Algeria—specifically, the Ahaggar Mountains. They sound and look like something straight out of Star Wars.
I hesitate to even write the name on the internet for fear that it will manifest travel influencers with flowy dresses and drones!! the best places are the hardest to reach blah blah blahhhhhhhh
Unfortunately, southern Algeria is off-limits for security reasons. In the end, I decided that there were, perhaps, better options for solo female travel than a road trip through pockets of the Sahara where ISIS is hiding. Perhaps.
Algeria burbled up again to the top of my brain when I read about African metallurgy. In a previous post on that, I spotlighted a Tuareg artist from Azawagh. “Hey!” methoughts to meself. “I read about that place in a book!”
Like any amateur Maghrebphile, I mixed up Azawagh with Azawad. (I know what you’re thinking: WHAT A DUMBASS.)
Both words come from the Tuareg word azawaɣ—meaning "savannah." The difference? Azawagh is a geographic distinction, Azawad is a political one.
That’s where things get interesting. More tomorrow!
P.S. In the extremely off-chance that you’re not keeping up with news from Algeria, tomorrow is a huge day for the country. There’s a deeply unpopular election about to take place. Earlier this year, Algerians took to the streets and deposed their corrupt and aging president. Thursday’s elections are being widely protested, as every candidate is part of his former regime.
Thanks for reading Gemini Mind! Elsewhere, you can find me as @yokizzi 💫