Shukran, Algiers!
Friday, October 03, 2025 | 700 Views |
North of Africa: The author in Algiers
From the moment I landed, Algiers revealed itself as a city of quiet pride immaculately clean, orderly, and alive with character. Its streets tell stories that stretch back centuries, with buildings dating as far back as 1902 still standing gracefully, preserving the city’s architectural charm. Walking past them felt like tracing the layers of history that shape this Mediterranean jewel.
One evening after the trade fair, while searching for local cuisine, I found myself at Alger centre, popularly known as downtown area of the city. The area encompasses the city‘s historic and commercial heart, including landmarks such as the port of Algiers and the iconic La Grande Poste d’Alger (Central Post Office). Besides the lively business streets with restaurants and shops, notable sites within the area include the Martyrs’ monument, commemorating the Algerian war of independence.
It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...