Algiers: Drumming Through the Casbah
so here i am in algiers, sitting in this tiny cafe with the smell of mint tea and diesel hanging in the air. the weather? yeah, it's 13.49°c, feels like 13.04°c, and the humidity is sitting at 82%. honestly, it's perfect for wandering around with a backpack full of drumsticks and a head full of rhythms. i just checked and it's cool and damp there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
i've been here for three days, and already i've got a list of "must-hit" spots that locals have whispered to me like secrets. someone told me that the best live music is at a place called Le Théâtre National, but you have to know someone to get in after midnight. another guy, totally drunk, swore the Casbah is only safe if you go with a drummer. i'm not sure if that's true, but i'm rolling with it.
anyway, here's my gear list for surviving and thriving in algiers:
- my trusty djembe (never travel without it)
- a beat-up moleskine for setlists and weird overheard quotes
- extra strings for the oud i borrowed from a guy named Samir
- a pocketful of small bills for tips and tea
- a scarf for when the wind off the mediterranean gets nippy
i keep hearing rumors about the food. one woman at the market said, "the best couscous is at the place with no sign, two alleys past the blue door." i haven't found it yet, but i'm on the hunt. another dude swore by a bakery near the Grande Poste, said their pastries are "so good, you'll want to move here just for breakfast."
if you get bored, constantine and oran are just a short drive away, but honestly, i don't see myself leaving algiers anytime soon. there's too much rhythm in the streets, too many stories in the walls.
here's a little map to get your bearings:
and here are a few shots i've snapped (or borrowed from the vibe):
want to dig deeper? check out these links:
- TripAdvisor Algiers
- Yelp Algiers
- Lonely Planet Algiers
anyway, that's it for now. i'm off to find that no-sign couscous place. maybe i'll see you around the Casbah, drumming or just dreaming.
You might also be interested in:
- https://votoris.com/post/garabr-vibes-what-the-locals-wont-tell-you
- https://votoris.com/post/fitness-and-wellness-the-best-gyms-and-yoga-studios-in-kumamoto-4
- https://votoris.com/post/murmansk-cold-coffee-concrete-dreams
- https://votoris.com/post/toluca-its-complicated
- https://votoris.com/post/sao-paulo-static-rain-rumors-and-really-bad-coffee-2