odors, colors, sounds, voices. Markets are typical for the respective places where they are held. They can provide you an authentic impression of the country and people, in Algiers, Beni Isguen and in the Sahara.
© Rachid DEHAG Quechua
The mosque has a Byzantine facade of colorful mosaic-shaped faience tiles. The Turks built in the 17th Century, then changed their rulers of Algiers, the building according to contemporary taste. The French colonialists turned it into a cathedral, and since independence in 1962, the church is a mosque again. Its two minarets tower over the square at the bottom of the Kasbah, the old city of Algiers. Front of the mosque is a market place every day on which you can buy everything imaginable: Fruit and vegetables, peanuts and bread, olive oil ... but also motor oil, used goods of all kinds such as couscous pots, mobile phones and trousers, shoes, some of which are not even dressed. "Would you like a medlar? Zahia asks a civil servant who here buys the food for her family:
"Here you have the real Algeria, is that a quarter of the young people. Not the upper classes live in beautiful villas with car and chauffeur. Here, it seems a bit shabby, here you can see from below Algeria. However, the prices are lower. "
© Rachid DEHAG Like the French settled before the introduction of the euro in old francs, the Algerians are in centimes of dinars. This gives prizes to many zeros on the signs . Fruits and vegetables cost the equivalent of goods to only a few cents - almost nothing for the European budget
While headlines about bombs and assassinations still determine the image of Algeria. Much more typical of the country, the friendliness and the hospitality of the people, says Zahia:
. For years, the situation in Algeria was not good, do not hide it, but now it's better, the people are not aggressive, you feel it, does not it. "
Unlike Morocco and Tunisia will not haggle in Algeria. A matter of pride? Finally, the Algerians their independence with a bloody war against the French colonialists have won. At the time Algeria was a model for the entire so-called "third world"! Today, the oil supply brings billions into the state coffers.
© Executive Selmet The Market Beni Isguen be auctioned the goods: A ladder, window frames, high-tech sewing machine doors. A brand new bike shines in bright blue. On the washing machine and on the black and white TV note attached: "functioning well". The dealer Rum Baba Ali claims that serve the auctions to benefit the general public:.. Weave
"Most of the women with us to tailor and embroider, and they bring us their goods, we help so the housewife And if someone dies bring the descendants of the things to avoid problems between the heirs. This is socially, and that makes the charm of the market. "
© Executive Selmet Beni Isguen one of Ghardaia and the M'Zab Valley, at the gate of the Algerian Sahara desert, 600 kilometers south of Algiers. The market place is surrounded by fortress walls. Narrow alleys lead from here up a hill to the mosque. From there goes the view over the valley: Seven villages, surrounded by palm groves and oases. The pyramid form of nested, almost 1000 years old houses has inspired architects from around the world. The inhabitants, called Mozabiten have their own special traditions, including the auctions. On the steps around the market men are sitting in white tunics with a white head covering, among Omar them.
"The owner sets a price. The dealer goes around and if it achieves the desired price, he sells. If not, he asks the owner, he wants to sell at the top price offered. The three must say no, then he must either accept the price or take back his property and pay a commission. "
© Executive Selmet The special features of this place is the fact that the married women, a white cloth around the head sling so that only one eye looks out from a triangle. How strange birds they scurry with their shopping bags through the streets. In addition, unmarried women go to Western Clothing.
The Veiled have a cell phone in your pocket. The Algerians are crazy according to the latest models. Most of the crowd there in the corner of the market, demonstrate pride in the men's rings.
© Rachid DEHAG In the streets of Ghardaia is a "souk, a bazaar with many stores. There are household goods and handicrafts: carpets, bags, sand paintings fill the shelves of boutiques. From bags colored fragrant spices and fresh herbs, ingredients for the delicious dishes of the country. Couscous is the national dish made of semolina grains. There are also huge brown black truffle or peas from Bousaada, famous for its delicious flavor. A specialty here is the inland course salted mutton from the region of Biskra. In front of the butcher shop Messaouda Djilali, who comes from Biskra. In the 70's and 80's the Algerian traveled throughout Europe, he was even times when Nina Hagen in Hamburg and has visited with the French cabaret singer Leo Ferré drank coffee in Paris! However, he moved back to the homeland:
"We have sun and all we need And peace, if we have the blues, we go into the palm groves or in the desert to where the air is pure and.!. where there is no pollution. We eat organic! In Dublin, I was in a Health Shop, there were organic, we buy the kilo here, sold very expensive spoon! Also, our meat is delicious. We have the finest mutton in the world! "
© Rachid DEHAG Bechar is the west of the Sahara, close to Morocco. The barracks town is famous for Gnawa trance music, the Maghreb and African rhythms mixed. On the neighboring Taghit [pronounced Tarit] bordering the most beautiful sand dunes of the Sahara, the most important market in the whole region is the car market of Bechar. On a huge parking lot just outside the town are the used cars.
Mabrouk Deradji wearing the traditional tunic, Bechar and a turban, who before the heat protection. He comes every weekend on the car market: These are the Islamic country Thursday and Friday.
"The market begins every Thursday afternoon and can last until Friday evening. Every weekend it takes place. Some people come from far away, even from Algiers, on the lookout for a good used car."
The year a car is to check on his license plate. Earlier (in the 70s and 80s of last century) brought their old companion Globetrotter from Europe to Africa, they sold, thus financing their holiday. Today is not any more. The import of cars older than three years, is prohibited.
The prices for used cars are converted to 3500-4500 €. For the average earner are the nearly two years of income! Amar Ablaziz explains:..
"Some people can not afford a car, the other is not like you here in Europe, as not everyone can buy a car but who can afford it can now direct their new car in Algeria order. There are car dealerships, where cars are sold, not like before. Algeria has changed, has become capitalist. At the time of socialism, there were no new cars. Today, the market has opened. "
clog in the major cities in the north of Algeria brand new cars, the roads and provide terrible Congestion. But here in the south of old cars are definitely still in demand: Because you can not fix! Abdullah sells replacement parts: rings, engine parts, wires, chains, oil cans, filters.
"Here there are sand storms, and the electronic systems hold not last long. That's the problem. Sand and heat for the modern electronics is a problem because there are always margins. Then you have to go in the franchised where types that are trained for these parts. But in the small towns know each other because not many. "
"Attention! ! Camels cross the road "the triangular plate indicated by the red border and a camel in the interior; It stands on the outskirts of Bechar.
© Rachid DEHAG Although the Jeep has replaced the camels as means of transport remain largely the animals for the Tuareg of great importance. Abdelkader Regagda driving in a Jeep - in his herd of camels in the desert:
. "Camels you can live with, but not with a car when it breaks down and you do not have the spare part, it has no charm anymore."
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