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TRAVEL- ALGERIA
EMILIO SALVATORI & CHRISTINA ZOLI
TIME ' S RELENTLESS PASSAGE
Algeria, a dream shaped by longing and daring, had eventually manifested itself into a stunning reality. This vast desert territory, adorned by centuries of history, had once birthed the spirit of adventurous motorcycle travel during the late 1970s, ignited by the passion of cross-Saharan competitions. Like a vivid tapestry, this epic journey evolved during the 1980s with the iconic Paris-Dakar Rally, captivating countless motorcyclists and inspiring lives devoted to exploration, a quest to uncover the world’ s enchanting beauty and marvel at its infinite surprises. Yet, this dream had fallen silent for nearly three decades, muffled by the shadows of war. A senseless and cruel conflict, as all wars are, its impact was magnified by religious strife, which left the country unsafe and stripped of its essence.
But fortune had smiled again;
Algeria had reopened its arms to welcome travellers and rekindle dreams. The journey had begun as the travellers crossed Algeria’ s northern frontier, separating Tunisia’ s Tabarka from El Kala. They had been among the first to experience the freedom of exploring autonomously, a privilege once constrained by the need for Algerian agency guides and security escorts, measures still sometimes imposed at the discretion of local authorities.
Our adventure unfolded like the pages of a magical storybook, revealing a realm rich in archaeological treasures and natural wonders. Constantine, a city with a soul etched deep in history, had stood as a testament to time. As the capital of Numidia, then a Roman stronghold dedicated to Constantine, and later shaped by Byzantine and Arab influences, Constantine’ s nickname, the " City of Suspended Bridges," resonated with
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