Country # 81 - ALGERIA

Friday 24 April 2009
Off again, and this time it is a mission to a new country. An early morning start to get to Vienna airport for the 0705 Austrian flight to Frankfurt; a one hour wait and then off on Algiers with Lufthansa on a B737-500, a rather older aeroplane than the Austrian Airbus 320. I say wait but of course it was spent taking a bus to the terminal from the plane, a bit of a walk, pass through passport control (going out of the Schengen zone) and then another security check and a basic lounge to sit in for 15 minutes before another bus to the very furthest end of the airport toboard the old plane.
The flight was OK as the plane was barely half full; great views of the Alps with lots of snow still to be seen but no camera to hand this time. Two hours and we have passed over Lake Geneva, Marseille, Majorca and Minorca and begun the descent into Algiers.

A great sight with the blue Mediterranean, the green of the fields and the white of the houses and apartments of the city and the snow on the mountains at the back! Sadly, again no camera. Lots of soldiers with guns on the ramp all around every plane which was a surprise – but more to come.

A bit of a slow queue at passport control but a nice smile from the lady who was interested to see an Australian passport. Then more security checks and a man asking for me by name. Not my host but a Government protocol officer. Then straight through customs (hand baggage only for 3 days), and a welcome by two guys from the Nuclear Authority so I thought that was it and now off to a taxi as it is the weekend here (Friday for Muslims).

A lot of fussing about at the check-in but all very good natured, and then my hosts were away for their weekend. Business begins at 0830 tomorrow. The room is on the 6 floor and vast. A balcony with great views of the harbour and the first line of hills - but no snow!

The weather is hot and sunny and as it is midday Friday the air is full of the haunting sounds from the mosques as the imams call the faithful to prayer. I am back in the Arab world again. Maybe after the prayers there will be quiet as everyone takes a lunch and siesta, then later all the shops may open again and people will be out and about.
Hotel is about 40 years old and gives the impression of needing a bit of an upgrade and refurbishment – but it is reputed to have good restaurants; but it has no Wi-Fi! And the business centre appears to be open only at odd times.

So, I have a quiet afternoon to watch snooker from Sheffield (beats CNN) on Eurosport but it is in English, unlike Vienna. Sadly, no sightseeing as I am restricted to the hotel by UN Security rules. Later I will have a look at the gardens and the bar. Turns out walking in the garden is a problem too so that leaves me only the balcony bar with a view of the harbour and Tango beer! Could be a lot worse.............................

The harbour at night was ablaze with lights and quite a different sight

That map again......................

Just to say I have cut off the USA and South America at the moment as I have no plans to go that way just yet this year. The "click to enlarge" feature is still not working so I shall have to try another ploy.
Cheers

Easter break.................

Easter offered the opportunity to take few days off and vist friends and family in UK. I left Vienna on the Wednesday to avoid the rush and flew British Airways on the mid afternoon flight for a change, to avoid the night drive. A Hertz car and within 2h30m of landing I was in Littlehampton, and settling onto the very smart apartment that I was staying courtesy of my oldest school friend Tim.






It is a super, modern place on the banks of the River Arun with a view across the golf course to the sea and downstream to the sailing club. There are lots of swans on the river and plenty of boats to watch.














Early morning mist at Littlehampton Sailing Club - but no swans in the view although they were on the river.





Thursday and Friday I spent the mornings over in Amberley with my Father (94) - he lives with my sister Alison and her husband Tim, the actor. Dadwag was in fine form and we managed to do a few crosswords and lots of chat about cricket.



Saturday and Sunday I spent with my friends Tim and his wife Wendy at their house on the coast at East Preston.
















Of course, as it was an English Bank Holiday the sea and the sky were grey and there was nobody on the beach - except us!




Monday it was back to see Dadwag and Tim and Ali and also their children Beth and Tom who had been visiting for Easter. Then a touch of retail therapy at M&S.

Tuesday it was back to London to meet up with Clare for lunch. We had a very nice pub lunch not far from Heathrow in a small village and then afternoon tea, as usual, at Runnymede. Then it was back to the airport for the 1845 BA flight back to Vienna and home by 2330. A short break but good enough to get some rest and do a bit of shopping at M&S and Tesco!

Title update

After complaints about the opening credit's picture I have finally managed to find a map to fit. The white lines will show the various missions air routes.

Here is the map again - a click should open it in a new window and give a larger image that will be easier to study.

Paris mission April 2009 - the pictures

A lot of problems with editing this Blog! The pictures seem to cause problems even though I have downsized them. Still here is version 2.

The header is the view from the Austrian flight with the Alps beneath us sticking up through the clouds and showing the last of the snow.

The next view is the wonderful old building that is the School of Mines in Paris. It stands on the Boulevard St. Michel, right next door to the Luxembourg Gardens.The view was a bit different to the one of the student riots in 1968.

The meeting was in a beautifully oak panelled room with a grand terrace outside. It was below the terrace that the students were having a fete of some sort, something to do with student elections apparently and the camel ride was the main attraction!

The meeting went well and then it was back on the train leaving the "Boul St. Mich" at 1730 to get the 2030 flight home on Austrian from Charles de Gaulle airport. Vienna 2220, CAT train at 2235 and home at 2310 and bed.

And a last image that is quitessentially Parisian.......................

1st April in Paris - the pictures!

The header is the view from the Austrian flight with the Alps beneath us showing the last of the snow.

The next view is the wonderful old building that is the School of Mines in Paris. It stands on the Boulevard St. Michel, right next door to the Luxembourg Gardens.The view was a bit different to the one of the student riots in 1968.

The meeting was in a beautifully oak panelled room with a grand terrace outside. It was below the terrace that the students were having a fete of some sort, something to do with student elections apparently and the camel ride was the main attraction!

The meeting went well and then it wasback on the train leaving the "Boul " St. Mich at 1730 to get the 2030 flight home on Austrian from Charles de Gaulle airport. Vienna 2220, CAT train at 2235 and home at 2310 and bed.