an astounding moonscape

"He's taking us to a volcano," says Djelloul.  "You'll like it."  Mustafa climbs into the driver's seat next to Mohammed and Djelloul squeezes next to us.  We head further South, I think, into the mountains.  Our guardian angels follow.

We took a turn and rounded a mountain on clay-gray roads, and then gasped.

I wish these images could convey the scale of the scene,  the colors in the sunlight, the sense of some geological wonder having happened here.. A great StarTrek site for an other-world landing. Bright turquoise, purples, golds ribbon the mountain sides.  At the tip of what they called the volcano, some kind of something poured out.  It wasn't lava.  It left the waters here full of minerals, and emerald-colored. They said people come to bathe here for health purposes. 

We parked and Mostafa set out the picnic lunch. We all dove into the sandwich meats (sliced 1/4 inch thick), fromage, bread and fruit.

Afterwards I wandered off around and up a hill to get a better view.   A couple of boys, maybe 12 threw rocks into the pool, then chased each other to a far clearing under a mountain, where they found a donkey to chase.

The mineral stream is evident from the top.

We piled back into the cars and drove around and up another hil to where the health spa is being built.  It has its own spectacular views.

We leave the cars and climb up to see the views.  

The proud decal on a local taxi.  Taxis are taken everywhere, even on trips of hundreds of miles.

Driving to the next destination, Djelloul said, "Pull over! Pull over!  Some camels for Diane."  Sure enough, a family of  camels were right by the road. I climbed over some rocks and eased down towards them.  The younger ones skittered away, but the mom, I guess, had a little more curiosity.  So we exchanged emails.  Or at least good wishes.

I told her I'd convey her good wishes to my family and friends. I'd drawn a camel from a picture years ago.  Life is . . .so living.

Everything but everything is getting built in Algeria, including the roads, and this one required a detour down into a narrow gully and across a stream.  The car rides really low (for the fast turns) So Djelloul and Mohammed got out of the car while Mostafa eased it rumbling through the waters. I held my breath -- then wondered how the others would wade across.  Just as we made it to the other side the police SUV passed us with Djelloul in the back seat grinning and waving to us.  

Back on the road again, everyone in the car again,  to an old Berber town.

With just a few pauses.