Getting the visa was easy enough once I had my invitation. I sent my passport to Geneva by post, it should have taken 2 weeks, but I got a post notification after 1 week already that a letter for me is about to arrive.
The Flixbus actually showed up, Italy didn’t want to see my negative covid test or passenger locator form, the Linate Covid test facility did exist and the online appointment wasn’t accepted – as they had told me on the phone. Queueing took less than an hour and I paid for a result within 12 hours. The check-in counter didn’t yet want my bag, it was too early, and I brought it to the left luggage storage. Which is only open until 6pm. haha.Then I went to the city, had pizza, walked around the christmas market, and waited for the evening.
At check-in, finally, I was told I need a Covid test (yes, I’ll have it tomorrow morning!) and an Algerian health form (I never heard of that, where can I get it?). But for the flight to Rome, all was fine. Upon arrival in Rome, my test result had arrived – it’s negative! At the hostel I printed both files and then went to the Spanish steps to meet Coral Sun.
In the morning I was ready with all documents. Waiting for boarding, I watched people go to the counter one by one and come back with a form – that health form. I already had mine filled out. And nobody asked me for anything! Not that form, not the PCR test, and they didn’t even want to see my visa when boarding!
In Algiers, nobody was running, getting off the plane 😉 I managed to overtake a few people and didn’t have to wait for the antigene test. At immigration, I was told I need to fill in a little paper and was then, again, asked for all details I had just written down. And for the phone number of the person who invited me. Ups! They got – and actually wrote down! – Ahmed’s number instead 😉 And then I was in Algeria!
The whole family came to pick me up at the airport, we went to eat, saw the big mosque from the highway, stopped at the Martyrs’ memorial, and even went to the museum underneath. And I had my first Algerian tea with peanuts.
In the evening, we went out for Pizza in Setif. The restaurant has two parts with seperate entrance doors.
The right side looks normal but there are only men.
The left side is for families and women. We went in. Most tables are surrounded by curtains. There is a small waiting area with benches.. We stayed there. Ahmed wasn’t allowed to wait with us. While we waited he had to enter the other side to place our order. We got a table with curtains,.. He picked up the order.. and we ate..
A very promising beginning to 2 weeks Algeria 😀