Free Couscous Later

After a frustrating encounter with the Libyan politico-weenies here in Algiers, we finally irritated one of the consular officials enough to tell us it would be impossible to issue us a visa in Algeria. That is much preferred to the senseless errands and wild goose chases which have eaten our time and collective energies. We will try again in Tunisia. In some hygiene news, we were able to take warm showers today through our first Turkish type bath house experience. Nicer than advertised, it really hit the spot. We enjoyed a nice tea together also before returning to the hotel to find our friend Youseff waiting with a vat of couscous and yogurt. Yummy. We later ate dinner at the house of the man who owns the pizzeria across the street from the L'hotel Roach. After eating every evening meal at the pizza shop, the son invited us over for a FEAST at the family house. We ended the meal with fresh fruit, candy, dates, and tea. We had hoped to strike up a friendship with the son, and this was the perfect opportunity. The family presented me with a Koran before we left. It was a great evening.