Day Eight: "Building A Religion"

Algeria is home to many buildings, structures, edifices, and architectural creations that have made it the country that it is. These structures define not only the charisma of the country itself, but the Islamic faith as well. Here are three various structures or buildings that have aided in the formation of this unique yet quintessentially Islamic nation:

• JARDIN D'ESSAI - this is one of the most famous garden locations in the world. While it may not have required the immense effort of building a tower like those of the Zoroastrians, the garden is just as spectacular and required the same Islamic drive and creativity to inspire such wonder. It "stretches over 32 acres" of land on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

[Picture and text source: Oudina, M. "Jardin d'Essai: A museum of nature in the heart of Algiers". EnnaharOnline. 11 May 2009. ]

• The BEN-BADIS MOSQUE in Constantine is one of the most prolific and beautiful mosques, and according to Travel Maps of the World online, it was named after Albelhamid Ben-Badis who contributed much to this Constantine Province in his lifetime. He was a hero of Algeria in the middle 20th century, so this mosque is justly named.

[Source: "Ben-Badis Mosque, Constantine". Travel Maps of the World, Online. Compare Infobase Limited. New Delhi, India. Accessed 28 May 2009. ]

• The EL ASSURI HÔTEL is relatively new and reflects how modern society has entered into this ancient Islamic culture. There are tennis courts, pools, spas–––everything a traveller would need, yet we must question to what extent it infringes upon the natural beauty of Algeria as well as the divine nature of Islam in Algeria.

[Image source: South Travels Online. <http://www.southtravels.com/africa/algeria/elaurassihotel/index.html>