Long Read

algiers: white buildings and a whole lot of… stuff

@Quinn Sterling2/5/2026blog
algiers: white buildings and a whole lot of… stuff

okay, so, algiers. honestly, i’m still trying to process it. it’s… intense. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the weather’s clinging to 21.37 degrees and feels like 20.95, with a humidity level that’s hovering around 53%. the pressure is 1003, which is… fine, i guess? it’s not exactly a tropical paradise, but it’s not a blizzard either. it’s just… algiers.


seriously, the first thing that hits you is the white. like, everywhere. these dazzling white buildings rising out of the bay. it’s ridiculously dramatic, you know? it’s like someone took a giant paintbrush and just… slapped white all over everything. it’s beautiful, in a slightly unsettling way. someone told me that the locals call it ‘the white city,’ which, honestly, is pretty accurate.

this place is built on hills, a bunch of them. it’s like a giant amphitheater, which is actually kind of cool. there are these little rivers, called ‘oued,’ crisscrossing the whole place. eight of them, apparently. Baranès, Sidi Medjber, Frais vallon… it’s a mouthful. and they drain into this thing called the Bouzaréah massif. it’s a lot to take in, i know.

and the climate? mediterranean. that’s what they call it. warm summers, cold winters. lots of rain, but mostly at night. it’s… unpredictable. i’m not a huge fan of unpredictable weather, to be honest.

now, let’s talk about the bigger picture. algiers is in Algeria, which is mostly desert. like, really desert. 80% desert. the Tell region, where algiers is, is the fertile coast. then you’ve got the High Plateaux and the Sahara. it’s a huge country. if you get bored, [Oran, Constantine, and Annaba] are just a short drive away. they’re… different.

and here’s the slightly unsettling part. someone told me that there are indigenous terrorist groups operating there. since 2002. i don’t want to dwell on it, but it’s definitely something to be aware of. security is… a consideration. it’s not exactly a relaxing vacation spot, you know?

a view of a city with a body of water in the distance


but honestly, despite all the… stuff, there’s something captivating about algiers. the way the buildings cling to the hills, the salty air, the sheer scale of it all. it’s a place that gets under your skin.

green trees


and the light! the light is incredible. it bounces off those white buildings and creates this amazing glow. it’s almost surreal.

blue bush


seriously, go if you’re feeling adventurous. just… be prepared. and maybe pack a good book. and definitely bring sunscreen. and maybe a slightly paranoid attitude. you know, just in case. it’s a weird place, algiers. a really weird place. i’m still trying to figure it out.


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About the author: Quinn Sterling

I write about things that matter—or at least things that matter to me.

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