As most of our listeners know, Isabelle travelled to Algeria in 2005, indeed, she travelled there by herself, to meet a family she met on the internet.  Now that is courage, at least I think so (this is obviously Dave typing).

This episode is one I have been looking forward to for a long time, while I may kid Isabelle about her love of Algeria, I do love talking about something with an expert, and she is that.

We spoke of the differences between Algeria and Canada, and Algeria and Morocco.  One of the surprising (to me) differences was the food.  Listen to find out more about that.  Both cultures do like to eat communally and frown upon separate plates.  Suffice it to say, the sour milk in Algeria is not as good as the sour milk in Morocco...

Like much of the Arab world, they have a sort of love hate relationship with the West.  They equated Canadians with Americans, and Americans with the present administration.  That said, I think many of us do the latter....

Algeria suffered a rather nasty civil war in the early to mid 90s and there is an active Al Qaeda group there that recently attacked a police station.

They have their economic and social problems, but Isabelle still loves them, and really, who can blame her?  A country that welcomes you with open arms, and allows you to stay in private homes is pretty cool.

Algeria is unranked by the IIHF...

Next, it is off to Turkey!

Hope the sound is better...