Ice skating, bowling come to Algiers

With the opening of a new recreation center, Algerians are finding joy in an unfamiliar sport: ice skating.

Text and photos by Hayam El Hadi for Magharebia in Algiers – 23/12/10

The parking lot at the new Bab Ezzouar shopping center in Algiers is packed. Groups of friends, couples and families with children are everywhere. But they aren't here to shop. They've come to try out ice skating and bowling.

"This is the first time in my life that I go bowling. I'm telling you, it's been a riot. My wife and children had a fabulous time. It was great. We are total beginners, but that is the fun part," Mohamed Badji tells Magharebia.

"My wife fell over using a ball which was too heavy for her, while my son went virtually all the way down the lane before letting go of the ball," he laughs."It did us a world of good to let ourselves go like that. It was certainly worth the money for the chance to get away from it all."

Ever since the shopping center opened last August in the rapidly-growing district of Bab Ezzouar, Algiers residents have been eager try out some popular American hobbies at the mall's ice rink and bowling lanes.

Bowling on Thursday or Friday requires a lot of patience. The alley is swamped. Many Algerians put aside their domino evenings to enjoy the pleasures of tenpins.

Visitors have to part with 500 dinars (5 euros) per person for 15 minutes of fun, but the cost has done nothing to put people off. Bowlers pack the lanes.

"Bowling is certainly not a traditional leisure activity in Algeria, but I'm sure it will soon establish itself as such. You can see how the Algerian people, young and old alike, can't get enough of it. Anyway, I'm a fan, and I'm going to be coming back time after time," Badji's wife Salima agrees.

Inside, there’s a party atmosphere. Music is playing non-stop. The red and blue décor is definitely modern. As soon as they walk through the door, players are welcomed by hostesses, who never forget to smile. They are immediately given a pair of shoes in their size, and off they go to their bowling lane, where the fun begins.

The room is filled with constant laughter, and occasional outbursts of cheering. The pros give advice, the rookies do silly things and others laugh uproariously.

Newlyweds Amel and Racym Louli have become regulars at the bowling alley.

"As soon as I discovered this place, I fell in love with it. We spend our weekend evenings here, as a couple or with friends. We have a good time. It's a chance to relax and switch off from reality," Racym tells Magharebia.

"Bowling is like a dream," Amel chimes in. "You see in movies, but I never thought I'd be able to experience it firsthand. I'm sure that with a bit of practice, I'll be just as good as any American woman," she says with a twinkle in her eye.

According to shopping mall developer SCCA's Alain Rolland, the project is a "response to the huge expectations of the people of Algiers and Algeria".

"Leisure is unquestionably one of the special features of this center and it is bound to have an effect on all future projects in the country. This whole world devoted to entertainment has the largest bowling alley in the country (18 lanes), and is open 365 days a year," Rolland tells Magharebia.

long with bowling, Algerians are exploring the joys of ice-skating at the mall's brand-new indoor rink.

"I saw one at Hammamet in Tunisia, and at the time I thought it would be wonderful to have one at home. Now my wish has come true. I was amazed to find out about this ice rink," says student Wassila Medjahed.

Algerians are not used to ice skating. That much is clear to anyone watching them. But even as they stumble, slide and fall, there is in an atmosphere of unabated joy.

"Skating is tougher than bowling," says Salah Djelloul as he emerges out-of-breath from the ice rink.

"Bowling is ok. I got the hang of it after a few tries, but skating seems a lot more complicated. I've fallen over a lot. I hurt myself, but that's really funny," he says.

People crowd the edges of the rink. It makes for a good show.

"I haven't dared go out there yet," Safia Belkouk tells Magharebia "I'm just fine sitting at this table, sipping my coffee and watching others. It looks great fun," Safia Belkouk tells Magharebia.

"I'm a fan of figure skating. I watch all the international competitions, and I love it. I don't pretend I could achieve that level, but I'd like to have that feeling of flying when you skate," Safia Belkouk tells Magharebia.

"Next time, I'll definitely give it a try," she says.

Children seem eager to get on the ice. A future Algerian figure-skating champ might well be among the little ones now circling the rink.

Nihad, a four-year-old girl, ventures out onto the ice with obvious joy.

A quarter of an hour later, she tells Magharebia, "It was great. I had a crazy time. I fell over, but if I keep coming, I'll be really good."

The pastime costs 250 dinars (2.5 euros). Visitors put on a helmet and knee pads, and off they go. For Nihad's father, Nabil Maache, this is a reasonable price.

"I never thought I'd be giving my daughter a chance to experience skating. I'm delighted I can do it," Maache says.

"She's happy, and you can't put a price on that."

Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/reportage/2010/12/23/reportage-01.