I visited Timgad in the summer of 1975, it was more remarkable because I was not expecting this visage in the desert. I had been working in Algeria, and travelled extensively in the littoral country knowing it very well. I had a had visited Tunisia to renew my visa and on a whim decided to take a round about route Constantine to Biskra and Bou Saada and back to Blida. It was the end of a hot summers North african day when Timgad came into sight. I was spell bound and absolutely awestruck by the ruins shimmering in the saturant setting sun. To such an extent that nearly 30 years later I am still awestruck.