Erika Bisbocci
Erika is an avid traveler and explorer of over ninety countries on six different continents. Since 2011, she has spent time studying Arabic in the Middle East, teaching English in Namibia and working as a flight attendant for a major US airline. When not traveling overseas, she loves exploring her own backyard in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
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Day Trips from Larnaca without a Car
Cyprus is an island steeped in history and mythology. Known for being the legendary birthplace of the Greek Goddess, Aphrodite, the ‘Island of Love’ is home to sun-kissed shores and a rugged mountainous interior. Cyprus is a country with natural beauty and cultural richness that is wholly disproportionate to its size. The country’s tumultuous and multilayered past has left ancient riches strewn across this island. Remnants of these archeological relics can still be seen today—littering wildflower-splashed mountainsides and overlooking azure seas. During my six day Cyprus vacation, I took day…
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Intriguing Places to Visit in North Cyprus
Cyprus is a country divided. Renowned for being the birthplace of Aphrodite and one of the Mediterranean’s crown jewels, the historically rich island has been effectively partitioned in two since the Turkish-led invasion of 1974. Cyprus’s position at the crossroads of the Eastern Mediterranean has led to repeated conquests by vying powers throughout history. Each vying power created legacies that survive to this day, adding to the country’s rich cultural milieu and complicating its reconciliation process. To gain some understanding of Cyprus’ modern political and territorial situation, I traveled across…
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Places to Visit near Accra, Ghana
Ghana is Africa’s golden child. Formerly known as the Gold Coast due to its vast gold deposits, the country emerged from the throes of colonialism as one of Africa’s model nations. Despite facing some of the same struggles as its West African neighbors—namely the prevalence of communicable diseases and a deep-rooted legacy of colonialism—Ghana has reached an impressive level of economic and political success in the years since its independence. And it shows: Ghana is suffused with energy, emboldened by diversity and characterized by stability. Ghana is often labeled ‘West…
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Top Benin Tourist Attractions: An Overland Travel Itinerary
West Africa is one of the world’s last frontiers. Long plagued by disease, civil strife and ethnic tension, it is one of the only regions of the world where tourism has yet to gain a foothold. Bad roads, lack of tourist infrastructure and minimal information on travel to the area, have all played their part in solidifying West Africa’s reputation as the world’s most challenging destination. Yet those willing to step out of their comfort zones, will find an area of the world that is authentic, musical and full of…
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Pendjari National Park: West Africa’s Premier Wildlife Destination
Pendjari National Park is one of West Africa’s premier safari destinations. A wildlife-rich swath of land that lies along Benin’s border with Burkina Faso and Niger, the park is both one of the top places to visit in Benin and a highlight of travel to West Africa. Pendjari spans an area of 4,800 square kilometers and is a primary component of the transnational W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) complex. The WAP complex consists of Arli Park in Burkina Faso, W National Park in Niger and Pendjari in Benin. It is the largest remaining…
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Togo Travel Guide: Overland Travel in West Africa
Togo is a seldom-visited country in the heart of West Africa. Sandwiched between Ghana and Benin, the small vertical nation flies largely under the radar. And without the jaw-dropping natural splendors or wildlife-rich parks found on other parts of the continent, it is not difficult to see why. Togo doesn’t have the types of attractions that draw large crowds or tour groups. Instead, Togo offers a taste of Africa that is raw and unfiltered. Traveling to Togo reveals an Africa bursting at the seams with color. An Africa that welcomes…
