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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Kazbegi: Gem of the Georgian Military Highway
A few years ago, I came across a photo of a mountaintop monastery in the Republic of Georgia. The monastery in the photo soared above the surrounding landscape, half hidden in a dense layer of fog. I remember being wowed by the picture and surprised that there was a whole region of the world sandwiched between Russia and the Middle East, that I’d never thought twice about visiting. I knew very little about Georgia at the time, but the small church piqued my curiosity. So in September–when the lowlands of…
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Georgia at a Glance: Two Days in Tbilisi and Sighnaghi
Like nearby Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Republic of Georgia isn’t exactly the first place most Americans think of when planning their holidays. Nor is it the second. Nor the third. Some of the people I spoke with were surprised that I was willingly choosing to visit a country associated with uprisings and Soviet aggression. Others were altogether unaware of Georgia’s existence. But the Republic of Georgia is a far cry from its stereotype as a repressed nation with little to offer. The small Caucasian country is brimming with natural beauty, urban…
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Two Days in Baku and its Surroundings
With one foot toeing the Middle East and the other set firmly in Europe, Baku Azerbaijan is a fascinating city of contrasts. Our trusty Lonely Planet guide described Baku as “the architectural love child of Paris and Dubai…with plenty of Soviet genes floating half-hidden in the background.” And, after two days of soaking in Baku’s flashy skyscrapers, its cobbled streets and its drab concrete high-rises, we found the description to be perfectly apt. Baku is a true crossroads—culturally, geographically and architecturally—between East and West. The city’s historic core…
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Visiting Galle Sri Lanka: A UNESCO Gem
Galle Sri Lanka is a gem. A Unesco World Heritage Site, the historic colonial city is a visual feast of twisting alleyways and crumbling mansions and seaside views. In Galle, fortified walls encircle photogenic buildings and car-free streets. The town’s time-warped alleyways overflow with character. Its Dutch-style villas—many of which are adorned with street-facing verandas and red-tiled roofs—burst with color and charm. THINGS TO SEE IN GALLE SRI LANKA Architecturally, Galle feels very unique compared to other Sri Lankan cities due to its history of occupation by the Portuguese,…
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Udawalawe Elephant Safari in Sri Lanka
There’s something so raw and primal about going on safari. About traveling down a dusty roads and coming face to face with animals in the wild. It’s a thrilling sensation that never abates, no matter how many safari parks I visit. Prior to traveling to Sri Lanka, I knew of the country’s architectural gems, its idyllic countryside, and its pristine beaches. But—until I was deep in the planning process—I didn’t know that its wildlife-spotting opportunities were some of the best on Earth. Among its most renowned safari destinations is Udawalawe…
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Ella: The Heart of Sri Lanka’s Hill Country
Sri Lanka is known for many things: beautiful scenery, hospitable people, diverse wildlife, ancient civilizations, and a brutal civil war that ravaged the country until 2009. But most of all, the small island nation is known for its production of high-quality tea. In the lush Hill Country near Ella, tea plantations carpet mist-wrapped hillsides, while waterfalls tumble through thickets of dense vegetation. It is a stunning region, where hiking trails abound and neatly-pruned tea plants drape over the area’s peaks and valleys like a patchwork quilt. THINGS TO DO…
