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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The Beautiful Goree Island in Senegal
Wander the sandy streets of tiny Goree Island in Senegal, and you might begin to feel that you were stuck in time. The tiny island off the coast of West Africa is a colonial gem with a relaxed Afro-European vibe. It is a place where sandy streets meander through groves of baobabs, where fishermen set out on vibrantly colored boats to find their fresh catch of the day, and where women walk the streets clothed in traditional batiks. Goree Island is a picturesque place that feels worlds away from the…
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The Blue Lagoon: Visiting Iceland’s Natural Spa on a Layover
Overpriced, overcrowded and overrun with tourists. Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is all these things. But it is also tranquil, therapeutic and overwhelmingly beautiful. I visited the Blue Lagoon on my twenty-four hour Reykjavik layover, after spending the morning meandering along the colorful streets of Iceland’s capital. Since I knew I was going to forego sleeping for a few hours upon my arrival, I figured pairing my fast-paced morning with a relaxing evening would be the perfect way to maximize my layover, while minimizing the exhaustion I often feel when deciding to…
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Day Trip to Lake Como from Milan
Lake Como is a Y-shaped body of water that snakes through the craggy mountains of Northern Italy. A well-known retreat for the rich and famous, Como blends movie-star excess with the simplicity of rural Italian life. In Como, it is not uncommon to cross paths with the rich and famous. It is the type of place where boutique shops sell high-end jewelry and opulent villas showcase the best of Italian lakeside living. And yet, its miles of hiking paths, its quaint streets and gardens and its easy accessibility from Milan…
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Game Drive in Hluhluwe Imfolozi: A South African Rhino Safari
For most Americans, the holiday season conjures images of tree decorating, gift-giving and wintry weather. It is difficult for many of us to imagine Christmas without also thinking of snowflakes, sleigh bells and a yearly visitor from the North Pole. And, though I remember very few years in which we actually had a white Christmas in Oregon growing up, the cold winter weather did not make it difficult to imagine a snowy wonderland outside. It rarely occurred to me that, for those, living South of the equator, Christmas and snowflakes…
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Hlane National Park Safari in Eswatini
In the siSwati language, the word ‘Hlane’ means wilderness. And the name is certainly apt. For the call of the wild doesn’t get much louder than in Hlane Royal National Park—a relatively obscure little conservation area located in Eswatini’s northeastern corner. Since Dan and I planned our trip to Southern Africa during the rainy season when animal sightings are more difficult to come by, we didn’t expect much from our visit to Hlane National Park. But, from the moment we entered the gates of the park, Hlane set us up…
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Swaziland: Arts and Crafts in the Ezulwini Valley
The landlocked Kingdom of Swaziland rarely receives much international attention and often sits forgotten in the shadow of its much larger neighbors. And in the few instances that it does pop up in conversation or make its way to the news outlets, it often draws inquisitive looks or comments from people who are quick to confuse it with Switzerland. But Switzerland and Swaziland share very little in common, save for their similar names and beautiful scenery. While the former is an organized, wealthy European bastion of stability, neutrality and punctuality,…
