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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Three Day Lebanon Itinerary for Beirut and Beyond
Though it is the smallest country in continental Asia, Lebanon packs a lot of punch. The country is home to snow-capped mountains, cedar forests, lush green valleys and a beautiful coastline. It claims the oldest continually inhabited city in the world (though Damascus shares the claim), hosts a multitude of Roman ruins and boasts nightlife comparable to that of many cities in Western Europe. One might think that, with such a wealth of attractions, the small Middle Eastern country would be a magnet for travelers the world over. But Lebanon…
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Day Trip to Wadi Shab and its Surroundings
If there is a paradise, I imagine it to look like Wadi Shab. A rocky canyon home to swimming holes that range from aquamarine to emerald, Wadi Shab is simultaneously an undiscovered gem and one of the top things to see in Oman. Wadi Shab’s scenery is breathtaking and certainly worth every penny that we reluctantly relinquished in order to hire our driver and personal guide for the day. Tour of Wadi Shab and its Surroundings from Sur The natural highlights of Oman are growing in popularity, they are difficult…
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Travel to Oman: The Jewel of Arabia
Before traveling to Oman, I knew next to nothing about the country. Sure, I could locate it on a map, name the capital and recognize it as part of the Arab world, but I had no idea what a hidden gem that I would find on the easternmost tip of the Arabian Peninsula. If Oman were located somewhere outside the Middle East, I have no doubt that it would draw significant numbers of tourists to its beautiful deserts, wadis and coastline. Yet geographical positioning matters. Despite the fact that Oman…
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Three Day Dubai Itinerary
Dubai is bold, audacious and dazzling. A city of superlatives and contrasts, this once-sleepy village in the United Arab Emirates defies stereotypes, pushes boundaries and redefines geography. It is the type of place where tradition and modernity –while seemingly at odds–live side by side. Dubai is a city that sprung from the desert sands. Over the span of a lifetime, it has become one of the Middle East’s most diverse and dazzling megacities. In a society so seemingly rooted in the past, I found it mind-boggling to witness the UAE’s…
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Incredible Places to Visit in Jordan
Jordan is a safe haven in a region of conflict and one of the most accessible countries in the Middle East. Bordered by Syria, Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the Hashimite Kingdom delights visitors with its World Heritage Sites, while dodging the turmoil that has engulfed its neighbors in all directions. Jordan has always been a welcoming country. The tolerant nation entices tourists with its ancient marvels, hosts a diverse array of religions and cultures within its borders, and shelters refugees with open arms. Throughout history, those who passed through…
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Weekend in Syria
Legend has it that upon laying his eyes on Damascus, Prophet Muhammad refused to enter the city because he wished to only enter paradise once. And, after my trip to the city this past weekend, I can see exactly what he meant. While the Damascus city limits extend for miles and miles, the old city of Damascus is contained within ancient walls. It is a place where lattices of vines create a canopy over picturesque cobblestone streets that are lined with vendors selling colorful fabrics, barrels of sweets and spices and…
