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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Alvord Desert and Steens Mountain: A Southeast Oregon Road Trip
Southeastern Oregon is a special place. And not just because it is where Dan proposed to me under a blanket of stars during our brief Oregon road trip in 2018. It is special because it is one of the last outposts of off-the-beaten-path wilderness in the continental United States. Driving through the lower-right corner of Oregon is like navigating the surface of the moon. It is desolate. It is stark. It is parched. It is often viewed as a wasteland; a barren stretch of flyover country that is defined by…
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Travel Guide to Pohnpei: Micronesia’s Emerald Isle
Pohnpei is a tropical Micronesian paradise that lies far from the trodden tourist trail. One of the rainiest and most remote places on Earth, the jungle-clad speck of green is a Garden of Eden that tourism forgot. But for avid explorers and lovers of off-beat destinations, Pohnpei offers a diverse array of things to see and do—both above and below sea level. From ancient ruins to pristine mangrove forests and from gushing waterfalls to remote atolls, the Micronesian island is a wonderland of undiscovered gems. I visited Pohnpei with my…
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The Marshall Islands: Guide to Majuro and Arno Atoll
The Marshall Islands are a group of Micronesian atolls strung out over the vast Pacific Ocean. They are remote, untouched and truly off the beaten path. Few people have heard of the Marshall Islands. Fewer still have set foot on their sandy shores. From above, the coral atolls of the Marshall Islands look like ribbons of iridescent blue dotting a cobalt ocean. Blink once and you see the them. Blink twice, and they’re gone. TRAVELING TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS Due to the Marshall Islands’ extreme isolation, the country only…
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Three Day Kyoto and Osaka Itinerary
Japan’s Kansai Region represents the country in a nutshell. Home to atmospheric temples and colorful flashing billboards, the beautiful region on Honshu Island contains both the modern comforts and culinary delights of urban Japan, as well as the nostalgic charm of the country’s hinterland. Kansai’s two largest cities—Osaka and Kyoto—offer the perfect introduction to Japan. Together, the cities reveal a country of quirks and contrasts, while showcasing the rich history and modern impulses that contribute to Japan’s layered and widespread appeal. Though I only had a short weekend to spend…
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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…
