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.
-
Exploring Northern Albania’s Accursed Mountains
Once a mysterious and closed-off land, Albania is now a burgeoning tourist destination that boasts some of Europe’s most intriguing gems. The formerly insular country has long been a Mediterranean enigma—its unspoiled nature and rich history all but erased from itineraries of even the most intrepid explorers. But today, Albania is beginning to receive some of the credit it deserves. The country boasts pristine beaches, ancient ruins, and And in northern Albania, the Accursed Mountains conceal incredible hiking opportunities, including the epic trail from Valbona to Theth. NORTHERN ALBANIA’S…
-
Tara National Park: Serbia’s Ultimate Mountain Getaway
With forest-blanketed slopes, dramatic canyons, and drop-dead views of the Drina River from the river, Tara National Park is scenic Serbia at its best. It is an off the beaten path gem that makes up a portion of the country’s Dinaric Alps and contains a precipitous river canyon that is the third largest of its kind in the world. Pressed up against Bosnia and Herzegovina, this verdant wonderland is an affordable mountain getaway that attracts adventurers longing to escape the fast pace of city life. After spending a whirlwind week…
-
Serbia’s Cities: Two Days in Belgrade and Novi Sad
Serbia isn’t known for its monuments or its historical attractions. Thanks to a long history of conquests and the NATO bombings of the late 1990s, much of the country’s architectural heritage has been destroyed. But what Serbia lacks in must-see attractions, it more than makes up for with its youthful exuberance, its lively atmosphere and its pleasant green spaces. Belgrade is Serbia’s capital and beating heart. It is a city that dates back 7,000 years, yet also one that is looking toward the future with optimism. After a tumultuous decade…
-
Day Trip to the Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb
While Europe may be best known for its historical monuments and architectural achievements, the continent’s natural wonders should not be missed. From soaring mountain peaks to white sand beaches and from thundering waterfalls to idyllic farmlands, this small continent of over forty individual countries takes years–if not decades–to discover. I’ve been to Europe more times than I can count. And each time–whether I’m visiting the same country for the thirtieth time, or setting foot in a completely new place–I’m left awestruck by the continent’s spellbinding beauty, its rich history and its…
-
Volunteering with All Hands and Hearts in the USVI
Though the media has long stopped paying attention to the damages that hurricanes Irma and Maria inflicted on the people of the Caribbean, rebuilding efforts in the region are far from over. On many islands, power lines are still down, houses are still uninhabitable and businesses are still closed. Puerto Rico received much of the media attention in the months following the deadly storms. And rightly so; the island suffered over 3,000 casualties. But the twin hurricanes also devastated the nearby United States Virgin Islands (USVI)–flattening shops and hotels and…
-
7 Unforgettable Days in Cuba: A One Week Itinerary
Seductive and secretive, Cuba has captured the imagination of American travelers for decades—not least because it has been shrouded in mystery for so long. The birthplace of salsa and producer of coveted Cuban cigars, it is a small country that has made a large splash around the globe both culturally and politically. For years, Cuba was closed off to American tourists. And though people still found ways to visit the country illegally via Mexico or Canada, Cuba managed to avoid the levels of mass tourism found elsewhere in the Caribbean.…
