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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Bioluminescent Bay in Fajardo
The Laguna Grande in Puerto Rico is famous for being one of the only bioluminescent bays in the world. A bioluminescent bay is a body of water that contains millions of dinoflagellates that glow when they are agitated. There are only five known places worldwide where the same type of dinoflagellates live, and three of them are in Puerto Rico. The other two are in Jamaica and the Bahamas. Of the five similar bays, only three remain intact. Due to pollution, industrialization and the destruction of their natural habitat, dinoflagellates…
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Culebra: Flamenco Beach and Playa Tamarindo
Beloved the world over for its powdery white sand beaches and low-key pace of life, the island a paradise retreat and one of the Caribbean’s best kept secrets. Its most notable beach—Playa Flamenco—is often regarded as one of the best in the world. And still, it remains largely unadulterated by development and mass tourism. In a region where unfettered development and over-tourism run ripe, Culebra is a rare and shining exception. There are no big hotels, no golf courses, no rowdy cruise ship ports, and no generic fast food chains.…
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Thoughts on Palestine
While Jerusalem was awe-inspiring and beautiful, Palestine hit me like a slap in the face. I had originally hoped to visit the West Bank in order to become exposed to the two faces of Israel and gain a deeper understanding of the conflict that has torn apart the Middle East. Yet, I came back from my day trip with more unanswered questions than before and a nauseating sense of responsibility for the one-sided policies of the American government. We began our journey in Bethlehem by driving along the wall that separates…
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The Holy Land
As the birthplace of Christianity, Promised Land of Judaism and important religious center of Islam, Israel is a country teeming with passionate religiosity and an eclectic mix of people. Its capital city, Jerusalem, is no doubt one of the most fascinating and overwhelming cities I have been to in my life. It is a place where one can see Hasidic Jews walking by the birthplace of the Virgin Mary as the Muslim call to prayer wails in the background. Yet, while Jerusalem is a cosmopolitan city with vast historical significance…
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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…
