Articles By: Bob Riel
Unlearning conformity in Egypt
It’s common throughout the Middle East, Asia, and some other regions of the world for a culture to value conformity over individualism, and memorization over creativity in education. This topic is covered in a recent article I came across, which discusses how the educational style at the American University in Cairo differs significantly from the typical Egyptian classroom.
Welcome to the new “Travels in the Riel World”
If you’re new to Travels in the Riel World, welcome! If you’ve been coming to this blog for a while, then you’ve no doubt noticed some changes here lately. Travels in the Riel World has been undergoing a renovation, so I thought I’d fill you in a bit on what’s happening.
Riel World photo – Colonia, Uruguay
Colonia, Uruguay Flowering jacaranda trees over a cobblestoned lane in the charming seaside town of Colonia, Uruguay.
Seven awe-inspiring walks
You don’t have to tackle the Inca Trail or Mt. Kilimanjaro in order to enjoy a hike through some magnificent landscapes. Here are seven awe-inspiring walks that can each be completed in a few hours.
How geography can become destiny
How much influence does geography have on a nation’s culture? Quite a bit, actually, and not only for the reasons you might initially consider…While pivoting off the current Greek debt crisis, he suggests that Greece’s geography has, in many ways, determined its destiny.
What are the best destinations for wine drinkers?
Now, here is a nice collection for your bucket list. If you enjoy wine, that is. The staff of Gadling recently produced a list of the 25 best cities in the world for drinking wine. It includes some of the more obvious destinations in Italy, France and California, as well as some not as well known sites [...]
Riel World under renovation
Travels in the Riel World is undergoing some upgrades and renovations. There are bound to be a few snags along the way, so please be patient. Before you know it, Riel World will be back and better than ever.
If you like architecture, here are some cities for you
Architecture is fascinating, particularly as you make your way around the world and take in the shapes, colors and functions of buildings in different cultures. A great thing to remember as you travel, in fact, is to look up periodically and to absorb the details of the buildings around you. The architecture of our lives [...]
Riel World photo – San Juan Capistrano, California
San Juan Capistrano, California Spring begins tomorrow, March 20! That means flowers will be in full bloom before we know it. This flower-laden photo was taken at the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano in southern California.
What are the friendliest countries in the world?
It’s a subjective question, obviously, and the answer may well depend on just where you have or haven’t traveled. Personally, I was struck by the hospitality of some Muslim cultures in the Middle East, particularly Jordan and Turkey. While traveling there, I had a cab driver buy me tea and saw people offer to give up [...]
Riel World photo – Ladakh, India
Ladakh, India Two monks at a Buddhist gompa near the city of Leh, in the Ladakh region of India.
Transformational trips
You have the time. You have the money. And you want to do something different: take a trip that will transform your life. Or at least give you the sense that you’ve had a life-changing adventure. Travel & Leisure and MSNBC recently published a story about what they called midlife crisis trips, but the journeys [...]
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Bob Riel is a writer and a traveler. Go here to read more about Bob, his work and the Travels in the Riel World blog.
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Two Laps Around the World
My travel memoir - Two Laps Around the World: Tales and Insights from a Life Sabbatical - is about two round-the-world journeys with my wife.
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