Archive for the ‘Middle East/N.Africa’ Category
The food temptations of Syria
Do you enjoy food? Are you a traveler who likes to experience a culture through its cuisine? If so, then Syria should perhaps be on your list of future countries to visit. Yes, Syria. There was a great piece recently on NPR about the rise of Aleppo, Syria, as a destination for food lovers. Aleppo, [...]
A journey into the Christian culture of Syria
Since the Christmas season is upon us, it’s an appropriate time to take a look at holiday and religious-themed topics from around the world. Today, it’s a view into the ancient Christian community of Syria. Although this Middle Eastern nation has had a Muslim majority for well over a millennium, the region plays a central [...]
Roman ruins in North Africa
Sure, everyone knows that you can trip over Roman ruins nearly everywhere you go in Rome. And that there are similar ruins scattered across a wide swath of Europe and the near Middle East. But what about North Africa? Have you ever considered trekking to Libya, Algeria or Tunisia to see Roman ruins? Probably not. [...]
Time to visit Libya?
Every wanted to visit the North African nation of Libya? One author makes the case that now is a great time to be a traveler in Libya. Reasons include: The Sheer Number of Sights- Libya is home to the ruins of the prominent Roman city of Leptis Magna. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage [...]
African travel wonders
Here is a slightly older but intriguing piece that I recently came across: Africa’s top 10 travel wonders. You can guess some of the spots on the list – the Egyptian pyramids, the Nile River, the East African wildlife. But there is much, much more to see in Africa, despite the fact that the continent [...]
Western tourists in Iraq
I wrote last fall about the Iraq Board of Tourism and its goal of building a tourist infrastructure and attracting foreign visitors to Baghdad and other parts of the country. It seemed like a faraway dream at the time, but in fact Iraq just recently played host to its first Western tourists in six years. According to [...]
Exotic Marrakesh
Marrakesh. The name conjures up images of winding souks, ancient palaces, desert winds, and perhaps even a snake charmer or two. It’s an exotic destination, even more so when you’re visiting with your 11- and 12-year-old children. That’s what Jennifer Conlin and her husband did recently, and their experience is beautifully recounted in this travel article. [...]
Travels in Israel
Are you interested in Israel? The Los Angeles Times just published a three-part travel series on the country, with articles on Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Sea of Galilee. Here is an excerpt from the piece on Galilee. After spending a few days in Tel Aviv, I rented a car and set out with my [...]
Backpacking Africa
Sure, you can go backpacking in Europe, or Southeast Asia, or Australia and New Zealand. But if you really want an adventure, what about wandering around part of Africa for a while? It’s not for everyone and it’s a more difficult form of travel, especially since the tourist infrastructure is not as well developed, but there are [...]
The medieval magic of Fes
The city of Fes, Morocco, has enchanted many a traveler. Tahir Shah was spellbound by the medieval magic of Fes and wrote about the city for the U.K. Guardian. Walk through the bustle of Fes’s medina and it’s impossible not to be catapulted back in time. It is as if the old city is on a [...]
Tourists in Baghdad?
Well, yes, if Humoud Yakobi has his way. The chairman of the Iraq Board of Tourism, Yakobi has a vision of legions of tourists returning to Iraq. Not decades from now, but in the near future. The NY Times reports on Iraqi dreams of building a tourist infrastructure. Humoud Yakobi gazes at the rubble-strewn parking lot, the [...]
Favorite places in the Middle East and Africa
The Chicago Tribune has been asking their foreign correspondents for travel tips and for lists of their favorite destinations. One recent installment focused on places in the Middle East and Africa. An excerpt: Liz Sly on the Middle East: My favorite place: The Old City of Damascus, Syria, a warren of ancient cobbled streets, mosques [...]
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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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