Olympic National Park is huge. At nearly 1,400 square miles, it covers the majority of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington and with the structure of the park, getting between places can take a long time. So while we recommend several days or a week to explore Olympic NP, we know that people are short on time. Therefore, if time is … [Read more...]
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Visiting David Gareja Monastery Complex – Georgia
One of the most unique sights in Georgia, David Gareja is a rock hewn monastery complex that sits on the border of Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is also one of the best day trips from Tbilisi that you could ask for. * * * * * * Location The David Gareja is a monastery complex located about 60 KM South East of Tbilisi (about 32 KM from Rustavi or … [Read more...]
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Azerbaijan
Unesco World Heritage Sites are locations that have been designated as having a significant cultural, natural, historical or scientific (or several other designations) impact for the world. Many of these places are unique in the world and have some sort of impact on world history or the like. Azerbaijan has 3 Culture UNESCO World Heritage Sites … [Read more...]
To Oświęcim and Auschwitz
I got up early and wandered over to the bus station to catch our bus to Auschwitz. It was a cool September morning and we tried to get there early to catch our bus over to Auschwitz. I had been wanting to see Auschwitz for a long time. Maybe I should wonder why on holiday I would want to see such a tragic place. I have always been interested in … [Read more...]
Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Al Ula Saudi Arabia
Al-Ula. The unique and fascinating city that sits in northern western Saudi Arabia about 3 hours north of Madinah has a long and storied history. Many ancient civilizations have passed through this area leaving their mark permanently on the desert landscape. Visiting here is a highlight of travel in Saudi Arabia and we wanted to help those … [Read more...]
Visiting Auschwitz II – Birkenau
This post is a continuation from part one on Auschwitz I. If you are looking for how to visit Auschwitz, check out my Tips for visiting the Auschwitz Concentration Camps Getting out of the museum we opted to try to get a bite to eat before continuing our visit to the camps. There are a few options available in the area for food, but generally … [Read more...]
Visiting Europe’s Oldest City – Plovdiv Bulgaria
“It’s the most beautiful city in all of Bulgaria” Orlina stated as we were making our way to Plovdiv Bulgaria. That seemed a lot to live up to for sure and as one of her favorite places I was excited to share this with a friend. Orlina while from Bulgaria was living in Jordan at the same time as I was so it was lovely to get to visit her in her … [Read more...]
Standing on the Roof of Africa – Simien Mountains – Ethiopia
I really did not even know such a place existed in Ethiopia. It was hard for me to realize how little I actually knew about Ethiopia prior to actually visiting there. Well basically nothing other than those news stories about the droughts and famines decades ago. So when I heard about the Simiens I really did not know what to expect. Nicknamed … [Read more...]
Into Madain Saleh (مدائن صالح) – Saudi Arabia
I’ve been wanting to visit Madain Saleh (مدائن صالح) for years. Ever since I heard there was another beautiful Nabataean place outside of Petra. The photos of Mada’in Saleh reminded me a lot of my time in Petra…but without all the tourists and infrastructure. Perhaps Petra before the fame and notoriety of being one of the “New World Wonders”. And … [Read more...]
The Trials of Tourism in Saudi Arabia
It was early in Medina airport as I wandered among the arrivals halls. I barely slept on my 2am flight from Dammam, and slept even less following my 4am layover in Riyadh. But heck, I’m just glad I finally made it out here. Now if I could only figure out whom I was meeting. Travel in Saudi Arabia is a bit well…undeveloped. Solo … [Read more...]
Mount Nemrut and Beyond – Turkey
There is very little to do in Adiyaman you almost wonder why any would come here. If it wasn’t for the nearby Mount Nemrut National Park very few probably would. We arrived here on the morning bus unsure of how we were going to move forward. So what is Mount Nemrut and why would you come here? Honestly before coming I really only knew it … [Read more...]
Castle Česky Krumlov – Czech Republic – UNESCO World Heritage Site
One of the best preserved castles and one of the loveliest to see, State Castle in Český Krumlov is a definitely must see for those who happen upon this city. The castle is hard to miss as it dominates the skyline of the small town and adds to the overall picturesque quality of this town. This 13th Century castle was the home of the poweful … [Read more...]