Travel The Middle East

TweetThe Imam Mosque, Iran: A colorful photo essay! Continuing our love for Persian architecture, today I introduce you to the Imam Mosque, Iran (Masjed-e Imam). It is a fitting day for such a gem to be talked about at Travel The Middle East, as Friday is the day that most Muslims flock into mosques to [...]

TweetThought Dubai was the new “It” of the Middle East? Think again. A different Emirate is soaring to new highs and prospering much more than its sister. Its name? Abu Dhabi. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of seven states (called “Emirates”) of the UAE. Here, the capital of the “constitutional federation of absolute [...]

TweetSome of my fondest memories of studying abroad and living in Africa were made while road tripping around Morocco. Almost every weekend, a group of West Point cadets an American-Moroccan and I (the rambunctious Puerto Rican), would hit the roads and drive loooong distances in order to discover some of Morocco’s treasures. One of my [...]

Tweet[For part one, click here] Ahlan asjabi, hello my friends! This week, for a second time, I will feature some of the best beaches in the Middle East. My goal? To uncover some hidden gems of the region. Enjoy (and click on any photo to enlarge)! Some of the clearest, most azure waters in the [...]

TweetThis post about Couchsurfing in Haifa is a perfect example of the kindness I often encounter when traveling the Middle East. Perhaps surprisingly to the typical citizen of the West, but all I have to tell you is that the media has one side and it is usually the wrong one! Share your travel tale [...]

TweetIt is Beach Thursday and this week I will feature some of the best beaches in the Middle East and Africa. There is no debate that some of the clearest, most azure waters in the world are found in the coasts of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean. While this is a “Travel [...]

TweetThought the first and only pyramids in Egypt were those in Giza? Think again! In Dashur, located about 40 km south of Cairo, lie several pyramids, two of which are among the oldest not only in Egypt, but the world. In fact, in Dashur lies the first smooth-sided pyramid in the world! To me, Dashur [...]

TweetI have a serious obsession with the Middle East, as you have probably already noticed. But my obsessions run even deeper than that. When it comes to Arab architecture, I go even more gaga. And if you put a gigantic, intricate doorway or archway in front of me — I could spend hours just staring [...]

TweetFor #FriFotos this week, given that the theme is “STONE,” I decided to make a compilation post, including some of my favorite shots of stones, rock-carved temples & buildings I captured throughout my Middle East travels between August 2008-December 2009. In passing, I have included all the countries I visited to make this photo essay about [...]

TweetAhhh, Dahab…my beautiful beautiful Dahab. To me, it is one of those places you can’t quite explain how you fell in love with it, yet you also do know why–and very, very well. As with every great love, you can’t explain why you love it so much despite its (perhaps many) flaws. Basically, your feelings [...]