I have been fortunate to have visited Spain a number of times, both for wine related business but also to satisfy my wanderlust and ongoing search for ideal weather. I've always timed my visits to avoid the summer months so as not to experience high temperatures and summer crowds. I've found one of my favorite times of year to visit is in late Spring. During my first visit to Spain, I flew into Madrid and quenched my appetite both for food, … [Read more...]
Must Visit Tourist Attractions in Morocco
Even if you’re an experienced traveler, this country will impress you. It is located in the north of Africa and was developed by the influence of diverse cultures. For starters, the country borders the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea. In the north of Morocco, there is Spain that can be reached via Gibraltar. In the south, there is the impressive Sahara Desert. Raised between Europe and the biggest hot desert in the world, this Arabic … [Read more...]
Getting Around Aswan Without Getting Fleeced
My trip to Aswan, Egypt to see the ancient Temple of Isis at Philae was a good reminder to always look on the positive side, even when you feel like you are being taken advantage of by locals. The temple itself is magnificent and dramatically situated on an island in the middle of a lake. Because the vast majority of visitors to Aswan go as part of an organized and guided tour, there is scant information available for the independent, … [Read more...]
3 Mountain Ranges to Scale in 2016
If you are an avid adventurer, you may already have some adventurous plans for 2016. If you are yet to make your adventure bucket list for 2016, consider the following mountain holidays that will prove to be an experience of a lifetime: The Atlas Mountains If you are yet to explore this beautiful mountain range in Africa, make preparations for a different and unforgettable adventure in 2016. Spreading across 1,300 miles in Morocco, Tunisia … [Read more...]
River of gold: a personal voyage through Africa’s lagers
When Spain made claim to a small corner of North Africa and christened it Río de Oro – River of Gold – the country’s colonial ambitions for what amounted to a patch of sand in the western extreme of the Sahara Desert were clear. With the third glass of mint tea broiling my insides as I looked across the same area of sand, I considered that perhaps my own intentions in Africa were equally unrealistic. I was a week into seeking as much cold lager – … [Read more...]
Luxor, Egypt – April 2013
A visit to Egypt is not complete without visiting the historical city of Luxor and the nearby temples and ruins. This is an overnight sleeper train ride or about a 1 hour flight from Cairo. The history here is mind boggling - choose from two main temples, the one within Luxor and Karnak (right next to the city and is the largest religious building of its kind in the world). In addition the Valley of the Kings is only about 25 minutes away from … [Read more...]
Entering Luxor
Luxor lies along the banks of the great Nile (the longest river in the world). If it wasn't for the Nile there would be no population here (a ribbon across the great Sahara Desert. The green of the agricultural fields extends both sides of the river maybe 8-10km where it abruptly ends at the sands of the Sahara Desert. The town is spread out along the east and west banks with most of the population centered on the east side. There is no bridge … [Read more...]
Moroccan Memories
Its always nice to re-live travel memories through others - my brother is in Europe and north Africa for about 6 weeks. Currently he's in Morocco having a blast riding camels in the searing heat of the Sahara Desert. I was in Morocco a few years back and had a great time, other than buying too many overpriced rugs. I'll be back in north Africa in a few weeks. … [Read more...]
A Journey In The Gold Coast:In Ghana
It was breezy late afternoon as I descended boarding EK 781 in the fertile soil of Ghana, a country in Western Africa. Indeed, it was my first visit to an entirely Black African nation with hospitable people. The uniqueness of humidity caught my attention next as we steered through traffic. Accompanied by my Ghanaian lawyer from the airport going to the place I was to stay. Ghana has a typical tropical climate: two rainy seasons in the … [Read more...]
Morocco: Where is my crown of olives?
There is far more to Morocco, Al Maghreb, as it is known among its citizens, than I can describe in just a short little blurb. Other than the intrusions of various cultures into this part of the african continent, the geography plays a large role in shaping Morocco as well. First and foremost, the High Atlas mountain range dominates the heart of the land. Eclipsed only by Kenya's volcanic Mt. Kilimanjaro, the High Atlas rise to a maximum … [Read more...]