1
TRANQUIL BASRA
I remember a time (not too long ago – for those of you waiting to pounce on the very fact that I said “I remember a time”). Anyhow, I remember a time when my father would travel regularly to Iraq for work. He would come back with all sorts of praise for it, how beautiful the country was, how well educated the people were and more. Now, we all know about its demise, but could it be a Phoenix rising? For those who feel like they need a little more adventure in their life, Iraq could be a viable option. From CNN: “The Middle Eastern country has long been synonymous with conflict or turmoil — and the idea of wandering Baghdad snapping photos seems pretty far-fetched. But Norwegian photographer Christian Lindgren did just that — jetting off to Iraq for an unconventional holiday, touring the country’s historical sights, meeting locals and trying out great food. Lindgren photographed the experience and shared the snaps on his social media and website. He hopes people will see the images and rethink their view of Iraq.”
2
MY MEDITERRANEAN
Why do we (mainly dudes) have a tendency to want to call things ours? Probably comes down to our savage roots around territory and protection. I digress, I welcome you all to MY Mediterranean. I have no clue why I call it mine, but I found myself saying that twice already this week. Well, if you haven’t been, or even if you have, how about a list of the 25 places in the (my) Mediterranean that you have to visit. From Culture Trip: “With its azure waters, rocky hillsides and ancient architecture, the Mediterranean coastline is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes and towns in the world. From Morocco to Monaco, Spain to Turkey, here are some of the most beautiful Mediterranean destinations you really need to visit at least once in your lifetime.” My Mediterranean.
3
LAST MINUTE GETAWAY
I never thought I’d get so excited by an online travel tool. The one in this link, incidentally, developed at an MIT lab (so it has to be genius), is amazing. You simply put down your location and the dates you wish to travel. A map pops up with a bunch of different options, across continents of the lowest priced airfares. You also have different filter functions, but this is seriously one of the best travel booking tools I’ve seen out there, especially for those last minute trips. I’m not getting paid for this. Worth checking out, playing around with it, and possibly organizing your next vacation with it. I was impressed. From Matador Network: “For this set, and pretty much everyone else, the MIT Senseable City Laboratory in Singapore has developed Escape, an interactive map that searches Kiwi and Skyscanner then literally shows you the cheapest, quickest, and most popular flights in the world from any destination. It might be the only travel search tool you need when trying to figure out where to take a vacation.”
4
MAUIWIWA
Simply stunning. I’m literally just including this next blurb because of the beautiful images in the link, of an island that’s almost otherworldly (I did not know that was a single word). I’ve never been, but have dreamt about it a lot, probably more than a lot of other places I dream about. From CN Traveler, here’s everything you need to know if you’re planning a trip to Maui. Make sure to let me know how it was. Take even more pics and send them to me. I can’t get enough!
5
BSN&HRCGVN
If you’re thing is trying to pronounce words with a serious lack of vowels, Bosnia & Hercegovina is the place for you. Also, there are some pretty cool outdoor adventures to be had there. From Lonely Planet: “For a unique leap of adventure-activity bravery, try diving (or, more accurately, jumping) from Mostar’s famous Stari Most (Old Bridge). From a height of 24m, the green Neretva River flows beneath the bridge with deceptive tranquillity. But, travellers be warned: this is not for the faint of heart, nor is it an activity just anyone can undertake. Candidates must go through training sessions with the local Bridge Divers’ Club. Originally built in the 16th century by the Ottoman Empire, the bridge was destroyed during the 1990s war. It was rebuilt a decade later and reopened in 2004. In 2005, the bridge and the Old City of Mostar, with its stone and cobbled streets, cafes, shops and restaurants, were added to Unesco’s World Heritage list.” Another must-visit place to add to the list!
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!