16 articles tagged with middle east travel
After years of chasing Formula 1 circuits across the globe, I've developed a knack for finding the soul of a place beyond the tourist façade. Saudi Arabia has recently opened its doors wider to international visitors, and Medina—the second holiest...
The morning call to prayer mingles with the scent of fresh manoushe and the distant Mediterranean breeze as I sip thick Arabic coffee on a Gemmayze balcony. This is Beirut – a city where ancient history and resilient modernity dance...
Standing at the end of the Siq, watching my friend's children gasp as the Treasury first comes into view through that narrow rock corridor, I realized something profound: data might be my professional language, but wonder is universal. Despite traveling...
As someone who approaches travel through an analytical lens, my recent photographic expedition to Muharraq Island presented a fascinating intersection of history, architecture, and light science. The UNESCO World Heritage Pearl Route isn't just a historical treasure—it's a photographer's laboratory...
The intricate layout of Jerusalem's Old City reveals itself like a masterfully designed soundscape—layers upon layers of history, culture, and spirituality compressed into less than one square kilometer. As someone who analyzes urban spaces professionally, I found myself completely recalibrating...
Standing atop the Mount of Olives looking east from Jerusalem, I could almost see it – that shimmer of blue in the distance marking the lowest point on Earth. The Dead Sea has beckoned travelers for millennia, and at just...
I still remember the moment I stepped into Damascus's Old City at dawn, the call to prayer echoing off stone walls that have witnessed over 11,000 years of continuous human habitation. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with cardamom...
When my work conference in Doha wrapped up early, I found myself with a free weekend and a rental car—the perfect recipe for adventure! Instead of the typical Doha shopping scene, I pointed my GPS north to Al Khor, Qatar's...
Standing amidst the boulder-strewn landscape of Hampi, gazing at 14th-century ruins while local vendors set up their morning wares, I couldn't help but see the parallels between this ancient trading hub and our modern marketplaces. One month and thousands of...
When I touched down in Beirut with my college friend Margo (a fellow empty-nester seeking adventure), I wasn't prepared for how this city would captivate us. Often called the 'Paris of the Middle East,' Beirut defies simple categorization. It's a...
The juxtaposition of ancient and ultramodern that defines Doha creates a shopping landscape unlike any other I've encountered in my travels across three continents. As someone who meticulously plans every aspect of my journeys—from tracking down rare bird species to...
Standing on the rooftop of my boutique guesthouse in downtown Tehran, watching the sun cast a golden glow over the snow-capped Alborz Mountains, I couldn't help but reflect on the concerned messages from friends and family before my departure. 'Is...
Standing before the Temple of Bel—or rather, what remains of it—I'm struck by the profound silence that blankets Palmyra's ancient stones. The golden hour light casts long shadows across columns that have witnessed over two millennia of human history, trade,...
I never imagined my HVAC expertise would lead me to analyzing the climate control systems in some of Saudi Arabia's most luxurious beachfront properties, yet here I am, watching my reflection shimmer in the glass façade of a Jeddah resort...
The first time I laid eyes on Petra's Treasury, peeking through the narrow sandstone walls of the Siq, I actually gasped out loud – a reaction I've since witnessed countless times in my fellow travelers, including my stepdaughter Lily on...
