I'm the kind of person who can conjure up an excuse to visit just about any place. I grew up in Buffalo, America's most unfairly maligned city, and so I identify with underdog destinations – places with bad weather, crime, ugly people, rude people, you name it and I ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Syria
World's Worst Places: Top 10 Places In The World You Do Not Want To Visit In 2013
I'm the kind of person who can conjure up an excuse to visit just about any place. I grew up in Buffalo, America's most unfairly maligned city, and so I identify with underdog destinations – places with bad weather, crime, ugly people, rude people, you name it and I ...Video Games With A Refugee
"Are you American?"
The little boy with the big brown eyes was sitting at the couch next to mine in the lobby of my hotel in Najaf, Iraq. He was dressed in jeans, a button-down shirt and sneakers. He peered at me over the edge of his iPad. I looked up from my email.
...
Syrian Civil War Fueled By Illegal Antiquities Trade
We've reported before here on Gadling how the unrest in Syria has led to the damage of much of that nation's archaeological heritage. Now Time magazine reports that the Syrian Civil War has led to a huge trade in illegal antiquities that may be lengthening the war.
...Passengers Asked To Chip In For Fuel On Diverted Plane
As if fuel surcharges, baggage fees and having to pay for food on expensive flights wasn't bad enough, on Wednesday, passengers on board an Air France flight that got diverted from Beirut to Damascus were asked to help "chip in" to refuel the plane.
The reason for the ...How Could An Ancient City Survive In The Desert?
The drive through the Syrian desert to the ancient city of Palmyra makes you wonder how anyone lived out here 2000 years ago. For hours you speed east from Damascus along a dusty desert road, the only sights being a few dull concrete buildings, Bedouin with their herds and ...Destruction, Looting Of Syria's Ancient Heritage Continues, Report Says
The upheaval in Syria has been going on for more than a year now, and in that time thousands of people have been killed, including many civilians and children. Syria's many ancient sites are also getting damaged. Previously, we've talked about how the Syrian army has ...A Traveler In The Foreign Service: Meet An Intrepid Diplomat
In our ongoing attempt to demystify the Foreign Service, we're going to occasionally introduce you to diplomats living in various parts of the world. Amy Tachco is a 36-year-old Foreign Service Officer (FSO) originally from Southern California and Central Ohio who joined the ...Ancient city of Palmyra under threat from Syrian army
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palmyra may become the latest victim of the ongoing violence in Syria, according to a Global Heritage Fund report.
Palmyra, an ancient oasis city in the desert northeast of Damascus, remained untouched by the conflict until last ...St. Bride's Church in London: a place to honor fallen journalists
I am not a Christian. I have read the Bible twice and have attended the services of several denominations and remain unconvinced. Despite this, any time I'm in London I go to an old church off of Fleet Street to pay my respects.
Fleet Street used to be the center of ...Syria memories: grieving for a dictator
The death of North Korea's Kim Jong-il has led to some very strange television--the Dear Leader lying in state, throngs of North Koreans weeping uncontrollably, even rumors of miracles such as grieving birds.
The images coming out of North Korea led to a discussion with ...Introducing Far Europe and Beyond
Far Europe and Beyond, a Gadling series in partnership with bmi (British Midland International) launches today.
Europe's eastern borders cannot be defined simply. The western, northern, and southern perimeters are easy: The Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Mediterranean ...Ancient city of Mari in Syria under threat
Last month we reported that the Biblical city of Nineveh is falling apart due to the ongoing war in Iraq. Now it turns out another ancient Mesopotamian city is in danger of being lost.
Mari, in Syria, was one of the great cities of Mesopotamia. It was a trading center on ...Traveler Q & A: Pavia Rosati
Pavia Rosati is the founder of Fathom, a recently debuted travel website. Fathom is smart and beautifully designed. It's full of exciting short briefs about various destinations across the globe.
Rosati, as you'll see from her answers below, is an experienced editor and ...How to get a second passport
A second passport sounds glamorous. And in point of fact, it is glamorous. There's no debating the matter. Possessing a second passport gives its bearer bragging rights and the ability to feel a wee bit like a spy, especially when he or she is traveling with both passports ...Archaeologists in Syria discover Byzantine mosaic
Just when you thought all news coming out of Syria was bad, an archaeology team has discovered a Byzantine mosaic in a medieval church.
The mosaic was discovered last week at the Deir Sounbol Church on al-Zawieh Mountain. Syrian investigators say the mosaic measures 4x5 ...Syria unrest: will there be another massacre in Hama?
Syrian army tanks 'moving towards Hama'.
Just another headline about unrest in the Middle East. I've read so many, but this one made me shudder. One thing travel does for you is make the world more than just a headline. I've been to Hama.
I visited Syria back in 1994 ...Q & A with travel and food writer Zora O'Neill
Zora O'Neill is a travel and food writer, an editor, and the co-founder (with Tamara Reynolds) of an underground Astoria supper club so successful that it eventually spawned Forking Fantastic!, a cookbook and entertaining guide.
Zora has authored guidebooks for Lonely ...Adventure travel meets faith: cycling to Mecca for the Hajj
Two Muslims from South Africa mixed adventure travel and spirituality this year by cycling to Mecca for the Hajj. Natheem Cairncross, 28 and Imtiyaz Haron, 25, cycled through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Turkey, Syria and Jordan. ...Weekending: Beirut
One of the best things about life as an expat in Turkey is easy access to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with many previously far-flung destinations only a few hours' flight away. I might not plan a week-long vacation in, say, Kosovo, but if I can be there for Friday ...Travel Q&A with author & cook Tamara Reynolds
Tamara Reynolds is a the co-founder (with Zora O'Neill) of The Sunday Night Dinner, an Astoria, Queens-based supper club. The Sunday Night Dinner, which continues to thrive, was well ahead of what has become a supper club trend. Out of the Sunday Night Dinner came a fabulous ...
