While most people visit Israel for historic cities like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv is the country's cultural capital. Founded in 1909 by Jewish immigrants in Jaffa, it's located on the Mediterranean, making the atmosphere totally different. Whereas Jerusalem is still conservative because of the faiths … [Read more...] about Caroline in the City Guide to Tel Aviv
How to Have the Perfect Day in Flores
When you arrive in Flores, you're basically as far north in Guatemala as you can be. The journey there is no joke, especially if you're coming from the southwestern parts of the country like Antigua. Most travelers only stay for a few days to visit Tikal before turning back around. But since I was … [Read more...] about How to Have the Perfect Day in Flores
Semuc Champey: The Best Day Ever?
Semuc Champey has a reputation among backpackers in Central America. They share images of the crystal blue water. Some love it while others don't. It's a long drive up to Lanquín, the small town that is the gateway to the park, and then another bumpy ride in the back of a pickup truck. So is it … [Read more...] about Semuc Champey: The Best Day Ever?
Planning a Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
Is there anything more quintessentially American than the Pacific Coast Highway road trip? It's an item that was on my bucket list for the last decade, so I'm glad to finally have checked it off. Although the trip wasn't without its hiccups (you may have read about road washouts in this area), it's … [Read more...] about Planning a Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
Tikal By Night
A shuttle picked up my Canadian friends and me mid-afternoon. We'd been bullied into buying our tickets to Tikal from a friend of the bus driver on our 12-hour trip. I didn't want to be taken advantage of. But it had been a long day and the price seemed right. We were afraid we'd been … [Read more...] about Tikal By Night