Arrival @Turin, Italy, March 29, 2019

With tons of warm memories, I finally left southern France and entered Italy. Apparently Italy is a super popular destination for travelers, but I am just visiting one city before heading towards Switzerland. @Turin, Italy, March 29, 2019

Highs and lows @ Carrières de Lumières, Les Baux-de-Provence, France, March 17, 2019

Highs and Lows Mostly because Spain was very comfortable for me, where there was no language barrier, entering France was both exciting and mildly anxiety-inducing. It was new country, language, and people. After several days of intense driving followed by a scene of big confusion in a supermarket where I got the attention of everyone …

Intellectual Sanctuary @ Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt, February 19, 2019

Intellectual Sanctuary   Many visit Egypt with the anticipation of seeing the relics from Ancient Egypt such as mummies of Pharaohs and the Pyramids. But Egypt has been as much Ancient Egypt as it has been Greco-Roman Egypt and Arab Egypt, to name a few. That was why Alexandria came to my attention, and as …

With Amira @ Cairo, Egypt, February 17, 2019

With Amira I was introduced to Amira in Cairo by someone who I had never met earlier. Compared to my overseas travels about a decade ago, modern technology is helping me have more unique and rich experience. In an environment where I knew little about how things work, she was my gateway to understanding the …

Arrival @ Barcelona, Spain

After two months of wandering in Lebanon, Cyprus, Jordan and Egypt, I came back to Spain and to Europe. As always, the car greets me covered in dust. The next step is to have a small break to rest and reflect. The following chapter would be from here towards eastern Russia, ultimately. @ Aeropark, Barcelona, …

Wadi Rum @ Wadi Rum, Jordan, February 9, 2019

Wadi Rum   Wadi Rum, or the Valley of Sand, is one of the major tourist destinations in Jordan, along with Petra, and the Dead Sea. It is a sand desert but its mountainous landscapes gives it a unique sense of space. And its un-earthly looks have attracted filming of many movies from the Lawrence …

Curious looks @ Citadel of Qaitbay, Alexandria, Egypt, February 19, 2019

Curious looks In Egypt, I get more curious looks than in the previous countries, including Jordan and Lebanon. Usually it’s teennage boys and girls who don’t hide their curiosity on faces, and exchange it with others in their groups. From time to time, some just come to me and take selfies with me, often without …

Giza Necropolis @ Giza Necropolis, Egypt, February 16, 2019

Giza Necropolis   The famous Egyptian pyramids are in Giza, a city about 40 minutes west of Cairo by car. In Giza Necropolis (cemetery), there are 9 pyramids and the biggest and the most famous one is the one for King Khufu, with a height of 146 meters. The pyramids are big and tall enough …