Until you get close, it is really impossible to imagine the true scale of the Hassan II Mosque. Opened in 1993 at a cost of about a billion dollars (yes, billion with a b), I’m told it is the third largest mosque in the world, behind those in Mecca and Medina. (Truth told, my subsequent…
Waking up at my hotel, Dar Ben Gacem, in Tunis’ Medina (old city) puts a smile on my face. The hotel is built into what was once either a private home of a wealthy family or a madrasa (an Islamic school); both have similar feels, with a series of rooms around a central courtyard, so…
For most American travelers, sights associated with early Christianity are fairly common, and much is known. But for non-Muslims, sights associated with early Islam are a bit less part of the beaten path of tourism. Some of this is practical; the major cities associated with the prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam, in Saudi Arabia aren’t…
“Carthago delenda est.” So bitter was the rivalry between Rome and Carthage that famed Roman orator Cato the Elder ended every speech to the Roman Senate with these words. Carthago delenda est. Carthage must be destroyed. And so it was. By the end of the Third Punic War in 146 BCE, the arguably most successful…
Editor’s note: I spent ten days in Milan back in 2023, and I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my time and all the city had to offer. It is wonderful to read that our writer Sam Spector also enjoyed his time in Milan, even though he had only a single day.…
Yes, I know. If you visit Costa Rica - or are even considering making a trip there - it is not for the history. It is for nature, for animal spotting, for outdoor adventures, for pristine beaches, and for an incredible diversity of life and landscapes. But history? I’m sure not. And I don’t blame…
Editor’s note: it seems that these days, Hungary is in the news more for the dictatorial antics of its leader, Vicktor Orban, than for its truly stunning capital city, Budapest. If you can stomach the politics, the city is - as Sam Spector relates in this article - a true European gem. For more of…
Editor’s note: I spent a day in Helsinki a number of years ago as part of a Baltic cruise. While I didn’t like it as much as some of its neighbors, I do recall thinking that my exploration was too brief, and my opinion not based on much more than a few hours. For me,…
Modern-day Nassau, capital of the Bahamas, is a mecca of tourist shops, restaurants, and resorts. But between those, if one knows where to look, are remnants of a rather cool British colonial city. Old forts, stunning colonial architecture, and one of the coolest staircases I’ve ever seen… these are some of the glimpses into the…
Editor’s note: I’ve been lucky enough to spend a decent amount of time in Israel, and to have visited the Dead Sea on three different occasions. It is truly a remarkable place. In this piece, Sam does an incredible job narrating why this entire region is so special. For more of his writing, click here…