Tag: desert
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Wadi Rum ‘Valley of the Moon’ – Jordan | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Wadi Rum in Jordan is beautifully referred to as the “Valley of the Moon”. That name came to life for me when I visited this sandstone desert in the Middle East. I had spent the day exploring the sands of Wadi Rum, which led to quietly watching the evening sunset, and finishing off by sleeping…
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Quseir Amra – A UNESCO World Heritage Site| Discovering Jordan
“We are also going to a sand castle!” is all my friend said when we were exploring northern Jordan, close to the Iraq border. At one point, I saw a sign that we were 300 km (186 miles) to the Iraq border, and was a little surprised because I had no idea which direction we…
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Death Valley National Park | Exploring California
Living in Las Vegas has given me great opportunities to visit many national parks. We are a few hours from the magnificent parks in Utah, and less than two hours away from Death Valley National Park in California. Over the past decade, I have taken various road trips visiting many of the wonderous natural sites…
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Scotty’s Castle – Death Valley National Park | Exploring California
Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley, California is an intriguing look into the luxurious lifestyle of the wealthy during the roaring 20’s. What is even more intriguing is the story behind this classic Mission Revival style home in the midst of nowhere. It was the secluded winter hideaway for Chicago millionaires Albert and Bessie Johnson, from…
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Valley of Fire State Park | Exploring Nevada
Getting off the Las Vegas strip for most visitors is unheard of, but there is more to this fair city than the bright lights, gambling, and buffets. We have state parks, camping, mountains, forests, scenic drives, and desert hikes. There is a lot of natural beauty in Nevada, and one favorite for locals is the…
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St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
South Sinai, Egypt– St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt felt very far away from everything, and everywhere when I had traveled there in late 2019. I was already in Sharm el-Sheikh along the Red Sea when I took a day trip to this ancient monastery, which is also a UNESCO…
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Cruising Up the Nile – From Aswan to Luxor, Egypt
If you are looking to cruise the Nile River in Egypt from Aswan to Luxor, I highly recommend the experience. Deciding on a boat cruise aboard a mid-size luxury liner is an extraordinary way to see the riverways of Egypt, as well as many of the important temples in Upper Egypt. After doing a little…
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Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Exploring the Valley of the Kings along Luxor’s West Bank should be another piece added to your travels into Egypt. The temples and the pyramids of ancient Egypt always steal the show when visiting this country due to its popularity, and the ‘WOW’ factor they bring. For those who are feeling a little Indiana Jones…
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Desert Botanicals Gardens & the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion | Phoenix, Arizona
As my sun sign is in Capricorn, an earth sign, I enjoy anything with a grounding nature. That is why I have a deep fondness for mountains, forests, vegetable dishes, and gardens. One of my favorite things to do while traveling is visit a garden, if my schedule permits. This might have to do with…
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Solo Traveling into SIWA OASIS, EGYPT
When I traveled to Siwa Oasis in October of 2019, I was traveling alone, an American female in her late 40s. I received a lot of different feedback when people saw video clips of me lost, and trying to locate my hotel in a remote desert town, thirty miles from the Libyan border. The majority…
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Temple of the Oracle – Alexander the Great | Siwa Oasis, Egypt
When our tiny tumnayah pulled up to the Temple of the Oracle, I felt the traveler’s euphoria come over me that many of you understand. It is that feeling of triumph and exhilaration when you arrive to a significant destination that is remote, off the beaten track, and that is only frequented by those with…
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The Salt Pools of Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Siwa Oasis on the western border of Egypt is one of the country’s most isolated settlements, with a population of over 30,000 people. It was not an easy town to get to and when I return, I will do it in a more comfortable manner. It is a very remote oasis about thirty miles from…
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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Phoenix, Arizona– “Form follows function”, a phrase I first learned on my initial visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s home studio in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago. From that point on, I felt a connection with Wright’s forward thinking of architecture. Over the past two decades, I had visited many of his designed buildings and…
Trixie Navarre 