Her exhausted, bare feet step on the carpet with ceremonial reverence as she leaves her plastic sandals at the doorstep. The house floor is not paved, but the straw carpet keeps the living room immaculate. Three large sofas frame the room, but there is no table at the center. In fact, there is not a...
If you came to Gharb Suheil, you would probably remain as shocked as I was. You would probably wonder how people manage to survive in a town so seemingly paused in time. You would wonder why people instantly invite you to their homes, where there’s always more seats than their own. You would find yourself...
One autumn Friday morning, I dove into Egypt’s urban legends joining a newly inaugurated walking tour of downtown Cairo set in place by a development company called Al Ismaleya. From Art-Deco icons to historical cinemas, we set off to discover the stories woven by the area’s stimulating streets. We are standing at the foot of a building set...
The sun is falling on this rainy afternoon as we approach the Maasai village in Western Kenya. Perhaps because of the hills framing the mud houses on the opposite side, it feels like we are at the edge of the country. We go past a pack of goats as they are herded by a tiny...
Hidden at the heart of the Sahara desert in Egypt, rare fossils of ancient whales uncover the history of Wadi Al-Hitan, a remote valley located 150 kilometers southwest of Cairo. Also known as the Valley of Whales, the site offers a unique opportunity to embark on a journey through the history of evolution. The valley is located within the boundaries...
Home to the busiest square in Africa and the world’s most beautiful doors, Marrakesh is an old realm where fantasy and reality never find a divide. The medievalmedina, with its red fortified walls and tiny alleys, houses a community of snake charmers, fortune-tellers, and herbal-potion masters that bring Arabian legends to life. We spent a whole day...
It’s a hot late-summer Friday and Cairo’s historic market, Khan el-Khalili, feels like a peaceful haven among the noisy urban hustle. The souq, built in 1382 by Emir Djaharks el-Khalili in the heart of the city, is surrounded by some of the most exquisite examples of Islamic architecture: 13th century madrasas (schools), ancient mosques, and Ottoman-era buildings draw...
Set at the heart of the Amalfi coastline and surrounded by pastel-coloured balconies that lean towards the sea, Positano is the perfect destination for Valentine’s Day. Legend has it that Ulysses, on his way back from the Troyan war, came across certain tiny islands where the Sirens lived, those mythical creatures half-women, half-bird who lured...
Visiting Edinburgh means embarking on a voyage through fascinating mystery tales, dwelled by kings, princesses and pirates, and haunted by the spirits that the city brings to life. Take an online tour through the most captivating spots of Scotland’s Capital. First stop: Castle Rock. The tour begins in Castle Rock, a magnificent fortress built at the...
It was the capital of Western Germany during the Cold War, but Germans used to call it the ‘Hauptdorf’ (capital village) since it never lost its little town flair. Fatherland to Beethoven and host of the UN campus, Bonn is a lively student city where the cozy, the picturesque, and the cosmopolitan somehow match perfectly....
