Category Places
In Istanbul–a city teeming with historical sites, remarkable views, and iconic buildings–where does a visitor begin? Istanbul is simply breathtaking, thanks to the legacy of the Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and modern Turks. You can marvel at the Hagia Sophia and… Continue Reading →
Two of my strongest memories of living in Saudi Arabia are the date vendor at the outdoor market and a day trip we took to the oasis of Al-Ahsa. In the market in downtown Al-Khobar, gleaming mounds of dates flowed… Continue Reading →
Dear Other Things, can you tell me your favorite resources? How do you decide what to write about? And where do you find your information? I get questions like this a lot, people asking where I get the ideas and… Continue Reading →
When I think of iconic Kuwaiti architecture, I picture the spheres of Kuwait Towers or the clusters of angular water towers around the capital. But those were all built in the 1970s! What new buildings are famous in Kuwait? What… Continue Reading →
Visitors to Bahrain have a wealth of historic sites to choose from, including forts and museums, famous homes and mosques, and ancient burial grounds. People often start with the country’s National Museum or the Bahrain Fort, which is a UNESCO… Continue Reading →
The city of Oran, along the Mediterranean in western Algeria, boasts a remarkable story — ruled by Arab and Berber dynasties, the Spanish, the Ottomans, and the French, before Algerian independence in 1962. As you walk through Oran today, the… Continue Reading →
Images of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rarely include Fujairah, the easternmost emirate. Instead, we see shots of the Burj Khalifa, the enormous Dubai Mall, and the city skylines of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We see historic dhows sailing along… Continue Reading →
The desert landscape of Taghit is absolutely breath-taking. Nestled deep in Algeria along the Sahara, the town rests against the dunes, which rise up like towering walls of sand. Nearby, narrow roads beside dried river beds lead to outcroppings etched… Continue Reading →
Stories about Coptic sites in Egypt often focus on Cairo or the stunning landscape of St. Catherine’s in the Sinai. The tightly packed neighborhood of “Coptic Cairo” features historic churches and cemeteries, and the rich collections of the Coptic museum…. Continue Reading →
What do you think of when you hear the word “Marrakesh?” For many people, this city in southern Morocco conjures images of its wide plaza Jemaa el-Fnaa — a popular gathering spot in the old city with stands for fresh… Continue Reading →
Remnants of the Roman empire are visible across Jordan. But outside the ruins in Amman and Jerash, how many others do you know about? Inside Amman, a large Roman amphitheater sits at the heart of the old city and remains… Continue Reading →