Tristan's Expeditions

Christmas in the Holy Land

Traveling to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian ‘West Bank’ isn’t on everyone’s Christmas list. However, over one million people make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born, every year.

A Week in Transylvania

Transylvania, Romania’s central region, is not as spooky as it is portrayed in the book ‘Dracula’. The region charms visitors with its medieval towns, iconic castles, and opulent churches. And no, there aren’t any vampires here… at least, that’s what they say.

6 Sights in Sarajevo

Bosnia’s capital city, Sarajevo, is truly where East meets West. Here, humble wooden Ottoman shops juxtapose the luxurious Austro-Hungarian residences in the old town. Further down into the new city, are Sarajevo’s gritty communist blocs, alive with bars, the art scene, and the U.N.’s permanent mission to Bosnia.

Serbia: The Heart of the Balkans

Many tourists skip the Balkans, thinking that it’s dangerous, or that there’s nothing worth seeing. The Balkan years ended over a decade ago, so the region is completely safe and there are a million things worth seeing! Serbia is the heart of it all, and a great place to start. Belgrade

A weekend on Lake Ohrid, the “Balkan Pearl”

Ohrid, a town in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, is a popular tourist destination for Eastern Europeans, for its affordability and range of activities. The entire town and lake of Ohrid are UNESCO World Heritage sites, for their ancient cultural significance and natural beauty.

Albania: Land of Eagles

Albania is one of Europe’s many hidden gems, and a frugal traveler favorite. From the Northern lakes and mountains to the Southern Riviera, Albania’s landscapes are nearly untouched. Ottoman villages made of stone and wood are scattered throughout the country, built on Illyrian ruins, contrasting Communist-era Tirana, Albania’s trendy capital. Despite all of Albania’s attractions,…

Not just Paris: Five other French cities

Paris is one of the greatest cities in the world, without a doubt. But there’s a lot more to France than simply Paris. Here are five other French cities worth visiting:

Put Bucharest on Your List

Bucharest, like many capital cities in Eastern Europe, is often overlooked. When I told people I was going to Bucharest, they asked me, “Why would you go there?”. Even in Romania, passing travelers told me to skip it. I didn’t have a choice, I was flying out from Bucharest and ending my three-month long Balkan…

Weekends in the West Bank: Ramallah and Bethlehem

While studying abroad in Israel-Palestine, I’ve taken a few weekends to visit the West Bank. The West Bank is a Palestinian territory that has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. But let’s put politics aside and focus on some of the great cities and sights in this misrepresented area of the world! On my…

Best of the Balkans

Growing up, I remember learning European geography: England, France, Spain, Germany.. and all those little countries in the East. This past summer, I realized that ‘those little countries’, the Balkans, are some of the most enchanting (an inexpensive) places in Europe. I spent over three months in the Balkans and fell in love with the cultures of…

Istanbul’s Must-See Mosques

Istanbul is an ancient city, where many empires have reigned throughout the centuries, each leaving their mark. The Romans built aqueducts, the Byzantines built churches, and the Ottomans built mosques. The Sultans of the Ottoman Empire sought to raise the largest and most impressive mosques the world had ever seen, and they succeeded. Today, the…