Tag: nature
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A Day in a Bedouin Camp in Wadi Rum
Our taxi pulled over on the side of the road in Wadi Rum next to the only pickup truck in sight. We were surrounded by orange sand stretching in every direction, broken only by scattered desert bushes and towering gray rock formations. It looked nothing like any landscape I had ever seen before. A man…
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Discovering the Ancient City of Petra
Long before I ever traveled to Jordan, I already knew Petra. At least I thought I did. Like millions of people, I had seen photographs of the Treasury and watched Indiana Jones ride towards its towering façade. For years it was simply one of those places I hoped to see someday. What I didn’t know…
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A Camel, a Shepherd, and the Road to Petra
Traveling through Jordan felt as though we had stepped into a landscape that had remained unchanged for thousands of years. That morning, we crossed the border into Jordan and found a taxi waiting for travelers heading to Petra. The drive would take about two hours. I sat with my face pressed against the window, mesmerized…
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A Walk Around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas
After spending the morning at Christ the Redeemer and Parque Lage, we decided to walk back toward our hotel along Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. It was nearly a two-hour walk, but we weren’t in a hurry. Our only plan was to enjoy the afternoon, find a beautiful place to watch the sunset, and see what…
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A Jungle Hidden in the Middle of Rio de Janeiro
After visiting Christ the Redeemer, we made our way to Parque Lage. I had seen photographs of the beautiful Palacio with Christ the Redeemer rising high above it on Corcovado Mountain. It quickly became one of the places I was most looking forward to visiting. I imagined sitting in its famous courtyard café with a…
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My First Impression of Ipanema Beach
Before arriving in Rio de Janeiro, I assumed the city would have a slower, more laid-back feel to it. I imagined people lingering over coffee at seaside cafés, surfers heading into the waves, friends gathering for a game of volleyball, and families slowly making their way onto the sand. After visiting other coastal destinations, that…
Notes From Everywhere 