Teen Travel Blog

Bazaars, souks, and markets always bring out a strange reaction in me.  Istanbul’s famed Grand Bazaar and Spice Market are no exception.  I get jacked up, uber competitive,  overwhelmed, overstimulated, confused, depressed, overjoyed….all over ‘getting a deal’ on some trinket or spice that I really don’t want anyway.

Istanbul’s markets are pure Middle East and a departure from the more European attributes of other parts of this beautiful city.  A few steps away from the charming boulevards and parks you can instantly enter this strange new world. Read the rest of this entry »

I think I’ve found my new favorite world city: Istanbul.  Combine a dash of Barcelona (ancient walled city), a pinch of Zurich (trolleys and cleanliness), a cup of San Francisco (food, hills and bays) and a healthy portion of Cairo (bazaars and mosques) and you will have a taste of Istanbul.

Flying into Istanbul you see a never-ending carpet of red roofed buildings undulating over the hills and valleys of the city.  Dividing the city is the active waterway of the Bosporus, the narrow strait that separates one continent from another.  It is rather odd to be standing in Europe staring into Asia across such a short stretch of water. Read the rest of this entry »

Today we explored the magical land of Capadoccia.  An hour flight south of Istanbul, this semi arid region of Turkey is reminiscent of a fairyland with Dr. Seuss shaped rock towers, some jutting hundreds of feet into the air.  What makes it especially unique is that in the 5th and 6th centuries the area was populated by up to 300,000 people, many of them living in a complex system of caves and tunnels that they carved out of the sandstone. 

Entire subterranean cities existed hundreds of feet beneath the surface. When pillaging armies descended upon the region, a town’s population would enter the the warren like complex for protection. Good camouflage plus a series of trap doors and rolling stone walls kept the marauders at bay. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s 5:45am and pitch black in Avanos, Turkey and a loudspeaker seemingly outside my window just started blaring the “Call to Prayer”.  There is no more effective wakeup call in the world, though I think the pre-dawn roosters of Fiji or giggling schoolchildren of China might be a tad more gentle manner to wake up.  But what better way to remind me that I’m ‘not in Kansas anymore’?

Regional Director Sarah and I have been in Turkey less than 24 hours, but already we’re taken in by the people and the country.  Visually it is an odd blend of rural Italy, Egypt and Austria.  The country seems to be thriving. There is new construction everywhere and there are no signs of the abject poverty that exist in other countries in this part of the world. It truly is the bridge between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Read the rest of this entry »

That’s right everyone, today is April 15, the last day to enter our Summer of a Lifetime sweepstakes!  Just imagine…close your eyes and envision yourself in Costa Rica…taking a whitewater raft trip down the Pacuare river, riding waves at surf camp, learning Spanish, teaching English to beautiful little Costa Rican children and making improvements to a mountain community.  All of that – FOR FREE!  Enter tonight by midnight!!! LAST CHANCE!!!!

Don’t just learn Spanish or French, live it!  Classrooms aren’t necessarily the best way to learn a language.  Try living it with an ARCC for a language immersion adventure and be inspired by the people, places, and cultures you engage in.   Take an ARCC language immersion adventure to Costa Rica/Guatemala, Spain, or France and work hard and play hard as you learn the language, embrace the culture, and engage in the amazing adventure opportunities these destinations offer!

This summer, you can be a part of an ARCC adventure by traveling with us to one of these enchanting countries, and drastically advance your Spanish or French language skills.  Take classes taught by native speakers, and become more confident with one of these widely spoken languages.  Whether you are nearly fluent in Spanish or French or have never taken it before, you will be placed in a learning environment at the appropriate level which will help you advance your personal language skills.  Return to school next Fall with a new passion for the language and clear understanding of the people and places that speak it!   Read the rest of this entry »

Lago Atitlan is an incredible freshwater lake situated in the highlands of Guatemala and surrounded by three cone shaped volcanoes.  It is quite the picturesque scene, the water and the volcanoes, the jungle around and of course the incredible colors of the Guatemala weavings all come together for an amazing image. 

We arrived to the town of Panajachel – called Pana – and met with our local guide Pablo, who promptly took us to the local boat dock to catch a boat to the surrounding towns.  The lake has 12 little towns or villages around it and each is unique in its own right.  Read the rest of this entry »

Ellery & Brian are now in Guatemala, scouting a 2010 adventure!  Here is an update we received from Brian yesterday:

Hola from Guatemala!  Ellery and arrived yesterday after a long but pleasant journey.  The flight was a red-eye and we woke to the dawn breaking over a picturesque landscape below.  The Gulf coastline was flat and marshy here, the ocean invading to form lagoons.  As we flew further inland, the coastal flatlands gave way to steadily rising hills, reminiscent of Hawaii in both their steepness and vibrant foliage.  Eventually the hills showed their true origin, as volcanic peaks appeared, cresting the ridgeline.  There were several calderas, collapsed craters that had filled with murky wáter.  We even saw one that must have erupted in the recent past, as the forest below was drowned in its now-cooled lava, bare except for a few adventerous plant colonists, its cráter adorned only with a few wisps of cloud.  Read the rest of this entry »

“The camels are not cooperating…there will be a delay.”  Those were the somewhat nerve racking words we heard as we were waiting for our camels to transport us to a Bedouin camp for a traditional desert meal.  Seems they were being a bit ornery and needed a little extra prodding to start their journey.  We finally climbed aboard the creatures and headed out of town into a desert canyon.  Riding was surprisingly easy….cross one leg in front of you around the horn and control the camel much like a horse, relax in the saddle and sway along with its hypnotic gate. Read the rest of this entry »

After a great visit to the city of Luxor, a much quieter version of Cairo with broad boulevards, a beautiful walkway along the Nile River and the staggeringly huge Karnak Temple, Zach and I flew to Sharm El-Sheik, perched at the southern tip of the rugged and mountainous Sinai Peninsula.  Flying in over the Red Sea, we could see miles and miles of turquoise blue waters, perfect for SCUBA diving.  It is easy to see why the Red Sea is reputed to be one of the best diving locations in the world. Read the rest of this entry »