Bomb Shelters and BunkArt in Albania’s Funkiest City
History sleeps with one eye open in Albania’s capital city. Concrete bunkers cover the streets of Tirana like bullet shell casings. Communist-era buildings redressed in vibrant colors tower with daring optimism. As Albania rises from the frontlines of empires and revolutions, a creative spirit stirs beneath the surface. Downtown Tirana is a canvas of architectural […]
A Layover with Michelle Halpern
Traveling immerses us in the world, but sometimes in the less eventful moments in between destinations, we just need to escape. “The Layover” is a weekly roundup of books, music, podcasts, and other forms of entertainment brought to you by your favorite world travelers. This week, we reached out to Michelle Halpern of Live Like It’s The […]
How to Choose Ethical Animal Attractions Abroad
Animal encounters can often seem like a rite of vacation passage — as if each person on a trip simply has to climb on an elephant, pose with a tiger, or hold a monkey for their experience to be complete. But these popular attractions are, more often than not, inhumane and detrimental to animal welfare. […]
Instagram Spotlight: Elisabetta Piantoni (@foxsbackpack)
We feature some of the brightest Instagram storytellers in the Passion Passport community through our Instagram Spotlight series. This week, Elisabetta Piantoni (@foxsbackpack) shares her favorite photo adventures from around the world. Originally from Italy, Elisabetta has traveled through Europe, across the United States, and to other parts of the world, too. Here, she shares some […]
For Andrew T. Kearns, the Pacific Northwest is Best
When Andrew T. Kearns first downloaded Instagram, he was inundated with nature photography. One photo, in particular, stuck out. It was of a spectacular shot of a peak in the Columbia River Gorge. “I have to hike there,” he said to himself. Three and a half years later, after an invitation from a friend, he […]
#PPCultureShock Instagram Challenge – 10/10/17 to 10/15/17
Featured photo by: @demasrusli Tokyo, Japan Sometimes arriving in a new place can feel like diving into freezing water or like your world’s flipped upside-down. First time abroad, first time journeying solo, first time in the city/country…part of traveling is immersing yourself in new, strange experiences, and this week’s challenge theme is #PPCultureShock! Adventurers and guest […]
Unscrambling Africa with Mutua Matheka
When I ask Mutua Matheka about his Instagram handle, he chuckles. “It’s nothing really,” he says, his voice full of mirth. But then he launches into an explanation: the year was 2010, and he had joined practically every social media platform there was. Captivated by a song lyric and unwilling to use his real name, […]
Honeymooning on Iceland’s Ring Road
My husband and I are firm believers in spending money on experiences, not things. For our honeymoon, we chose to travel to Iceland. We knew we wanted to do the entire Ring Road, a picturesque road trip around the island nation, but we only had five days. Most blogs we read suggested a taking a […]
Travel Video: Genoa, More Than This
Alex Soloviev’s video captures a single day experiencing all that Genoa, Italy, has to offer. “There are only two reasons that make me visit a city,” he says. “I haven’t been there yet, or I have been there and want to return.” In the case of Genoa, Alex hadn’t been there yet. He didn’t expect […]