No Egypt Tour would be complete without seeing the Great Pyramids of Giza, but most people don’t realize that these ancient monuments are bordered by a modern, chaotic city and not isolated in some remote desert like many pictures would have you believe. There are hotels and high-rise apartment blocks full of satellite dishes facing the famous pyramids, and “pyramid-view rooms” or “pyramid-view apartments” come with a higher price tag. There’s even a Pizza Hut/KFC right across from the Great Sphinx (located adjacent to the pyramids), jostling for space alongside all the souvenir shops selling papyrus paper paintings and alabaster cats! 

By many measures, Mexico remains one of the most underappreciated countries for travelers seeking cross-cultural and enriching experiences in the Western Hemisphere, if not the world! Though it adjoins the southern border of the United States, Mexico remains a world away and invites us to visit, learn and expand our paradigm about this amazing country. A melting pot of numerous indigenous cultures and colonial history, amazing landscapes and fascinating biodiversity, and wonderful cuisine and arts, Mexico is the gem next door!