A reader recently asked me about the coverage of the swine flu epidemic in Egypt.  I had begun to hear about the epidemic when I arrived to the country from Jordan.  There hadn't been much local perspective because there hadn't been any cases found in the Middle East at that point.  Most of the [...]

Syria was next on my list. I wanted to go to the country but everything I was reading was making me doubtful that I would be able to obtain a visa.   My Lonely Planet Guide mentioned that Americans and British were required to get their visas from the Syrian Embassy in their home country.  I [...]