The Lost Secrets of Ottoman Cuisine
By Maud McInerney

On the last day of our Far Horizons trip, we visited the Church of St. Saviour in Chora, which is one of the most exquisite of all Byzantine churches. It is decorated with mosaics and frescoes from the century before the fall of Constantinople, depicting the Life of the Virgin and the Life of Christ. Scholars tend to see Italian influences in these lovely images; they aren’t stiff and stylized like so much Byzantine art, but instead are moving and personal, almost sentimental. My favorite is, perhaps, the mosaic showing Read the rest of this entry »

Mdina Walled City

For such a tiny island country, Malta is without a doubt one of the most interesting places in the world. Its location in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea has made it accessible to many different groups of people. Pottery found here by archeologists suggests that the Maltese Islands were first settled in 5200 BC mainly by Stone Age hunters or farmers Read the rest of this entry »

By Sara Barbieri

Outside Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin, Mongolia

Flying into Ulaanbaatar is akin to landing in a green ocean with the waves of the steppe greeting your gaze from the window of the plane.  The buildings, Russian cinder block, modern glass skyscrapers, and even the gers (yurts) that snuggle right up to the concrete, all vie to announce Read the rest of this entry »

Join Far Horizons Archaeological and Cultural trips on a 13 day journey through the heart of Polynesia!

The Society Islands including Tahiti, Moorea and Huahine, are a group of mostly volcanic islands and atolls strewn across the eastern South Pacific. Since first discovered, these lovely Polynesian isles have depicted paradise on earth. Early explorers brought back tales of a land of captivating loveliness and Read the rest of this entry »

Great Pyramid on Giza Plateau

Far Horizons presents an extraordinary 17-day trip to Egypt that includes many highlights. We have made special arrangements to enter the Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid, Seti I’s Tomb, Nefatari’s Burial Chamber, the Unas Temple at Sakkara, and the Red Pyramid—all closed to the public. We will meet with Read the rest of this entry »

By Dr. Gary O. Rollefson
- Enthusiastic semi-resident, archaeologist, and fan of Jordan and its lovely people

Welcome to my world! It’s been mine as an archaeologist and part-time resident for 30 years, and I’d like you to share it with me. “My world” in Jordan includes majestic archaeological sites, but also includes the modern residents of Jordan, some of the warmest and most hospitable people I’ve ever known. I am constantly impressed with the sense of welcome that Jordanians offer, whether in a small grocery shop in a remote rural village or on the shaded streets of the major metropolises of the kingdom. Read the rest of this entry »

By Morton Fisher

When most travelers think about Jordan they think only inevitably about Petra — but there is much more to Jordan than Petra.

Petra is every bit amazing as you may envision. Our most lasting memory of Petra, aside from the breathtaking entrance, was climbing to the high place above Petra Valley on the backs of our donkeys. We don’t know who was more glad to reach the top — our guides, ourselves or the donkeys. The view was spectacular. What made Petra especially interesting and enjoyable Read the rest of this entry »

By Dr. Kyra Nourse

Far Horizon’s “Glorious Greece” trip couldn’t be more aptly named. While I could speak with enthusiasm and at length about any of the sites on the itinerary, I’ll restrain myself and focus on two of my personal favorites.

The first of these is Delphi. I have never seen a photo that can do this spectacular site justice. The sanctuary of Apollo was constructed on the steep slopes of Mt. Parnassos; to visitors, it seems to hang suspended over the gorge far below. The location alone is awe inspiring, and it takes no imagination at all to understand why the ancient Greeks felt here the presence of a god. Read the rest of this entry »

By Professor Andy Goldman, study leader

For those of you who have ever wondered about Turkey, it can be a challenging place to describe. Friends have often asked me to do just that, to try and encapsulate my various experiences there, having lived in Ankara for over two years and having visited almost every summer since 1992. The true difficulty lies in not what to say, but where to start. The country is home to such a broad variety of ancient civilizations, such magnificent sites and monuments, such a welcoming and hospitable people, that I am never exactly sure where to begin. But once I do, like all of us who know and love the country, I find it can be very, very difficult to stop… Read the rest of this entry »

By Elise Gochberg, Trip Participant 2007