If you are thinking of travelling to the Middle East anytime soon, then you will experience what is known as the month of Ramadan for our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar calendar; meaning it rotates annually, and each new month is dependent on the sighting of the moon – meaning a month could last anywhere between 29 and 31 days. 

San Donato In Poggio in Pictures: The Beauty of Tuscany

On a trip to Tuscany, this is the place to stay. It is halfway between Florence and Siena, and not far from San Gimignano and Volterra. This beauty of a town is small but still shows its medieval heritage. The main part of town is still surrounded by the walls built back in the 12th century for protection. So many touches of the original remain, such as arches and towers.

My hair looks different, my backpack is always open, and I have a medium brown complexion. I'm sun-kissed. I am kissed by the sun. Now, if you live in Boston or in Medford, where I go to Tufts, and you saw me walking down the street, you'd probably make nothing of it. 

I was waiting for the ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires with my friends a few weeks ago. A long way from Boston. I was charging my phone when a kid walked up to me and asked in Spanish "Why are you brown?"

"You're brown all over. You look like soil."

Situated along Italy’s Adriatic Coast in the Emilia Romagna region, Ravenna is an often-overlooked location for travelers. But there is much to discover in this history-laden town, from Roman and Byzantine structures to art and culture to crypts, libraries with cats, and adventures galore. Find your home base via Azzurro Club (check for seaside locations, so you can have the best of history, culture, and beaches), and then get ready to explore!

Israel has an incredible diversity of landscapes and cities, and there’s a little bit for everybody. You’ll be happy if you want to stay all day on the sunny beach, and you’ll be equally happy if you’re one for old buildings and fascinating history. But if you’re an adrenaline junkie, you’ll be especially fulfilled, as opportunities for adventureplentiful in Israel. Wake up the Indiana Jones in you and get moving!