Girl Solo in Arabia
 In 1325, a young Moroccan named Ibn Battuta left his native Tangiers on a journey to Mecca. Prevented from crossing the Red Sea, he made his way by land instead—and discovered a passion for travel. Eventually, his ever-lengthening trip stretched to 75,000 miles and touched 44 countries across the Islamic world.
Nearly 700 years later, a kindred spirit is tracing his footsteps. Carolyn McIntyre may be a Western woman, but this Arabist, political analyst, and died-in-the-wool explorer shares much in common with Ibn Battuta. Beyond their love of the road, they both relish and admire the culture and people of the Islamic world. Since starting her trip—and her blog—last year, Carolyn has surveyed tombs in Damascus, lived through robbery and salvation in the Casbah, and investigated "the fine art of qat chewing" in Yemen. Her candid and lively posts provide insight into a region of the world that is much discussed, but often misunderstood. We can't think of a better use of the Web. Journey on, Carolyn!
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