Joel Balsam

3 weeks ago | culinarybackstreets.com | Joel Balsam

A grill of sizzling coração de galinha (chicken hearts), linguiça (sausage) and churrasco (steak) exudes a plume of smoke that sets the perfect theatrical stage as a woman in a red apron swings from side to side, dancing to Brazilian funk. The meat smells delicious, too. Maybe just one espetinho (skewer) before we go… Sundays at Feira da Glória market in Rio de Janeiro are an all-out assault on the senses – and on shoppers’ willpower.

2 months ago | afar.com | Joel Balsam

There’s plenty to enjoy in Rio de Janeiro, a seaside city in southeastern Brazil. Photo by Marchello74/Shutterstock There are several reasons why I settled in Rio de Janeiro after traveling for more than a decade. The Brazilian coastal metropolis has world-famous beaches worth singing serenades about—and many musicians have. Its mountains are home to the world’s largest urban rainforest, with waterfalls, fuzzy capuchin monkeys, and plenty of hiking trails.

2 months ago | lonelyplanet.com | Joel Balsam

Albania has been one of Eastern Europe’s hottest destinations for the last few years, and it’s easy to see why. The Balkan country has marvelous turquoise-water beaches along its Albanian Riviera, well-preserved ancient ruins like Butrint, fascinating “museum” cities such as Berat and Gjirokastër, and delicious food, all for a fraction of the price of nearby Greece and Croatia.

2 months ago | lonelyplanet.com | Joel Balsam

Move over Italy, Greece and Croatia – it’s Albania’s time to shine. This southwestern Balkan country has gone viral for ’ bluer-than-blue water – attracting a steady stream of sunseekers every summer. But that’s not all this little country has to offer. Explore Albania’s thriving capital, Tirana, on a bar crawl and go inside its bunker museums – leftovers from its 45-year dictatorship.

Mar 6, 2025 | lonelyplanet.com | Joel Balsam

Albania has been one of the hottest destinations in recent years, and there’s no reason to think it’ll cool down anytime soon. The Balkan country has beautiful beaches with crystalline water (as a matter of fact, one was recently named the bluest in the world), UNESCO heritage towns criss-crossed with enchanting alleyways and underground tunnels, along with awesome hiking in the Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps), and so much more.