Ethan Rooney, Author at Escape Artist

People enjoying the summer at the beach at Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia

Europe

Inside North Macedonia: Europe’s Most Unexpected Reinvention

North Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 at a time when the rest of the country was disintegrating and at war. Macedonia was able to quietly and peacefully…

Woman walking down a narrow street in Havana lined with weathered pastel buildings beneath a bright blue sky

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Cuba

The Reality Behind Cuba’s Romance

The island nation of Cuba has been at the fore of global fascination for decades. Its very existence is romanticised by some and brings ire to others. The word Cuba…

Satellite view of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital urban layout in desert

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Real Estate

Egypt Is Building an Ultra-Modern Capital Outside Cairo: Will It Work?

If you drive east out of Cairo, you will come across possibly the world’s largest construction site. It is a meticulously planned, ultra-modern high-rise city in the Egyptian desert. This…

Burj Khalifa towering above the illuminated Dubai skyline at dusk with surrounding skyscrapers and fountains.

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Middle East

What’s Next for the UAE and Qatar?

The Gulf region has often been seen as something of an exception to the crises associated with the Middle East in recent decades. The volatility of the region has rarely…

Aerial view of Puerto Vallarta coastal town with turquoise ocean water, sandy beaches, white buildings, green mountains, and boats anchored in the bay

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Romania

Mexico Beyond the Headlines: The Expat Reality

The killing of cartel kingpin Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho,” has sparked a wave of backlash across parts of Mexico, setting off violence, government response, and…

A red cable car descends from a lush green mountain, offering a breathtaking aerial view of the historic red-tiled roofs of Brasov, Romania, under a cloudy sky.

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Romania

From Exodus to Opportunity: Romania’s New Chapter

Potentially more than any other country in Europe, Romania has long been synonymous with outward migration. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the Eastern European nation recorded the highest levels of…

Surfboards lean against palm tree trunks on a golden sandy beach in Sri Lanka with turquoise ocean waves and rocky outcrops visible in the warm tropical light

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Digital Nomad

Sri Lanka Joins the Digital Nomad Visa Boom

The nature of work and global travel has shifted over the last few years. Digitization has expanded remote work and helped create a generation of digital nomads. Since the pandemic,…

A stunning sunset over the ancient, terracotta-roofed town of Volterra, Italy, a dream location for those considering the country's €1 house experiment.

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Property Development

Italy’s €1 House Experiment

Italy is a country that is renowned for its stunning scenery and beautiful architecture. Its towns and cities are filled with narrow, cobblestoned alleys that are soaked with history. Italy…

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South America

A Welsh Homeland at the Edge of Argentina

A New Wales in the New World Picture this: you’re in a cottage, tucking into a plate of Bara Brith with a cup of tea. The sound of Christian hymns…

Kurdish women in traditional dress at community gathering in the Kurdistan Region, representing the vibrant cultural life and social fabric of Kurdish society

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Field Notes

Beyond Conflict. The Story of Kurdish Iraq

Iraq’s recent past has been marked by turmoil and strife, from dictatorial regimes to a brutal war that claimed more than 120,000 civilian lives in 2006, and the advance of…