Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for April, 2008
Exploring Climate Change
By Linda Tancs
All this chat about climate change in recent years no doubt got the city elders of Bremerhaven, Germany thinking. Why not create a place for individuals to experience climate change for themselves–to learn about the complex interaction between man and climate in an entertaining way. And so, beginning in March 2009, Bremerhaven will host Climate House, a science-based theme park in the shape of a giant dill pickle. The attraction promises to educate and entertain on the subject of world climate, even offering visitors the opportunity to create their own weather forecasts in addition to “visiting” world climates along the eighth degree line of longitude. This building is but one of many changes coming to the inner city, among them a hotel whose exterior is reminiscent of Dubai’s Hotel Burj al-Arab and a shopping complex dubbed Mediterraneo. As they say in Bremerhaven, “future ahoy!”
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Pirates of Somalia
By Linda Tancs
We usually think of pirates as the stuff of history–and some glossy movie-making–but right now, real pirates are holding a luxury yacht captive off the coast of Somalia. Since April 4, the crew of a French-owned liner heading for its summer season in the Mediterranean have been sidetracked while authorities attempt to negotiate with the swashbucklers. This isn’t the first time an attack of this nature has occurred around Somalia. In 2005, another luxury liner came under attack by would-be looters sending shots and rockets. Luckily, the ship’s crew was able to overrun them. Granted, cruise travel is generally safe, but these seafaring shenanigans should remind us that vigilance during travel extends as much to the high seas as to the high skies.
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Cell Phones Allowed Limited Use in EU Flights
By Linda Tancs
Following up on our July 19, 2007 post, the EU has, after testing for safety, issued regulations allowing the use of cell phones during flight, not including take-off and landing. Let’s just hope that the resulting conversations don’t devolve into captive attention to the various trials and tribulations of your flight mates. Perhaps a manual on cell phone etiquette should find its way to the seat back in front of you.
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Serenity Now
By Linda Tancs
Cruise travelers seeking their inner Zulu will find it aboard every ship in Princess’s line by 2010, thanks to the success of Sanctuary on the Crown Princess. For the uninitiated, Sanctuary is an adults-only designated area offering spa-like amenities served up by your Serenity Steward (or stewardess?). So the next time those teens and tweens take over the hot tub, don’t sweat it. Your refuge is at hand.
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Stretching the Dollar
By Linda Tancs
Between rising fuel costs, exchange rate woes and failing airlines, you know your travel dollars will be stretched to the limit. So where can you get the most bang for your buck? The Portimão area of Portugal looks pretty good. You’ve got 5 beaches, 4 golf facilities, and the tourist mecca of Alvor, together with room rates as low as 83 euros through May. Hire a boat from Alvor to Ria de Alvor, an estuary giving sanctuary to a number of migrating birds and flowering plants amidst the sand dunes, mud flats, and freshwater and saltwater marshes. Top off your adventure with the local specialty of grilled sardine. Did you know that the Portguese eat more fish than any other Europeans? Now grab and bag and start packing. Desejo-lhe umas boas férias!
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Birthing Pains at Heathrow
By Linda Tancs
No one ever said it would be easy. Apparently, last month’s massive move of British Airways’ operations to the brand spanking new Terminal 5 was not without a hitch–or a glitch. Flight delays and baggage loss again wreak havoc on unsuspecting travelers using the newest digs at Heathrow–eerily reminiscent of the baggage belt debacle of December 2006. Over 300 flights have been cancelled, and more are projected at least until tomorrow. Ouch.
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Viticultural Areas Abound in U.S.
By Linda Tancs
So what is a viticultural area, you ask? It’s a wine grape-growing region with distinctive geographic features, similar to (but distinguishable from) an appellation of origin. The U.S. has over 180 American Viticultural Areas. As you might suspect, a great majority of these are in California. You might be surprised at some of the other locations on the list, places like the Ozarks in Arkansas, the Mississippi Delta, Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Texas High Plains, and southeastern New England (Connecticut, Maine and Rhode Island). So move over beaujolais and make room for the home-grown varietals.
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Power Napping At a Pod Near You
By Linda Tancs
You’ve heard of yellow cabs. Now meet YeloCab in New York City, a suite of cabins with adjustable lighting and reflexology designed to invigorate you during your busy day. Now you can catch some zzz’s in style. Learn more at www.yelonyc.com.
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