Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for December, 2008
A Hoppin’ New Year
By Linda Tancs
Mama always told you to eat your beans and veggies. If the thought still inspires a grimace, maybe she should’ve told you that you’d have good luck. In the southern U.S., hoppin’ John (origin unknown) is the dish of choice on New Year’s eve or day to bring forth prosperity for the coming year. The basic ingredients are black-eyed peas, celery, rice and bacon. Top it off with some stewed tomatoes, if you like, and you’re ready for the luxe life. Happy New Year!
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City Cites Snowman
By Linda Tancs
The city elders of Anchorage, Alaska have struck again. A homeowner in the Airport Heights section of the city has been cited again this season for his creation of a Brobdingnagian snowman. Consisting of over 16 feet of packed ice, the potential house-toppler (well, maybe a shed) is considered a public nuisance. Affectionately dubbed Snowzilla, this corn-cobbed pipe smoking ice man has been attracting international attention since its creation a few years ago. A local group has even organized to protect the goliath from the code enforcement officer’s slingshot. No doubt Frosty would be pleased. View photos of the toast of Anchorage here.
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Colorado Gardens Twinkle
By Linda Tancs
All that twinkles may not be gold, but the effect is just the same at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Until 4 January you can experience a million points of light through a winding forest path in Denver’s Botanic Gardens at Chatfield from Wednesday to Sunday. Buy your tickets in advance at the York Street Gatehouse. You won’t want to miss a single second of the dazzling display.
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The Origin of Xmas
By Linda Tancs
Sometimes misconstrued as a sign of disrespect, the “X” in Xmas actually originates from the Greek word for Christ, Xristos. The first letter, chi, resembles the letter “x.” Europeans began using the “Xmas” salutation as early as the 16th century. So Merry Xmas, and to all a good holiday weekend!
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Little Town of Bethlehem
By Linda Tancs
It’s been said that Christmas time is the best time to visit Bethlehem. And considering that several denominations celebrate Christmas at times other than 25 December (6 January for Orthodox Christians and 18 January for Armenian Christians), there’s a window of opportunity to take part in the Mideast celebrations. Whatever your faith, consider taking in some of the processions and services around Manger Square and St. Catherine’s Church during this holiest of seasons. The Christian Information Centre has details for you.
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Lost Baggage Rule Gets Facelift
By Linda Tancs
Amidst the doom and gloom of baggage mishandling comes a rainbow: the Department of Transportation has increased liability for lost baggage arising from domestic travel from $3000 to $3300, effective today. This means an airline needn’t pay you a penny more than the DOT rate for your losses. Of course, you shouldn’t be packing Sunday’s best (or–gasp–electronic equipment or heirloom jewelry) in that checked bag in any event. Chances are, you’d consider it irreplaceable, no matter how much money the DOT is willing to throw at you. The same is true for international travel, but the compensation rate is about halved.
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Traveling with Santa
By Linda Tancs
In the current edition of Travelrific® Travel Show, the topic is polar travel. Discover Santa’s northern delights in and around the Arctic Circle. Find the podcast here.
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Umbria’s Big Tree
By Linda Tancs
Every year on 7 December Gubbio, Italy turns the lights on the world’s largest Christmas tree. This “tree” is a fir-like design of 1300 feet of neon lights connected by over 40,000 feet of cable, beginning at the foothills of this Umbrian town and rising to its tabernacle dedicated to the village’s patron saint, Ubaldo. Now in its 28th year, the show runs till 10 January. If you can’t make it, buy the stamp instead. The local post office commemorated its 10th anniversary back in 1990–philatelists, take note.
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A Capitol Christmas
By Linda Tancs
The silhouette of the Big Sky got a little wider when Montana’s Bitterroot National Forest was selected to provide this year’s tree to Washington, D.C. to grace the U.S. Capitol’s west lawn. The locals selected a subalpine fir measuring 73 feet (when cut). They also provided about 70 other trees for various congressional agencies and offices. Don’t confuse this tree with the White House’s annual National Tree, which is no less grand. The Capitol’s tree was lit on 2 December, bedecked with ornaments crafted by children in Montana. It’s yours to behold until the new year.
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Great Destinations in New Jersey
By Linda Tancs
The best kept secrets of New Jersey are now spilled all over the pages of Great Destinations/New Jersey, as well as the companion DVD. This labor of love is the result of 1017 local photographers (including yours truly) submitting 16,893 photos, which were then voted on 886,161 times to establish the best of the best of the Garden State. You can order your copy here.
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Travelrific® Travel Journal 