Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for August, 2010
Non Stop Fun in Iowa
By Linda Tancs
Attracting more than a million fans the world over each year, the Iowa State Fair kicks off now through 22 August at the Fairgrounds, located 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines at East 30th Street and East University Avenue. Today’s opening day festivities are highlighted by a tribute to the armed forces, including a live Skype chat with Iowa military in Kosovo, Iraq and Missisippi, a performance by the Central Iowa Hooves horse drill team and an evening concert by country music star Lee Greenwood (free with your fair ticket admission). The grandstand lineup includes Keith Urban, Pat Benatar, REO Speedwagon, Darius Rucker, Sugarland and Sheryl Crow. The entertainment may change from year to year, but annual staples like the Butter Cow (sculpted from butter, you see), double ferris wheel, livestock judging and endless stalls of food will remain–all to keep you in “non stop fun,” as this year’s theme goes.
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An Island Festival on the Danube
By Linda Tancs
Óbuda Island in Budapest hosts Sziget, an arts and cultural festival taking place this year from 11 to 16 August. The 24/7 festivities include a series of tents producing entertainment of every genre: folk, blues, classical concerts, ballets, operas, motion-and dance theatre and cabaret. Add to that numerous exhibitions, performances, an outdoor museum, puppet theatre and outdoor cinema in the evenings and you have a family friendly event worthy of a visit. There’s even a supervised day care center. Similar to earlier years, a ferry line runs daily both from Buda and Pest during the festival. You can buy tickets with cash only at the ferry station; otherwise, buy them online. Bikers should note that there’s a cycling lane running on the Buda riverbank that leads right up to the festival gate, and they’ll even mind your bike for free.
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World’s Fair of Money
By Linda Tancs
The American Numismatic Association’s World’s Fair of Money takes place in Boston today until 14 August. Sponsored by the nonprofit American Numismatic Association, the show’s theme espousing the locale as the birthplace of American money is an apt choice considering the story of American money began more than three centuries ago when the early settlers of New England relied heavily upon foreign coins for conducting their day to day business affairs in the New World. Featuring more than 1,000 of the nation’s best coin dealers at Hynes Convention Center, the show will also feature museum-quality exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution, the ANA Edward C. Rochette Money Museum and private collectors. As many as 20 mints from around the world will give visitors an opportunity to collect coins from five continents, recalling America’s reliance on foreign currency in early American history.
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A Magic Carpet in Belgium
By Linda Tancs
Every two years in Brussels an array of colorful begonias graces Grand-Place in the form of a giant Flower Carpet. This year marks the fourteenth happening of this horticultural phenomenon, opening this weekend to the public from 13 to 15 August, preceded on 12 August by a fireworks display at 10 p.m. celebrating a day of construction of this floral masterpiece by over 100 volunteers. This year’s arrangement honors the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the EU logo appearing in the carpet’s center. Surrounding that design are locally relevant images like patron Saint Michael slaying the dragon, the region’s emblem of blue and yellow iris and depictions of the city’s striking Gothic architecture. Be sure to view the work from the balcony of the Hotel de Ville between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
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Drawing Lines in the Sand in California
By Linda Tancs
In Imperial Beach, California they’ll be drawing lines galore in the sand at the 30th annual U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition. An event for pros and amateurs alike, the competition on 8 August includes a Masters contest for pros and cash prizes up to $21,000 for pro and amateur sand carvers in other categories. Works will be available for viewing until 4 p.m. due to the tides. Why wait until Sunday? Make it a beach weekend and enjoy the Sandcastle Dance on Friday and the street fair along Seacoast Drive on Saturday. Sounds beachy keen to me.
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It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere
By Linda Tancs
Somewhere over the friendly skies someone prefers that martini shaken, not stirred. Forget the mini bottles of Wild Turkey or Grey Goose. Airlines are serving up specialty cocktails to rev up revenues as well as passengers. For $7 you can have Delta’s Five O’Clock Somewhere concoction of rum, orange juice and cranberry-apple juice. Or a $4 screwdriver on Southwest. Use your Continental coupons or credit card (it’s a cashless cabin, folks) for some mojo from your mojito or pomegranate martini. Perhaps it’s all calculated to make you forget those pesky bag charges and disappearing peanuts.
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German Zoo Celebrates 150 Years
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s Cologne Zoo, the country’s third oldest, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. To celebrate this historic event, the zoo will remain open until 10 p.m. on Saturdays throughout August. Other specials include an exhibition of the zoo’s 150 years every first Sunday of the month at 11 a.m. and the chance to experience Nile crocodiles and hippos with the building of the Hippodome to coincide with the anniversary.
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Europe’s Oldest Wooden House Still Thriving
By Linda Tancs
In the small town of Schwyz in central Switzerland stands a sturdy wooden house as old as Notre Dame in Paris. Known as Bethlehem House, it is Europe’s oldest wooden house, a museum whose last occupants left only 30 or so years ago. Circa 1287, the modest dwelling pre-dates the founding of the country by four years. In fact, Switzerland owes its name and coat of arms to this rural town between the Alps in the south and Lake Lucerne in the east. Its Museum of the Swiss Charters recounts the alliance of the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, whose inhabitants ultimately drove out the Austrians in 1315 by winning the Battle of Morgarten.
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