Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for December, 2014
Variety is the Spice of Life
By Linda Tancs
Variety is the spice of life in Zanzibar–in more ways than one. On the one hand, it’s known as the spice island thanks to its export of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and black pepper. On the other hand, it’s a cultural melting pot owing to the vast array of settlers that it’s seen over the centuries, like Sumerians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Phonecians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Portuguse, Omani Arabs, Dutch and British. Tourism is the spice of life for this island paradise in the Indian Ocean as well–from the golden sands of Mangapwani to the haunting reminders of the slave trade in historically prominent Stone Town.
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A Presidential Christmas
By Linda Tancs
The year is 1888, and United States President-elect Benjamin Harrison is preparing to celebrate Christmas with his family at their homestead on North Delaware Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. That’s the scene depicted on 13 December at the Benjamin Harrison Home, the family residence of the only United States President elected from Indiana. Step back in time for a unique Victorian Christmas tour of this 1875 Italianate home. Not one to surrender traditions of hearth and home, Benjamin Harrison was the first President to have a decorated Christmas tree in the White House.
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The High Country in Central Asia
By Linda Tancs
Mongolia is on a high—literally. One of the world’s highest countries, it boasts an average elevation of at least 5,100 feet. That includes the alpine serenity of one of the country’s most popular national parks, Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. At 5,200 feet, it’s prized for its rock climbing and hiking opportunities. Watch out for two popular rock formations, Turtle Rock and Old Man Reading a Book. The park benefits from (or suffers from, depending on your point of view) an array of tourist camps, including the ever-popular yurt.
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Remnants of the Stone Age
By Linda Tancs
Just 38 miles south of Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku lie remnants of the Stone Age. Not just any old remnants, mind you, but one of the world’s largest collections of ancient petroglyphs. Over 4000 strong, the carvings in the Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve were extensively investigated by the famous Norwegian explorer and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, who believed that boat renderings in the ancient stones revealed a connection between Norwegians and Azerbaijanis. A mountainous area, Gobustan is also home to the biggest mud volcanoes in the Caucasus.
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Christmas Fun in Baltimore
By Linda Tancs
A multicultural extravaganza of treats awaits you at the Christmas Village in Baltimore, Maryland at the Inner Harbor. Christmas Village is a collection of over 60 booths filled with seasonal goods, much like those found in traditional German Christmas markets. You’ll find German, Russian, Scandinavian and Egyptian ornaments, along with German comfort food classics like bratwurst with sauerkraut, potato salad, and, of course, spiced mulled wine. Admission is free indoors and outdoors on weekdays; a nominal fee applies to the festival tent on weekends. The event runs through 24 December.
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Gastronomical Artistry in New Jersey
By Linda Tancs
From the Eiffel Tower to towering Chinese pagodas, the world is your oyster (or shall we say, in this case, gingerbread) at the annual Gingerbread Wonderland exhibit at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township, New Jersey. Great event for armchair travelers–and tasty, too! Hundreds of edible structures will be on display from 5 December to 14 December.
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A Gem of a Town
By Linda Tancs
Scenic Norway, Maine, is a gem of a town–literally. The little village in the heart of the Oxford Hills region boasts a gemstone quarry where you can mine for tourmaline, quartz, rose quartz or crystal. No surprise that it’s called a gemstone capital of the state. Another hidden gem (pun intended) is the town’s illustrious history as the center of snowshoe production. Its once thriving industry earned it the moniker, “Snowshoe Capital of the World,” its goods even reaching the North Pole thanks to the Peary expedition of 1909. Ready for a treasure hunt? Then head for the hills.
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All Aboard in St. Kitts
By Linda Tancs
What could be better than a tropical drink-laden narrow gauge train ride through an unspoiled paradise rife with lush vegetation, rainforest canopies, secret beaches, sugar estates and a volcanic cone? That’s what you’ll get when you travel on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, the last railway in the West Indies, built to transport the island’s sugar cane during boom times. Timed to coincide with cruise ship schedules in-season (December through April), a leisurely three-hour tour features 18 miles of rail travel and another 12 miles of historic sightseeing by bus. From sugar train to scenic train, don’t miss the chance to experience island history amid the warm trade winds.
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World’s Smallest Airport
By Linda Tancs
The world’s smallest airport is in Hamburg, Germany, and no, it isn’t Hamburg Airport (situated in Germany’s second largest city). The airport in question is one of the latest installations at Miniatur Wunderland, a sort of Legoland meets Lionel (as in trains) life-in-replica. The marvels of this small world were reported on previously. What will they think of next? The summer crush long gone, this time of year is great for a visit to the city’s biggest tourist attraction. Take the U-Bahn Baumwall or S-Bahn Stadthausbrücke.
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