Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for February, 2015
A Tale of Two Monuments
By Linda Tancs
London’s oldest monument is Cleopatra’s Needle at Victoria Embankment. And no, it has nothing to do with Cleopatra and, aside from its shape, has nothing to do with a needle. Erected in London in 1878, it’s younger than Monument, constructed in the 1670s to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666. The Needle, however, was erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis on the orders of Thutmose III around 1450 B.C. In that respect, at least, it is the oldest monument. But, alas, there’s no view from the top. For that, head over to the other Monument (via Monument Underground), where a 311-step trek to the balcony will net you amazing views and a certificate to boot.
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Trieste’s Point of View
By Linda Tancs
The House of Habsburg (later part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) found a pleasant respite on the peak of the rocky promontory of Grignano in the Gulf of Trieste on Italy’s northeast coast. On that spot in 1856 Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian commissioned an ornate palace befitting his rank. The result was Miramare Castle, an exotic blend of Gothic, medieval and Renaissance styles that remains remarkably intact. Only a half hour by bus from the central train station in Trieste, you can admire the jaw-dropping décor and furnishings of the predominately oceanview rooms at your own pace.
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The Sandwich Queen
By Linda Tancs
Ever wonder what the longest menu is to enter the Guinness Book of Records? That would be the 55-inch-long ode to the open sandwich at Copenhagen’s Restaurant Ida Davidsen. Boasting over 250 varieties of smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches), there’s something for every palate in this sandwich palace run by Ida Davidsen, the great-grandchild of founder Oskar Davidsen. The shop is open for lunch on weekdays only, excluding holidays.
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The Birthplace of Country Music
By Linda Tancs
Imagine being able to step into the shoes of some of the first families of country music and record your own rendition of the songs that launched their careers. You can do that at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Located at the junction between Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, it’s officially recognized by Congress as the birthplace of country music. The museum’s mission is to preserve and promote the 1927 recording sessions of legends like Jimmie Rogers and the Carter family, an event that Johnny Cash hailed as a seminal event in country music history. Even the Library of Congress has ranked the “Bristol Sessions” as one of the 50 most significant events in the history of recorded music. A special exhibition honoring the Carters runs through 28 February.
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A Bit of Swiss in Bedfordshire
By Linda Tancs
A nine-acre garden with a hint of Swiss graces the heart of England’s Bedfordshire. Located in Old Warden just outside Biggleswade beside an aviation museum, the 200-year-old garden is a recently restored gem of the Regency era. Known as the Swiss Garden, it is, as the name implies, an alpine-inspired haven hailing a bygone era when the cognoscenti vacationed in the Swiss Alps. The centerpiece is the thatched Swiss Cottage, complemented by other listed buildings as well as bridges, urns and arches. A high terrace walk provides ample views of the renewed landscaping. Enhance your visit with new interpretation and activity programs. The garden is open daily.
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Old Bones in Darmstadt
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s first UNESCO World Natural Heritage site is a fossil pit near Darmstadt, the cultural capital of Hesse. It’s not just any old fossil pit, mind you. The Messel Pit is a thriving tribute to the Eocene Epoch over 47 million years ago with over 40,000 finds to date. Relics include 30 complete skeletons, a prehistoric horse, hundreds of plant species and a wide assortment of fish, reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates. The pit is accessible via guided group tours or a viewing platform.
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