Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for April, 2017
Sardine History in Portugal
By Linda Tancs
Sardines are an important part of Portuguese culture. In fact, the nutrient-rich relative of the herring is consumed at a rate of at least 12 pounds per person. The coastal city of Setubal is at the heart of the sardine industry; the first factory was founded there in 1880 to overcome the shortage of fish on the Breton coast. Get ready—sardine season runs from May through October. Be sure to enjoy it with a glass of the region’s globally acclaimed moscatel wine.
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Far East in England
By Linda Tancs
Famous for being the most easterly town from which to watch the sunrise in England, Lowestoft occupies the northernmost part of the Suffolk Coast. Home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the family-friendly town has two piers, a zoo, a theme park and a maritime museum exploring the town’s long history with the North Sea. And that’s in addition to the award-winning beach, staffed with lifeguards from April to September. If you’re not beachy keen, then check out The Scores, a series of ancient narrow lanes leading to the sea. Trail leaflets are available in many High Street shops. Visitor information points are located at Claremont pier, the library, the train station and Windsor Gallery.
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Dutch Blue and Orange
By Linda Tancs
Blue and orange embody the Dutch city of Delft. For instance, its blue earthenware has been a popular export for over 400 years. Royal Delft, established in 1653, is the last remaining Delftware factory from the 17th century, and its prized pottery is still entirely hand-painted according to centuries-old tradition. The canal-ringed city in the western Netherlands is also the former seat of the royal House of Orange (named for a medieval province in southern France). One of the oldest royal families in the world, almost every deceased member of the family since William of Orange has been interred in the royal crypts at the New Church.
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A Gastronomic Safari in Mexico
By Linda Tancs
Ensenada is one of the oldest municipalities in Baja California, Mexico. What’s new is the Baja Med gastronomic concept, the result of a blend of influences from Mexican, Mediterranean and oriental cuisines. Embraced by chefs and food cart vendors alike, it combines Mexican ingredients such as chicharrón and cotija cheese with Mediterranean olive oil and Asian lemongrass. If your taste buds are less adventurous, try a traditional dish like abalone tiradito. Whatever you choose, you’ll want to pair it with a wine from the Guadalupe Valley, gateway to the wine route.
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Ireland’s First Waymarked Trail
By Linda Tancs
The oldest and one of the most scenic long distance walks in Ireland, Wicklow Way lies just south of Dublin and is one of the nation’s most popular trails. The 80-mile waymarked journey runs from Marlay Park in the southern suburbs of Dublin through County Wicklow and ends in the village of Clonegal in County Carlow. The traditional route is north to south, beginning at Marlay Park and ending in Clonegal. Amidst the heathery moorland and the Wicklow Mountain range is the treasured stop at Glendalough (valley of two lakes), an ancient monastic site providing respite for tourists from around the world.
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America’s Fleet Museum
By Linda Tancs
Located in southeastern Massachusetts on scenic Mt. Hope Bay, Battleship Cove is America’s fleet museum. Home to the highly decorated battleship USS Massachusetts (saved from demolition), it also features the world’s largest collection of World War II naval vessels, including the destroyer, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., the submarine Lionfish, PT 617 and PT 796 and the Soviet-built missile corvette, Hiddensee. A great day out in the Fall River area, there’s a re-creation of the Iwo Jima setting at Bicentennial Park.
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