Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for January, 2020
World’s Largest Wine Cellar
By Linda Tancs
When you think of wine, what springs to mind? Maybe some montepulciano from Italy—or a little French Beaujolais? How about Cava from Spain? Those are, after all, three of the major wine-producing regions of the world. Yet not one of them boasts the world’s largest wine cellar. For that you’ll need to jet over to Mileștii Mici in Moldova. Boasting over 2 million bottles, Guinness World Records crowned it the largest wine cellar in the world. Literally a city of wine, the underground locale is accessible via car or bike, where street after street is named after a grape. Don’t miss the tasting room.
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Inside the Scoop
By Linda Tancs
You’ll get the scoop inside the scoop at the pop-up Museum of Ice Cream in New York City. You can sample scoops of their signature flavors (including seven new varieties like malted chocolate and spicy mango) while you encounter interactive exhibits on the subject of ice cream. The fun includes a three-story slide and perhaps the largest Sprinkle Pool ever, featuring one hundred million sprinkles comprising antimicrobial, biodegradable material—the perfect pool for dipping. Located at 558 Broadway in Soho, the event will run until March 1. Reservations must be booked online; get your tickets before they sell out.
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An Upgrade for White Sands
By Linda Tancs
New Mexico’s sea of glistening white sands known as White Sands National Monument got an upgrade in December, when it was officially designated the nation’s newest national park. Now known as White Sands National Park, it’s the 62nd such park in the country. In the spirit of the season, go sledding. Unlike snow, the sand is not slippery; you can buy a sled in the gift shop.
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A Big Little World in NYC
By Linda Tancs
Located in New York City’s Times Square, Gulliver’s Gate is a big little world. As its name implies, it’s a miniature world capturing over 25 cities from five continents. The intricate craftsmanship features a functioning airport and naval locks as well as hundreds of bridges, cars, buildings and windows covering an expansive 50,000 square feet. In addition, the general admissions price includes a souvenir key that unlocks interactive experiences within several models. Your self-guided tour may take a couple of hours. Enjoy the trip!
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Parisian Flair in Macao
By Linda Tancs
Dubbed “Las Vegas of Asia,” you’ll find the same international flair in Macao, China, as you would on The Strip. That includes the Parisian Macao, a hotel complex featuring a half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. Watch it be illuminated every 15 minutes during the Grand Illumination Show, a blaze of color from base to tip. And you can’t beat the skyline views from the deck on level 37.
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Bali’s Lion King
By Linda Tancs
Singaraja is a port town in northern Bali and the former Dutch colonial capital. Its name means “lion king,” an apt description for an area historically comprising the kingdom of Buleleng. One of its prized attractions is Gedong Kirtya, a library founded by the Dutch in 1928. Located just south of the town center, it is reputedly the only library of lontar manuscripts (ancient and sacred texts on palm leaves) in the world. Its treasure trove includes collections and copies of handwritten texts on Balinese literature, myths, medicines, magic and religion.
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Georgia’s Leaning Tower
By Linda Tancs
The capital city of Tbilisi in the country of Georgia is where old meets new—cobblestone streets and medieval fortress walls juxtaposed with a vibrant bohemian art scene and hipster hotels. Something that looks old but is actually new is the modern leaning tower attached to the puppet theatre of renowned puppeteer Rezo Gabriadze. A whimsical structure, the clock tower features a performance by mechanized figures on the balcony depicting the stages, or circle, of life.
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Capitals of Culture in 2020
By Linda Tancs
Happy New Year! And you know what that means—another set of European Capitals of Culture! This year’s honorees are Rijeka (Croatia) and Galway (Ireland). Croatia’s third-largest city, Rijeka is its principal seaport, with an attractive promenade along the city center (Korzo). Given its seafaring heritage, a visit to the Maritime and History Museum is a must. Housed in the former Governor’s Palace, it includes artifacts like a Titanic life jacket, picked up by a worker on the Carpathia, the ship that saved over 700 passengers. In Galway, the offerings for its celebratory year will be classically Irish yet seen through a European lens. It’s a perfect opportunity for the Galway International Arts Festival team to collaborate on a year of arts programming. Don’t miss the chance to stroll along the city’s canals, following the River Coribb, where the locale is perched.
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