Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for October, 2021
Green Caviar in Japan
By Linda Tancs
Miyako Island is the largest of the Miyako Islands chain located in Japan’s far southern Okinawa prefecture. It’s a subtropical haven known for its stunning beaches and coral banks, a go-to destination for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Amidst this natural splendor is another gem, a seaweed delicacy farmed on the island known as umi-budō (sea grapes). Because of its shape and color, it’s often referred to as “green caviar.” Why not give it a try, and visit the beaches (some of the best in Japan), which are best enjoyed between April and November.
*************
To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Share this:
Venice of the Cotswolds
By Linda Tancs
Bourton-on-the-Water is a charming village in the heart of England’s Cotswolds. It’s popularly referred to as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” because of the stone bridges crossing the River Windrush that meanders through the center of town. You’ll find lots of yellow limestone buildings characteristic of the region, a perfect complement to the storybook scenery. You might be surprised to learn that there’s also a bird park, with over 130 species of birds on display and home to the only breeding group in the U.K. for king penguins. If you’re short on time, enjoy a whirlwind tour of the heart of town at The Model Village, a one-ninth scale replica.
*************
To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Share this:
Tilting in Canada
By Linda Tancs
They say that there are more varieties of English spoken in Newfoundland and Labrador than anywhere else in the world. One of those varieties is the Irish lilt in Tilting. Newfoundland and Labrador’s first Heritage District, it’s located on Fogo Island, the largest of the offshore islands in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Irish settlers arrived in Tilting in the 1700s to fish its cod-rich waters, and their influence remains to this day despite becoming part of the Town of Fogo Island through an amalgamation of towns in 2011. In fact, the community’s Irish roots greet you from a roadside welcome sign (in English and Irish). For a more personal greeting, you’ll want to head to Foley’s Shed, a gathering spot teeming with Irish accents, where an illuminated shamrock in the window will usher you in.
*************
To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Share this:
Catalonia’s Natural Park
By Linda Tancs
The Ebro Delta is the delta region of the Ebro River, the longest in Spain. It’s Catalonia’s largest wetland, a large part of which is designated a natural park to protect the area’s flora and fauna. Over 300 species of birds live there, making it a hotspot for birdwatchers seeking gulls, terns, reed warblers, flamingos and more. In particular, the park boasts the largest colony of Audouin’s gull. The region is also the rice growing capital of Catalonia, with over 54,000 acres reserved for this crop. Get there by train on the Barcelona-Valencia line.
*************
To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Share this:
America’s Favorite Pioneer Girl
By Linda Tancs
Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the beloved Little House on the Prairie book series, is arguably America’s favorite pioneer girl. Her home on Rocky Ridge Farm in Mansfield, Missouri, is pivotal in her life and career as the place where she wrote her acclaimed Little House books and became an international success. Visitors to Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum can see her study and writing desk as well as the many treasures that remain exactly how Laura left them when she died in 1957. In addition to her home, fans will love the museum, where Pa’s fiddle, handwritten manuscripts for the books and keepsakes of the Ingalls and Wilder families figure prominently among the exhibits. The fiddle even gets played annually in October during Wilder Days, a festival celebrating Laura’s life and times.
*************
To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Share this:
The Museum of Forgotten Flavors
By Linda Tancs
Kolomna is an ancient city about 72 miles from Moscow. In its heyday, it produced a marshmallow-like treat called pastila that gained popularity across Russia. When the town entered a decline in the early 1900s, so did its sweet treats. But thanks to some enterprising women, the old pastila recipes were resurrected from the 18th and 19th centuries in 2009, and the Museum of Forgotten Flavors was born. It’s a living museum where visitors can learn about pastila from actors in period costume and indulge their taste buds at the museum cafe. Originally an apple-based treat, production now includes pastila with pears, lemons, chocolate, strawberries and more.
*************
To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 