Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for November, 2023
The Lords of Verucchio
By Linda Tancs
Verucchio is a small town in the province of Rimini, Italy. It’s known as the “cradle of the Malatesta family,” an Italian family that dominated Romagna from 1295 to 1500. One of the largest fortifications of the period is Rocca Malatestiana, also known as Rocca del Sasso (Fortress on the Rock) due to its position at the top of the rocky crag that dominates the whole area. The watch tower is an easy landmark, embedded with a clock to mark the hours below in the heart of the old town with Piazza Malatesta and the town hall.
Share this:
The Horn on Crawford Hill
By Linda Tancs
Recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its role in confirming the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe, the Horn Antenna in Holmdel, New Jersey, is located on the former Nokia site on Crawford Hill (the highest elevation in Monmouth County). The story begins with the research work of two radio astronomers, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson. While using this antenna in 1965, they discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation that permeates the universe, contributing evidence for the Big Bang theory. The antenna’s horn shape allowed for precise pointing that aided greatly in conducting radio astronomy observations. Although no longer in use, the site is open to the public.
Share this:
Playing Games in Oklahoma
By Linda Tancs
It’s hard to imagine that a town with a population less than 500 could boast the world’s biggest anything, but that’s the case in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Thanks to WinStar World Casino and Resort, the quaint little town hosts the world’s biggest gaming floor. You’ll find the world’s largest collection of electronic games with over 8,500 of the best electronic games available, nearly 100 table games, a 55-table poker room and even a bingo hall. It’s about three times as large as the biggest casino in Las Vegas.
Share this:
The Ruby Mountains
By Linda Tancs
The Ruby Mountains are a mountain range primarily located in Elko County, Nevada. The color has nothing to do with geology; during the Gold Rush days, gems were discovered that were thought to be rubies but were actually garnet. Nowadays the prize is the vistas often compared to the Swiss Alps. Its alpine peaks culminate in a maximum elevation of 11,387 feet on the summit of Ruby Dome. Accessed via Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway, you’ll see dozens of alpine lakes, canyons, forest and wildlife. At the top of the byway you can pick up hikes of varying lengths along the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail.
Share this:
Monkey Business in Thailand
By Linda Tancs
The most honored population in Lopburi, Thailand, is its thousands of macaques, thought to bring good luck to the area and its people. No wonder they get their own festival each year on the last Sunday of November. The highlight of the event is the colorful displays of food (for them, not you), including sticky rice, fruits and salad. One of the oldest cities in the country, you’ll find some spectacular attractions (besides the monkeys) like King Narai’s Palace and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, a historic temple. The city is about a three hours’ drive north from Bangkok.
Share this:
Going the Distance in Türkiye
By Linda Tancs
Long-distance trekking opportunities abound in Türkiye. One of them, combining natural and archaeological sites, is the Pisidia Trail, a 217-mile waymarked route using the ancient name of the mountainous region located in the north of Antalya. The journey encompasses many of the ancient cities in the Pisidia region, such as Sagalassos, Termessos, Pisidia Antioch, Kremna, Adada, Selge, Pednelissos, Amblada, Anabura, Tymriada, Ariassos and Pityassus. At some points, the trail intersects the St. Paul Trail, the country’s second-longest trekking route. That trail passes entirely through Turkish countryside, so maybe a detour is in order. Lodging options include campsites and hostels. Now is a good time to go; avoid the hot summer months.
Share this:
Courtside in London
By Linda Tancs
Close to a statue of Abraham Lincoln on Parliament Square, the Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Housed in a neo-Gothic building (formerly Middlesex Guildhall), it’s open to guided tours each Friday. Highlights include the beautifully-appointed courtrooms and library. Visitors can also sit in on live hearings during the week.
Share this:
The Castles of Lloret de Mar
By Linda Tancs
The popular tourist destination Lloret de Mar lies on the most southerly part of Costa Brava (wild coast), a coastal region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain that stretches to the French border. It dates back to the Middle Ages, but only one of its castles does. The medieval hilltop Castell de Sant Joan offers stunning views from the castle keep, the only part of the structure remaining, but the climb is steep. You can walk there from Fenals Beach. The other “castle,” Castell d’en Plaja, was built in 1935 for an industrial magnate and is not open to tourists. The grandiose fortress features in virtually every postcard from the area, though. You can gawk at it from the sandy beach of Sa Caleta.
*************
Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
Share this:
The Blackfriar
By Linda Tancs
Built in 1875 on the site of a Dominican friary, The Blackfriar pub is set in a historic, Art Nouveau Grade II wedge-shaped building on Queen Victoria Street owing its survival to a group of conservationists. It features mosaics, ornamental balconies and the famous guardian black friar above the front door. You’ll enjoy the friezes of mottos or little jokes that give a glimpse into late 19th-century England as well.
Share this:
Nashville of the North
By Linda Tancs
It might be best known as the hometown of pop/rock legends The Beatles, but Liverpool has had a long love affair with country-and-western music. Known by such monikers as “Nashville of the North” and the “Country Music Capital of England,” some credit the genre as the genesis of the Mersey Beat. Even Beatles drummer Ringo Starr reputedly took his stage name from the cowboy character Johnny Ringo. Liverpool’s musical history is so rich that it was designated a UNESCO City of Music in 2015. You can explore the city’s many musical influences (including African, Irish and reggae) year round at one of its music festivals.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 