Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for February, 2025
Atlantic Islands of Galicia
By Linda Tancs
Comprising the archipelagos of Cíes, Ons and Cortegada (in Pontevedra) and of Sálvora (in A Coruña), the Atlantic Islands of Galicia Maritime-Terrestrial National Park in Spain is a paradise in any season. This time of year, wintering waterbirds are still present in the area, and species like the barn swallow start to arrive to nest in Galicia. If you’re really lucky, you’ll see european shags (a type of cormorant) nesting on steep cliffs and coastal caves. Be sure to check entry requirements for the archipelago of your choice; some, like Cíes, limit the number of visitors each day to protect the biodiversity of this area.
Share this:
Gateway to the Black Forest
By Linda Tancs
A gateway to the Black Forest, Breisach is a small German town on the Rhine River. Dominating the skyline is St. Stephen Cathedral, built in the 12th to the 15th centuries in Romanesque and Gothic styles. The church is particularly known for its mural, The Last Judgment, by Martin Schongauer. The Black Forest is an easy excursion away by bus.
Share this:
Sun World
By Linda Tancs
Sun World Ba Na Hills is touted as the most significant resort and recreational complex of Vietnam. Located in Da Nang, it boasts stunning mountain views from one of its prized assets, the Golden Bridge, a pedestrian bridge supported by two gargantuan hands. The five cable car routes provide panoramic views as well. For a more grounded experience, head to the French Village, a faithful reproduction of a classic French village. You’ll also want to experience the indoor game zone and the first wax museum in the country.
Share this:
The Calendar House
By Linda Tancs
A calendar house is a form of house dictated by the calendar. The principle of the calendar house is that the number of external doors, windows or panes of glass, chimneys, staircases or other elements should total four (the number of seasons), seven (days in a week), 12 (months in a year) or 365 (days in a year). Dating to around the Elizabethan era, the first such house is Knole in Kent, built after Elizabeth I’s death by one of her courtiers, Thomas Sackville (1st Earl of Dorset). The calendar in this case is represented through the 365 rooms, 52 staircases and seven courtyards. Once an archbishop’s palace, King Henry VIII liked it so much that he forced his archbishop to hand it over to him. Now owned by the National Trust, the Sackville family still occupies a portion of the estate, where you’ll find a medieval deer park and showrooms featuring textiles, paintings and a world class collection of Royal Stuart furniture.
Share this:
A Norman Masterpiece in Sicily
By Linda Tancs
Built between 1170 and 1189, the Norman cathedral in Monreale is one of Sicily’s key attractions. Among its treasures are the 12th-century Byzantine mosaics, estimated to have been made with nearly 5,000 pounds of gold. They depict scenes from both the Old Testament and New Testament as well as the lives of saints. King William II of Sicily (William the Good) lived just long enough to see the completion of his commissioned church. He’s the last of the Norman kings to be buried there. Monreale is a few miles from the center of Palermo; there’s regular bus service from Piazza Indipendenza.
Share this:
Belfast’s City Hall
By Linda Tancs
In 1888 Queen Victoria granted Belfast in Northern Ireland the status of a city and it was agreed that a grand and magnificent building was required to reflect this new status. The resulting Belfast City Hall does not disappoint. Built in the Baroque Revival style and constructed in Portland stone, it opened in 1906. A one-hour guided tour will reveal its cherished features, including the stained glass windows, civic regalia in the Robing Room and the two royal thrones used by George V and Queen Mary in the Council Chamber. The building is located at Donegall Square.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 