Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for March, 2025
Stockholm’s Masterpiece
By Linda Tancs
City Hall is one of Stockholm’s most iconic buildings. It might be best known as the site of the Nobel Prize banquet, but it’s also a celebrated example of the Swedish National Romantic style, a Nordic architectural style that was part of the National Romantic movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can admire the architecture by walking along City Hall Park. Guided tours of the building are available in Swedish and English and include access to the Blue Hall, the Golden Hall, the Council Chamber and the Gallery of the Prince. In season you can climb City Hall Tower for panoramic views of central Stockholm.
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A Landmark in Duluth
By Linda Tancs
The Aerial Lift Bridge is a landmark in Duluth, a port city on Lake Superior in Minnesota. In fact, the lake itself is its closest rival, being one of the Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in the world. At 138 feet tall and 390 feet wide, the steel bridge spans the Duluth Shipping Canal, connecting the sandbar of Park Point with the rest of Duluth. The elevator bridge features a suspension system that raises the bridge to a height of 135 feet to allow ships to pass underneath. Check the lift schedule to watch this amazing feat. You can also walk across it to experience the bridge in its entirety.
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Hungary’s Red Gold
By Linda Tancs
Located east of the Danube River, Kalocsa, Hungary, is a town in the central part of the country. Its claim to fame is its paprika, known as “red gold.” Indeed, it boasts 8,000 acres of farmland growing the red peppers that have been giving dishes like goulash its distinctive taste for centuries. Not surprisingly, the town has a Paprika Museum. Located in Holy Trinity Square, it explains everything you could ever want to know about paprika, including its planting, growing, digging and harvesting. Buy a few bags while you’re there and support the local growers.
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A Legendary Wine Trail
By Linda Tancs
Officially launched as a tourist trail in 1953, France’s Alsace Wine Route winds its way through 105 miles of picturesque towns, hills and vineyards from the north to the south of the region. The route is especially enjoyed by cyclists along the adjacent Vineyard Cycle Route. Beyond the beauty is plenty of history, including the fact that the world’s oldest wine is found in Alsace. Dating from 1472, it’s located in the historic wine cellar at the Hospices de Strasbourg. Reputedly still drinkable, the remnants in the barrel have survived fires and two world wars.
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Home of the Dutch Masters
By Linda Tancs
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, telling the story of 800 years of Dutch history. It features more than 8,000 works of Dutch art and history, including masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Gogh. Combining the Gothic and the Renaissance styles, the iconic building beckons visitors to Amsterdam.
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A Quaint Toll Bridge
By Linda Tancs
During the 18th and 19th century, many roads in England were maintained by turnpike trusts established by Parliament which had the power to exact tolls for road maintenance. One of those toll bridges is the Bathampton Toll Bridge outside Bath. It includes a toll house, which is still functioning as accommodation for a toll collector and is thought to have been built for the Bridge Company Turnpike Trust in the 19th century. The iconic arch stone bridge carries a minor road across the River Avon. Both the house and the bridge are Grade II listed properties.
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Pagoda of the Celestial Lady
By Linda Tancs
Huế is a city in central Vietnam that was the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors as well as the national capital from 1802 to 1945. It’s where you’ll find Thiên Mụ (Pagoda of the Celestial Lady), an important spiritual center for Buddhists. Located on the banks of the Perfume River, each of the seven floors of the pagoda is dedicated to a Buddha that appeared in human form. The city is located on the main railway line in Vietnam running from Saigon in the south to Hanoi in the north. Its riverboat service is a convenient way to access the pagoda, located at Thien Mu Boat Station stop.
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