Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for June, 2025
A King’s First Castle
By Linda Tancs
Peleş Castle was built at the initiative of the first King of Romania, Carol I, to serve as his summer residence. It was the first castle in Europe to be fully powered by electricity, with the electric system completed in 1884. A masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance architecture, it’s widely regarded as one of the most beautiful castles in Europe with an interior art collection and rooms to match. The nearest train station to the castle is Sinaia via Bucharest, Brasov or Sibiu.
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Phoenician Wonders in Sicily
By Linda Tancs
The ancient city of Motya (Mozia) was originally a Phoenician settlement occupying the island of San Pantaleo off the coast of Sicily. One of its most famous attractions is popularly known as the Motya Charioteer, a marble statue discovered in 1979 that dates from the ancient Greek Classical Period. It’s one of many ancient treasures you’ll find at the Whitaker Museum. Reachable by ferry, the closest train station served by the national service is Marsala. The ferry departure point is approximately 2 miles from the station.
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The Irish National Stud
By Linda Tancs
Less than an hour from Dublin, the Irish National Stud in County Kildare is a famed thoroughbred horse breeding facility. Included with admission is a free guided tour of the stud farm as well as an opportunity to explore on your own the prized Japanese Gardens as well as St. Fiachra’s Garden, a place designed to highlight Ireland’s natural assets. For an additional fee, don’t miss the interactive Irish Racehorse Experience, where visitors have the chance to buy, train and ride their own racehorse in a simulated race.
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Floating Islands in Peru
By Linda Tancs
Made entirely from totora (cattail) reeds, the man-made floating islets known as the Uros Islands are a world unto themselves on Peru’s Lake Titicaca. The islets are home to the indigenous Uros people, who created them from reeds centuries ago and are dependent on the reeds for their survival. Handicrafts made from the reeds are a popular souvenir. Visitors can also learn about fishing techniques and how a reed island, and boats, are made. The quickest way to get there is by boat from Puno.
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The Four Lakes Trail
By Linda Tancs
Arguably one of the most beautiful panoramic hikes in Switzerland is the Four Lakes Trail. As the name implies, there are four lakes to behold: Trübsee, Engstlensee, Tannensee and Melchsee. Highlights include Mount Titlis (Central Switzerland’s highest peak) and views of the distant Bernese Alps. The overall walk calls for a good level of fitness, but you can vary the route according to your needs by shortening the trek with mountain railroads or take a break at a cozy mountain hut or resort hotel.
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New Jersey’s Mastodon
By Linda Tancs
Located on Rutgers’ historic Old Queens campus is Geology Hall, which is listed on both the state and national registers of historic places. It’s where you’ll find the university’s Geology Museum, collections of which date from 1836 and include minerals, fossils and geologic specimens emphasizing the geology of New Jersey and surrounding states. Arguably its most famous specimen is the fully-articulated mastodon skeleton found in 1869 in Salem County, New Jersey. Admission is free.
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Whaling History at Red Bay
By Linda Tancs
The oil that lit the lamps of Europe in the 16th century came from Canada’s Strait of Belle Isle, a waterway that separates Labrador from the island of Newfoundland. It was there that whalers from the Basque region of Spain and France established a major whaling port at Red Bay. Both a national historic site and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Red Bay National Historic Site preserves the history of Basque whaling in Canada. Located along the Labrador Coastal Drive, the experience includes 16th-century Basque whaling traditions brought to life through costumed interpreters, original artifacts, scale models of work buildings, photographs and a 30-minute film. You can also take a short ferry ride to Saddle Island to see the archaeological remains of buildings where the Basques worked and lived.
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Two Seas in Costa Rica
By Linda Tancs
A Costa Rican gem, the size of Rincón de la Vieja National Park allows you to experience both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of the Cordillera de Guanacaste. Known for its biodiversity, you’ll find rare species such as sloths, tapirs, kinkajous, pumas and jaguars, along with over 300 bird species. Boasting over 30,000 acres, you’ll want a full day to explore over 30 rivers and lakes, two volcanoes, impressive waterfalls and an abundance of hiking trails. A day tour from Guanacaste is the best way to visit, which generally includes an English speaking driver/guide to show you highlights along the way, all entry fees, and a detailed map of the park.
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