Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for international travel
Paris of the Caucasus
By Linda Tancs
The capital of the Georgian republic of Adjara, Batumi is a Black Sea resort and port city often referred to as the Pearl of the Black Sea or Paris of the Caucasus. Apt descriptions, considering that the city features expansive views of sea and mountain regions. The best vantage point is the observation deck at Alphabet Tower, a 526-foot-high structure modeled like a strand of DNA located on the Boulevard. As its name suggests, it features the 33 letters of the Georgian alphabet known as Mkhedruli, a unique writing system considered a significant symbol of Georgian national identity and cultural heritage.
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Wordsworth House
By Linda Tancs
Wordsworth House in Cockermouth is a Georgian townhouse where William Wordsworth, England’s great nature poet, first discovered his twin loves of literature and the landscape. His childhood home features a walled, riverside garden presented as it may have been when William and his sister Dorothy played games along the flower beds. Winter blooms of snowdrops and crocuses prevail this time of year. You may still see them when the season opens in March. Take a guided tour of the house or explore at your own pace. Located on Main Street, the closest rail station is Maryport.
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Last Call in Italy
By Linda Tancs
Located at the end of the upper Great St. Bernard Valley at an altitude of 5,354 feet, Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses is the last municipality in Italy before the Swiss border. The 15th-century castle of Bosses is a prime tourist attraction. Another delight is the area’s seasoned raw ham with mountain herbs, aged for over 12 months on beds of hay. This time of year, though, the ski slopes of Crévacol overlooking the village take center stage, boasting 13 miles of slopes suitable for all experience levels.
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St. Patrick’s Well
Named for an Irish cave in which St. Patrick prayed, St. Patrick’s Well (Pozzo di San Patrizio) is a stunning shaft in Orvieto, Italy. The well shaft is 203 feet deep and 42 feet wide, adorned by 72 windows and two staircases that meet at the bottom. It was dug at the behest of Pope Clement VII, who had taken refuge in Orvieto during the Sack of Rome in 1527, an event that saw the capture of Rome by the mutinous troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. You’ll find it in the center of Orvieto near gardens that include Etruscan remains.
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Trekking Sri Lanka
By Linda Tancs
Touted as one of the best-kept secrets in Asia, the Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka winds its way through the Central Highlands. Trekking through tea plantations, cloud forests, waterfalls, heritage estates and rural villages, the 186-mile trail is divided into 22 stages. The country’s first long-distance hiking trail, most stages are open from dawn to dusk except for those in wildlife corridors and protected areas. Some stages may also require special ticketing or permits, particularly those on private lands. The trail is open year round, but the best time to walk most of it is December to April and July to September.
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Swan Valley
By Linda Tancs
The Swan Valley is a region in the upper reaches of the Swan River between Guildford and Bells Rapids in Western Australia. Home to Western Australia’s oldest wine region, it’s also the only wine region in the country that you can cruise to from a capital city. Just 25 minutes from Perth, you’ll find the visitor’s center in Guildford. Be sure to pick up a map of the food and wine trails, featuring more than 40 world-class wineries, 10 breweries, five distilleries, three cideries, a meadery, gourmet producers, markets and art studios. Besides the self-drive or chauffeured option, you can take a scenic Swan River cruise from Perth or go wine-hopping in a horse-drawn wagon.
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Japan’s Island of Art
By Linda Tancs
Nicknamed Japan’s “Island of Art,” art displays and museums can be found all over Naoshima. A small island in the Seto Inland Sea, it has become an international hotspot for contemporary art. Benesse House Museum (both a museum and a hotel) was the very first structure to be built on Naoshima as part of the art island initiative. The newest museum complements Benesse and is home exclusively to contemporary Asian art. Ferries to Naoshima depart from Takamatsu Port in Kagawa and Uno Port in Okayama.
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A Reserve for Sperm Whales
By Linda Tancs
Dominica is the only country in the world where sperm whales can be viewed year-round (although sightings are most common between November and March). What better location, then, for the world’s first Sperm Whale Reserve. Located off the island’s western coast, tourists will be able to view the whales from boats. Around 200 of these whales reside in the waters off this Caribbean island.
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A Hindu Landmark in Singapore
By Linda Tancs
Located in the heart of Chinatown, Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple. A historical landmark, the religion’s rich traditions are amply demonstrated through carvings of Hindu deities on the temple’s exterior, exquisite ceiling paintings in its main hall and five tiers of sculptures of deities and mythological figures in its majestic grand tower entrance. A bustling place of worship, the temple is also the site of sacred events like the annual firewalking festival.
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Capitals of Culture in 2026
By Linda Tancs
In keeping with tradition, we begin the New Year with an announcement on the European Capitals of Culture for 2026: Trenčín in Slovakia and Oulu in Finland. Oulu is a vibrant coastal city sometimes called “the capital of Northern Finland.” One of the featured programs for the year is Climate Clock, a permanent public art trail that will pair artists with scientists to create site-specific outdoor installations that blend into natural and urban settings across the municipality. In Slovakia, Trenčín’s year-long program is themed “Awakening Curiosity.” The goal is to transform the city into a dynamic space for art, creative initiatives and community collaboration, building on a rich heritage of festivals, artistic events and community initiatives.
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