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
Copenhagen’s Climbable Spire
By Linda Tancs
Located in the Christianshavn neighborhood of Copenhagen, Denmark, Our Saviour’s Church boasts a magnificent organ from 1698 and a beautiful altar. Furthermore, the Baroque church has 40 elephant motifs symbolizing the Order of the Elephant, the highest order of chivalry in Denmark. Perhaps its most famous attraction, though, is the serpentine spire. Inaugurated in 1752, climbing all 400 steps to the top has become very popular. On the last 150 external steps, you will experience one of the best views over Copenhagen with an overview of the city from every angle at 282 feet. Entrance to the church is free; advance booking is recommended for the tower.
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Korea’s National Garden
By Linda Tancs
Suncheon Bay National Garden is South Korea’s first national garden. Occupying 1.12 million square meters, you’ll want at least half a day to explore the various gardens built in the style of various countries like Spain, the Netherlands, England, Italy, Mexico and more. The site also features a wetland reserve, one of the five major coastal wetlands in the world. Visit the Korean garden after returning from the wetland reserve in the evening. This is when the traditional Korean houses are lit up and particularly beautiful. You can use SkyCube, an unmanned rapid transit system, to move between the garden and the wetland reserve.
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Sweden’s Smallest Statue
By Linda Tancs
Beloved by locals, the smallest statue in Sweden is Iron Boy (Järnpojke). It’s located in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town. Less than six inches high, it sits on a larger table in the courtyard next to the Finnish Church, looking up toward the sky (which is why it’s also referred to as “the little boy who looks at the moon”). It isn’t unusual for folks to leave coins or flowers or even to dress him in accordance with the weather. Legend has it that you should rub his head for good luck.
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A Norwegian Pilgrimage
By Linda Tancs
A network of nine pilgrimage routes, St. Olav Ways trace the legacy of St. Olav, king and martyr. Devotion to the saint, a Viking king credited with consolidating Christianity in Norway, began with his death in battle in 1030. The final stage of the trek is Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway’s third-largest city. Built over the burial site of St. Olav, the cathedral is Europe’s northernmost medieval cathedral. Of all the routes, many pilgrims choose Gudbrandsdalsleden, a journey spanning nearly 400 miles from the capital of Oslo to Trondheim. Taking around a month to navigate, it’s the longest pilgrim way in the country and was the main road to Nidaros (now Trondheim) during the Middle Ages. Regardless of the route chosen, though, you’ll encounter stunning Nordic landscapes, rich history and deep spiritual tradition.
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History of the Czech Countryside
By Linda Tancs
The Czech Republic’s Kačina Château is unique because it is a remarkably well-preserved example of 19th-century Empire-style architecture. Once the representative seat of the politically and socially influential Chotek family, it was Jan Rudolf Chotek, a nobleman and agricultural entrepreneur, who built it. Perhaps not surprisingly, then, it’s home to the National Agricultural Museum. There you’ll find exhibitions focusing on the history of the countryside, food, and the Chotek family. A great day trip from Prague, it isn’t far from Kutná Hora, once known as The Silver City due to its mining heritage.
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Yorkshire’s Industrial Village
By Linda Tancs
Taking its name from founder Sir Titus Salt and the River Aire which runs through it, Saltaire is an industrial village built in the 1800s by textile magnate Sir Titus Salt for his workers. Located in Shipley, England, the UNESCO World Heritage Site boasted about 4,000 inhabitants at its peak, housed in 850 dwellings. The visitor’s center is in Salts Mill, a Grade II-listed historic mill building that’s home to one of the largest collections of art of David Hockney, a central figure in British Pop Art. In addition to a walking tour of the village, consider a ride on Shipley Glen Tramway. A short walk from the village, this unique tramway was built in 1895 and operates narrow-gauge ‘toastrack’ cable-hauled trams with canopy tops that travel through scenic woods down the glen.
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Underground in Somme
By Linda Tancs
Located in northern France in the Somme department, the village of Naours is known for its underground city. Carved deep into a wooded, limestone plateau, it boasts a series of tunnels, rooms and passageways, some of which reputedly date back to the third century. Over time, the underground city was enlarged and provided refuge against raiders and roving armies. Its population peaked in the 17th century as a result of the Thirty Years’ War, one of the bloodiest global conflicts in Europe. Among its 300 rooms and 28 galleries there were also spaces for keeping livestock as well as three chapels, multiple town squares and a bakery with working ovens. Be sure to use an audio guide or take a guided tour, if available.
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A Monument to Patience
By Linda Tancs
Arguably one of the most admired architectural wonders in the world, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, represents a 144-year construction journey. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, ongoing work for over a century rendered it the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. But construction reached its zenith recently with the raising of the colossal cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, a four-armed cross of glass and white enameled ceramic roughly 55 feet tall and 10 feet wide. At an overall height of 566 feet, the basilica is now the world’s tallest Catholic church. Gaudi is buried in a crypt in the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
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Parisian Flair in Prague
By Linda Tancs
One of the most prominent landmarks in Prague, Czech Republic, Petřín Tower is an Eiffel Tower-inspired iron structure built as part of the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891. Around 190 feet high, it has 299 steps leading to its peak, which is the same altitude as the real Eiffel Tower. Enjoy the sweeping city views and, on a clear day, a wider view of the historical region of Bohemia.
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British Cars in Warwickshire
By Linda Tancs
Located near Aston Martin’s current headquarters in Gaydon, the British Motor Museum touts the world’s largest collection of historic British cars. Of course, you’ll find displays of much-loved British sports cars from manufacturers such as Morgan, Lotus, Triumph, McLaren and Aston Martin. Other displays depict a different aspect of Britain’s varied and extensive motoring history. Special features include royal cars, Rover gas turbine cars, film and TV cars and four of the world’s fastest MGs. The museum is open daily.
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