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
A Living Legend in Crete
By Linda Tancs
The olive tree was sacred in ancient Greece. According to legend, Athena became the patron deity of the city of Athens after winning a contest against Poseidon by gifting the citizens the first olive tree. The ancient olive tree of Vouves is a living legend in western Crete. A natural monument, its age is estimated anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 years. The gnarled trunk measures a diameter of 12 feet and a circumference of 26 feet. At its base, it boasts a diameter of nearly 15 feet and a circumference stretching to 41 feet. Still producing olives, a branch from this tree was even used to crown the winner of the men’s marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. You can learn more about the tree at the Olive Tree Museum nearby.
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Goddess of the Sky
By Linda Tancs
The Nepali name for Mount Everest is Sagarmatha, which means “goddess of the sky.” It’s certainly an appropriate moniker, considering that Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain above sea level at 29,032 feet. The famous mountain is a key feature of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not surprisingly, hiking and trekking are primary activities, with popular routes including the Everest Base Camp trek, Gokyo Lakes trek, treks to Ama Dablam base camp and, of course, scaling the great peak itself. If mountaineering isn’t your forte, then consider a helicopter tour, or photography, or wildlife spotting such as the Himalayan monal, musk deer or Himalayan tahr. Visit now for clear views and favorable trekking conditions.
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Britain’s Elegant Viaduct
By Linda Tancs
Originally built in 1838 to carry the London-Brighton line over the River Ouse, Ouse Valley Viaduct has sometimes been described as Britain’s most elegant viaduct. It certainly does strike quite the pose, which makes it a favorite of shutterbugs. Standing at 95 feet tall, the viaduct has 37 arches stretching nearly 1,500 feet across the Ouse Valley and over the River Ouse, carrying over 100 trains each day. This iconic red brick viaduct sits in a remote countryside location north of Haywards Heath and south of the village of Balcombe, West Sussex.
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A Landmark in Dorset
By Linda Tancs
Old Harry Rocks are three chalk formations (including a stack and a stump) located at Handfast Point at the southern end of Studland Bay in Dorset, southern England. Named for a local pirate or alternatively the devil (according to legends), they mark the most eastern point of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thousands of years ago, Old Harry and The Needles (another chalk rock formation) on the Isle of Wight were linked by a line of chalk hills that eroded away during the last ice age. On a clear day you can see The Needles from Studland Bay. Buses run between Bournemouth, Sandbanks and Swanage all year, which stop at nearby Studland village. The walk from the village is part of the South West Coast Path. Autumn is an ideal time to visit, when migrant birds are on the move across the water, including enormous flocks of wood pigeons.
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Glamor and History in Portugal
By Linda Tancs
Historically a refuge for exiled European royalty, the Portuguese Riviera is an affluent, scenic coastal region to the west of Lisbon spanning Cascais, Estoril and Sintra. A mile-long promenade links Cascais with Estoril, home to Europe’s largest casino. The casino is legendary in James Bond lore as the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s first novel, Casino Royale. It also served as a filming location for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. A bus ride away is Sintra,a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its palaces, like Palácio da Pena, Quinta da Regaleira, Palácio Nacional de Sintra, Palácio de Monserrate and Biester Palace. Now is a great time to visit as you’ll be avoiding the summer crowds.
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48 Falls
By Linda Tancs
Once a training ground for ninjas, Japan’s Akame Valley boasts an abundance of waterfalls on a trail with a walkway. It’s popularly referred to as the 48 Waterfalls although the number is symbolic, not actual; the numerical reference means “many” or “endless.” The top five falls are Fudo, Senju, Nunobiki, Ninai and Biwa. Allow three or four hours for a visit. You might want to stop at the Salamander Center at the entrance to the nature trail. It features up-close looks at the Japanese giant salamander, the second-largest salamander species in the world at five feet. An hour from Osaka and about 90 minutes from Kyoto, the falls are easily reached by train to Akameguchi Station on the Kintetsu line.
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Rhine Romanticism
By Linda Tancs
An inspiration for painters, poets, thinkers and musicians, it’s no wonder Germany’s Upper Middle Rhine Valley is considered to be the epitome of Rhine Romanticism. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 40-mile stretch flows between Koblenz and Rüdesheim. Characterized by steep vine-covered slopes and impressive rocky outcrops with hilltop castles, it’s one of the most magnificent and oldest cultural landscapes in Europe. A river cruise might be just the ticket to soak in the views. Numerous cruise operators, such as Marksburgschifffahrt Vomfell, offer large and small castle cruises, some of which go as far as Boppard or even to the Loreley (Lorelei).
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Home of the Gunpowder Plot
By Linda Tancs
Once home to the Catesby family, Ashby Manor House in Northamptonshire is the site of one of England’s most notorious acts of treason: the Gunpowder Plot. In 1605 Robert Catesby and his fellow conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, gathered in the manor’s gatehouse where they conspired to assassinate King James I and his courtiers by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. Today it’s a popular wedding venue offering a variety of accommodation.
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Funny Faces in Cumbria
By Linda Tancs
In 1266, Britain’s Henry III granted Egremont, a market town in Cumbria, a charter to hold a market and annual fair. The annual Crab Fair (crab apples being the origin of the event) is still held on a weekend every September, making it one of the oldest fairs in the world. The fair is the official home of the Gurning World Championship, a fixture since the 1500s. For the uninitiated, gurning contestants put their heads through a horse collar and make funny faces—the more grotesque, the better. The top three gurners win a prize. The unusual event takes place on Saturday evening. The festival also features an apple cart parade, music, dancing and, of course, a street market.
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The Half Penny Bridge
By Linda Tancs
A cherished landmark over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland, Ha’Penny Bridge is the city’s oldest pedestrian crossing. Erected in 1816 as the Wellington Bridge, the distinctive cast-iron structure takes its nickname from the half-penny toll levied on all users of the bridge up to 1919. Visit at night for the illuminated bridge’s reflection in the river, especially on a still evening.
