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
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.
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A Farm’s Wildlife Refuge
By Linda Tancs
Forming part of a family-owned ranch, Curú Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge on the southern Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Biodiversity is its hallmark, boasting a rich and diverse wildlife in five different habitat types ranging from marine zones and mangrove swamps, tropical dry and moist forest, and farmland. In addition to 232 species of birds along with iguanas, deer and monkeys, you might spot ocelots, pumas, margay cats or collared peccari. Choose a hiking trail; each one features its own sights and habitats. Ranging from easy to challenging, easiest walks are the trails called Laguna, Toledo, Finca los Monos and Ceiba.
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Levels and Moors in Somerset
By Linda Tancs
Among the lowest, flattest areas in the U.K., England’s Somerset Levels & Moors are an intricate, managed landscape developed over centuries from the drainage and irrigation of land for agriculture and to manage flood risk. At its heart lies a beautiful, internationally renowned area called the Avalon Marshes, one of the finest remaining lowland wetlands left in Britain and a critical home for vulnerable wetland bird populations such as the Bittern. Off the beaten track, its tranquility is often overlooked but it’s well served by footpaths and cycle routes.
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A Jewel in the Algarve
By Linda Tancs
Sporting a “skylight” courtesy of Mother Nature, Benagil Caves in Portugal’s Algarve region is arguably the jewel in its crown. Along with its natural light, a distinguishing feature of this grotto is the beach inside. The best way to visit the caves is by boat, kayak or stand-up paddle. Boats depart from several nearby locations such as Portimão, Carvoeiro or Albufeira. Generally, boat tours will not afford you the opportunity to spend time on the beach; choose a kayaking or paddle boarding excursion instead. Go early during high season to avoid the traffic.
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On the Outskirts of An Old Town
By Linda Tancs
On the outskirts of an old town center in Berlin, Germany, Köpenick Palace is the most important surviving palace from the reign of the Hohenzollern dynasty. The only Baroque building in Berlin to survive in its original state, it’s located on a man-made island in the Dahme River. Inside you’ll find the Museum of Decorative Arts, boasting ornaments, silverware and furniture in the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo styles. While you’re there, enjoy the palace park, meander along the medieval streets of Köpenick Old Town or take a boat ride.
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The Centerpiece of Brest
By Linda Tancs
Rising over 85 feet, Petit Minou Lighthouse is the centerpiece of Brest harbor in France. What distinguishes this lighthouse from so many others is the picturesque cobblestone bridge leading to it. Built in 1848, it stands next to a 17th-century fort constructed to defend the harbor against British attack. Hiking and surfing amidst lighthouse views are popular activities.
