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
The Finger of God
By Linda Tancs
Known as the “finger of God,” the church steeple at Ulm Minster is the tallest in the world at nearly 530 feet. You can reach the apex by climbing a mere 768 steps; congratulate yourself with a well-earned Märzen beer. Striking as the church tower is, it’s not the only thing that sets this historic German city on the Danube apart from the rest. For starters, it’s the birthplace of Albert Einstein. It’s also home to such curiosities as the Schiefes Haus (crooked house) and homes on stilts in the Fishermen’s Quarter. And don’t miss the Rathaus (town hall), boasting beautiful 16th century murals and an astronomical clock dating from 1520. Love carbs? Then the Museum of Bread is for you, dedicated to the 6,000-year history of bread and the bakery trade.
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Most Beautiful Village in England
By Linda Tancs
William Morris, a leader of the Arts & Crafts movement, referred to Bibury as the most beautiful village in England. With the River Coln flowing alongside the main thoroughfare, it certainly is very charming, and the row of 17th century stone cottages along what is known as Arlington Row is a big draw. Little did Morris know how popular indeed his pick would become. The iconic image of Arlington Row is featured on the front inside cover of United Kingdom passports in an effort to deter forgery. Everyone has their favorite Cotswold hamlet, of course. What’s yours?
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To the Moon and Back
By Linda Tancs
The shorebird Rufa red knot pursues an annual migration that, over the course of an average 13-year lifespan, represents a journey to the moon and back. Well, almost. The average distance to the moon is 237,000 miles; the average red knot will have traveled over 194,000 miles over a lifetime–breeding in the central Canadian Arctic and wintering in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, an exodus of roughly 14,950 miles each year. But of course there are outliers. Like the so-called Moonbird, calculated to be at least 21 years young and to have traveled a whopping 400,000 miles. And that’s no April Fool’s joke. Undoubtedly, Moonbird is the king of long-range fliers in the avian world.
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Bounding Europe and Asia
By Linda Tancs
Associated with the boundary between Europe and Asia, the Ural Mountains (the Urals) stretch for 1,500 miles roughly north to south from the Arctic Ocean down to central Russia and reach into Kazakhstan. Among the world’s oldest mountain ranges, the tectonic activity giving rise to the Urals occurred about 300 million years ago between two long extinct continents. The range is divided into five parts: northern, southern, central, polar and sub-arctic. The southern Urals, stretching from the valley of the Ural River near the city of Orsk to the valley of the Ufa River north of Mount Yurma, are the most popular with tourists thanks to rafting opportunities, but you wouldn’t want to miss a glorious sunset over Shugor River in the polar Urals.
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A Taste of Valhalla
By Linda Tancs
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is the great hall where heroes slain in battle are received. You’ll get a taste of it in Uppsala, Sweden, a place rife with Viking history. In particular, at Gamla Uppsala you’ll encounter the royal burial mounds of ancient kings, which you can freely explore. Nearby is Sweden’s first cathedral, built in the 12th century over a pagan temple. Gamla Uppsala is a 30-minute bus ride from Uppsala central station.
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A Place Apart
By Linda Tancs
It’s a place apart, an unspoiled and uncluttered island where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Bristol Channel. Situated off the coast of Britain’s North Devon, it’s Lundy Island. The views, needless to say, are amazing–even more so from the helicopter that runs this time of year (November to March) from Hartland Point on Mondays and Fridays. It’s the only way in until the MS Oldenburg starts running from April to October. A favorite of day trippers, you can also rent a self-catering property for a longer break; the options range from a 13th century castle to a fisherman’s chalet.
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China’s Hawaii
By Linda Tancs
Virtually at the same latitude as Hawaii, China’s Hainan Island has no winter. Not surprisingly, it’s affectionately known as the “eastern Hawaii.” The beaches, tropical scenery, and yes, coconut plantations are all reminiscent of America’s 50th state. Coconut has been so prevalent since ancient times that the island is also called “Coconut Island.” In late March or early April there’s an annual international coconut festival celebrated in Haikou. As yet unspoiled by rampant tourism, the island’s primary visitors are Chinese and Russian.
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Cocktails and Creatures
By Linda Tancs
Talk about creature comforts. For one week beginning on 19 March some lucky pub goers will be able to get up close and personal to one of Nature’s most fascinating raptors: the owl. Annie the Owl and her posse will be the nocturnal guests of honor at a pop-up bar in Soho, London. A ticket lottery will determine who gets dibs at a two-hour, two-drinks encounter. Fashioned after the wildly (no pun intended) popular owl cafes in Tokyo, proceeds from the event will benefit an owl conservation group. Don’t worry–the owls will be handled by professional falconers to ensure their comfort and safety. What a hoot!
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The Hawk Walk
By Linda Tancs
Established in 1967, the International Centre for Birds of Prey is the world’s oldest and largest center dedicated to birds of prey–owls, hawks, eagles, kites and vultures. Now shared across two locations in the U.K. (Newent and Duncombe), this epicenter for raptor breeding and conservation offers three different flying displays daily. Most of the trained birds are located at the Hawk Walk. Head for the flying fields at the end of the walk. Awash in daffodils this time of year, the flying demonstrations and natural surroundings are a photographer’s delight.
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The Crown Jewel of Jump Racing
By Linda Tancs
The focus of jumping season in England is The Festival at Cheltenham. Taking place today through 13 March at Prestbury Park, it’s the place where dreams are made, where the best horses, jockeys and trainers forge their reputation for excellence amidst a crowd of 235,000 people. The environment isn’t too shabby, either. Located at the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, Cheltenham is a Regency spa town with a flair for culture and style.
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