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
Where Java Rules
By Linda Tancs
Surakarta (also called Solo) in Indonesia is where Java rules. And no, that doesn’t mean coffee. This city in Central Java exudes Javanese culture, like the courtly dances evocative of a royal bygone era. It’s also the heartland for traditional batik and the rich yellow hues characteristic of the area. Batik is so prized that there’s an annual batik carnival to celebrate this popular form of Javanese art.
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Spanning the Narrows in Venezuela
By Linda Tancs
Punctuated by the Angostura Bridge connecting it with the rest of Venezuela, Ciudad Bolívar is a historical city featuring houses, buildings and a cathedral dating to the colonial period. Formerly named Angostura because of its location on the narrowest part of the Orinoco River, it enjoys the distinction of being the site where the first Venezuelan newspaper, El Correo del Orinoco, was printed. That newspaper building, housing the original printing press, is now Bolivar Museum. he night views of the cathedral and Paseo Orinoco are spectacular. For another spectacular view, be sure to visit nearby Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. Named for an aviator who flew over the falls, its immense height (15 times higher than Niagara Falls) is enough justification for the heavenly moniker.
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Where America’s Sun Sets
By Linda Tancs
In the heart of Polynesia, America’s sun sets. And no, it isn’t Hawaii (although America’s 50th state does constitute one of three points of the Polynesian triangle). It’s American Samoa, an island territory in the South Pacific comprising five volcanic islands and two atolls. Its national park is one of the most remote in the United States. Covering three of the islands, the predominate land mass of the park is rainforest, promising lush views amid long, unhurried hikes. This is a must-see for the ecotourist seeking an unspoiled, uncrowded destination.
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The Most Stolen Artwork in the World
By Linda Tancs
The world’s first major oil painting is Hubert and Jan van Eyck’s Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Also known as the Ghent Altarpiece, it’s a 15th century early Flemish polyptych panel painting of the history of Christianity located at St. Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium. It’s also one of the most stolen pieces of artwork in the world, having been sold various times and looted during both world wars. In fact, eight of the looted panels were returned to Belgium after World War II thanks to the efforts of the Monuments Men. Of its twelve panels, only one–the Just Judges–remains lost from an unsolved heist in 1934. A copy by the Belgian painter and restorer Jef Van der Veken takes its place.
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Empire of the Andes
By Linda Tancs
The Incas believed that Tiwanaku is where the first humans were created. Located in western Bolivia about 45 miles from La Paz, this ancient site was the capital of an Andean empire that flourished roughly between A.D. 500 and 900. Its ruins include a pyramid and two symbolic monolithic gateways (Gateway of the Sun and Gateway of the Moon). South of the main site is another architectural curiosity, Puma Punku. Its mysterious H-shaped megaliths weigh more than 400 tons. Take a guided tour for the best learning experience.
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A Tale of Two Monuments
By Linda Tancs
London’s oldest monument is Cleopatra’s Needle at Victoria Embankment. And no, it has nothing to do with Cleopatra and, aside from its shape, has nothing to do with a needle. Erected in London in 1878, it’s younger than Monument, constructed in the 1670s to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666. The Needle, however, was erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis on the orders of Thutmose III around 1450 B.C. In that respect, at least, it is the oldest monument. But, alas, there’s no view from the top. For that, head over to the other Monument (via Monument Underground), where a 311-step trek to the balcony will net you amazing views and a certificate to boot.
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Trieste’s Point of View
By Linda Tancs
The House of Habsburg (later part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) found a pleasant respite on the peak of the rocky promontory of Grignano in the Gulf of Trieste on Italy’s northeast coast. On that spot in 1856 Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian commissioned an ornate palace befitting his rank. The result was Miramare Castle, an exotic blend of Gothic, medieval and Renaissance styles that remains remarkably intact. Only a half hour by bus from the central train station in Trieste, you can admire the jaw-dropping décor and furnishings of the predominately oceanview rooms at your own pace.
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The Sandwich Queen
By Linda Tancs
Ever wonder what the longest menu is to enter the Guinness Book of Records? That would be the 55-inch-long ode to the open sandwich at Copenhagen’s Restaurant Ida Davidsen. Boasting over 250 varieties of smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches), there’s something for every palate in this sandwich palace run by Ida Davidsen, the great-grandchild of founder Oskar Davidsen. The shop is open for lunch on weekdays only, excluding holidays.
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A Bit of Swiss in Bedfordshire
By Linda Tancs
A nine-acre garden with a hint of Swiss graces the heart of England’s Bedfordshire. Located in Old Warden just outside Biggleswade beside an aviation museum, the 200-year-old garden is a recently restored gem of the Regency era. Known as the Swiss Garden, it is, as the name implies, an alpine-inspired haven hailing a bygone era when the cognoscenti vacationed in the Swiss Alps. The centerpiece is the thatched Swiss Cottage, complemented by other listed buildings as well as bridges, urns and arches. A high terrace walk provides ample views of the renewed landscaping. Enhance your visit with new interpretation and activity programs. The garden is open daily.
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Old Bones in Darmstadt
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s first UNESCO World Natural Heritage site is a fossil pit near Darmstadt, the cultural capital of Hesse. It’s not just any old fossil pit, mind you. The Messel Pit is a thriving tribute to the Eocene Epoch over 47 million years ago with over 40,000 finds to date. Relics include 30 complete skeletons, a prehistoric horse, hundreds of plant species and a wide assortment of fish, reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates. The pit is accessible via guided group tours or a viewing platform.
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