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 History of Skiing
By Linda Tancs
Did you know that skiing boasts a history over 4,000 years? Or that the world’s oldest ski found in Russia is around 8,000 years old? These and other facts about the sport are on display at Oslo’s Ski Museum. Located at the base of Holmenkollen ski resort’s international ski jump, the museum houses artifacts, ski collections, an action film showcasing Norwegian skiing and an array of information on polar skiing, ski production, disciplines, and ancient history.
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The Height of Luxury in London
By Linda Tancs
You could say that guests of the Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard in London enjoy a heady experience. It is, after all, the tallest hotel in Western Europe–the first of its kind in a London skyscraper, occupying floors 34 to 52 of the glamorous Shard. The first luxury hotel south of the Thames, the GŎNG bar at its apex will no doubt leave you agog over cityscape views for up to 40 miles. Add to that a spacious room with floor to ceiling windows and a marble bath for a welcome respite. Does it live up to its name? Hardly remote, but idyllic nonetheless.
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Most Haunted in Wales
By Linda Tancs
A mysterious lady floating in the gallery. Shadowy figures drifting down corridors. Spooky sounds. These are just a few of the unexplained phenomena at Bodelwyddan Castle, one of the most haunted buildings in Wales. Are you ready to explore what goes bump in the night? Just in time for Halloween, tomorrow’s events include a public ghost walk ending in an eerie visit to the cellars and an overnight ghost hunt around the halls, rooms and bedrooms where you can try your hand at operating paranormal equipment like dowsing rods, crystal pendulums, and motion sensors. Happy hunting!
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The House on the Rock
By Linda Tancs
Western Serbia enchants travelers with unforgettable experiences. There’s medieval Mileševa monastery, known for its fresco of the White Angel. And the stunning vistas from the Šargan Eight, a narrow gauge railway in Mokra Gora. The horseshoe-shaped entrance to Potpećka Pećina cave is another favorite. But it’s the little house balanced precariously on a rock in the middle of the Drina River that really has hearts aflutter. Known as the House on the Rock, the tiny dwelling built by a group of young lads in 1968 near the town of Bajina Basta has withstood decades of floods and bad weather. It might not be an architectural gem, but it sure is a wonder.
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Many Fountains
By Linda Tancs
Many fountains. That’s the translation for Switzerland’s valley town, Lauterbrunnen. Located in the Bernese Oberland (Bernese highlands), there is indeed plenty of H2O in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. One of its most famous exhibits is the Staubbach Falls at the edge of the village. The spectacular cliffside plunge, one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe, is the inspiration behind Goethe’s poem, Gesang der Geister über den Wassern (Song of the Spirits Over the Waters). Just as impressive is Trümmelbach Falls, a series of ten glacier waterfalls thundering through the Jungfrau with a spill rate of 20,000 liters per second, accessible only in summer via tunnel lift (something to look forward to next year). In all, there are 72 waterfalls in the valley. May the force be with you.
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The Most Fun Place on Earth
By Linda Tancs
Wales just might be the most fun place on Earth. Snowdonia, to be precise, is where Europe’s longest and fastest zipline debuted. Now, hold on to your hats–or bottoms, as the case may be–the same site has unveiled the world’s largest underground trampoline. A special train transports adventurous souls into the depths of the former Blaenau Ffestiniog slate mine, where three huge trampoline-like nets are hung at varying levels, linked together by walkways and slides. Participants in this first-of-its-kind experience are outfitted with cotton overalls and a safety helmet. Granted, an abandoned mine can be a bit drab, so LED lighting has been added to the walls for a more illuminating experience. Are you ready to put a little bounce in your step?
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Flush with Interest in India
By Linda Tancs
Loos, privies, chamber pots, water closets–call it whatever you like, the toilet is an indispensable element of human hygiene. Though it might not generate much mention in polite conversation, those flush with interest can indulge their curiosity in its evolution at New Delhi’s Sublabh International Museum of Toilets. Hailed as the only exhibition of its kind, the museum traces the evolution of the toilet and includes Victorian-era chamber pots and ancient carved and decorated commodes. A highlight is the replica of King Louis XIV’s throne, allegedly outfitted to allow for potty breaks while conducting official business. A royal flush, indeed.
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The Belgian Coast Tram
By Linda Tancs
Belgium’s Kusttram (Coast Tram) is the longest single-path tram line in the world, gliding between De Panne and Knokke on the Flemish coast. It’s convenient (a connection every 20 minutes), which means that you have no excuse not to explore the many holiday romps along its 43-mile trek. Did you know that Knokke was a favorite among the Hollywood elite like Frank Sinatra and Marlene Dietrich?
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Arts and Letters at Holkham
By Linda Tancs
One of the finest surviving examples of the Anglo-Palladian architectural style is Holkham Hall, an English country manor on the Norfolk coast occupied by Viscount Coke and two other families. Its three libraries house over 10,000 books, one of the most important and enviable literature collections in the country. So vast is its collection that the libraries form half the area of the first floor of the family wing. The property has an equally compelling manuscript collection (some dating to the 12th century), frequently loaned to galleries and museums in Italy, Germany, England, Japan and America. Holkham is two miles west of Wells-next-the-Sea; the nearest rail station is King’s Lynn. The Norfolk Coasthopper runs from King’s Lynn to Sheringham and has two stops at Holkham.
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A Gutsy Hotel in Belgium
By Linda Tancs
Ever wonder what Jonah must have experienced when he got swallowed by the whale? You might get a sense of that at Hotel Casanus, a one-room hotel shaped like a giant intestine. Located at Verbeke Foundation Art Park near Antwerp, Belgium, this colonoscopic wonder features a double bed, windows, heating, and working plumbing in a pastoral setting. You’ll have all the creature comforts of home, *butt* do you have the guts to stay there?
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