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
Remnants of the Stone Age
By Linda Tancs
Just 38 miles south of Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku lie remnants of the Stone Age. Not just any old remnants, mind you, but one of the world’s largest collections of ancient petroglyphs. Over 4000 strong, the carvings in the Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve were extensively investigated by the famous Norwegian explorer and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, who believed that boat renderings in the ancient stones revealed a connection between Norwegians and Azerbaijanis. A mountainous area, Gobustan is also home to the biggest mud volcanoes in the Caucasus.
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All Aboard in St. Kitts
By Linda Tancs
What could be better than a tropical drink-laden narrow gauge train ride through an unspoiled paradise rife with lush vegetation, rainforest canopies, secret beaches, sugar estates and a volcanic cone? That’s what you’ll get when you travel on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, the last railway in the West Indies, built to transport the island’s sugar cane during boom times. Timed to coincide with cruise ship schedules in-season (December through April), a leisurely three-hour tour features 18 miles of rail travel and another 12 miles of historic sightseeing by bus. From sugar train to scenic train, don’t miss the chance to experience island history amid the warm trade winds.
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World’s Smallest Airport
By Linda Tancs
The world’s smallest airport is in Hamburg, Germany, and no, it isn’t Hamburg Airport (situated in Germany’s second largest city). The airport in question is one of the latest installations at Miniatur Wunderland, a sort of Legoland meets Lionel (as in trains) life-in-replica. The marvels of this small world were reported on previously. What will they think of next? The summer crush long gone, this time of year is great for a visit to the city’s biggest tourist attraction. Take the U-Bahn Baumwall or S-Bahn Stadthausbrücke.
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The Thanksgiving Candle
By Linda Tancs
In the Soroca district of Moldova, a monument is built on the rocks over the Nistru River. Named the Candle of Gratitude (or Thanksgiving Candle), it pays tribute to all of those who made heroic efforts to preserve the country’s culture, language and history through the generations. At night the candle’s light can be seen from Otaci in the North and Camenca in the South.
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Aphrodite’s Cultural Route
By Linda Tancs
The ancient island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean is the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. To be sure, you’ll find no shortage of sites commemorating her existence, especially along the cultural routes dedicated to her lore. One of the most popular is Petra tou Romiou (Rock of Aphrodite), a series of huge rocks off the southwest coast in the Pafos district from where the goddess is said to have risen amongst the waves. Even today, under the right weather conditions a human-like foam reputedly arises from the waves crashing against the rocks. And what would the tale of Aphrodite be without her lover, Adonis? They fell in love at the Baths of Aphrodite, a grotto towards the tip of the Akamas peninsula where Adonis met her while she bathed. The site lies at the end of a nature trail that offers spectacular views towards Cape Arnaoutis, Polis and Pafos Forest.
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One Big Fish
By Linda Tancs
Imagine a freshwater fish that’s bigger than a school bus. That’s the beluga sturgeon, the largest freshwater fish in the world. Prized for caviar, it’s a critically endangered species that breeds in Russia’s Volga River (the so-called national river). In fact, the largest accepted record is of a female taken in 1827 in the Volga estuary, measuring a whopping 3,463 pounds and 24 feet in length. Now that was something to write home about.
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Macedonia From the Top
By Linda Tancs
Over 50 percent of the Republic of Macedonia is mountainous. Among the highlights are the majestic peaks of Mount Korab, the forestal landscape of Jakupica, the glacier lake on Pelister and the constantly rising peak Dobra Voda on Celoica. Imagine viewing the mountain dynasty from the top. Paragliding, that is. Clubs abound in this Balkan nation, particularly in Skopje (the capital), Prilep, Mavrovo and Krusevo. Professional guides and tandem flights are available.
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Herrings and Scallops
By Linda Tancs
Something fishy is going on this weekend in Dieppe, the French seaside resort: the locals are celebrating the fishing trade that defines this northern town. Held annually every November, Foire aux Harengs promises a vast array of streetside barbecues celebrating herring. Scallops figure prominently, too, considering that this French port was the first to introduce them. Now in its 45th year, the event takes place at Quai Henri IV.
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Indigenous Art in Paraguay
By Linda Tancs
Seventeen indigenous ethnic groups call Paraguay home, resulting in an array of indigenous art. Basketwork and feathered ornaments predominate, hallmarks of the Guaraní peoples. Feathered cloaks are particularly striking, once reserved exclusively for shamans. Other handiworks find expression in ceramics and wood carvings. Three museums proudly showcase the indigenous art form: Andrés Barbero Ethnographic Museum, the Guido Boggiani Museum, and the Museum of Indigenous Art.
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The Heart-Shaped Land
By Linda Tancs
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, tradition and culture remain close at heart, appropriate enough for a heart-shaped country in southeastern Europe. This tiny Balkan nation celebrates the junction of eastern and western civilizations, part of its rich heritage. Sarajevo’s Old Town, for instance, still conjures the market center of the 15th century, when traders from Asia Minor and western nations gathered. Other towns throughout the country form the crux of the Kingdom Trail, where medieval fortresses bear silent testimony to the power and privilege of the ruling classes dominating the country’s history, such as the Turkish and Austro-Hungarian empires. Priding themselves on hospitality, you’ll come as a stranger but leave as a friend.
