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
A Land of Urban Culture
By Linda Tancs
Croatia prides itself as a land of urban culture, sporting more cities than any other part of the Mediterranean. But the Mediterranean is only part of its charm, circled as it is by eastern, western and central Europe. Learn more about this newest member of the European Union on Travelrific® Travel Show.
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An Architectural Trifecta in Belarus
By Linda Tancs
Mir Castle, a red brick fortress in Belarus, is a trifecta of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Located in the town of Mir in the Grodno region (55 miles southwest of Minsk), the fortification serves as an emblem of the vast Lithuanian empire that ruled the region, the castle grounds having once belonged to the grand dukes. The castle complex was later built by Prince Yuri Ilyinich in the 16th century and became the family home of the Radziwills for over two centuries, who undertook extensive renovations of the complex to include an artificial lake, an Italian garden and a three story Renaissance palace along the eastern and northern walls of the castle. Recently renovated and restored, the castle is again open to the public.
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The Graves of Arles
By Linda Tancs
Southwest of the center of Arles in southern France is the ancient Roman necropolis, Les Alyscamps. Later a Christian burial ground, the path lined with numerous sarcophagi was a subject of paintings by Van Gogh and his onetime roommate, Gauguin. Van Gogh was quite prolific while residing in Arles; the Van Gogh trail is a self-guided walking tour highlighting points of artistic inspiration.
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Indoors at the Globe
By Linda Tancs
Like in Shakespeare’s time, London’s Globe Theatre is open to the elements–thus sometimes hath the brightest day a cloud, as The Bard wrote in Henry VI. But even the staunchest theatregoer wouldn’t mind some cover, 17th century protocols notwithstanding. That’s where the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse comes in. The newest addition to the Globe is an indoor candlelit theatre, accessible through the main foyer. The venue offers plays, concerts, opera and comedy. The Globe is best accessed on foot. Use a footpath along the Thames from Waterloo or Southwark Bridge.
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World War Museum Opens
By Linda Tancs
In Bastogne, Belgium, thousands of soldiers died in WWII during the Battle of the Bulge. Their valor is commemorated at the Bastogne War Museum. Opening tomorrow, this new museum will feature interactive exhibits dedicated to the battle and World War II.
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An Ostrogothic Wonder in Italy
By Linda Tancs
Kissed by the Adriatic Sea by virtue of the Candiano Canal, the Italian city of Ravenna boasts a unique collection of early Christian mosaics–unless you’re visiting the Mausoleo di Teodorico. Devoid of consecrated mosaics, the Mausoleum of Theoderic is a tomb commissioned by Theoderic the Great, king of the Ostrogoths from 493 to 526. The only surviving emperor’s tomb from this period, the structure is a geometric mishmosh comprising a decagon in the lower half and a circular upper half. Carved of white Istrian stone, it is a stunning example of Ostrogothic artistry.
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St. Patrick’s Rock
By Linda Tancs
In the heart of Ireland’s County Tipperary, Cashel is one of the most visited sites thanks to the Rock of Cashel. Known as St. Patrick’s Rock, this elevated limestone peak is the former seat of the High Kings of Munster. Legend has it that St. Patrick baptized Aenghus the King of Munster there in the fifth century. The ruins of Hore Abbey, a Cistercian monastery, are at the base of the Rock and provide great views of it. The area is easily accessible via public bus from Dublin.
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The Start of Great Britain
By Linda Tancs
Scotland’s Highland coastal village of John O’ Groats is, as the locals will tell you, the northerly end of the longest distance between two points on the British mainland (the other being Land’s End). For heaven’s sake, don’t call it the most northerly place on mainland Britain; that honor goes to Dunnet Head. Either the start of Great Britain or the end of the road (depending on how you look at things), this rugged outpost is just six miles from the Orkney islands, an area boasting over 5000 years of history. Enjoy a coastal walk from John O’ Groats along the north coast to Duncansby Head Lighthouse and onto the massive rock stacks called the Stacks of Duncansby.
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A Rugged Walk in Scotland
By Linda Tancs
Sir Paul McCartney wrote Mull of Kintyre in tribute to the pristine peninsula of the same name. Thanks to the establishment of the Kintyre Way in 2006, the rugged natural beauty of this area can be explored from Tarbert in the north to Dunaverty in the south. Never far from the sea, you’ll experience fishing villages, conifer forests, beaches and stretches of hills and moors that can best be summed up as, well, poetry in motion. Citylink buses from Glasgow serve Tarbert.
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The Perfect Gem in Myanmar
By Linda Tancs
Ninety percent of the world’s sapphires and rubies are sourced from Myanmar (Burma), Mogok being one of the country’s most prolific gem areas. A good bauble will cost you plenty, but you can admire the nation’s precious natural resource at the Myanmar Gems Museum in Yangon. On display are rubies, sapphires, jade (prevalent in Mandalay) and pearls.
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