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
Queen of the Yorkshire Coast
By Linda Tancs
Scarborough, dubbed Queen of the Yorkshire Coast, was immortalized in the Simon and Garfunkel song, Scarborough Fair. Indeed, a fair did take place there for 500 years between the 13th and 18th centuries. It may be better known for the fair than for the fact that it’s Britain’s first seaside resort. Its beaches, like North Bay and South Bay, overlook the ruins of Scarborough Castle and are some of the cleanest and most beautiful in the country. Many of the hotels offer unrivaled sea views, like Red Lea, Weston, Clifton and Villa Esplanade. For a Caribbean feel, consider a daily or weekly hire of one of those explosively colorful pastel beach huts.
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The Holy Grail of Rail
By Linda Tancs
From Siberia’s wooden cottages to Moscow’s onion domes, the Trans-Siberian Railway journey is arguably the rail industry’s holy grail. A popular route via the Trans-Siberian Express takes travelers across one-third of the world, beginning in Moscow and ending in Vladivostok, a trading port founded as a military outpost in 1860. Along the way are history-laden stops like Ekaterinburg, founded by Catherine the Great, where Tsar Nicholas II and his family where executed in 1918. And Ulan Ude, a Siberian city that is the center of the Buddhist Buryat culture. Did you know that Lake Baikal, another stop, holds 20 percent of the world’s unfrozen fresh water? On an epic ride like this, the journey is just as important as the destination.
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England Observes WWI Centenary
By Linda Tancs
One hundred years ago today, Great Britain gave Austria-Hungary an ultimatum to stand down from hostilities. When Austria-Hungary didn’t comply, Great Britain entered World War I. To mark the event, a candlelight vigil will take place today from sundown until 11:00 p.m. at Westminster Abbey. That’s just one of several events taking place nationally as part of a global commemoration of the centenary of World War I. Together with the Imperial War Museums, a months-long cultural and events program (including a nationwide tour by the BBC) will connect contemporary generations with the pivotal battles, milestones and personal histories surrounding the Great War.
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Woodstock Lives on in Poland
By Linda Tancs
The Woodstock Music Festival of 1969 at Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York is one of the most popular music events in history. It’s been faithfully re-created in Kostrzyn, Poland (50 miles from Berlin) since 1995. This year’s festivities begin today and end on 2 August. Over 500,000 attendees are expected. Be there or be square.
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The Battle Cry in Catoira
By Linda Tancs
Over a thousand years ago the Vikings invaded the town of Catoira in Galicia, Spain. The Galicians have not forgotten. In fact, since 1960 on the first Sunday of August they celebrate a re-enactment of the event at a Viking Festival. Locals dress as Viking warriors aboard a replica 11th century ship headed for Torres del Oeste Castle. A battle ensues between the defenders and invaders where everyone eventually ends up soaked in wine. Well, that’s better than blood.
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Beautiful Music in Buenos Aires
By Linda Tancs
Acoustically, Teatro Colón is one of the world’s best opera houses. One reason is because the orchestra pit, accommodating up to 120 musicians, is treated with a resonance chamber and special curves for the reflection of sound. Another reason is the horseshoe-shaped hall. But the music isn’t the only beguiling feature of this music hall, boasting a majestic flight of stairs, sculptures and stained-glass windows. They say there’s a secret in every corner of this architectural gem, like the underground rehearsal rooms. Take a guided tour to uncover more of its charms.
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Rare Access in Florence
By Linda Tancs
Florence, Italy is often referred to as the cradle of the Renaissance, a cultural jewel of 15th century art and architecture. A mecca for museum lovers, that rich history is housed in over 70 museums across this city bisected by the Arno River. You can beat the madding crowds by heading to a less-visited site like the Vasari Corridor. Open only via special access through a tour or travel agency, this secret passageway through an unmarked door at the Uffizi Gallery connects the gallery to the Pitti Palace. It was built in 1564 by Giorgio Vasari at the behest of Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, who desired a safe path between his home at the Pitti Palace and the Palazzo degli Uffizi where he worked. The scenic covered walkway traces the Arno with panoramic views at Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), then dips into the interior of the church of Santa Felicita, ending at the famous Grotto of Buontalenti inside the Boboli Gardens.
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London’s Oldest Riverside Pub
By Linda Tancs
The Prospect of Whitby, London’s oldest riverside pub in Wapping, was once known as the Devil’s Tavern, a nod to its once-upon-a-time popularity with thieves, smugglers and pirates. More polished clientele included Charles Dickens, Samuel Pepys and artists Whistler and Turner. Originating in 1520, this traditional British pub boasts an original flagstone floor, a rare pewter-topped bar and old barrels and ship masts. And what good would a storied pub be without a haunting or two? Reputedly a favored watering hole of “hanging judge” Jeffreys, his spirit allegedly still presides over the hangings and drownings at high tide visible from his bar stool.
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The Tunnel of Shells
By Linda Tancs
Call it Shellhenge, a mysterious shell-lined tunnel network in Margate, England. Discovered in 1835, The Shell Grotto is a pathway and chamber beneath a residential garden, comprising 4.6 million shells forming exquisite mosaics. Its origins are a mystery to this day. Unique work of art, pagan temple or secret meeting house? You decide.
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The Big Zipper
By Linda Tancs
What is one mile long, 500 feet high and flies at speeds up to 100 miles per hour? Answer: The Big Zipper, Europe’s longest and fastest zipline. Located at an abandoned quarry in Snowdonia, North Wales, this adrenaline-boosting tourist attraction offers spectacular mountain views–if you keep your eyes open long enough to enjoy it! Are you ready to fly like an eagle? If not, no worries. The Little Zipper might be just the ticket for you.
