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
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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An Ancient Maritime Town in Germany
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s ancient maritime town, Stade, is a charming destination in Lower Saxony. Located on the Elbe River, its Hanseatic harbor boasts ferry service to Hamburg during the summer as well as a tour on a historic coaster dating from the 19th century. Under Swedish rule in the 1600s, the city’s history is housed in the Swedish Warehouse Museum, a curious structure rising out of the water on poles. The historic town centre features an array of half-timbered houses and winding alleys along with
Pferdemarkt and Fischmarkt squares (site of the Christmas markets) in the old quarter. And nearby is Alte Land, a vast fruit farming area where you can visit a typical fruit farm.
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A Leek or a Daffodil
By Linda Tancs
The Brits celebrate St. George. The Scots revere St. Andrew. What about the Welsh? Their patron saint is St. David, and 1 March marks St. David’s Day. Declared a national day of celebration in the 18th century, the first day of March was chosen to commemorate the saint’s death on that day in 589. Many miracles are attributed to Dewi Sant (St. David), who reputedly caused the ground to rise beneath him so he could be heard and seen by the congregation. The capital city of Cardiff will host its annual parade on 1 March beginning at 12:30 p.m. outside City Hall. The national emblems, leeks and daffodils, are typically worn on that day.
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Running the Rapids in Chile
By Linda Tancs
Where is the best whitewater in the Western Hemisphere? Some would say it’s the Futaleufú River in Chile. The stunning, turquoise-colored river is 65 miles in length, of which 44 miles are in Chile. With rapids boasting monikers like Throne Room and Terminator, you’re likely in for a white-knuckle ride.
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The Fairy Tale Route
By Linda Tancs
Over 200 years ago, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm published a collection of children’s and household fairy tales, widely known as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Germany’s Fairy Tale Route is a 370-mile odyssey that takes you from their birthplace in Hanau to such sights as Hameln (famous for the Pied Piper legend), Trendelburg (featuring a castle associated with the Rapunzel tale), Kassel (home of the Brothers Grimm Museum) and Steinau, where the Grimm family home is located. This is one route that will no doubt leave you happy ever after.
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Port Vila Delights Cruisers
By Linda Tancs
One of the most culturally diverse countries on earth, Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific boasting 113 distinct languages. Its capital, Port Vila, is an increasingly popular cruise destination–and no wonder, considering that it is located around a magnificent natural harbor surrounded by barrier islands and verdant countryside. Day trippers should check out the Summit Gardens (11 gardens including a sandalwood plantation), Mele Cascades (several waterfalls) and Mt. Yasur, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
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A Movable Feast
By Linda Tancs
Tourists are accustomed to eating on the run, often sacrificing finer gastronomic experiences in favor of squeezing in one last attraction. In Barcelona, though, there’s a better alternative: the Gourmet Bus. Imagine dining on a terrine of rock fish and mild mayonnaise coupled with guinea fowl à la royale with parmentier of potato and wild mushroom on a glass roof bus with multilingual attendants, route cameras and commentary. The year-round panoramic sightseeing tour includes such gems as Casa Batlló, Torre Agbar, Plaça d’Espanya and Sagrada Família.
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