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 Emerald on the Green
By Linda Tancs
Known as the “Emerald on the Green,” Galle Face Hotel is a Sri Lankan icon hosting royalty and other glitterati since 1864. One of the oldest hotels east of the Suez and one of the few remaining colonial hotels in Asia, it’s situated in the heart of Colombo opposite Galle Face Green. Its old world charm is being preserved through a restoration project in the Classic Wing, which will continue to house historical memorabilia and artifacts.
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Flagship Vessel Celebrates 10 Years
By Linda Tancs
This month marks the tenth anniversary of Cunard’s flagship vessel, Queen Mary 2. So what makes her so special? Let us count the ways: longer than three football fields, hostess of the first Canyon Ranch SpaClub® at sea, the largest wine cellar at sea, the only onboard planetarium and over five million dollars of fine art gracing the walls. Where else will you find all that in one place? Long may she sail.
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Europe’s Capitals of Culture
By Linda Tancs
The European Commission’s picks for this year’s capitals of culture are Riga and Umeå. Riga, the Latvian capital, is the largest city in the Baltic region. Its covered market is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Umeå, in northern Sweden, is the northernmost city selected by the EU for this annual honor. During the weekend of 31 January to 2 February, Umeå will inaugurate the year with a spectacular Burning Snow music and dance recital on and around Umeälven River. Riga promises 365 days of enjoyment of Latvian music, fine arts, cinema and pop culture. The cities are also planning several joint projects to celebrate their capital of culture year.
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A Wonder in Asia
By Linda Tancs
Sri Lanka bills itself as a wonder of Asia—and no wonder. From the tops of the mountains to the depths of the ocean, this tropical island in the Indian
Ocean offers visitors a panoply of exotic charms. Listen in at Travelrific® Radio for some highlights.
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Getting to Know Wallace
By Linda Tancs
If you were asked to name London’s best museums, what would be on your list? The British Museum? V&A? Tate? National Gallery? Chances are, you wouldn’t think of The Wallace Collection. Featuring the collections of the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess, this national museum boasting 25 galleries is a real gem located in Hertford House, a London townhouse. Its most prominent exhibits include paintings by Titian, Rembrandt, Hals and Velázquez and eighteenth-century French paintings, porcelain, furniture and gold boxes. But don’t stop there. Be sure to view the stunning array of Limoges enamels and striking arms and armor. Beat the crowds and visit on New Year’s Day.
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Rest for Oenophiles
By Linda Tancs
Do you hate shuttling between wineries, losing time to drink in (no pun intended) the countryside over a leisurely glass of vino? In New Zealand, your ship has come in. Actually, make that a motor home. Maui, a vehicle rental company, is offering wine havens, a motorhome rental for an overnight stay at select vineyards. Now relax, and enjoy the view.
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Here Comes the Sun
By Linda Tancs
Sandwiched between high mountains in Telemark, Norway, the town of Rjukan has been enveloped in darkness during the autumn and winter months. But thanks to the ingenuity of local industrialists, the town is now bathed in light from new mirrors set up on the hillside to direct the sun’s rays to worshippers below. Don’t worry, though, the newfound light won’t melt the area’s prized snow and ice. Rjukan is still one of Europe’s best destinations for ice climbing.
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The Castle and the Egg
By Linda Tancs
The oldest castle in Naples, Italy is Castel dell’Ovo (Egg Castle). This fortified site once housed the luxurious villa of a Roman knight before its transformation to a fort, then a prison, and later, a castle. So what’s an egg got to do with it? Well, legend has it that the poet Virgil placed a magic egg beneath the castle to protect it and the city from ruin.
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A Birthday Bash in Norway
By Linda Tancs
Norway’s most famous painter, Edvard Munch, was born on 12 December 1863– 150 years ago today. To celebrate this milestone, his homeland has been pulling out all the stops. In October, a viewing spot opened to mark the point on Ekeberg Hill where “The Scream” was painted. And the postal service is offering anniversary stamps of his artworks, including “The Scream,” “Self-Portrait,” and “The Sun and Madonna.” A member of the Munch family unveiled a new bronze and granite sculpture of his mother and his aunt, too. Although the artist’s vast collection of prints and paintings has long been stored at the Munch Museum, Norway’s cultural icon will be honored with a gleaming new glass museum on the waterfront next to the opera house.
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The Gem Capital of Brazil
By Linda Tancs
It’s easy to understand why tourism is becoming a major industry in Brazil. Consider the charm of Carnaval, the glam of Rio de Janeiro and the majesty of the Amazon. But gem hunters have a different reason to sing the country’s praises: Téofilo Otoni, a city in northeast Minas Gerais state where minerals reign (or, some might say, rain) supreme. Its trade in precious stones (particularly aquamarine) renders the city the gem capital of Brazil. In fact, an International Gemstones and Minerals Fair is held there every year.
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