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
Calais’ Better Half
By Linda Tancs
Nestled between Boulogne-sur-mer on the Côte d’Opale and the port of Calais you’ll find the seashore and salty air of Wimereux. Boasting 19th century Victorian Anglo-Norman architecture, this relatively undiscovered gem offers all the familiar fare of not-too-distant Paris, as well as sunbathing, sailing, windsurfing, horse riding, walking, tennis and golf on one of the region’s oldest courses. On a clear day, you can see forever (or, at least, the white cliffs of Dover).
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Celebrating Island Life
By Linda Tancs
Rapa Nui, better known as Easter Island, is an isolated volcanic island located in the heart of the South Pacific, halfway between Tahiti and South America. Populated mainly by Polynesians and Chileans, its subtropical climate draws visitors year round. The locals celebrate their culture during the first two weeks of February during the Tapati Festival, a spirited affair featuring a triathlon, horse racing, group dance competitions and, for the more adventurous, a hill slide on a sled of sorts fashioned from banana tree trunks. This year’s event runs through 15 February.
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A Weald View
By Linda Tancs
The views across the weald are stunning at Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex’s highest point in England’s South Downs National Park. Kite flying is, unsurprisingly, a fun activity there. It’s also a great spot for sheep spotting, hiking and blackberry picking. This time of year, though, you’d best look forward to a bracing winter walk; conveniently, the South Downs Way national trail runs right through Ditchling Beacon.
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The Smallest City in England
By Linda Tancs
The medieval city of Wells is the smallest city in England. Just 45 minutes from Bath (a UNESCO World Heritage City), this historic place gets its name from the springs that bubbled up during Roman times. Today those springs form part of Bishop’s Palace, home of the Bishop of Bath and Wells for over 800 years. The uniquely moated palace is famous for its resident swans that ring a bell alongside the gatehouse when they want food.
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Hong Kong Foodies
By Linda Tancs
If you have no idea what a Chinese menu says but want to eat like a local, then maybe a Hong Kong Foodie tour is for you. Lasting nearly four hours, these guided walking tours are conducted by a local. You’ll taste samples at six local restaurants serving Hong Kong food. All participants will receive a map with the tour route and directions to the closest MTR stations. Bring your appetite.
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Honeymoon Island
By Linda Tancs
Halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii in the South Pacific, the Cook Islands are a quieter alternative to their more bustling neighbors. Replete with the requisite white sand beaches, clear lagoons, lush rainforests and volcanic mountains, the main draws are Rarotonga (the largest of the Cooks) and Aitutaki, a short plane ride away. Called the Honeymoon Island, Aitutaki is a destination wedding dream waiting to happen, thanks to its sparkling lagoon, sandbars, coral ridges and motu. It’s also rumored to have the best dance recital performance in the island chain. Kia Orana!
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Town of Storehouses
By Linda Tancs
Kurashiki, Japan is an old market town near the Golden Route linking Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. Dating to the Edo Period, the picture-perfect city is prized for its preserved canal district, dotted with willow trees and old storehouses converted into museums, boutiques and cafes. Don’t miss the Ohara Museum of Art (Japan’s oldest museum for Western art) and the displays of Bizen-yaki pottery, an ancient pottery style perfected over 1000 years ago.
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Gliding at Canary Wharf
By Linda Tancs
London’s Canary Wharf boasts the city’s first skate path, a trail adjacent to the main ice rink leading skaters under lighted trees. For the timid, a limited number of skate aids are available to keep you vertical. Even wheelchairs are welcome on the ice. Enjoy it until 16 February.
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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.
