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
Matisse Returns to Stockholm
By Linda Tancs
Stockholm’s Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art) boasts one of the finest collections of contemporary and modern art in Europe. Its most famous work may be Robert Rauschenberg’s Monogram, but its most celebrated work is arguably Matisse’s Le Jardin following its triumphant return to the museum earlier this year after its notorious heist in 1987. Kudos for the homecoming go to the Art Loss Register, an unassuming London company with one of the most extensive databases of stolen art worldwide.
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Lumiere Dazzles in the U.K.
By Linda Tancs
The medieval city of Durham in northeast England will once again be transformed into a bedazzling landscape of light during this year’s Lumiere Festival today through 17 November. Artists from around the world will adorn the city with their light projects, such as an installation of “dancing” sparks, giving the appearance of fireflies, at Durham Cathedral. From 28 November to 1 December the festival of light continues in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, featuring neon balloon dogs, an interactive forest, and a fire garden.
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The Green Flash
By Linda Tancs
A green flash sunset, when the last sliver of sun turns green before vanishing into the horizon, is spectacular–and elusive for many. That’s because a confluence of events must occur for a viewing of this phenomenon: you need an unobstructed view and no haze or cloud cover at the horizon. For these reasons, it’s a treat best caught on the open sea. My favorite green flash moment was in Moorea in the South Pacific. Leave a comment about your own green flash experience!
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Is There Anybody Out There?
By Linda Tancs
The third largest telescope of its kind in the world, England’s Lovell Radio Telescope in Cheshire has been probing the depths of space for signs of intelligent life since 1957. Located at Jodrell Bank Observatory, the shining white disc measuring 255 feet stands in stark contrast to the verdant plains of Shining Tor, Cheshire’s highest point. At the Visitor Centre you can walk half way around this powerful radio telescope as it investigates cosmic phenomena.
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The World’s Largest Tablet in London
By Linda Tancs
As previously noted, London’s Trafalgar Square attracts interesting exhibitions, artful and otherwise. The latest one to hit the famous meetup space is Microsoft’s installation of a colossal Surface 2 tablet. Smack in the middle of the square, the tablet measures 27 feet in width and 17 feet in height. And it works, too. Of course, this isn’t the corporate behemoth’s first foray into interactive art–remember the giant Windows phone in New York’s Herald Square?
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Paradores and Pousadas
By Linda Tancs
If the usual tourist class hotel accommodations are getting a bit old, why not consider something more exclusive and off the beaten track? Spanish Paradores and Portuguese Pousadas are intimate settings often located in historic buildings such as monasteries, castles, and fortresses. Consider Santa Marinha Pousada, a monastery perched on a hill overlooking Guimarães, known as the “cradle of Portugal” as it’s the birthplace of the nation’s first king, Afonso Henriques. Or sleep like royalty in Pontevedra, Spain in a palace that was formerly the residence of the Counts of Maceda. Best of all, you don’t need a rock star’s wallet to afford these gems; find a property to match your budget and desires.
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A Fought-After Russian Fortress
By Linda Tancs
The Neva River is a storied attraction in Saint Petersburg, hosting its fair share of romantic walks along the granite embankment. Only 46 miles long, the river flows from Lake Ladoga to the Gulf of Finland. Perhaps even more storied is the Shlisselburg Fortress, located near the head of the river not far from this popular city. The site has been fortified for over 800 years, hosting bloody battles between the Swedish and Novogorod Republic for possession. Russia obviously won. Nowadays the fortress plays host to an annual rock concert, but its gloomy past as a political prison is also on display at the political prisoners exhibition.
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The Oldest Vine in the World
By Linda Tancs
Do fine vines get better with age? You can bet the answer is a resounding ‘yes’ in Maribor, Slovenia, home of the Old Vine. Aged over 400 years, Old Vine is listed in Guinness World Records as the oldest vine in the world. The still-producing vine is located on the frontage of Old Vine House along the Drava embankment. Enjoy the exhibition and wine tasting room.
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The Lure of Little France
By Linda Tancs
The romance of covered bridges and medieval flair of half-timbered houses are the charms of Petite-France in Strasbourg, the principal city in the Alsace region of France. Located at the corner of the Grand Île (the Main Island) where the Île diverges into a number of canals, this historic neighborhood with a fairy tale feel offers visitors ample views of all its little nooks via a river cruise or on foot.
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Germany’s Old Stone Bridge
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s oldest stone bridge, and its first to cross the Danube, is an icon of the Bavarian city of Regensburg. Built in the 1100s, the 16-arch bridge was used by crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. Nowadays the span’s southside bratwurst eatery is a go-to destination for sausage lovers. And what goes well with brats? Well, beer of course. On the north side of the bridge is Spitalgarten, site of one of the oldest surviving hospital breweries where patrons enjoy a healthy stein or two.
