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
Gathering in Ireland
By Linda Tancs
If you want to understand what it means to be Irish, then make your way to Ireland for the year-long Gathering Festival. Of the 70 million folks worldwide claiming Irish ancestry, many will enjoy a homecoming to the cities, towns and villages of their heritage. The festivities include sporting and music events and clan gatherings. Someone once remarked, “There are two kinds of people in the world. The Irish, and those who wish they were.” Are you lucky enough to be Irish?
Share this:
European Capitals of Culture
By Linda Tancs
Marseille-Provence in France and Košice in Slovakia ring in 2013 as the year’s European capitals of culture. The cultural heart of Marseille Provence includes an area stretching from Martigues to La Ciotat. As usual, the opening ceremony in each city promises to be a spectacular kick-off event. In Marseille, the opening is a two-day event on 12 and 13 January. The twelfth features such events as a flyover of Patrouille de France, an art trail in Aix, and the Grande Clameur (a wall of sound incorporating ships’ sirens, bells and fog horns). The thirteenth offers treasure hunts across the region and a fireworks display at dusk over the Rhone at Arles. Košice will likewise inspire with a two-day opening beginning on 19 January. One of the most architecturally significant symbols in old Košice is the indoor pool, a structure experiencing an exciting makeover as an art and media showcase thanks to aid from the European Commission and the European Capital of Culture project.
Share this:
Trip the Light Fantastic
By Linda Tancs
Iceland may seem like a no-brainer as a winter new year’s destination, but not for the reasons you may think. Did you know that the average temperature in January is actually a bit higher than that of New York? What makes Iceland appealing to ring in a new year is the fireworks celebration. Their law places no limits on fireworks, so the lights will be flashing well into the night. Happy New Year!
Share this:
Costa Rican Adventure
By Linda Tancs
From the misty coolness of the cloud forest to the eternal spring found in the Central
Valley, there’s something for everyone year round in Costa Rica. Travelrific Radio®
looks at the following popular stops: San José, the Central Valley, Guanacaste, Arenal, Monteverde and the Nicoya Peninsula.
Share this:
Innocent Fun in Ibi
By Linda Tancs
What’s a little flour, egg and a firecracker or two among friends? The southeastern Spanish town of Ibi sponsors a food fight each year on 28 December to commemorate the Day of the Innocents. The 200-year-old Els Enfarinats festival requires participants to dress in mock military uniforms as they take over the city for the day and threaten infidels with flour, eggs and fireworks. The day is the equivalent of April Fool’s Day in the U.S.
Share this:
Christmas Capital of the Philippines
By Linda Tancs
The Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Philippines, is an annual event held on the Saturday preceding Christmas Eve. The spectacular lights have earned the city its moniker as “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” Competition is fierce, and colored plastic lanterns are complemented by paper and fiberglass. This is where imagination really does soar.
Share this:
Angel of the North
By Linda Tancs
In northeast England’s Gateshead there’s an angel watching over you. Named The Angel of the North, the nearly 70-foot-high steel structure with outstretched arms sports a wingspan of 177 feet. That’s the width of a jumbo jet. Now that’s a bear hug.
Share this:
City of Mosques
By Linda Tancs
Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is known as the City of Mosques. Baitul Mukarram Mosque, the national mosque, is the largest mosque in the city. The main prayer hall is stunningly large at nearly 27,000 square feet, with a unique architectural style resembling Ka’abah at Mecca. This large complex includes shopping, offices and libraries. Another popular attraction is Star Mosque, a five-domed Mughal style mosque distinguished on the outside by twinkling stars and on the inside by mosaic floors. Other prominent mosques are a seven-domed mosque, Chawkbazar Mosque and Huseni Dalan Mosque.
Share this:
Oldest Gingerbread Recipe
By Linda Tancs
Passau, Germany is a gem along the Danube, particularly during the holidays. Its Christmas markets are a popular tourist stop, offering handicrafts for the holidays as well as gingerbread. Lebkuchen (gingerbread) is a classic holiday treat, and Passau reportedly is the site of the oldest gingerbread recipe.
Share this:
Earth’s Lowest and Oldest City
By Linda Tancs
At over 800 feet below sea level, Palestine’s Jericho is the lowest city on earth. Sometimes referred to as the City of Palm Trees, Jericho is also the oldest city at 10,000 years and counting. Located north of the Dead Sea and west of the Jordan River, it was the first city in the Old Testament to fall to the Israelites under Joshua. Ancient Jericho is just a few short miles from the city center.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 