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 Tallest Small Mountains
By Linda Tancs
In the northern part of Slovakia bordering Poland you’ll find High Tatras, the tallest small mountains in the world. Twenty six of its peaks are 2500 meters above sea level. Of those accessible to tourists, Lomnický Peak is one of the most popular. Reachable by guided hike or via cable car from Tatranska Lomnice, the peak once known as Dedo (“Grandpa”) sports the the highest situated Astronomical and Meteorological Observatory in Slovakia at the cable car station.
Share this:
Tokyo’s Skytree
By Linda Tancs
The world record books show no shortage of tallest skywalks. Add another to the list. Tokyo’s Skytree is the world’s tallest freestanding broadcasting tower, a white neo-futuristic space needle piercing 634 meters into the sky. Its Tembo Deck at 350 meters is covered in huge five-meter-high glass for a 360-degree view up to 70 kilometers away. From there, a ride in a glass tube to the Tembo Galleria at 450 meters completes the skywalking experience.
Share this:
England’s Oldest Inn
By Linda Tancs
Billing itself “The Oldest Inn in England,” Nottingham’s Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem boasts a landmark building dating to 1189 AD. The story goes that crusaders to the Holy Land really did stop there for some respite–and maybe a cuppa. Affectionately known as The Trip, the pub is built upon a series of caves connected to Nottingham Castle and features such curiosities as the Haunted Snug, the Cursed Galleon, and the Fertility Chair.
Share this:
A Gem of a Deal in India
By Linda Tancs
Maharajas from all over India commissioned the proprietors of Gem Palace in
Jaipur to make jewelry and other precious objects. Now over 150 years’ strong, India’s version of Harry Winston puts a contemporary flair on traditional Indian design. Their creations have been exhibited twice at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Too rich for you? You be the judge.
Share this:
Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland
By Linda Tancs
Are you ready for some Christmas cheer? If so, then head to London’s Hyde Park for the annual Winter Wonderland. You’ll feel the arctic chill at the Ice Kingdom, set at -8° celsius. There are also ice skating sessions (one hour long), two circus shows (Zippos and Cirque Berserk) and a giant ferris wheel to wow the kids. You can even get some holiday shopping in; over 100 stalls await you. A new Yuletide Market is at the west end of the park, too. This spectacular destination will be open until 6 January from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (except for Christmas Day). You can get there via Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, Knightsbridge or Marble Arch. Admission to the park is free, but you must have tickets for ice skating, the circus and the ferris wheel. Book early!
Share this:
St. Tropez of Uruguay
By Linda Tancs
Punta del Este is regarded as the St. Tropez of Uruguay. Less than two hours from Montevideo, the tiny peninsula offers enough glitz and glamor to rival its French counterpart. Twenty miles of pristine beaches, resorts, condos and nightlife attract the jetset and, during the fast-approaching high season (December to March), there are fashion shows, a film festival, a jazz festival, rodeos and regattas to attend. If you prefer quiet enjoyment of the surf and sand, then take in a natural tour by biking, horseback riding or bird watching in the cooler months, April through November.
Share this:
Dive in at Stoney Cove
By Linda Tancs
England’s Leicestershire might not strike you as the underwater diving capital of the country, but its dive school at Stoney Cove National Diving Centre in Leicester boasts modern classrooms and a heated indoor pool. Enthusiasts should make haste to see the Elizabethan shipwreck, the latest underwater attraction recently transported there to complement their assorted collection of boats and planes.
Share this:
Crocodile Rock
By Linda Tancs
There’s this thing called the Crocodile Rock. No, not the dance immortalized in Elton John’s song. It’s a painted rock on the Isle of Cumbrae in Scotland. You’ll find it in Millport, the only town there, reachable by car ferry from Largs on the west coast. Of course, there’s more to do than just look at a painted rock. This accessible island, inhabited since the end of the last Ice Age, also boasts Britain’s smallest cathedral with incredible acoustics. Now that’s something to sing about.
Share this:
Sharing the Sky in Nepal
By Linda Tancs
From November to March, you can share the sky with birds of prey in Nepal. Known as parahawking, you’ll paraglide with a trained bird in the Pokhara valley. The 20 to 30 minute adventure will set you back around $185, but approximately $10 from every flight goes towards vulture conservation projects in Nepal. Go ahead, fly like an eagle.
Share this:
Ghosts in the Close
By Linda Tancs
Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh, Scotland is an underground labyrinth of now defunct closes and dwelling places that once rose seven stories high. The close was demolished to make way for council chambers in Edinburgh, leaving the remnants of the closes below ground. These remnants are a snapshot of life as it existed in the 16th through 18th centuries. Ghost stories abound, which makes this destination a good Halloween jaunt. Join one of their Supernatural History Tours.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 