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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
