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 Castled Crag of Drachenfels
By Linda Tancs
“The castled crag of Drachenfels/Frowns o’er the wide and winding Rhine” wrote English Romantic poet Lord Byron. That’s a reference to Drachenfels, a 1,053 foot mountain range near Bonn, Germany. The ruined castle atop the mountain bears the same name. A newer castle, down the Rhine and frequently referred to as the Neuschwanstein of the Rhine, is named Schloss Drachenburg, a palace constructed in the late 19th century. A German legend recounts the slaying of a dragon in a cave in the mountain. Hence, the mountain is named the “Dragon’s Rock”, or Drachenfels. An electric railcar connects the summit with the resort town of Koenigswinter.
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The Road to the Right
By Linda Tancs
Just past the entrance to Laguna La Restringa on Margarita Island, Venezuela you will come to a split in the road. Take the road to the right to see the bird life of this western remote area of the island known as the Peninsula de Macanao. Small green parrots and fire engine red cardinals dominate; an easy thing to do in a habitat devoid of tourism owing to lack of water and essential services. Enjoy it while it lasts.
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The Finest Walk in the World
By Linda Tancs
New Zealand’s most famous walk is Milford Track, a 100-year-old treasure boasting a 53 kilometer journey from the head of Lake Te Anau to the misty array of Sutherland Falls, the tallest waterfall in New Zealand. Along the way, you’ll encounter suspension bridges, board walks, a mountain pass, lakes, sky-scraping mountain peaks and enormous valley views. No wonder the poet Blanche Baughan declared the Milford Track to be ‘the finest walk in the world’. Guided walkers take five days and four nights to complete the track; independent walkers usually take a day and night less. The track is always walked from south to north in an effort to minimize the environmental impact. There are three public accommodation huts and three private lodges on the track. Camping is not permitted, but why would you want to?
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Scotland’s Favorite Son
By Linda Tancs
Robert Burns, Scotland’s hallowed bard, is celebrated in Alloway, Ayrshire at the recently opened Robert Burns Museum. A 40 minutes’ drive from Glasgow, the museum complex includes the residence where the poet was born, the historic landmarks where he set his greatest work, and a collection of his works. The museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free for National Trust for Scotland Trust members.
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Cuckoo About Cuckoo
By Linda Tancs
In Tabley, Cheshire, two dedicated horologists keep one of the most important collection of cuckoo clocks in the world. Cuckooland boasts a wide variety of genuine Black Forest cuckoo clocks, including a shop for purchase. You can be the proud owner of such treasures as a nursery cuckoo clock, a collector clock, a limited edition, a cuckoo & quail clock, a musical cuckoo, or a 1 or 8 day cuckoo clock. 300 years of history await you.
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EU Passenger Bill of Rights
By Linda Tancs
Fliers have rights, but so do rail travelers, ship passengers and bus riders. The European Union’s common set of principles related to passenger rights provide certainty and consistency for all EU travelers. Sounds like a good model for the rest of us.
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The Lore of Cape Town
By Linda Tancs
South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation, alluding to its diversity, with 11 official languages spoken there. Cape Town, in particular, is as diverse as it gets, sporting boutique lush vineyards on the one hand and a free-roaming pride of white lions on the other. Located on the shore of Table Bay, the nation’s second-most populous city is teeming with things to do. Listen in at Travelrific Radio.
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Museum Weekend in Holland
By Linda Tancs
Three of the most significant museums in Holland are in Amsterdam’s Museum Square: the Van Gogh Museum, the state museum and the municipal museum. How’s that for convenience? If you’re like millions of other visitors each year, you’ll want to see Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers portrait, immortalized in postcards and greeting cards. Most of his paintings have never left Holland, so viewing his work is a uniquely Dutch experience to enjoy. During the first weekend in April it’s also uniquely Dutch to visit as many museums as you can–free–thanks to Museum Weekend, now 30 years’ strong. Over a million visitors attended last year’s event.
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Ziptrekking Through Queensland
By Linda Tancs
For those wanting a bird’s eye view on their next journey, one option is a treehouse. Another option is the Kea Tour, a three-hour zipline eco-adventure in Queenstown, New Zealand that includes a stunning 20-minute guided trek along an ancient native beech forest. Best of all, you’ll be promoting sustainability in a unique mode of travel that has no footfall or industrial noise. Just like nature intended.
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The Best in Fine Art
By Linda Tancs
The world’s leading arts and antiques fair is beginning on 18 March. TEFAF Maastricht offers an impressive array of paintings, antiques, contemporary art, manuscripts, classical antiquities, jewelry, watches and decorative objects, applied art, prints, paintings and other paper. That’s an exhaustive list. Thankfully, you have until 27 March to walk through it.
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