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 Power of Words in Adelaide
By Linda Tancs
Sustainable word energy. That’s the new buzz phrase at the Fringe Festival in Adelaide, Australia, now through 13 March. In the fabulous X-Space of the Adelaide College of the Arts, the free spoken word event allows visitors to get into slams, workshops, and improvs to, as they put it, spout, tout or simply shout! Go on, get a word in.
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Fresh Horses
By Linda Tancs
Almost 100 years ago the near-Olympic sport of skijoring was born in the Engadine valley of Switzerland. Skijoring is the running of thoroughbreds without riders but rather with skiers attached. The Olympics’ loss is St. Moritz’ gain; it’s there each Sunday in February that the races take place over a 2,600-meter course ladened with thick ice. Known as White Turf, the race is a test of wills between man and beast. The skier with the highest points is crowned King of the Engadine.
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Northern Lights Festival
By Linda Tancs
Nordlysfestivalen (The Northern Lights Music Festival) begins in Tromsø, Norway tomorrow through 5 February. About 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the annual event is known for musical performances in various genres. This year is no exception. One of the festival’s highlights is the performance of The State Hermitage Orchestra from St. Petersburg, slated to perform Russian music and to host the Opera Gala, a concert introducing two of the finest young singers from the Mariinsky Theatre in a collaboration with singers from the Norwegian Opera. Later in the festival, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will visit Norway for the first time ever. And, of course, there are those northern lights–aurora borealis–presiding over it all.
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A Welsh Valentine
By Linda Tancs
Spooning your sweetie has a meaning all its own, particularly today, the Welsh equivalent to Valentine’s Day. Saint Dwynwen’s Day celebrates the patron saint of Welsh lovers. Like its 14 February equivalent, it’s a day for gift giving. And what better gift could there be than a Welsh lovespoon, handcarved in wood with symbols of love like interlocking hearts and wedding bells. Wishing you all love and friendship.
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Beerseum Delights Visitors
By Linda Tancs
At one time Burton on Trent sported 33 breweries; one might say there was a tonic for whatever ales you (yes, pun intended). A short walk from the rail station, the recently opened National Brewery Centre explores the evolution of brewing techniques from ancient times to today. Hundreds of exhibits and rare artefacts display beer brewing techniques, and character performers serving samples of real ales in the Edwardian Bar or shoveling malt bring Burton’s glory days back to life. Adding to the ambience is a collection of vehicles from horse-drawn drays to delivery wagons and special promotional vehicles, such as a 1920s Daimler bottle car that was built to deliver promotional materials to pubs. The Shire horses are on winter holiday until 1 April, but there’s plenty else to evoke the days of old. Buy an annual ticket for unlimited visits.
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Ferrari World
By Linda Tancs
Less than 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport is the world’s largest indoor theme park, Ferrari World. The Italian race car-themed park comes complete with Italian inspired scenery, Italian food and lots of race car rides. Formula Rossa is the world’s fastest roller coaster at 149 mph. Why in Abu Dhabi? They say it’s ideally located at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and Africa, in one of the world’s fastest growing tourist attractions, named by Frommers Guide and Lonely Planet as one of the top ten places to visit in 2010. Curiously, the ticket pricing is based on height. Kids, then, generally fare better (no pun intended).
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Cookout in the Caymans
By Linda Tancs
Renowned French chef Eric Ripert of New York’s Le Bernardin is presiding over a long weekend cookout celebrating food, wine and the natural beauty of the Cayman Islands. The star-studded roster of chefs offering tastings, demonstrations, and dinners includes Susur Lee, Charlie Trotter, Rachel Allen and chef-turned-food raconteur Anthony Bourdain of the Food Channel. Now through 16 January, the events range from wine and food tastings at the Ritz-Carlton on Grand Cayman to an oceanfront lunch at historic Grand Old House, a cayside picnic, beachside BBQ and assorted galas to celebrate with grand Caribbean flair. Your culinary heroes await you.
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Mountain Do
By Linda Tancs
The largest ski resort in the world is Les 3 Vallées in France, boasting resort areas Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Meribel and Courchevel. With an enviable 600 km of skiable area, you might expect the luxe destination to be largely off-limits to the uninitiated. Au contraire. Out of the area’s 330 runs, practically half are easy and half are for experts. And all are superbly accessible thanks to one of the most efficient and modern ski lift networks in the world. Eighty piste grooming machines guarantee snow cover from the beginning of December to the end of April over the entire ski area. That gives you plenty of time to plan your stay.
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Life on Ice
By Linda Tancs
Over 15,000 icebergs are formed in the Arctic each year, and you can see them in places like Disko Bay in the Labrador Sea in western Greenland. The native Inuit spend their winter months hunting for polar bear, seals, and walrus to feed and clothe their families. Consider a visit to their local archeological sites.
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Mythic Kiev
By Linda Tancs
Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, known as much for the abundance of historic architectural monuments as for the shady horse chestnut trees lining the city from end to end. There’s almost a Parisian flair to this distinctive Slavic city—after all, the Dnieper River divides the city into two banks, left and right—just like its sister city to the west. Learn more at Travelrific Radio.
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