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
Landmark Christmas Fair Awaits You
By Linda Tancs
Originating in Germany, Christmas markets have been imitated the world over but the grand dame of the genre is 576 years strong in Dresden. The Christmas Market features, of course, the usual hand-made goodies like glass, candles, wooden toys, puppets and other treats. Edible treats include deep fried curd balls rolled in sugar, ginger bread, sugar roasted almonds, candy floss and stuffed roasted apples. Top it off with a warming wine or rum punch. And don’t forget that Santa Claus arrives promptly each day at 4 p.m. with special treats for the kids until the festival’s close on 24 December.
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New Nutcracker Debuts in London
By Linda Tancs
The English National Ballet celebrates 60 years of artistry this year. And what better way to mark the occasion than to produce a new version of the holiday classic Nutcracker, appearing seasonally for all those 60 years. This year’s tenth new production will appear at the London Coliseum for the first time from 10 – 30 December. At a family friendly matinee, up to two children go free with one full-paying adult. Children under five are admitted to these performances without charge. Clara and her Nutcracker await you.
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Nouveau Art in Monaco
By Linda Tancs
Modern, contemporary works of art have new digs in Monaco at the recently opened Nouveau Musée National de Monaco at Villa Paloma. The first exhibition is curated by German artist Thomas Demand and features works highlighting the natural world, a fitting tribute for an art museum situated nearby the Exotic Gardens and its stunning views of The Rock. The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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A Crowning Achievement in Świebodzin
By Linda Tancs
Świebodzin in western Poland still contains remnants of the town’s past as a medieval walled settlement, but perhaps its greatest feature is the newly unveiled statue of Christ on the outskirts of town. Capped with a gleaming gold crown, the imposing statue with outstretched arms reportedly rivals Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer. At a stunning 33 meters (one for each of Jesus’s years of life), the locals are hoping to attract pilgrims and the accompanying revenue.
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300 Years of History in Hamburg
By Linda Tancs
St. Pauli is a district of Hamburg, Germany as well known for its colorful inhabitants as for the icons of popular culture that have performed along its famous Reeperbahn–like The Beatles. During its 17th century beginnings, it was a suburb of Hamburg known as Hamburger Berg, populated with workhouses and hospitals. Stories make history, they like to say. Today the past is chronicled at the new St. Pauli Museum on David Street, a stunning collection of over 3 million documents to inform and amuse you. You’ve heard the expression, if these walls could talk. Well, they do.
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Quaint Quedlinburg
By Linda Tancs
The Harz Mountains is a mountain range in central Germany in the district of Sachsen-Anhalt. At its foot about 1300 houses showcasing centuries of architectual history grant Quedlinburg status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its quaint half-timbered houses are a medieval testament to a bustling 10th century political and social mecca presided over by King Heinrich I. For spectacular views, ride the narrow gauge steam train of the Selke Valley Railway on the line from Magdeburg at Quedlinburg station.
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Tour Operator Pitches Hands-On Travel
By Linda Tancs
You won’t find the word culturious in the dictionary, but if you did, it would probably be defined as a state of mind. That’s what the folks at Tauck are promoting with their cultural immersion tours known as Culturious. Covering destinations like Costa Rica, Cinque Terre and Namibia, the small group tours are calculated to stretch your mind as well as your legs. Physical activity ranges from walking to kayaking, bicycling or horseback riding. You’ll expand your horizons by participating in activities like making a meal with a French chef, picking coffee beans on a Costa Rican plantation and watching a restoration specialist in Florence follow her passion. In other words, you’ll have an authentic travel experience. Isn’t that the point of travel, after all?
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100 Years of Green in Israel
By Linda Tancs
Israel’s Ministry of Tourism website says that “Israel is one of two countries on earth that has more trees today than it did 100 years ago.” That may seem surprising to those familiar with the Jerusalem hills, populated with natural forests, terraced hillsides and ancient agricultural settlements. Yet four centuries of Ottoman rule resulted in millions of trees cut down because property taxes were calculated by the number of trees owned by landowners. Now Israel celebrates its greening by promoting a host of eco-tourism activities. Visiting a Kibbutz is a classic way to experience the earliest impetus towards green living. Another highlight of green Israel is The Ariel Sharon Ayalon Park, a metropolitan park boasting tropical gardens located just outside of Tel Aviv, formerly the 2,000-acre Hiriya garbage dump. You can explore the city’s tree-lined boulevards by bicycle (another eco-friendly act) or camel trek through the wilderness to a quiet evening in a goat-hair Bedouin tent. Whatever you decide, a carbon-reduced date with history awaits you.
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Airline Complaints in the EU
By Linda Tancs
As US travelers know from reading this blog, air travel complaints and statistics for US travel are readily available from the Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement bureau. Ever wonder about the EU equivalent? The European Union Transport Commission publishes a list of aviation authorities in one convenient document.
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India’s Billion-Dollar Home
By Linda Tancs
Amidst the wretched poverty of Mumbai it’s hard to imagine a billion-dollar home. Yet, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, that’s exactly what overlooks the slums of the most populous city in India. Named Antilia (after a mythical island in the Atlantic Ocean), the 27-story behemoth was custom built for Indian magnate Mukesh Ambani. Reportedly sporting 37,000 square metres of space serviced by a staff of 600, the palatial digs will serve as the primary residence for the Ambani family of five.
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