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
A Fête in Belgium
By Linda Tancs
July 21 is National Day in Belgium, marking the day on which Leopold I took the constitutional oath as the first King of Belgium on this date in 1831 following the country’s independence from the Netherlands. For those lucky enough to have arrived for the opening of the urban Brussels Beach (Bruxelles les Bains), today’s events from 10 a.m. till midnight include merry makers parading in the capital amidst streets filled with black, yellow and red flags, music, theatre, an army exhibition at Place Poelaert and an arts and crafts market on the Rue de la Régence. That’s enough entertainment to keep you busy until the fireworks over the Royal Palace.
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Of Plate and Planet
By Linda Tancs
In support of taste education worldwide is the slow food movement. Slow food is a way of life–an appreciation of traditional artisanal food production waiting to delight traveling taste buds–an art that is as much a part of the landscape and tradition of a culture as any tourist destination. Slow food is also a recognition that safeguarding biodiversity in the pursuit of gastronomy mandates proper control of natural resources. With over 100,000 members and 132 countries, you’ll have all the support you need to stop and smell all that terra madre has to offer.
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Meet the Weather Experts
By Linda Tancs
Weather is an unavoidable variable when it comes to travel. Ever wonder about the folks who provide aviation weather services? Although their role has come sharply into focus recently as a result of the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland’s volcano, there is actually an international volcanic ash program to provide worldwide warnings and advisories to aviation interests regarding volcanic ash hazards. Comprising Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers, these experts provide ash movement and dispersion guidance to Meteorological Watch Offices and neighboring advisory centers. These centers are located in London, Toulouse, Washington, D.C., Montreal, Tokyo, Darwin, Wellington, Buenos Aires and Anchorage. Though the area of the Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center is one of the smallest areas, it covers air routes over some of the most active volcanic areas in the world. So the next time you see a weather expert, give ’em a smile. After all, they’ve got your best interests at heart.
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Chopin in Paris
By Linda Tancs
Last call for the Chopin Festival at Orangerie du Parc de Bagatelle in Paris. The closing concert at 5 p.m. marks 27 years of chamber music honoring the great composer. This year’s event also honored Robert Schumann on the occasion of his 200th birthday. And what better day to enjoy a little musical serenity in the Eiffel district than today, a national holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille. After the concert, hang around for the Bastille fireworks over the Trocadéro around 10 p.m.
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A Revival in Algeria
By Linda Tancs
It takes a village to raise a child, goes an African proverb. On a high mountain peak overlooking the Gulf of Bejaia in Algeria, it takes a village to bring tourism and land development back to Djoua Kabyle, a village decimated and abandoned in 1958 following the Liberation War. From 15 to 22 July the locals will hold the Festival De Djoua, themed “Tourism and Local Development,” in a bid to raise awareness of economic and social development in the area. Amidst a backdrop including sea, mountains, and archeological sites, locals will demonstrate their handicrafts and offer entertainment in the nature of music, storytelling, poetry and theater. Kids are sure to enjoy the donkey rides and playground. Lecturers will also be on hand to inform visitors about the history of the region and its future potential. Find a cheap flight from Paris.
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Winter Starts Here
By Linda Tancs
Ski racing is just one form of mountain mayhem awaiting you at the Queenstown Winter Festival in New Zealand, taking place now through 4 July. They’ll be skinning up the ski course at Coronet Park, mountain biking downhill and racing with their pooches. Events also include street parties, fireworks, and performances by local acts like The Cartel and Ukelele Orchestra. Get your chuckles with a comedic lineup of Jeremy Corbett, Dai Henwood, Ben Hurley, Steve Wrigley, Paul Ego, Jeremy Ellwood and Michele A’Court. Who says winter is no laughing matter?
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Tourism in Beirut
By Linda Tancs
Beirut, a seaside city of 2 million, has garnered that number in tourists in recent years, a welcome surge for this war-torn nation. Find out what’s captivating visitors at Travelrific® Radio.
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Open Skies, Part Two
By Linda Tancs
Following up on an earlier post on the EU/US Open Skies Agreement, a recent accord affirms the earlier agreement between the EU and US to allow route demand to dictate service offerings between airports in the US and EU and allows EU carriers the right to fly between US cities without originating in the EU. Moreover, the revisited agreement proposes that allowances for foreign ownership of US carriers be increased beyond the current 25% cap, considering that US ownership of EU carriers is capped at 49%. Harmonization in this area will require legislation that is unlikely to be in the offing considering other global crises at present. The parties have agreed to harmonize fuel emission standards, however. Overall, reports indicate that the agreement is supposed to produce almost $15 billion dollars in economic benefits and up to 80,000 new jobs. Let’s hope so.
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Tanks A Million
By Linda Tancs
Military tanks were initially deployed during the first world war, developed by the British for use in the trenches at the Battle of Somme. So it should come as no surprise that Britain lays claim to having the best collection of tanks in the world at the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset. This weekend you can enjoy one of the best displays of moving armor in the world at the museum’s Tankfest. Among the activities on offer are mock battles, historic and modern armor displays and live demonstrations. Here’s a chance to test your mettle.
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The Right Way to Learn Polo
By Linda Tancs
The advent of summer in the northern hemisphere brings with it the pursuit of ancient lawn sports like polo. A rather dangerous sport, it’s said to date back to 600 B.C. Polo is synonymous with Argentina, but you won’t find tournament action going on there now in their winter season. But why not take the down time to learn polo from the masters? In Pilar, arguably the polo capital of the world and only 45 minutes outside of Buenos Aires is Don Augusto Polo & Campo, offering polo clinics, individual lessons, a one-day polo holiday complete with afternoon tea or a special winter package with tango and Spanish language instruction thrown in if Old Man Winter thwarts your attempt at becoming the next big Nacho (that’s Ignacio Figueras).
DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION
The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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