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
Natural Art Underway at Grindelwald
By Linda Tancs
In central Switzerland lies a tiny glacier village guarded by the Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau mountain area prized by skiers. Thankfully, it’s accessible by car and bus, unlike other resorts in the area, so there’s no excuse not to attend the World Snow Festival in town. Beginning today and running through 24 January, the ice rink in the village’s epicenter will play host for the 27th season to a world of talent practicing their fine arts amidst a canvas of snow and ice. Past designs have ranged from a herd of elephants to the Swiss flag symbol. You can chat with the artists and maybe have a hand in creating this year’s masterpieces. Something to do après-ski. Best of all, it’s free!
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When Cars Fly
By Linda Tancs
The usual expression is “when pigs fly” (and of course they do, in some cultures) but now comes a flying car set on a course from London to Timbuktu–perhaps that journey is inspired by the metaphor “from here to Timbuktu.” The Parajet Skycar was developed by engineer and inventor Giles Cardozo, who seemingly has been inspired by Count Louis Zboroski, the maker of the Chitty Bang Bang series of flying cars in the 1920s, who in turn inspired Ian Fleming to write the children’s novel. Who knows, if they can perfect the contraption and mass market it, maybe our
childhood story will come to life.
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Rollin’ On the River
By Linda Tancs
They say the wheels of progress move slowly. The problem is when they stop moving at all. In Singapore, the city’s observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer, stranded almost 200 tourists riding in its capsules overlooking Marina Bay for six hours last month due to a fire in the control room. This isn’t the first mishap for a giant ferris wheel. The London Eye likewise stranded passengers a while back due to a mechanical fault. The good news is that the error there was fixed in an hour. The Flyer has been closed for evaluation since the incident. Hopefully, it will open again in time for New Year’s celebrations in February. The Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest observation wheel at a whopping 541 feet, followed by the London Eye at 443 feet and Australia’s Southern Star in Melbourne at 393 feet. With a little tweak here or there, let’s say good things come in tall packages.
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Of Gladiators and Chariots
By Linda Tancs
You know the old expression, “everything old is new again.” Now that applies to gladiators and chariots, too. In Rome, city representatives are contemplating an authentic re-creation (read: no puppet shows) of gladiator battles at the Colosseum, less commonly known as the Flavium amphitheater, in an effort to bring ancient Rome back to life. In another resurrection planned for over a decade, the O2 in London will present Ben-Hur, complete with its signature chariot scene made famous by Charleton Heston, in September. Presumably the show will tour Europe if all goes well in London.
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Coming of Age in Japan
By Linda Tancs
On the second Monday of January each year, a public holiday known as Coming of Age Day (Seijin no hi) represents the marking of adulthood for Japanese twenty-year-olds. In a nation deeply bound by tradition, the day’s festivities are ever more significant in this age of decreasing population, as reflected by the statistics of the Population Census Division. Between the years 1899 and 2004, live births (per 1000 of population) have sunk from a high of 33 to a low of 8.8. For this year’s ceremonies, that translates to up to 680,000 men and 650,000 women taking part in rituals ranging from a visit to the local shrine to local government events and get-togethers with family and friends. For young ladies, in particular, it is a time to dress in kimono, no doubt assisted in the intracacies thereof by family or shop attendants. In modern society where its use is confined to special occasions like this, the art of kimono may get lost among a shrinking populace. Let’s hope that’s not the case.
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European Culture East to West
By Linda Tancs
Year-long festivities are kicking off in Lithuania and Austria as the cities of Vilnius and Linz, respectively, take top honors from the EU as a European Capital of Culture. In Lithuania’s largest city and capital, the program of events coincides with the country’s millenium celebrations and its contest to anoint a new Lithuanian Capital of Culture for the town or city with the best cultural project. A particular high note for the EU’s honoree is the song and dance festival in July, during which 30,000 voices will unite in song. On the western front, the Danube city of Linz (Austria’s third largest) will showcase its art and art exhibitions, including summer’s famous street art fair and Ars Electronica, the world-renowned media arts festival in early September. So which will it be–Lithuania or Austria? Why not go Baroque and visit both.
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Norway Celebrates Culture
By Linda Tancs
The Norwegian government has designated 2009 the Norwegian Year of Cultural Heritage with an emphasis on everyday life. To that end, a site has been created to highlight cultural trends and present articles from a vast cross-section of the public on Norwegian ways and customs. Gratulerer, Norge!
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Little Town of Bethlehem
By Linda Tancs
It’s been said that Christmas time is the best time to visit Bethlehem. And considering that several denominations celebrate Christmas at times other than 25 December (6 January for Orthodox Christians and 18 January for Armenian Christians), there’s a window of opportunity to take part in the Mideast celebrations. Whatever your faith, consider taking in some of the processions and services around Manger Square and St. Catherine’s Church during this holiest of seasons. The Christian Information Centre has details for you.
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Traveling with Santa
By Linda Tancs
In the current edition of Travelrific® Travel Show, the topic is polar travel. Discover Santa’s northern delights in and around the Arctic Circle. Find the podcast here.
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Umbria’s Big Tree
By Linda Tancs
Every year on 7 December Gubbio, Italy turns the lights on the world’s largest Christmas tree. This “tree” is a fir-like design of 1300 feet of neon lights connected by over 40,000 feet of cable, beginning at the foothills of this Umbrian town and rising to its tabernacle dedicated to the village’s patron saint, Ubaldo. Now in its 28th year, the show runs till 10 January. If you can’t make it, buy the stamp instead. The local post office commemorated its 10th anniversary back in 1990–philatelists, take note.
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