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
Exploring Climate Change
By Linda Tancs
All this chat about climate change in recent years no doubt got the city elders of Bremerhaven, Germany thinking. Why not create a place for individuals to experience climate change for themselves–to learn about the complex interaction between man and climate in an entertaining way. And so, beginning in March 2009, Bremerhaven will host Climate House, a science-based theme park in the shape of a giant dill pickle. The attraction promises to educate and entertain on the subject of world climate, even offering visitors the opportunity to create their own weather forecasts in addition to “visiting” world climates along the eighth degree line of longitude. This building is but one of many changes coming to the inner city, among them a hotel whose exterior is reminiscent of Dubai’s Hotel Burj al-Arab and a shopping complex dubbed Mediterraneo. As they say in Bremerhaven, “future ahoy!”
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Cell Phones Allowed Limited Use in EU Flights
By Linda Tancs
Following up on our July 19, 2007 post, the EU has, after testing for safety, issued regulations allowing the use of cell phones during flight, not including take-off and landing. Let’s just hope that the resulting conversations don’t devolve into captive attention to the various trials and tribulations of your flight mates. Perhaps a manual on cell phone etiquette should find its way to the seat back in front of you.
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Stretching the Dollar
By Linda Tancs
Between rising fuel costs, exchange rate woes and failing airlines, you know your travel dollars will be stretched to the limit. So where can you get the most bang for your buck? The Portimão area of Portugal looks pretty good. You’ve got 5 beaches, 4 golf facilities, and the tourist mecca of Alvor, together with room rates as low as 83 euros through May. Hire a boat from Alvor to Ria de Alvor, an estuary giving sanctuary to a number of migrating birds and flowering plants amidst the sand dunes, mud flats, and freshwater and saltwater marshes. Top off your adventure with the local specialty of grilled sardine. Did you know that the Portguese eat more fish than any other Europeans? Now grab and bag and start packing. Desejo-lhe umas boas férias!
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Birthing Pains at Heathrow
By Linda Tancs
No one ever said it would be easy. Apparently, last month’s massive move of British Airways’ operations to the brand spanking new Terminal 5 was not without a hitch–or a glitch. Flight delays and baggage loss again wreak havoc on unsuspecting travelers using the newest digs at Heathrow–eerily reminiscent of the baggage belt debacle of December 2006. Over 300 flights have been cancelled, and more are projected at least until tomorrow. Ouch.
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The Luxury of Monaco
By Linda Tancs
Monaco is synonymous with luxury, from its five-star hotels and famous casino to the slew of Rolls-Royces, Aston Martins and Bentleys that cascade around the tree-lined streets and boulevards. Experience the grandeur at www.travelrificradio.com.
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Cruise Ports Unite in Marketing Alliance
By Linda Tancs
In a bid for attention among the better known (and used) ports of the Mediterranean and Baltic, fifteen European ports have united to market their appeal to cruise travelers. Calling themselves the Atlantic Alliance, the fifteen members of this cooperative are: Hamburg, Bremerhaven, IJmuiden, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Cherbourg, Saint-Malo, Brest, Nantes, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Santander, Vigo and Lisbon. More West European ports are expected to join in the future.
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Oh, Canada!
By Linda Tancs
Canada’s motto is “from sea to sea.” And that’s no exaggeration for this country covering the Atlantic in the east, the Pacific in the west, and the Arctic in the north. Explore this vast expanse at www.travelrificradio.com.
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St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations Abound
By Linda Tancs
More than just a holy day, the feast of St. Patrick is celebrated with song, parades and, of course, lots of comfort food. Whether or not you’ve made it to the festivities in or around locales like Dublin, Galway, Belfast or Cork (or anywhere else in the world), you can virtually be there in the online community of Second Life. Or watch the movie at www.discoverireland.com. Either way, as the Irish say, céad míle fáilte!
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A Little Napa in the Holy Land
By Linda Tancs
Perhaps fueled by Western oenophiles, Israel’s fledgling wine industry is enjoying a surge in interest. And why not, considering that its subtropical climate of hot days and cool nights lends itself quite nicely to the art of winemaking. Although the epicenter of winemaking would be the Judean Hills, wineries can be found from the Golan to the Mediterranean coast. So take a break from the turf and surf and enjoy a wine tasting in a nice cool cellar or lounge. Your taste buds will surely be thankful.
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More to Svalbard Than Seeds
By Linda Tancs
The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard gained national attention recently when it opened its seed vault to visitors. The vault, housed deep within an Arctic mountain in the capital city of Longyearbyen, was designed to safeguard seeds for the world’s crops to sustain life in the event of an apocalyptic event. But Svalbard, which means “cold edge,” and its capital city should be remembered as more than just a “Noah’s Ark” of sorts for farming. As with other Arctic destinations, you’ll find your fair share of reindeer, polar bears, blue ice and, between April and August, midnight sun. Also, jazz and blues enthusiasts will find festivals at the end of January and October, respectively. And around mid-March you can celebrate the end of Arctic darkness during SunFest. Just like the rest of Norway, though, prices here are outrageously expensive. Tent-based camping remains one of the most popular and cost-efficient ways to enjoy this northernmost inhabited tip of the world.
