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 Living Work of Art
By Linda Tancs
Located in Wiltshire, England, Stourhead is an estate boasting a Palladian house and world-famous landscape garden. When it first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as “a living work of art.” Indeed, the home (one of the first grand Palladian-style villas built in England) boasts a spectacular collection of furniture, artwork and heritage pieces collected by the Hoare family. It’s also home to some of the most spectacular follies (decorative structures) in Britain. The most famous folly is arguably the Temple of Apollo, which made its way into the film Pride and Prejudice. Another folly, the Pantheon, was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. And another one, Alfred’s Tower (named for King Alfred the Great), offers panoramic views over three counties. Events at the property include Behind Closed Doors tours, guided walks and daily activities.
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An Iconic Tower in London
By Linda Tancs
Built in the 1960s, London’s BT Tower was once the city’s tallest building (at around 581 feet) until NatWest Tower opened in 1980. A national landmark, it was initially used for transmitting signals to television broadcasters and later featured a revolving restaurant and viewing platform (until an act of terrorism shut it down). As its role in telecommunications diminished with the evolution of fixed and mobile technology, the landmark saw new use as a giant banner of sorts when a wrap-around LED screen was installed around the 36th and 37th floors to provide messaging for various national events and even social media posts. The building has been sold to MCR, a major hotel group boasting properties like New York’s TWA Hotel and The High Line.
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A Taste of South Beach in Tuscany
By Linda Tancs
Miami’s South Beach is an area well known for its Art Deco district. You could think of Italy’s seaside city of Viareggio as a kissing cousin. It boasts the same architecture, one of the most famous structures being the Gran Caffè Margherita. Start your tour at the intersection of Via Pietro Mascagni and Viale Alfredo Belluomini and head south on the promenade that runs parallel to the beach.
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Inspiring Views of Brittany
By Linda Tancs
The sandstone cliffs of Cap Fréhel offer one of the most beautiful views of Brittany in northwestern France. Those cliffs are also home to many seabirds, including a very small community of the rare razorbill. For the best views of sea, sand, cliffs and birds take the coastal path between the cape and Fort La Latte, a gorgeous castle that has served as the backdrop for many films. Your hour-long walk will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside from the castle keep. The castle is open through October.
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A Historical Gem in Croatia
By Linda Tancs
Brač is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea. The oldest inhabited village on the island is Škrip, a sparsely populated hamlet where olive oil is produced. Not surprisingly, you’ll find a Museum of Olive Oil there offering tastings and sales. The medieval center boasts a tower that contains the Island of Brač Museum as well as a Roman mausoleum said to contain the remains of the daughter and wife of Emperor Diocletian, who ordered the quarry of local stone for the construction of his palace. A ferry service runs between Split and Brač.
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A Kingly Encounter in Scotland
By Linda Tancs
Regarded as a national hero in Scotland, Robert I, popularly known as Robert the Bruce, was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. He led Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against England and fought successfully during his reign to restore Scotland to an independent kingdom. Dunfermline Abbey is the final resting place of Robert the Bruce, and so it’s appropriate that it’s also the location where you can view a spectacular 3D replica of the king’s head (adorned in armor and a crown) in celebration of the 750th anniversary of his birth. To create the model, a cast of his skull (preserved at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow) was scanned and enhanced with muscle formations and textured skin. The resulting model is heralded as the most accurate depiction of his face to date. The public can view it at the abbey until December 7.
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Italy’s Marble Mountains
By Linda Tancs
The Apuan Alps is a mountain range in northern Tuscany. Known as a marble-rich area, the luxury stone has been excavated there since ancient Roman times, particularly in Carrara, which is one of the highest producing marble sites on Earth. The mountain range is protected as part of the Apuan Alps Regional Park, where you’ll also find Mount Forato, boasting one of the country’s largest natural arches. The park’s visitor centers are located at Equi Terme in Lunigiana, at Bosa di Careggine in Garfagnana, in Massa and in Seravezza.
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A Foray Through Switzerland
By Linda Tancs
The GoldenPass Express is one of Switzerland’s most picturesque train routes. The journey between Interlaken and Montreux is a little over three hours’ long and takes in Gstaad, Château-d’Oex and Montbovon. The train’s Prestige class offers heated leather seats, which can be rotated 180 degrees upon request. This travel class is also elevated more than the other travel classes, offering you an even better view of the fascinating scenery.
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Sweden’s Oldest Tree
By Linda Tancs
Sweden’s oldest tree is Old Tjikko, its root system having survived for over 9,500 years now. A few feet have been lopped off the top because of a harsh winter last year. Only discovered little more than a decade ago, the tree takes its name from a dog that accompanied the researchers who found it. You’ll find it in Fulufjället National Park near the border with Norway.
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France’s Little Ireland
By Linda Tancs
Situated in the Manche département, the Cotentin Peninsula is a peninsula in Normandy that forms part of the northwest coast of France. It’s affectionately known as France’s “little Ireland” due to its Ireland-like landscape boasting green countryside dotted with sheep, quaint villages and a rugged coastline. Among the many gems in the area are D-Day sites like the Utah Beach Museum, picturesque harbor towns like Quinéville and Barfleur and UNESCO-designated fortifications at Vauban. The Normandy Discovery Pass offers unlimited travel over two days for two people on all intra-Normandy journeys by train or Nomad coach. You can reach the area by car or train from Paris as well or via ferry from England or Ireland.
