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
The Town in a Crater
By Linda Tancs
About 75 miles west of Panama City, El Valle de Anton is a town nestled in the crater of an extinct volcano. Nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, it provides relief from the heat of the lowlands below. Hikers of all skill levels will appreciate the variety of trails, made all the more accessible by the crisper temperatures. It’s best to start at La India Dormida Trail, where you experience some of the best sunrise views over the town and stunning mountain views.
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The Greater Outdoors
By Linda Tancs
Kielder Water & Forest Park in Northumberland is home to England’s largest forest and the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe. Popular with walkers, hikers and cyclists, you’ll get great views of a gorge and waterfall at Hindhope Linn, a few miles from Kielder Castle, formerly the hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland. The castle area is a hub for cyclists. Consider a short stroll from Kielder Village along the trackbed of the former Border Counties Railway, where the Kielder Viaduct is one of the best preserved examples of a skew-arch bridge in the country. The night views aren’t bad either, considering that the dark sky zone is the second-largest area of protected night sky in Europe. The observatory offers events throughout the year that must be booked in advance.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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The House of Devon
By Linda Tancs
Just south of Exeter, over 600 years of British history stands resplendent over the estuary of the River Exe. This is the site of Powderham Castle, a home now occupied by the 19th earl of Devon (Charlie Courtenay) and his family. One of the grandest family estates in Britain, it was built in the 14th century by Sir Philip Courtenay, making the current occupants the 28th generation of caretakers. Little is off limits; the upstairs guided tour even includes personal family bedrooms. The other option, the State Room Tour, includes the castle’s grandest rooms, secret doors, long libraries and even a hidden ballroom. Among the highlights is the Rococo interior, especially the staircase hall that was immortalized in the film “The Remains of the Day.”
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Chile’s Biosphere
By Linda Tancs
A wonderland of volcanoes and lakes, Chile’s Lauca National Park in the northeast forms part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve thanks to its diverse collection of flora and fauna. Indeed, over 130 different bird species live in the park, in addition to the distinctive vicuñas, vizcachas and condors. A major attraction in the park is Lake Chungará, one of the highest lakes in the world, located at the foot of the Payachata twin volcanoes in all their snow-capped glory.
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Silver Darlings in Norfolk
By Linda Tancs
Great Yarmouth, also known as Yarmouth, is a seaside town in England with a long maritime history. By the 19th century, it was the largest herring port in the world. Known as “silver darlings” for their bright, silver color, the fish was exported as far as Russia, India and Africa. You can learn more about the fishing industry at the Time & Tide Museum, a former smokehouse. And don’t miss this month’s Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival at historic South Quay. The event features tall ships, shanty music and pirates along with a costumed actor portraying naval commander Horatio Nelson, who spent time there before the Battle of Copenhagen and on his return to England after the Battle of the Nile.
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Land of Flowers
By Linda Tancs
Part of the semi-desert Succulent Karoo biome, Namaqualand is an arid area of South Africa that becomes a carpet of wildflowers after the winter rains end in August. Roughly between mid-August and mid-September, it’s home to the richest bulb flora of any arid region in the world, with more than 1,000 of its estimated 3,500 plant species found nowhere else on Earth. The Skilpad and Korhaan walking trails offer great views of this spectacular, one-of-a-kind display. You might want to stay awhile at one of the temporary flower camps, like Skilpad Rest Camp or one of the various camping options along the coast.
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A Perfect Circle in Portugal
By Linda Tancs
Situated opposite the Portuguese town of Vila Franca do Campo in São Miguel, the biggest island in the Azores, the islet of Vila Franca results from the crater of an ancient submerged volcano. Classified as a nature reserve, it boasts a nearly perfect circular lake inside the crater walls. It’s an important flyover zone for seabirds like Cory’s shearwater and common tern. It’s also a popular destination for swimming and cliff diving. Couple your visit with a dolphin and whale watching tour.
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Land of Cheeses
By Linda Tancs
Reputedly there are 100,000 cows in Asturias, Spain. They produce around 50 varieties of cheese, leading some to call the region the “land of cheeses.” Everyone has their preference, but most would probably agree that the star of the show is Cabrales, the region’s blue cheese. Four possess a Designation of Origin (a distinctive sign intended to protect a product originating in a specific geographical area): Cabrales, Gamonéu, Casín and Afuega’l pitu. And Beyos boasts a Protected Geographical Indication. You can visit cheese caves or, for a more immersive experience, dive into the cheese route, a gastronomical adventure spanning from Cangas de Onís to Tielve. Along the way is Arenas, where the Cabrales cheese competition is held on the last Sunday in August.
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Bogging in Wales
By Linda Tancs
Bog snorkeling is a sporting event where competitors aim to complete a run in a water-filled trench cut through a peat bog in the shortest time possible, wearing traditional snorkel, diving mask and flippers. This unique test of endurance results in a world title at the annual Bog Snorkeling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells, a small town in Wales. However, this is no small town affair; the competition attracts competitors from as far afield as Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic and even Australia. Held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, this year’s event falls on August 27.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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The Hummingbird Highway
By Linda Tancs
Named for the abundance of hummingbirds found in the country, Belize’s Hummingbird Highway connects the Western Highway outside of the capital city of Belmopan in central Belize to the Southern Highway just outside of the town of Dangriga in the Stann Creek District in the southeast. Generally regarded as one of the most scenic routes in the country, the 53-mile road winds its way through postcard-worthy views of jungles, orchards and pretty villages. Although it only takes about two hours to drive through, you’ll want to stop and take in some of the popular attractions like Blue Hole National Park and its jungle trails as well as Hummingbird Gap, the highest elevation on the journey at almost 1,000 feet.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
