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 Caves of Drach
By Linda Tancs
One of the top tourist attractions in Mallorca (Majorca), Spain, the Drach Caves combine Mother Nature’s showmanship with that of man. As a natural attraction, the cave tour spans nearly a 1-mile route through tunnels adorned with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites up to a depth of 82 feet. The caves conceal Lake Martel, one of the biggest underground lakes in the world. Couple that with a little bit of musical showmanship, a concert on Lake Martel that has been performed since 1935, consisting of four pieces of classical music played by a quartet of musicians. The concert, lasting about 10 minutes, is included in the one-hour cave tour. The caves are located in Porto Cristo, a picturesque fishing village offering an abundance of fishing charters and tours.
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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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Holy Island
By Linda Tancs
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne off Northumberland’s coast is more than just a pilgrimage site; the tidal island is also home to a nature preserve full of wildlife, tidal mudflats, saltmarshes and dunes. A short distance from the Scottish border, the island was home to St. Cuthbert, a revered monk who spread Christianity in the north of England. Two of its most stunning sites are Lindisfarne Castle and the ancient priory, but what may be most magical about the place is just getting there. It’s linked to the mainland (Berwick) by a causeway that floods twice daily, so timing is essential. Bus service will get you there when it’s safe. Enjoy a stay on the island for a true tranquil getaway.
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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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Urban Art in London
By Linda Tancs
There’s only one place in London, England, where you’ll find legalized graffiti and street art, and that’s at Leake Street. In fact, urban art is encouraged on the walls and ceilings of the street, which is a road tunnel in Lambeth. Less than 1,000 feet long, the street runs off York Road and under the platforms and tracks of Waterloo station. The area is known as Leake Street Arches, a dining and entertainment complex which incorporates the graffiti tunnel and a new pedestrianized walkway connecting Leake Street to Westminster Bridge roundabout. The entrance is next door to Park Plaza County Hall.
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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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Copenhagen’s Round Tower
By Linda Tancs
Touted as the oldest functioning observatory in Europe, Copenhagen’s Round Tower was built by Christian IV in the early 17th century at a time when Denmark was famous for its astronomical achievements. You’ll access the observatory by walking up a wide spiral path to the top of the tower. This iconic tourist attraction offers, as you might expect, stunning views of the oldest parts of the city. It’s located in one of the busiest shopping areas, in the pedestrian zone between Nørreport station and Strøget.
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Plenty of Books in Norfolk
By Linda Tancs
One of the most impressive collections of books in England is at Blickling Estate in Norfolk. That’s where you’ll find the 18th-century Long Gallery, which contains over 12,500 volumes, including a handwritten manuscript from the 1100s containing the Dialogues of Pope Gregory the Great. Mentioned in the Domesday Book, the estate is also the alleged birthplace of Anne Boleyn, ill-fated wife of King Henry VIII. Be sure to stroll the gardens. There are two secret tunnels, a walled garden and a lake, as well as a formidable row of yew hedges flanking the driveway.
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The Coronation of King Charles
By Linda Tancs
The Coronation of His Majesty The King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023, sparking a series of ceremonial, celebratory and community events that will take place over the Coronation Weekend. For instance, on May 7 a special evening Coronation Concert will be staged and broadcast live at Windsor Castle by the BBC. The highlight of the concert, Lighting up the Nation, features iconic locations across the United Kingdom being lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations. During the day neighbors and communities are invited to share food and fun together at what’s being styled the “Coronation Big Lunch.” Monday, a Bank Holiday, is set aside for “The Big Help Out,” a day for volunteering and community service.
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An Edwardian Jewel in Surrey
By Linda Tancs
One of the National Trust’s most popular properties, Polesden Lacey is an Edwardian mansion and estate in Surrey, England. It was once the weekend retreat of Margaret Greville, who rose from humble beginnings as a brewer’s daughter to become one of the most celebrated hostesses of the Edwardian era. Her rise in society was due to her marriage to Ronald Greville, heir to a baronetcy. In addition to her discerning eye for fine art, she amassed a jewelry collection that was ultimately bequeathed to Britain’s Royal Family. This time of year the gardens are blooming with daffodils, and the vast estate offers views of Ranmore Common on the North Downs, a landscape virtually unchanged since medieval times. Join a guided tour of the house in the morning, or wander around on your own in the afternoon. The house is open from March to October.
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Wandering Through Vogtland
By Linda Tancs
Panoramic views are a dime a dozen unless, of course, you find yourself on the Vogtland Panorama Weg. It’s a 139-mile circular trail in Germany that winds its way through Thuringia and Saxony, promising 82 panoramic views and 280 changes of scenery featuring ravines, meadows and endless vistas. The trail begins and ends at the Göltzsch Viaduct, the largest brick-built bridge in the world. Experienced hikers will find the marked route very manageable, with 12 daily stages up to 14 miles.
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A Gem in the Chilterns
By Linda Tancs
A windmill has stood in Ivinghoe, in the Chiltern countryside, since at least 1627. That’s where you’ll find Pitstone Windmill, the oldest-dated windmill in Britain. Although no longer in use today, it’s a refurbished example of an early post mill which, unlike similar mills in East Anglia, was turned to face the wind on top of a huge wooden post using a tail pole instead of a fantail or shuttered sails. It’s part of Ashridge Estate, a 5,000-acre refuge of woodland, chalk downlands and meadows.
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Brazil’s Pantanal
By Linda Tancs
Larger than 29 U.S. states and at least nine European countries, the Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland system. Although Brazil lays claim to most of the region, it also sprawls into Bolivia and Paraguay. Partly comprising a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a Biosphere Reserve, it contains the highest concentration of some wildlife species, including the jaguar and caiman, and is home to the biggest parrot on the planet, the hyacinth macaw. The highlight of any visit to western Brazil, many tourists prefer the drier winter season (around June to September) but the end of the rainy summer season (April) offers photographers irresistible views of the flooding and receding of the waters.
