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 Foliage Train
By Linda Tancs
The Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway runs 32 miles between Domodossola, Italy, and Locarno, Switzerland, passing over 83 bridges and viaducts. Just the mention of a route like that evokes scenic wonders, so imagine how colorful it gets during autumn. That’s when “the foliage train” operates, promising enchanting views enhanced by autumn’s foliage. Each train is equipped with full-length windows, too, so it’s doubtful that the journey will disappoint. You can reach the International Rail Station of Domodossola with Eurocity, interregionali and regionali trains operated by Trenitalia. On the Swiss side, Locarno can be reached by using the international railway lines Basel-Milano or Zurich-Milano, and the route is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) and GA travelcard.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Green Caviar in Japan
By Linda Tancs
Miyako Island is the largest of the Miyako Islands chain located in Japan’s far southern Okinawa prefecture. It’s a subtropical haven known for its stunning beaches and coral banks, a go-to destination for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Amidst this natural splendor is another gem, a seaweed delicacy farmed on the island known as umi-budō (sea grapes). Because of its shape and color, it’s often referred to as “green caviar.” Why not give it a try, and visit the beaches (some of the best in Japan), which are best enjoyed between April and November.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Venice of the Cotswolds
By Linda Tancs
Bourton-on-the-Water is a charming village in the heart of England’s Cotswolds. It’s popularly referred to as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” because of the stone bridges crossing the River Windrush that meanders through the center of town. You’ll find lots of yellow limestone buildings characteristic of the region, a perfect complement to the storybook scenery. You might be surprised to learn that there’s also a bird park, with over 130 species of birds on display and home to the only breeding group in the U.K. for king penguins. If you’re short on time, enjoy a whirlwind tour of the heart of town at The Model Village, a one-ninth scale replica.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Catalonia’s Natural Park
By Linda Tancs
The Ebro Delta is the delta region of the Ebro River, the longest in Spain. It’s Catalonia’s largest wetland, a large part of which is designated a natural park to protect the area’s flora and fauna. Over 300 species of birds live there, making it a hotspot for birdwatchers seeking gulls, terns, reed warblers, flamingos and more. In particular, the park boasts the largest colony of Audouin’s gull. The region is also the rice growing capital of Catalonia, with over 54,000 acres reserved for this crop. Get there by train on the Barcelona-Valencia line.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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The Museum of Forgotten Flavors
By Linda Tancs
Kolomna is an ancient city about 72 miles from Moscow. In its heyday, it produced a marshmallow-like treat called pastila that gained popularity across Russia. When the town entered a decline in the early 1900s, so did its sweet treats. But thanks to some enterprising women, the old pastila recipes were resurrected from the 18th and 19th centuries in 2009, and the Museum of Forgotten Flavors was born. It’s a living museum where visitors can learn about pastila from actors in period costume and indulge their taste buds at the museum cafe. Originally an apple-based treat, production now includes pastila with pears, lemons, chocolate, strawberries and more.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Art Deco in Devon
By Linda Tancs
Burgh Island is a tidal island on the coast of South Devon in England located opposite the beach of the small seaside village of Bigbury-on-Sea. A strip of sand leading from the beach is all that will get you there during low tide; otherwise, the sea tractor will have to do. The island’s landmark is its Art-Deco inspired hotel, famously a retreat for mystery writer Agatha Christie. The island also served as a retreat of sorts for smugglers and pirates in the 14th century. Their hideout, the Pilchard Inn, is reputedly haunted. Speaking of pilchard (sardines), the story goes that fishermen would keep watch for pilchard at a chapel on the island (remains of which are known as “Huer’s Hut”). When shoals were sighted, they would cry out to other fishermen on Bigbury. The phrase “hue and cry” is said to originate from this practice.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Top of the Nile
By Linda Tancs
The “top of the Nile” is where you’ll get the best view of Murchison Falls in Uganda, where the water powerfully squeezes through a narrow 22-foot crevice in the rocks to plunge over 131 feet below into a 164-foot radius pool. The falls are so spectacular that the national park of which it is a part is named for it. A three-hour, round-trip tour to the bottom of the waterfall will give you an opportunity to observe lots of local wildlife, like the shoebill stork, hippos and crocodiles. And you might even see the dwarf giraffe that was found in the park.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Portugal’s House of Stone
By Linda Tancs
Surrounded by windmills of the modern age, Portugal’s Casa do Penedo looks more like something out of the Stone Age. Located near Fafe in northern Portugal, the prehistoric-looking structure was built in the 1970s as a family shelter. Aptly named, the stone (boulder) dwelling comprises four large boulders that serve as the foundation, walls and ceiling of the house. Billed as one of the strangest homes in the world, you can arrange a guided tour from Porto.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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All Aboard the Brocken
By Linda Tancs
The Brocken is the highest peak in the Harz mountain range in central Germany. From the summit you’ll get glorious views of Harz National Park, the first such park to span two federal states. The peak also offers Brocken garden, a botanical garden established on the summit in 1890. It houses more than 1,500 plant species from high mountain areas from all over the world, with a particular emphasis on the protection and conservation of species that are either threatened with extinction or very rare. Between mid-May and mid-October you can explore the garden between Monday and Friday twice a day with a gardener. One of the best things about the garden is how to get there. A narrow-gauge steam train departs from Drei Annen Hohne station and takes approximately 50 minutes to climb to Brocken Station, just 52 feet below the mountain’s summit.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Shining in Berlin
By Linda Tancs
For 10 days each September the city of Berlin, Germany, becomes an artist’s canvas during the Festival of Lights. That’s when local and international light artists transform the monuments, buildings, streets, quarters and squares into massive art installations through light projections and video art. Participating landmarks, as you might expect, include Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Cathedral and the Funkturm. Most structures are illuminated daily from 7 p.m. until midnight. A guided tour goes by the name LightSeeing. The festival can also be easily explored by bus, boat, bike taxi, limousine or carriage. This year’s event runs from September 17 – 26.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 