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
Magic in Oxford
By Linda Tancs
They say that springtime is magical at Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum. Part of the University of Oxford, it’s the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world. With winter in the rear view, the gardens are coming alive with hellebores, crocuses and some early scilla as well as some early daffodils in the Lower Garden. The conservatory beckons with citrus and hyacinth as well as bougainvillea and primula. And it doesn’t stop there. The arboretum (part of Oxford Botanic Garden since 1963) is awash in Darjeeling flowers, a scent you can’t miss along the Serpentine Ride, the oldest part of the arboretum. Originally a physic garden, today’s complex contains over 5,000 different plant species, a year-round oasis of biodiversity.
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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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Disgusting Food
By Linda Tancs
One man’s meat is another man’s poison, the saying goes. Keep that in mind when you visit Sweden’s Disgusting Food Museum in Malmö. Boasting 80 exhibits, you’ll find specimens like roasted guinea pig from Peru, maggot-infested cheese from Sardinia and pungent bean curd from China. You can smell and taste some of them. Bon appétit!
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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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From the Indian to the Pacific
By Linda Tancs
You’ll find one of the world’s great transcontinental train journeys aboard Australia’s Indian Pacific. Named for the two oceans the train encounters on its journey, the Indian Pacific travels between Perth and Sydney on a spectacular 2,700 mile-long crossing. The locomotive itself is equally breathtaking, averaging 2,500 feet with 30 carriages. Sights along the route include the Blue Mountains of New South Wales (home to the steepest passenger railway in the world), the barren expanse of the Nullarbor (home to the longest stretch of straight railway track in the world), the mining town of Kalgoorlie and a ghost town named Cook.
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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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A Jewel in the Black Forest
By Linda Tancs
Over 900 years’ strong, Freiburg is a medieval city in Germany nestled at the foot of the Black Forest. Billed as the sunniest city in the nation, it’s known for some unusual things, like a long, red sausage and walkable gutters. As for the wurst, it’s over 13 inches long. The red, skinless barbecue sausage is, not surprisingly, nicknamed “Queen of the Wursts.” The gutters are small water channels flowing throughout the streets in the Old Town, fed by the Dreisam River. Don’t be surprised to see some paper boats or rubber ducks floating by.
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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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Underground in the Lake District
By Linda Tancs
Honister Pass is among the highest navigable routes in England’s Lake District. As you can imagine, the views are stunning. There’s also a different sort of view at the summit of the pass, below the earth. That’s where the country’s last working slate mine sits, home of the iconic Westmorland green slate. Explore the mine’s history with a 90-minute tour of its underground tunnels and caverns. You can buy small slate items from the shop.
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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 Portals of Derwent
By Linda Tancs
Ladybower Reservoir was built in Derbyshire, England. Its most dramatic characteristic might be the two stone spillways (plug holes) opposite each other that keep water levels in check during heavy rains or flooding. Nearly 80 feet in diameter, it’s tempting to think of them as portals to another dimension, particularly when they’re flowing with water. When water levels are low, you might see ruins of Derwent and Ashopton, two villages drowned when the reservoir was created. For stunning viewpoints, take the circular walk (about 5 miles in length) around the reservoir, a favorite of hikers and dog walkers.
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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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Beneath the Waves in Italy
By Linda Tancs
Baia is a sunken resort town in the vicinity of Naples, Italy. In the ancient Roman world, it was the epitome of hedonism, a playground for the likes of Nero and Cicero. Now one of the world’s few underwater archaeological parks, licensed scuba divers can explore the site, accompanied by one of the registered local dive shops and guides. You can also explore its sunken ruins via a glass canoe excursion that runs from April to October.
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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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Croatia’s Long Island
By Linda Tancs
Dugi Otok is, literally, Croatia’s long island. Long and stringy, it’s aptly named. A hotspot for scuba diving and instruction, the island is also known for its nature park in the southeastern part of the island. Telašćica Nature Park is a study in contrast: peaceful beaches on one side and imposing cliffs on the other. Its status as a protected park owes to some 400 plant species as well as numerous rare and endemic plants that have been recorded as well as an underwater world that is home to about 250 plants and 300 animal organisms. You might also spot one of the 14 island donkeys. The simplest route there is from Sali, the main town on the island.
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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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A Tough Trek in Rio
By Linda Tancs
Pedra da Gávea is Rio de Janeiro’s most imposing monolith. The trek to the top is also the most arduous, commanding at least three hours. The hardest leg of the trail, known as Carrasqueira, is a steep climb leading to rewarding, bird’s-eye views of Sugarloaf, Corcovado, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema and even the Serra dos Órgãos mountain range. Hire an experienced guide for the safest experience.
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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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Japan’s Naked Festival
By Linda Tancs
Held on the third Saturday in February, Hadaka Matsuri (“naked festival”) isn’t quite as hedonistic as it may sound. Featuring over 10,000 men, the apparel of choice is a loincloth. They bathe in it at a pool at Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple to purify their souls. That might be one of the more serene aspects of this annual religious rite. Later at night, the party really gets going when the men pack themselves into the temple like sardines, vying for one of the twigs thrown into the crowd by a priest. A lucky catch means prosperity for the coming year. The temple is an easy walk from Saidaiji Station on the JR Okayama Station’s Ako 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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