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
Cornwall’s Secluded Enclave
By Linda Tancs
Bordered by the Fal estuary to the west and the Atlantic to the east, England’s Roseland Peninsula has been designated part of Cornwall’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for its mix of enchanting coast and pastoral landscapes. St. Mawes is the Roseland’s only town, a tony retreat popular with summer visitors since Edwardian times. On the western end of town is the iconic St. Mawes Castle. Shaped like a clover leaf, it’s among the best preserved of Henry VIII’s seaside fortresses. In addition to its sweeping views of St. Anthony Head (the tip of the peninsula) and Falmouth, you’ll find intricate historic carvings on the castle walls, lauding King Henry VIII and his son Edward. A ferry runs in season between St. Anthony and St. Mawes.
*************
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.
Share this:
Falling in North Africa
By Linda Tancs
The highest natural waterfalls in North Africa, Ouzoud Falls in Morocco is a stunning respite from the summer heat of Marrakech. Emptying into the El-Abid River gorge, the tiered cascades tumble from a height of 360 feet into a natural amphitheater of rugged, red-colored rock cliffs. To get there, you’ll journey high into the Atlas Mountains, passing through Berber villages and beautiful scenery. Even the name of the falls derives from Berber culture, meaning “the act of grinding grain.” You’ll enjoy several view points of the falls, including from restaurants along the falls’ path.
*************
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.
Share this:
The Isle of Women
By Linda Tancs
Helen Reddy sang a song entitled I am Woman, which became an anthem. Arguably, nowhere is that iconic song more applicable than the Estonian island of Kihnu. The whole island is, in fact, run by women, a development that evolved historically because seafaring men of the island simply weren’t around to take care of things. Its unique cultural heritage is inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The summer festival calendar offers a great chance to experience the old seafaring traditions and local dance. While you’re there, take the whirlwind, 15-mile tour of the island’s four villages (Kihnu Reesuratas, or Kihnu Travel Wheel) for an orientation.
*************
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.
Share this:
Scaling the Heights in Sydney
By Linda Tancs
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an Australian heritage-listed steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour. An iconic landmark, the span offers magnificent views of the harbor for pedestrians and cyclists. For the more daring among you, though, only a proper climb will do. You can do that with BridgeClimb, an experience offering a trek to the summit of the arch. Wearing a safety harness, you’ll ascend to a height of 440 feet for a bird’s-eye, panoramic view of the city. If that’s not enough, you can opt for an “ultimate” climb, walking the entire length of the arch from south to north and back again. BridgeClimb is located at 3 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, which is easily accessible by car and public transport.
*************
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.
Share this:
Mount Scenery
By Linda Tancs
Mount Scenery is the highest point on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba. Its name may be a bit of a misnomer, though, considering that the view from the top is often obscured by clouds. But don’t let that stop you from hiking to the summit. The newest hiking path, the Elfin Forest Trail, follows historical footpaths that Saban farmers took to their plantations. Just below the summit, the trail connects to the Mount Scenery Trail. Throughout the trek, you’ll experience the diverse flora that inhabits the landscape, like ferns, bromeliads, air plants and orchids growing on tree trunks in the tropical rainforest environment of the Elfin forest. On the lower slopes, you’ll find secondary rainforests, dry evergreen forests and grassy meadows closer to the sea. A popular option is to hike up the Elfin Forest Trail and descend on the Mount Scenery Trail.
*************
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.
Share this:
A Monument to the Mouse
By Linda Tancs
It isn’t easy being a mouse, especially for those giving up their lives for medical research. To honor their sacrifice, a bronze statue in Russia heralds their contribution to science. Monument to the Laboratory Mouse is located in Siberia in the city of Novosibirsk. It depicts a bespectacled, studious mouse knitting a double-strand of DNA. You’ll find it in front of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
*************
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.
Share this:
Flower of the Ocean
By Linda Tancs
The Colombian island of Providencia is affectionately known as “the flower of the ocean.” It’s an appropriate nickname, considering that it lies entirely within UNESCO’s Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, an oceanic archipelago with coral banks, small islands and islets forming part of atolls. Those are rare systems in the Caribbean, where this getaway rests between Central and South America. It was once a haven for pirates like Captain Morgan, whose memory is invoked by landmarks like Morgan’s Cave and and Morgan’s Head. The unspoiled island also became one of England’s first colonies, established in the 1600s by English Puritans. Now its Spanish heritage is infused with Creole and a distinct African-Caribbean vibe. You’ll get there via a flight from sister island San Andrés.
*************
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.
Share this:
Take it Slow
By Linda Tancs
In an increasingly fast-paced world, it’s a luxury to slow down. That’s one reason why the slow travel movement is so appealing. Walking routes are a big part of the movement. In Britain, an ambitious plan is afoot (no pun intended) to establish a national network of walking routes connecting all of the nation’s towns, villages and cities. Known as Slow Ways, the idea is to use existing paths, ways, trails and roads to walk between settlements and combine them to create longer distance trips. Many existing footpaths follow ancient Roman and Anglo-Saxon treks, but there are thousands more paths and rights of way that risk being lost to history. Thanks to hundreds of volunteers, those lesser-known routes are being documented and road-tested. As of this writing, there are over 7,000 Slow Ways stretching more than 62,000 miles.
*************
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.
Share this:
Rosy in Hampshire
By Linda Tancs
Things are looking pretty rosy this time of year at Mottisfont, a historical priory, garden and country estate in Hampshire, England. In particular, its walled garden with 500 varieties of roses is in bloom. Created by Graham Stuart Thomas (an important figure in 20th-century British horticulture), the gardens were chosen to house many varieties that may otherwise have become extinct. The estate is set alongside the River Test, Hampshire’s longest river. Its beginnings as a priory in 1201 are revealed in the ancient stone behind panels. It later became the artistic retreat of British socialite Maud Russell in the 18th century. Get there soon before the thousands of blooms are spent.
*************
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.
Share this:
Babylons of the White Sea
By Linda Tancs
One of the oldest nature reserves in Russia, Kandalaksha Nature Reserve is located in the Kola Peninsula on the White Sea coast. Although the nature reserve itself is off-limits to tourists, the area boasts other attractions, like ancient labyrinths known locally as “babylons” found on Big Zayatsky Island. That’s one of six islands comprising Solovetsky Islands, the main tourist attraction in the White Sea. This time of year is ideal for beluga whale and seal watching. The most accessible place for observing belugas in the wild is on Big Solovetsky Island. The bearded seal, harp seal and Arctic ringed seal are also native to the region. You can get to the islands (located about 100 miles from the Arctic Circle) by a ferry/train combination originating in Saint Petersburg or by plane from Arkhangelsk.
*************
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.
