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
From Castle to Hostel
By Linda Tancs
St. Briavels Castle began in the 12th century as a significant means of defense against the campaigns of the Welsh. Strategically located in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, it reaped the benefits of the area’s renown as a center of the medieval iron industry and the manufacture of crossbow bolts. Under King Edward I, thousands of crossbow bolts were produced at the castle in preparation for the king’s defensive campaigns. Once the conquest of Wales was completed, the castle served as a debtor’s prison. These days, the castle’s gatehouse prison serves as a youth hostel. Due to this use, access to the interior is limited; visitors should call ahead. However, the exterior of the castle and moat can be viewed during daylight hours, and there is seasonal access (April to October) to the inner bailey and courtyard.
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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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Between Pakistan and China
By Linda Tancs
Some might call the Karakoram Highway the ultimate road trip. Or maybe thrill ride is a better term. Connecting China and Pakistan across the Karakoram mountain range, it’s loaded with hairpin turns, pencil-thin roads and steep slopes. It’s also billed as the world’s highest paved international border crossing, reaching over 15,000 feet above sea level. Stretching about 800 miles, part of its path traces the ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes formally established during the Han Dynasty of China. If you’re keen to test your stamina (as well as your nerves), then this might be the trip for you.
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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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Land of the Gonds
By Linda Tancs
The area occupying India’s Kanha National Park was once the domain of one of Central India’s indigenous tribes, the Gonds. Now it’s a popular tiger reserve, one of the finest in the country. But don’t overlook its other jewels, like the endangered swamp deer. Conservation efforts have boosted the population so significantly that the species is now regarded as “the jewel of Kanha National Park.” Get ready for a visit during peak season, October to March. The park is accessible from popular destinations like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
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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 Whale of a Time in Iceland
By Linda Tancs
If you’ve dreamed of getting up-close and personal with a whale without risk, then Reykjavik’s whale museum is the place for you. Appropriately named Whales of Iceland, it showcases life-size replicas of 23 whale species found in Icelandic waters. Painstakingly reproduced, the exhibition includes an 82-foot-long blue whale, a full-size sperm whale and even an endangered North Atlantic right whale. You can download an audio tour to your phone or tablet or take advantage of the guided tour offered at 1:30 p.m. to all ticket holders.
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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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Into the Wilderness in Greenland
By Linda Tancs
A nature lover’s dream, the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland hits all the marks with its glistening lakes, fjords, mountains and low Arctic vegetation. Nearly 100 miles long, this trek through the backcountry runs between Kangerlussuaq and Sisimiut. Not for the faint of heart, it generally takes between nine to 11 days to complete the hike. At this time of year, expect cooler temperatures and overnight snow in the mountains. There are eight simple huts (some with restrooms) at various points along the trail that typically sleep up to six people. Given the limited number of guided hikes, you might want to download the maps and trail guides available from the Greenland GPS app for offline use.
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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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Mud in Your Eye in Germany
By Linda Tancs
“Here’s mud in your eye” is a toast with a double meaning in Föhr, one of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea. A popular way to get there is by hiking through the tidal mudflats from Emmelsbüll-Horsbüll. After a trek like that you might want a cocktail to ease into some relaxation. The drink you’ll find on virtually any menu is the Manhattan. Conceived, of course, in New York City, its popularity in this second-largest German island of the North Sea cannot be understated. A popular explanation is that German immigrants brought the concoction back to their homeland when fortunes there improved. Whatever the case, you can sleep off your indulgence in one of the island’s unique beach sleeping baskets along its white, sandy beaches.
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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 Sing-Sing in Papua
By Linda Tancs
A sing-sing is a gathering of tribes or villages in Papua New Guinea. In the Highlands, that’s characterized by the annual Goroka Festival, the longest-running cultural show coinciding with national independence celebrations in September. Held in Goroka (capital of the Eastern Highlands Province), the event attracts nearly 100 tribes from around the country who enchant visitors with energetic and colorful dance rituals.
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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 Pilgrimage in the Balkans
By Linda Tancs
Medjugorje is a town located in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia & Herzegovina, not far from the border of Croatia. It’s best known as a site of Catholic pilgrimage thanks to the apparitions of the Virgin Mary that have been reported since 1981. The area has attracted some 15 million people since then, despite the Pope’s lack of authentication of the events that have taken place there. In addition to Apparition Hill, St. James Church is noted for the many apparitions seen inside its walls in the early years. While you’re in the region, you’ll want to visit some other popular attractions, like the Herzegovina Wine Route, Kravica waterfall and the Ottoman-style bridge in Mostar.
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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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Shades of Blue in Morocco
By Linda Tancs
Chefchaouen is Morocco’s “blue city.” It has nothing to do with an emotional state but rather with the hue that envelops this city nestled against the Rif Mountains. Indeed, its medieval walls are awash in blue, a sight to behold on a clear day when the blue sky seems to merge with the earth. Needless to say, it’s a photographer’s dream—and a hiker’s, too. The mountains beckon with valleys, gorges and picturesque peaks. Bus service is available from Fez or Tangier. Take a taxi from the bus depot to the center of town to avoid the steep walk.
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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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Woodland Living in Wye
By Linda Tancs
For those who enjoy rustic living, the latest luxury hotel in the U.K. is sure to please. Located in two acres of private woodland at St. Briavels Common near Tintern on the border of England and Wales, a luxury A-frame treehouse retreat is pitched 13 feet above the ground on the hillside above The Hudnalls, a collection of woodlands in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Known as The Hudnalls Hideout, it’s the first A-frame, oak-clad treehouse to be built in the country, accessible via a suspended wooden bridge. Requiring a minimum two-night reservation, your experience includes an outdoor copper bath, a fire pit, an outsize window in the master bedroom loft for nature viewing and a telescope. Glamping never looked so good.
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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 