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
Springtime in Abruzzo
By Linda Tancs
Spring is the best time to visit Italy’s Abruzzo National Park. That’s when the meadows are covered with flora like flowering violets, crocuses, snowbells, gentians, lilies, primroses and buttercups. It’s also when the area’s protected fauna arise from hibernation and migrating birds blanket the sky. Located in the heart of the central Apennines, the park is a refuge for protected species like the Apennine wolf, Abruzzi chamois and Marsican brown bear. Both the park and various towns in its environs organize themed guided tours throughout the year, as well as exhibitions and shows, events and festivals associated with the local heritage.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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 Samba Beat in Denmark
By Linda Tancs
You needn’t travel to Brazil to experience the infectious rhythm of the samba. This time of year it’s waiting for you in Denmark at the largest carnival in Northern Europe, Aalborg Carnival. It’s a celebration of springtime, with colorful costumes, samba music and dancing in the streets of Aalborg, the country’s fourth-largest city. The festivities kick off with an international parade and a children’s parade, culminating in the Grand Parade on May 23, when everyone is free to march to the route’s end in Kildeparken. The crowd of participants swells to about 60,000, with another 100,000 spectators lining the route.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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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French Riviera Freebies
By Linda Tancs
The French Riviera is iconic, prized for its vistas and expensive real estate. You can live like a titan, but you don’t have to travel like one. The French Riviera Pass is a tourism card provided by the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitain Convention & Visitors Bureau. The pass entitles you to discover the main tourist sights and activities (museums, entertainment venues and the like) in Nice and the French Riviera free of charge, which means huge savings for your holiday budget. It also includes free bus and tram transport in the network and a transfer option from Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport. Available for purchase online or at various points of sale (like the airport, tourist information offices and some hotels), the card comes in three versions: 24, 48 or 72 hours consecutively from first use. Your card also comes with a guide to the participating venues.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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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Neo-Futurism in Sweden
By Linda Tancs
Sweden’s third largest city, Malmö is quite literally a city of twists and turns. That’s where you’ll find the Turning Torso, a neo-futurist residential skyscraper giving a twist to the cityscape in the Western Harbour. The tallest building in Scandinavia, it rises to 623 feet and comprises nine cubes with a total of 54 stories, topped off with a 90-degree twist from base to top.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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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Hiking in Amorgos
By Linda Tancs
Scenic views, Cycladic houses and quaint alleys are pretty much expected in the Greek isles, so what distinguishes Amorgos is the part with considerable height above sea level, offering superb views out over the archipelago. What better way to enjoy those views than with a hike! And there are lots of options (signposted), ranging from a four-hour trek from Chora halfway across the island to a one-hour sprint along a cobblestone path connecting Chora with Katapola, the main harbor and one of the largest natural harbors in the Aegean Sea. No matter the route, you’ll discover rich cultural treasures like the ancient acropolis, temples and monasteries. Amorgos is accessible via ferry from Athens and nearby islands.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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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Austria’s Salt Empire
By Linda Tancs
Hallstatt is a medieval village on Lake Hallstatt’s western shore in Austria’s mountainous Salzkammergut region. Salzkammergut means “domain of salt,” an apt description for the ancient salt mine dominating the area. Of 40 miles of tunnels, about 14 miles are walkable. Three tiers are currently mined by nearly 40 employees today. A funicular railway connects to the mine as well as to Skywalk Hallstatt viewing platform, where the town and its majestic landscape unfurl before your eyes on an observation deck some 1,200 feet above the rooftops.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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 Forest in France
By Linda Tancs
South of Calais in northern France is Crécy-en-Ponthieu. If that rings a bell, you might be remembering the Battle of Crécy, an event in 1346 that resulted in victory for the English in the first decade of the Hundred Years’ War against the French. The area also lends it name to the Crécy Forest, one of the largest forests in northern France (at over 10,000 acres) and the only one of such a size open to the public. Beeches and oaks reign there. The oldest, “the Ramolleux oak,” is reputedly over 600 years old.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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 Beehives in Purnululu
By Linda Tancs
One of the best-loved attractions in Western Australia’s Kimberley region is the Bungle Bungle Range (also known as the Bungle Bungles). Often likened to giant beehives, the range comprises a landscape of orange and black striped karst sandstone domes rising 820 feet above the surrounding semi-arid savanna grasslands. Amazingly, these prehistoric formations were known only to local Aboriginals until a documentary film crew discovered the site in 1983. Touted the most outstanding example of cone karst in sandstone anywhere in the world, it’s an iconic feature of Purnululu National Park.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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 Landmark in Stirling
By Linda Tancs
Sir William Wallace is a national hero of Scotland, leading the nation in victorious battle in 1297 in its quest for independence from English rule at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Tried and sentenced for treason, his patriotism nonetheless paved the way for a later, decisive victory in the war for independence by Robert the Bruce. His courage and martyrdom are commemorated at the National Wallace Monument, standing on the Abbey Craig overlooking the city of Stirling. In the Hall of Arms inside the monument you’ll find Wallace’s sword and learn about Scotland’s most famous heroes. Take the 220-foot climb to the top of the monument for breathtaking views.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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 Bayeux Tapestry
By Linda Tancs
France is no stranger to grand tapestries, like that found in Angers memorializing a book in the Bible. Head three hours north and you’ll find another treasure in tapestry in Bayeux. The Bayeux Tapestry (well, actually, an embroidery—but let’s not get too technical) measures a staggering 230 feet in length and depicts the Norman conquest of England. The UNESCO-listed artifact is on display in an 18th-century seminary.
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As coronavirus proceeds, it is likely that the vast majority of us will be limited in our travels. But this, too, shall pass. Our love for travel remains, so Travelrific will continue offering travel inspiration in this medium. 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 