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
Cave Life in Turkey
By Linda Tancs
Ürgüp is a Turkish town located in the historical region of Cappadocia, land of the fairy chimneys. It’s particularly known for its caves, both homes and hotels, cut into the soft volcanic rock. The Esbelli district boasts a number of boutique cave hotels. Renowned for its beautifully colored stone, its prime location also sports great views of the town and surrounding mountains. The locale is reachable by bus, car or plane.
*************
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.
Share this:
What Lies Beneath in Suffolk
By Linda Tancs
Few areas expose the tribal origins of England better than Sutton Hoo in Suffolk. That’s where you’ll find an awe-inspiring Anglo-Saxon royal burial site from the seventh century unearthed in 1939, where a ship thought to be the final resting place of an Anglo-Saxon king was discovered. Akin to the discovery of a pharaoh’s tomb, the ship’s burial chamber revealed artifacts of a powerful leader, featuring a sword, shield, helmut and exquisite items crafted in gold and garnet. The ship is represented today by a full size, steel reproduction measuring around 88 feet long. Visit the High Hall for information on the lives of the Anglo-Saxons and just how Sutton Hoo came to be such a significant place in English history. Guided tours are also available.
*************
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.
Share this:
Mechanical Music in Portugal
By Linda Tancs
Who doesn’t love a mechanical music maker like a music box? If you’re a fan of mechanical music, then head to the Museum of Mechanical Music in Pinhal Novo, Portugal. Their collection consists of more than 600 items that move exclusively through mechanical systems (like player pianos, music boxes, phonographs and pneumatic organs), mainly covering the period from the late 1800s until the 1930s. All in working order, an amazing fact about the exhibition is that it represents the collection of just one mechanical music aficionado, Luis Cangueiro, who began amassing his treasure in 1986. The museum is less than an hour’s drive from Lisbon.
*************
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.
Share this:
The Heart and Soul of Milan
By Linda Tancs
La Scala is an opera house in Milan, Italy, often referred to as the city’s heart and soul. Indeed, it’s hard to think of Italy’s second-most populous city (after Rome) without linking it with its iconic theater. You can learn all about it at Museo Teatrale alla Scala, the theatrical museum and library attached to the opera house. They provide special guided tours of the theater, including the foyer, the royal box, the historic boxes and the stage’s mechanized movement system. You’ll also see the Ansaldo Workshops, where the costumes and scenery come to life. General tours are available in English and Italian as well as in French for personalized guided tours.
*************
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.
Share this:
The Hub of the Cook Islands
By Linda Tancs
Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands, a nation in the South Pacific. Of course, “large” is a relative term. It only takes 19 miles to circle the island, after all. That gives you ample opportunity to sample all the sightseeing activities that the locals have to offer—things like four-wheel drives, lagoon cruises, guided mountain hikes and storytelling cycling tours. Head there now during autumn’s shoulder season for a nice combination of sun and warmth.
*************
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.
Share this:
Southern Italy’s Little Gem
By Linda Tancs
Soft sand, pastel-colored houses and scenic harbors. Those are just some of the delights in Procida, the smallest island in the Campanian Archipelago in southern Italy near Naples. It boasts three scenic harbors (Marina Grande, Marina Chiaiolella and Marina Corricella), all of which can be visited via a boat ride. The belvedere near the castle provides exquisite views of the colorful Marina Corricella, and Punta Pizzaco offers commanding views of the whole island. Don’t miss the chance to try “Procida’s tongues,” a puff pastry filled with custard.
*************
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.
Share this:
Road to the Isles
By Linda Tancs
The A830, popularly known as the Road to the Isles, is one of the most famous roads in the United Kingdom. It connects the town of Fort William to the port of Mallaig, where the West Highland railway line terminates. Sporting some of the nation’s best scenic views, it’s abounding in woodlands, moors, sandy beaches and sea views. And just a ferry ride away (year round) are the Small Isles (Eigg, Canna, Muck and Rum), one of 40 National Scenic Areas in Scotland, where local food, wildlife, archaeological sites and amazing sunsets await you.
*************
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.
Share this:
Italy in a Day
By Linda Tancs
Rimini is an Adriatic, Italian resort town primarily known for its jam-packed beaches. But you can also experience a taste of the whole country there. You’ll do that by visiting Italy in Miniature, a theme park with at least one miniature building from every Italian town of any prominence. You can even take a gondola ride in little Venice, a huge favorite among tourists. Its 273 scale reproductions also include major European cities. Expect to spend the better part of a day exploring.
*************
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.
Share this:
Leeward in St. Vincent
By Linda Tancs
Picturesque falls, petroglyphs and natural anchorages are some of the features of the leeward side of St. Vincent. And then there are the pirates—the fictional kind, that is. Wallilabou Bay, a port of entry for visiting yachts, is the site where the opening scene of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was filmed. Parts of the set remain to the delight of aficionados of the film franchise.
*************
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.
Share this:
An Oasis in Paris
By Linda Tancs
Like New York City’s Central Park, Square du Temple in Paris’s Marais district is a lush oasis in the midst of a bustling city. It was designed in the English garden style in the 1800s, a site boasting over 82,000 square feet including an ornamental pool and waterfall, several walking paths, 191 varieties of plants and more than 70 trees. But what you can’t see is perhaps just as interesting as what you can see because the park is located above the remnants of the European stronghold of the Knights Templar. Free and open daily, the nearest Metro station is Temple.
*************
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.
