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
Floating Islands in Peru
By Linda Tancs
Made entirely from totora (cattail) reeds, the man-made floating islets known as the Uros Islands are a world unto themselves on Peru’s Lake Titicaca. The islets are home to the indigenous Uros people, who created them from reeds centuries ago and are dependent on the reeds for their survival. Handicrafts made from the reeds are a popular souvenir. Visitors can also learn about fishing techniques and how a reed island, and boats, are made. The quickest way to get there is by boat from Puno.
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The Four Lakes Trail
By Linda Tancs
Arguably one of the most beautiful panoramic hikes in Switzerland is the Four Lakes Trail. As the name implies, there are four lakes to behold: Trübsee, Engstlensee, Tannensee and Melchsee. Highlights include Mount Titlis (Central Switzerland’s highest peak) and views of the distant Bernese Alps. The overall walk calls for a good level of fitness, but you can vary the route according to your needs by shortening the trek with mountain railroads or take a break at a cozy mountain hut or resort hotel.
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Two Seas in Costa Rica
By Linda Tancs
A Costa Rican gem, the size of Rincón de la Vieja National Park allows you to experience both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of the Cordillera de Guanacaste. Known for its biodiversity, you’ll find rare species such as sloths, tapirs, kinkajous, pumas and jaguars, along with over 300 bird species. Boasting over 30,000 acres, you’ll want a full day to explore over 30 rivers and lakes, two volcanoes, impressive waterfalls and an abundance of hiking trails. A day tour from Guanacaste is the best way to visit, which generally includes an English speaking driver/guide to show you highlights along the way, all entry fees, and a detailed map of the park.
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Cadbury World
By Linda Tancs
Uncover a world of chocolate at Cadbury World, a visitor attraction in Bournville, Birmingham, England, run by the Cadbury Company. Bournville is called a “factory in a garden,” a place where employees lived and worked, a concept unheard of in Victorian times. The factory is not part of the tour, but visitors get a sense of chocolate-making operations through demonstrations at the Chocolate Making Zone. Of course, you’ll get some free chocolate to enjoy as well.
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The Little Museum of Dublin
By Linda Tancs
The Little Museum of Dublin is not your usual museum. In fact, the place is crowdsourced with quirky artifacts from locals. Its contents include an unopened bottle of lemonade from 1918 and a facsimile of author James Joyce’s death mask. You’ll enjoy a 30-minute history lesson delivered by a docent with humor and style. There’s even a room devoted to the iconic Irish rock band, U2. The popular attraction is housed in a Georgian building overlooking Dublin’s Stephen’s Green.
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Shakespeare Played Here
By Linda Tancs
The Guildhall of St. George is a Grade I-listed building in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England. Founded in 1376 as a religious fellowship, it’s the largest surviving medieval guildhall in the country. It was the site of a theatrical production at least as early as 1445, when a nativity play was produced. Its biggest claim to fame, though, is the contention that even Shakespeare performed there. Recent academic research supports the local tradition that Shakespeare played there with the Earl of Pembroke’s Men in 1593, when London theaters were closed because of plague. Performances at the guildhall became so popular that a new theater was built in the 1700s. Today the guildhall is used as a public space for performances, lectures and entertainment.
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Iron Age Denmark
By Linda Tancs
The Early Iron Age in Denmark covers the period from 500 B.C. until 400 A.D. Arguably one of the most important discoveries of the period was Tollund Man, a mummified corpse left for dead in a Danish bog some 2,400 years ago. So named for the two discoverers who hailed from Tollund (located close to the bog), the reason for his death is unknown to this day although human sacrifice was fairly common during that time. The body is a main feature at Silkeborg Museum in Hovedgården, where you can immerse yourself in the history of the Silkeborg region from ancient times to the present day.
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An Ear for Liberty in France
By Linda Tancs
French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi is perhaps best known for creating the Statue of Liberty. You’ll find a museum dedicated to his works in the home of his birth in Colmar, France. Among the exhibits is a full-size plaster model of Lady Liberty’s left ear. You’ll also find statues that he created for his hometown, as well as family furniture, personal souvenirs, models, drawings, paintings, engravings and photographs. Give yourself at least an hour for a tour; audio guides are available for a fee.
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Gateway to the Durham Dales
By Linda Tancs
Known as the gateway to the Durham Dales, Bishop Auckland is a bustling market town in England’s Vale of Durham. As the name implies, the town was home to the bishops of Durham. Their principal residence for centuries was Auckland Castle, one of the best-preserved bishop’s palaces in Europe. Also known as “Kings of the North,” they would come to be known as prince-bishops owing to the princely powers granted to them by the king, such as the power to mint their own coins and levy taxes, raise an army and establish their own legal court. Now a tourist attraction, the castle still houses the bishop’s offices.
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Europe’s Highest Sea Cliff
By Linda Tancs
Europe’s highest sea cliff is Hornelen in western Norway. Situated in the Nordfjord region on the island of Bremangerlandet, it’s a popular destination for hikers seeking rewarding views of ocean, islands, fjords, villages, mountains and glaciers. The already challenging route is even more adventurous, however, with the addition of a via ferrata (“iron path”) climbing route, a form of mountain climbing that utilizes steel cables and fixed ladders to aid climbers. The new route features three options, the easiest of which, a two-hour route called Ørnelia, is for beginners. The intermediate route, called the Wall of Witches, takes about six hours to complete. The expert level climb, Olaf’s Route, requires the most experience and will take a day to complete.
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