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
Bath of the Gods
By Linda Tancs
One of the oldest public bath houses in Japan is Dōgo Onsen Honkan, built in 1894 during the Meiji Period. Two public baths are available to visitors, the Bath of the Gods on the main floor and the Bath of the Spirits on the second floor. Different tour packages provide access to one or both baths and relaxation rooms. A tour of the emperor’s bathing facilities is also available. The facility is a four- minute walk from Dogo Onsen Station, the terminus of three tram lines. Just in front of the station in Hōjōen plaza is the Botchan Karakuri Clock. Built in honor of the baths’ centennial in 1994, it comes to life for several hours daily with mechanical figures featuring characters from the famed novel, Botchan. Get to the baths before January when planned renovations will close parts of the facility for several years.
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One Hundred Years of Water
By Linda Tancs
One hundred years of water. That’s how much ice mass you’ll find at the Jostedalsbreen glacier in Norway at Jostedalsbreen National Park. Almost half of the park is covered by the glacier, which is the largest in mainland Europe at 188 square miles. In some places the ice layers are over 1,600 feet thick. The park is easiest to access in Jostedalen (Luster) and Fjærland (Sogndal), where you can participate in glacier hikes and visit glacier museums.
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Celebrating Plums in France
By Linda Tancs
You’ll go plum crazy in Metz, France, during the annual Mirabelle Plum Festival. Rounding out the summer program of festivities in the Lorraine region in August, the event promotes the iconic fruit of the region. The highlight is the election of the Plum Queen, but you won’t want to miss the parade, fireworks, local arts and crafts or les montgolfiades (hot air balloons) in the town center by the lake.
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A Unique Regatta in Australia
By Linda Tancs
The annual regatta at Henley-on-Todd in Australia is nothing like its cousin Henley in Oxfordshire, England. That’s because the Australian version is a desert boat race, the single longest running event in the Northern Territory. Various competitions require participants to race on foot carrying facsimile boats provided by the event organizers—or you can build your own. The signature event is the Battle of the Boats, a competition involving motorized land boats that fire cannons filled with flour and water at each other. The races are held on the third Saturday of August each year.
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A Nod to Nutrition in Switzerland
By Linda Tancs
There’s a museum for everything. Why should diet and nutrition be any different? Alimentarium is billed as the first museum in the world dedicated entirely to the subject of nutrition. Located in Vevey, Switzerland (home to Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company), the facility’s exhibitions examine all aspects of the human diet and nutrition throughout the centuries, including eating habits, science, art and culture. There’s also an educational vegetable garden to quench your appetite for knowledge.
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Norway’s Taste of the Highlands
By Linda Tancs
The mountains and highlands of Eastern Norway are awash in heather, moss and shrubbery in a variety of colors, a sublime backdrop to a series of peaks exceeding 6,500 feet in height at Rondane National Park. Rondane is Norway’s first national park, an area boasting the oldest wild reindeer herd in the country. Its woodlands, mountains and ample wildlife are best experienced by hiking the several marked trails, off-road biking, horse riding, rafting and river kayaking. The park offers tourist cabins and campsites. You can also enjoy locally sourced fare in the area hotels.
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Wine and the Rhine
By Linda Tancs
Wine and the Rhine. One might say they go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s a combination that can’t be beat, which is why the annual Rheingau Wine Festival is one of the highlights in Wiesbaden, Germany, part of the Rheingau wine growing area. Taking place between city hall, market church and parliament from August 10 to August 19, the famous festival features tastings of still and sparkling wines at over 100 stands. The event also includes sumptuous catering and a varied musical program, promising a convivial experience for all.
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A Norwegian Tale
By Linda Tancs
The Best Words Ever is an inspirational children’s story set in Norway. Did you know that you can get an audiobook version of The Best Words Ever for free with a free trial of Audible? Check out one of the links below based on your country of residence to learn more:
US:
UK:
France:
Germany:
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Ancient Lithuania
By Linda Tancs
Trakai is Lithuania’s ancient capital. Officially founded in 1337, the medieval city is encircled by five lakes and is nicknamed “The Lake Town.” The pride of the nation, it’s known for its wooden architecture and an island castle that served as the summer residence of the Grand Dukes. Now home to a history museum, the picturesque, Gothic-style castle is one of the most visited sites in the country, attracting over 300,000 visitors each year.
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The Year of the Sea in Wales
By Linda Tancs
Wales is promoting its vast coastline this year, designating 2018 the Year of the Sea. Indeed, you’re never more than an hour or so from the sea wherever you may be. Why not explore the Wales Coast Path, the world’s first footpath dedicated to a country’s entire coastline—in this case, 870 miles. Along the way you’ll pass fens, cliffs, harbors, coves, inlets, islands and beaches. The beaches are great for surfing, a popular sport in the country, which established a Welsh Surfing Federation. Other coastal activities include rafting, kite surfing, surf kayaking, coasteering (that’s jumping off cliffs), paddleboarding, scuba diving and cliff camping.
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