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
A Double-Decker Cable Car
By Linda Tancs
The Cabrio Stanserhorn in Switzerland is the world’s first open-top, double-decker cable car. Your journey begins in Stans at the historic valley station where you travel for about 10 minutes via the funicular railway. Then you change at the Kälti middle station to double-decker cars for another 10 minutes to the top of the Stanserhorn. Seats on the open upper deck cannot be reserved but you have a chance on either the ascent or descent to get one. Allow at least one hour to enjoy the views from the mountaintop, where you’ll also find a revolving restaurant. The Stanserhorn season runs from April to November.
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On the Banks of the Loire
By Linda Tancs
Inhabited since the Renaissance, Château de Villandry is a spectacular French castle on the banks of the Loire. Once a defensive fortress used for peace discussions between Philip II and Richard the Lionheart of England, it was renovated in the Renaissance style by its first owner, Jean Le Breton, Minister of Finance for Francois l. The property was later renovated in the neoclassical style after it was acquired by the Marquis de Castellane. In the early 1900s, the property was acquired by Spanish inventor Joachim Carvallo and his American wife, the heiress Ann Coleman. Their particular dedication and attention to the property’s magnificent landscape (restored to the Renaissance style) created one of Europe’s best gardens. Still owned by the Carvallo family, the estate is a major tourist attraction.
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Cave Tubing in Belize
By Linda Tancs
Caves Branch River is a popular destination for caving, tubing and rafting in Belize. In fact, some of the best cave tubing in Belize takes place on the river. Many tours involve a guided hike for about 20 minutes through the Belizean rainforest and then a tube excursion down the river and through spectacular cave systems which the ancient Mayas regarded as a sacred underworld. This activity is an especially popular cruise ship excursion.
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Salt of the Earth in Bolivia
By Linda Tancs
Descending from a prehistoric lake, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat at over 3,900 square miles. Located in the Eduardo Avaroa National Andean Wildlife Reserve in Bolivia, it’s one of South America’s most popular tourist attractions. This snow-hued wasteland features a cemetery of cherry red trains along its outskirts that bear silent testimony to a once burgeoning rail system designed for the transport of the area’s rich mineral resources to Pacific Ocean ports. Although generally devoid of plant or animal life, it’s also home to a migratory species of flamingos. Why not complement your visit with a stay at a salt hotel, where everything from the beds to the walls and floors are constructed from salt blocks. A bus or plane from La Paz will get you there.
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Where History and Nature Meet in Panama
By Linda Tancs
Located in the eastern sector of the Panama Canal, Chagres National Park is a place where history and nature meet. It’s home to the forest that shelters the Chagres River (the largest river in the canal’s watershed) and where you’ll find remnants of the Camino Real, a colonial route that transported goods like gold and silver from coast to coast before the canal was built. Comprising over 300,000 acres, hiking opportunities are abundant, like the peak of Cerro Jefe and its spectacular views of the canal. Rafting, kayaking and fishing are popular activities as is visiting the indigenous Emberá community by canoeing up the Chagres River. Book a tour operator for the best experience, such as an indigenous culture tour or a full-day jungle expedition.
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A Fortified City in France
By Linda Tancs
Carcassonne is a hilltop town in France known for its medieval citadel, La Cité, comprising numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where the town stands. Take a guided tour of the ramparts for the best experience of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Robin Hood’s Castle
By Linda Tancs
Robin Hood is a product of English folklore famous for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Old Wardour Castle in Wiltshire is dubbed “Robin Hood’s castle” because it served as inspiration for the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Built in the 1300s for John, Lord Lovell, its hexagonal shape may have been inspired by Queenborough Castle in Kent. Now a picturesque ruin following the English Civil War, a free audio tour will bring its history to life. For great views of the estate as well as the surrounding countryside and woodlands, be sure to climb the East Tower.
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Railway 200 Celebrations in Britain
By Linda Tancs
The Railway 200 celebrations in 2025 mark 200 years since the birth of the modern railway in the U.K. As part of the festivities, the iconic No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ will be in operation between Pickering and Grosmont on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, one of Britain’s most popular heritage railways. Between March 22 and March 30 you’ll have an opportunity to ride on this locomotive designed by celebrated railway engineer Sir Nigel Gresley. It became famous in 1959 for setting the post-war steam speed record of 112 mph during a test run, due in no small part to its sleek, aerodynamic design that reduced air resistance and enabled exceptional performance. Don’t miss the chance to see this masterpiece of British innovation.
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The White City
By Linda Tancs
The city of Arequipa in Peru is dubbed the “white city” because its architecture is built with white volcanic stone called sillar. But its volcanic nature is not limited to its buildings. In fact, the city in surrounded by huge massifs that rise in the north, northeast and east sectors of the city. The most iconic is the Misti volcano, towering over the city at over 19,000 feet. Take an excursion into the countryside and you’ll also find a volcanic range surrounding Colca Canyon, thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and home to the giant Andean condor.
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Stockholm’s Masterpiece
By Linda Tancs
City Hall is one of Stockholm’s most iconic buildings. It might be best known as the site of the Nobel Prize banquet, but it’s also a celebrated example of the Swedish National Romantic style, a Nordic architectural style that was part of the National Romantic movement during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can admire the architecture by walking along City Hall Park. Guided tours of the building are available in Swedish and English and include access to the Blue Hall, the Golden Hall, the Council Chamber and the Gallery of the Prince. In season you can climb City Hall Tower for panoramic views of central Stockholm.
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