Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for tourism
Routes Follow European Theatre
By Linda Tancs
The Culture Programme of the European Union sponsors a European Route showcasing the European architectural aspects of theatre buildings around the EU. First to open was the German Route in 2007, exploring German theatrical architecture from the 17th to 19th centuries, including the half-timbered summertime theatre in Neubrandenburg, Frederick the Great’s private theatre in Potsdam, Gotha’s palace theatre and the much-copied 19th-century style playhouse in Meiningen.
A recent addition to the theatre trail is the Nordic Route, celebrating the historic theatres of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Visitors to Sweden will enjoy the theatre barn, a staple of Swedish cultural traditions, the oldest of its kind located in Hedemora. Historic stage sets and props await visitors to Halden, Norway, site of an Empire-style theatre built by townspeople in the 19th century. Saved from demolition in the 20th century, the Elsinore Theatre in Aarhus, Denmark is the oldest playhouse in the country preserved in its original form.
By 2009, five routes will connect culturally significant properties from Italy to Norway. The three additional routes to open are the Italian Route, the Emperor Route (covering Austria and the Czech Republic) and the Channel Route (linking the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK). Novelist Oscar Wilde regarded the theatre as the greatest of all art forms. See if you agree.
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Summer Solstice Along the Hudson
By Linda Tancs
What better way to celebrate the summer solstice this weekend than at the Clearwater Music and Environmental Festival at Croton Point Park on the banks of the Hudson River in Westchester County, New York. Founded by musician Pete Seeger over 30 years ago, the festival mixes environmental education with cool tunes for a warm summer weekend. You can even sail on a replica of a 19th century riverboat. So make like Tom Sawyer and head on over.
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Shakespeare and Beethoven, Perfect Together
By Linda Tancs
Boulder, Colorado brings you the classics this summer in equal measures of music and theatre. From 20 June to 16 August at the Mary Rippon Theatre and University Theatre venues, Blue Mountain Arts presents a half century celebration of Shakespeare featuring Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Henry the Eighth. Maybe the Bard will inspire you to picnic at the Flatirons in Chautaugua Park, where you can listen to chamber music, the classics and international music from 21 June to 1 August. In July, Beethoven rules with all nine symphonies presented from the 6th to the 13th of the month. Just one more way to enjoy the mountain air.
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Paris on a Budget
By Linda Tancs
The French capital is rich with displays of cityscapes and architecture, festivities, sports, arts and entertainment. But is it too rich for your wallet? Fortunately, no–if you know how to stretch your euros in the City of Light. Find out more at www.travelrificradio.com.
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Stretching the Dollar in the City of Light
By Linda Tancs
Few expenses irk travelers more than transport costs from airport to inner city, and the pain is more keenly felt when the traveler’s currency is trading downward (like the U.S. dollar). Thanks to Paris’s still relatively new light rail at Charles de Gaulle Airport, you can transfer free among the terminals, and catch the Roissybus to L’Opera Garnier for less than $15. Transfer there via cab to the inner city for less than $10. That’s a savings of $50 or so from the price of an airport cab. What to do with that extra cash? Why not order the plat du jour at that sidewalk cafe you’ve been meaning to visit. You’ve earned it.
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A Cool Trip
By Linda Tancs
As record breaking heat grips the northeastern U.S. this late spring (spring!), it’s time for our collective mindset to turn to cooler climes. How about Iceland? Coming in this time of year at a delightfully cool 56 degrees fahrenheit in Reykjavik, you can run, hike, swim, bike, kayak or glacier hop without breaking a sweat. And it shouldn’t hurt that Budget Travel cites Iceland as one of few places where the U.S. dollar goes further. Of course, budget is a relative term. If fuel costs, airline downsizings and surcharges have you staying closer to home, then you can always enjoy Icelandic culture vicariously through the Puffin cam on the tourist board’s website.
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Tourism Survey Measures P’s and Q’s
By Linda Tancs
How well tourists mind their p’s and q’s was the subject of a recent survey of hoteliers commissioned by Expedia. The results for American tourists (ranking eleventh overall) are mixed, scoring high points for generosity and low points for tidiness and civility. German tourists scored highest for neatness while the Italians and French topped the best-dressed list. Americans, whose fanny packs and white tennis shoes apparently do little to impress the front desk, are number one on the traveler’s equivalent of Blackwell’s worst-dressed list. So how does one become a model tourist? You’ll need to ask the Japanese, who ranked first overall.
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The Pretzel’s Demise
By Linda Tancs
After hearing that US Airways is abandoning the pretzel snack on domestic flights, I decided to check out their food offerings online. On “select” flights (suggestion: call ahead for confirmation), here’s a sampling of their mouth-watering options (sans pretzels): fruit and cheese plate, turkey ham on sweet Hawaiian luau bread (aloha!), and a classic chicken Caesar salad.
Readers, I’d like you to rate the meals you’ve had on a domestic flight–from 1(lousy) to 5 (great, or at least pretty darn good). The results, best to worst, will be tallied and posted.
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E-Ticketing Touted as Cost-Saving Measure
By Linda Tancs
You may have noticed that, effective 1 June, paper airline tickets have gone the way of the dinosaur. In a move initiated by IATA about 3 years ago, e-ticketing is now the standard for processing passengers. According to IATA, this move will save the industry over $3 billion per year in expenses. Now the question is: as carriers realize the savings to come through effecting electronic transactions, will we see an elimination of the checked bag charges now being widely introduced by carriers, a reduction in surcharges, and–better snack foods? Stay tuned.
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The Aqueous Paradise of Venice
By Linda Tancs
World famous for its canals and gondoliers, Venice is an aqueous paradise often emulated but never rivaled. Find out what it is about this city that charms so many. Visit Travelrific® Travel Show.
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