Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for travel
The Winter God of Breckenridge
By Linda Tancs
In Norse mythology, Ullr (stepson of Thor, the god of thunder) is the winter god. He’s honored each year in Breckenridge, Colorado at the Ullr Fest. Now in its 50th year, this year’s event promises the usual skiers and snowboarders adorned with hats sporting Viking horns, “Ullympic” competitors, a parade, and floats with ski jumps. Join them now until 12 January.
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On Ice in Niagara
ByLinda Tancs
Sir Winston Churchill called Niagara River Parkway the prettiest drive in Canada. And that was before the series of orchards and vineyards that have graced their way from the parkway to the shores of Lake Ontario for 35 years now. In all, 28 wineries (the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake) call this region home. Their show-stopper is icewine, a multi-course delight made from grapes frozen on the vine in winter. The Icewine Festival this month is one of four month-long events offered during winter in Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country. A weekend getaway offers you the festival experience, a wine tasting with leading insiders and an icewine-laden dinner.
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Gathering in Ireland
By Linda Tancs
If you want to understand what it means to be Irish, then make your way to Ireland for the year-long Gathering Festival. Of the 70 million folks worldwide claiming Irish ancestry, many will enjoy a homecoming to the cities, towns and villages of their heritage. The festivities include sporting and music events and clan gatherings. Someone once remarked, “There are two kinds of people in the world. The Irish, and those who wish they were.” Are you lucky enough to be Irish?
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European Capitals of Culture
By Linda Tancs
Marseille-Provence in France and Košice in Slovakia ring in 2013 as the year’s European capitals of culture. The cultural heart of Marseille Provence includes an area stretching from Martigues to La Ciotat. As usual, the opening ceremony in each city promises to be a spectacular kick-off event. In Marseille, the opening is a two-day event on 12 and 13 January. The twelfth features such events as a flyover of Patrouille de France, an art trail in Aix, and the Grande Clameur (a wall of sound incorporating ships’ sirens, bells and fog horns). The thirteenth offers treasure hunts across the region and a fireworks display at dusk over the Rhone at Arles. Košice will likewise inspire with a two-day opening beginning on 19 January. One of the most architecturally significant symbols in old Košice is the indoor pool, a structure experiencing an exciting makeover as an art and media showcase thanks to aid from the European Commission and the European Capital of Culture project.
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Trip the Light Fantastic
By Linda Tancs
Iceland may seem like a no-brainer as a winter new year’s destination, but not for the reasons you may think. Did you know that the average temperature in January is actually a bit higher than that of New York? What makes Iceland appealing to ring in a new year is the fireworks celebration. Their law places no limits on fireworks, so the lights will be flashing well into the night. Happy New Year!
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Costa Rican Adventure
By Linda Tancs
From the misty coolness of the cloud forest to the eternal spring found in the Central
Valley, there’s something for everyone year round in Costa Rica. Travelrific Radio®
looks at the following popular stops: San José, the Central Valley, Guanacaste, Arenal, Monteverde and the Nicoya Peninsula.
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Snowshoeing in the Rockies
By Linda Tancs
Banff in Alberta, Canada is the hiking capital of the Canadian Rockies, its winter trails a winter wonderland. What could be more idyllic than exploring them in a pair of snow shoes? One of the area’s most traditional experiences, snowshoeing season is in full swing now until late March or so. Travel safely: be mindful of the trails marked for cross country skiing, avoid avalanche terrain and fresh animal tracks, and watch for slippery snow. If you’d rather not navigate on your own, guided snowshoeing (and shoe rentals) is available in Lake Louise and other locations in Banff National Park.
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Christmas in Florida
By Linda Tancs
It may seem incongruous to have a town in sunny Florida named Christmas. Originally named Fort Christmas, the tiny town of less than 2000 inhabitants east of Orlando boasts a full size replica of Fort Christmas, built in 1837 during the Second Seminole Indian War. In addition to exhibits and a video on the wars, the fort brings pioneering to life, featuring restored historical homes in the age of homesteading, fishing, trapping and hunting. The fort is closed today. It is, of course, Christmas in Christmas!
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Innocent Fun in Ibi
By Linda Tancs
What’s a little flour, egg and a firecracker or two among friends? The southeastern Spanish town of Ibi sponsors a food fight each year on 28 December to commemorate the Day of the Innocents. The 200-year-old Els Enfarinats festival requires participants to dress in mock military uniforms as they take over the city for the day and threaten infidels with flour, eggs and fireworks. The day is the equivalent of April Fool’s Day in the U.S.
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Christmas Capital of the Philippines
By Linda Tancs
The Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Philippines, is an annual event held on the Saturday preceding Christmas Eve. The spectacular lights have earned the city its moniker as “Christmas Capital of the Philippines.” Competition is fierce, and colored plastic lanterns are complemented by paper and fiberglass. This is where imagination really does soar.
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