Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for travel
Old Charm in Crete
By Linda Tancs
Rethymno, one of the four provinces of Crete, is its third largest city, offering views of the White Mountains in the West and Mount Psiloritis in the East. There’s more to this metropolis than meets the eye, however. In fact, there’s plenty of retro in this metro. Consider the postcard-perfect harbor with its wooden boats. Or the cobbled streets. Or the fortress in the old town section, built by the Turks to protect against invaders. Not to mention the Venetian-style mansions. All this and great beaches, too. Festival season starts later this month, so start packing. Ferries depart daily from Athens.
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The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Consumer Reports for Travelers
By Linda Tancs
Anyone who has ever been stranded on an airplane for multiple hours may appreciate the new regulations to take effect requiring airlines to limit tarmac delays and provide basic necessities onboard. These regulations, however, won’t require airlines to post complaint data on their Web sites. For that you should check the monthly Air Travel Consumer Report. There you’ll find a host of information concerning flight delays, mishandled baggage, oversales, consumer complaints related to disability or discrimination, customer service reports to the Transportation Security Administration, and reports related to the loss, injury or death of animals. Check out the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, too, for more information.
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Body Scans at Airports Cause Consternation
By Linda Tancs
In light of recent terror threats against the U.S., the Government has renewed interest in the full body scanners deployed in limited release among U.S. airports as previously reported in this blog. Moreover, the Government has requested that international airports around the world adopt the devices as well. London Heathrow will reportedly begin using the machines. Reports from France indicate that the machines will also be in use in some of their airports, initially to search U.S.-bound travelers. Contrary to fears, officials report that the machines do not emit harmful radiation and are safe for pregnant women and those with cancer in their health profile. Of course, health is only one concern; the prospect of one’s contours being up for public inspection has private advocates reeling. Are you ready for your close-up? Let’s hear the views–pro and con.
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The Cross Toss in Bulgaria
By Linda Tancs
Today marks the Feast of the Epiphany, popularly celebrated as the twelfth day following Christmas when the three kings visited with baby Jesus. In Sofia, Bulgaria, the event is marked with a dive into an icy cold lake to retrieve a cross thrown by an Eastern Orthodox priest. The winning recipient risks a little momentary hypothermia for the promise of a blessing of good health throughout the year. The losers had better take their vitamins.
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Tallest Building in the World
By Linda Tancs
In the UAE’s most populous city, Dubai, a phoenix has risen. That would be Burj, the world’s tallest building. Rising to an astounding 2717 feet, let’s hope that the glass and metal behemoth does not become a white elephant in this tropical climate suffering from a different sort of meltdown–that is to say, financial. Architectural gem or monument to the excesses of a golden era? You decide.
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Culture Capital Marks 25th Year
By Linda Tancs
Happy New Year, readers! 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of Europe’s Capital of Culture program. Sharing the spotlight this year will be Germany’s Essen, Hungary’s Pécs and Turkey’s Istanbul. Emphasizing a spirit of cooperation among this year’s honorees, an opening ceremony in Pécs at Széchenyi Square will take place on 10 January. In Turkey, university theatre groups from Europe and Turkey will convene during the year to showcase Istanbul’s standing in the arts community. And in Essen the cultural kudos kick off with the grand opening of RUHR.2010 and Ruhr Museum on World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein. Amidst the celebrations the European Commission will likewise commemorate its silver anniversary of cultural diversity recognition with a celebratory event and strategic conference on 23 and 24 March in Brussels to mark the event, to look back at the achievements of the past 25 years, and to reflect strategically on its legacy and impact.
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Dining Guide For New Year’s Revelers
By Linda Tancs
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne, as the song goes. Would you like a four-course meal with that? How about seven? Barcelona’s Noti restaurant is offering a four-course, fixed-price fiesta for 120 euros per person. For less than 100 euros, you can add 3 more courses along with a midnight snack and fireworks at Hamburg’s Landhaus Dill. Look up more specials like these at The Europe Restaurant Guide. Happy eating, and happy new year!
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The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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Petrol Costs Wallop Travelers
By Linda Tancs
The economy may yield more hotel vacancies in Europe than one would otherwise expect, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the cost of petrol, averaging over seven U.S. dollars per gallon in countries like France and Italy. And if you’d bank on using plastic to settle the bill, consider this: your card must have a computer chip in it, technology increasingly adopted in Europe to combat credit and debit card fraud. The use of the card is effectuated by verifying a PIN (personal identification number). It does not appear that any U.S. credit and debit cards currently possess this “chip and PIN” technology for use in Europe. The solution? Buy your petrol with cash on weekdays when an attendant is usually present, and avoid the chip and PIN conundrum you’ll likely encounter on weekends.
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Cashless Cabins
By Linda Tancs
As of December 1, 2009, travelers flying on Delta and Northwest in North America, Central America and the Caribbean became aware that cash is decidedly not king. In a move geared towards expediting the onboard payment process, customers flying within and among these destinations will have to use credit to pay for their munchies. The rule, however, does not affect trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and South American flights or duty-free items.
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Going to the North Pole
By Linda Tancs
The North Pole is a lot closer than you think–as in North Pole, New York, in the High Peaks area of New York State’s Adirondack Park. Like its more northern cousins (e.g., Alaska and Lapland’s Santa Claus Village), the New York version celebrates its famous moniker with a Christmas themed family amusement park sporting rides, shows and shops for children and adults of all ages. For those dreaming of a white Christmas, this is the place to be. On any given year, the weather data suggests a 96% chance of any amount of snow for the holiday. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow–and Merry Christmas!
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The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.
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