Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!A Rugged Walk in Scotland
By Linda Tancs
Sir Paul McCartney wrote Mull of Kintyre in tribute to the pristine peninsula of the same name. Thanks to the establishment of the Kintyre Way in 2006, the rugged natural beauty of this area can be explored from Tarbert in the north to Dunaverty in the south. Never far from the sea, you’ll experience fishing villages, conifer forests, beaches and stretches of hills and moors that can best be summed up as, well, poetry in motion. Citylink buses from Glasgow serve Tarbert.
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The Perfect Gem in Myanmar
By Linda Tancs
Ninety percent of the world’s sapphires and rubies are sourced from Myanmar (Burma), Mogok being one of the country’s most prolific gem areas. A good bauble will cost you plenty, but you can admire the nation’s precious natural resource at the Myanmar Gems Museum in Yangon. On display are rubies, sapphires, jade (prevalent in Mandalay) and pearls.
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Land of the Dead Man’s Hand
By Linda Tancs
A legend of the American West, Wild Bill Hickock came to the tiny gold camp of Deadwood, South Dakota in search of his fortune. Instead, he was gunned down during a poker match holding aces and eights, dubbed the Dead Man’s Hand. You might think that spelled the end of gaming in this historic town (a National Historic Landmark). No such luck (pun intended). This frontier town offers an array of 24/7 gaming facilities, featuring slots and live Blackjack, poker and Texas Hold’em tables.
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An Ancient Maritime Town in Germany
By Linda Tancs
Germany’s ancient maritime town, Stade, is a charming destination in Lower Saxony. Located on the Elbe River, its Hanseatic harbor boasts ferry service to Hamburg during the summer as well as a tour on a historic coaster dating from the 19th century. Under Swedish rule in the 1600s, the city’s history is housed in the Swedish Warehouse Museum, a curious structure rising out of the water on poles. The historic town centre features an array of half-timbered houses and winding alleys along with
Pferdemarkt and Fischmarkt squares (site of the Christmas markets) in the old quarter. And nearby is Alte Land, a vast fruit farming area where you can visit a typical fruit farm.
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The Tallest Hotel in New York
By Linda Tancs
Marriott boasts that its Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park is the tallest hotel in North America. Although it may not exactly rival Dubai’s goliath hotel, it matches a skyscraper’s view of sights like Times Square, the Manhattan skyline, Central Park or the Hudson River. Your home away from home, studio suites at this extended stay property offer a kitchenette, large desk, free Wi-Fi and grocery shopping services.
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A Leek or a Daffodil
By Linda Tancs
The Brits celebrate St. George. The Scots revere St. Andrew. What about the Welsh? Their patron saint is St. David, and 1 March marks St. David’s Day. Declared a national day of celebration in the 18th century, the first day of March was chosen to commemorate the saint’s death on that day in 589. Many miracles are attributed to Dewi Sant (St. David), who reputedly caused the ground to rise beneath him so he could be heard and seen by the congregation. The capital city of Cardiff will host its annual parade on 1 March beginning at 12:30 p.m. outside City Hall. The national emblems, leeks and daffodils, are typically worn on that day.
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Running the Rapids in Chile
By Linda Tancs
Where is the best whitewater in the Western Hemisphere? Some would say it’s the Futaleufú River in Chile. The stunning, turquoise-colored river is 65 miles in length, of which 44 miles are in Chile. With rapids boasting monikers like Throne Room and Terminator, you’re likely in for a white-knuckle ride.
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The Fairy Tale Route
By Linda Tancs
Over 200 years ago, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm published a collection of children’s and household fairy tales, widely known as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Germany’s Fairy Tale Route is a 370-mile odyssey that takes you from their birthplace in Hanau to such sights as Hameln (famous for the Pied Piper legend), Trendelburg (featuring a castle associated with the Rapunzel tale), Kassel (home of the Brothers Grimm Museum) and Steinau, where the Grimm family home is located. This is one route that will no doubt leave you happy ever after.
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Ice Alaska
By Linda Tancs
At George Horner Ice Park in Fairbanks, Alaska, they’d like to wish you an “ice day.” That’s because it’s time for the World Ice Art Championships. Now in its 25th year, the event features single-block and multi-block competitions as well as an amateur open exhibition. Visit today through 30 March, and be on the lookout for the Northern Lights!
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Port Vila Delights Cruisers
By Linda Tancs
One of the most culturally diverse countries on earth, Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific boasting 113 distinct languages. Its capital, Port Vila, is an increasingly popular cruise destination–and no wonder, considering that it is located around a magnificent natural harbor surrounded by barrier islands and verdant countryside. Day trippers should check out the Summit Gardens (11 gardens including a sandalwood plantation), Mele Cascades (several waterfalls) and Mt. Yasur, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 