Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Brazil’s Polynesia
By Linda Tancs
Ilhabela means “beautiful island” in Portuguese. Discovered in 1502 by Américo Vespucio, this archipelago and city situated four miles off the coast of São Paulo state in Brazil is unique for its pristine beaches and untouched rainforest. It also reputedly has the best shrimp in the country. Best of all, with an average annual temperature in the 70s (fahrenheit), it’s the perfect vacation destination year-round. To get there from São Paulo, it’s approximately three hours by car to São Sebastião and then a 15-20 minute ferry ride to Barra Velha on the island.
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Nordic World Cup
By Linda Tancs
Holmenkollen FIS World Cup Nordic is an annual ski event since 1892 in Norway. Taking place in beautiful Holmenkollen, the event attracts tens of thousands of ski enthusiasts eager to cheer on their favorites in ski jumping and cross-country. The event takes place between 9 and 11 March this year, culminating on “Holmenkollen Sunday” with the men’s competitions. The Holmenkollen ski jump is a landmark in the Western Aker borough of Oslo.
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A Land of Golden Arches
By Linda Tancs
There’s a land of golden arches in our midst and, no, it isn’t a world of burgers and value meals. These arches are magnificent sandstone arches revealing millions of years of geologic history. That’s what you’ll find in Arches National Park, five miles north of Moab, Utah. One of the most beloved formations is Delicate Arch. View it against the night sky for an unforgettable experience.
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More Brightness in the City of Light
By Linda Tancs
The Luxor Obelisk in Paris would be hard to miss at 230 tons and 75 feet in height at the center of the Place de la Concorde. With new lighting, though, it’s even more visible at night. The pink granite monolith was given to the French in 1829 by the viceroy of Egypt, Mehemet Ali and is decorated with hieroglyphics portraying the reigns of the pharaohs Ramses II and Ramses III. What’s your favorite landmark in Paris?
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Cornwall Marks Annual Holiday
By Linda Tancs
March 5 of every year is St. Piran’s Day, the patron saint of tin miners. Piran is also the patron saint of Cornwall in southwest England. So what does a typical Cornish celebration look like? That would be an annual processional play acting out Piran’s life from his birth in Ireland to his arrival in Cornwall and discovery of tin. Hundreds of flag-carrying people gather, generally dressed in black, white and gold (the colors of the Cornish flag). The action begins at 2 p.m. at Perran Sands Holiday Park. Don’t be late; have a pasty while you wait.
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Spinning Tales in New Jersey
By Linda Tancs
The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison, New Jersey provides a glimpse into the trades and crafts practiced in New Jersey from its earliest settlement. The current exhibit, Spinning Tales: The Fabric of New Jersey, tells the story of Early America through the crafts of spinning and weaving, following the process from raw material to finished product. Why not go for a spin and check it out. The museum is located at 9 Main Street (NJ Route 124 at Green Village Road) in the heart of Madison, about 28 miles west of New York City.
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The Switzerland of Central America
By Linda Tancs
For decades Costa Rica has been referred to as the Switzerland of Central America, owing to peace, prosperity and stability. But let’s not forget the other Swiss-like attributes, like gorgeous mountains offering sweeping panoramic views and hiking opportunities galore. And, like Switzerland, thrill seekers will love rafting. Costa Rica offers some of the best whitewater rafting in the world thanks to its mountainous terrain and rain produced by the rainforests. It’s available year-round, but white-knuckle enthusiasts should wait until May through October to get wet and wild.
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Birder’s Paradise in the Bahamas
By Linda Tancs
The flamingo is the national bird of the Bahamas. You can see 80,000 of them on Great Inagua Island at Inagua National Park, which houses one of the largest colonies of this graceful bird in the world. Other resident exotic birds include parrots, pelicans, herons, egrets, and Bahama pintail ducks. You might think that birding is the primary feature of Inagua. Although delightful, the island’s main industry is salt. Morton Salt produces about a million pounds of salt per year here—the second largest saline operation in North America. Kind of gives new meaning to the term “salt of the earth.”
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A Medieval Wonder in Bavaria
By Linda Tancs
Located at the northernmost bend in the Danube, Regensburg, Germany is a Bavarian city with a distinctive history as a center of the Holy Roman Empire that turned to Protestantism. Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage City, the only historic city in Germany to remain intact during the bombings of WWII. Since its beginnings as a military base and trading post in the 9th century, the cityscape now attests to a stunning array of ancient Roman, Romanesque and Gothic structures built over two millenia. It’s one of many sights that river cruisers enjoy along the Danube.
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Ski Flying Championship in Norway
By Linda Tancs
The Ski Flying World Championship takes place now through Sunday in Vikersund, Norway. Qualifying rounds begin today; the event ends with team competition and the prize ceremony on Sunday. Getting there is easy. Both Oslo Airport Gardermoen and Sandefjor Airport Torp are located approximately 90 minutes from Vikersund.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 