Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!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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Mobility-Challenged Travelers Find Companions
By Linda Tancs
Mobility-impaired travelers can fret less about getting from point A to point B. Former airline professionas have taken on a second life as traveling companions for those with special needs. Their services include booking travel, handling airport transfers and keeping relatives informed of your progress on domestic and international flights. This service epitomizes the phrase, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Find them at www.flyingcompanions.com.
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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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Bumping Rules Revised
By Linda Tancs
In follow up to our July 18, 2007 post, the U.S. Department of Transportation has finally issued its revisions to airline bumping rules. As in the past, compensation for involuntary bumps will ensue for delays of at least 2 hours domestically and 4 hours internationally on aircraft holding at least 30 passenger seats. The math in the event of this delay is this: you get the lesser of 100% of your original one-way fare (including fees, taxes and surcharges) or $400. If your delay is even longer (perish the thought!), then your compensation rises to the lesser of 200% of that one-way fare or $800. You also have the right to request your payment in cash or by check in lieu of any vouchers for future travel. That’s a good thing, considering the uncertain future of so many airlines these days.
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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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Commuters Zip Along in New Jersey
By Linda Tancs
At busier transit hubs across New Jersey, commuters using rail and light rail services have another option to choose from to reach their intended destination–the Zipcar. The rentals, some of which are hybrid vehicles to benefit the environment, can be reserved online from NJ Transit for pickup at Metropark, Princeton Junction, Morristown, Montclair University, and Liberty State Park. Prospective users will need to complete an application for membership in the program and will receive a Zipcard to retrieve their reserved car. Customers must also return the rental to the station from which it was taken. Cars can be reserved by the hour or by the day at fees ranging from $8 to $73, respectively. Avis says they try harder. Move over.
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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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Ted, You’re Grounded
By Linda Tancs
In a move surely not surprising, United Airlines is abandoning its low-cost carrier, Ted. Founded in 2003, Ted’s expanding route map and low fare guarantee will meet the executioner’s axe as fuel costs continue to spiral and forecasters predict airline losses in the $2B range. Ted, meet Maxjet, Eos, and Silverjet. Just goes to show that economic tides don’t play favorites.
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