Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Athens’ Golden Age
By Linda Tancs
Athens’ Golden Age spans a period roughly between 480 and 404 B.C. It was a period of great flourishing, economically, politically and culturally. Of the many relics of the age, the Temple of Poseidon is one of the most breathtaking. A short hop from the city, it’s located at Cape Sounion on the southernmost tip of the Attica peninsula. Dedicated, of course, to the ancient Greek god of the sea, its remaining Doric columns are an imposing sight, coupled with stunning views of the Aegean on three sides thanks to the monument’s cliffside perch. Get there via public bus, an organized tour, a private taxi or by car.
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The World’s Longest Yard Sale
By Linda Tancs
Spanning the states of Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, Lookout Mountain Parkway is a 93-mile drive with an abundance of natural wonders and quaint towns. This time of year it’s best known for what’s dubbed “the world’s longest yard sale.” A sight to behold, you’ll find over 5,000 yard sale vendors lining the parkway as well as the US 127 corridor, offering a staggering 690 miles of bargains on just about anything. This year’s sale takes place from August 4 to August 7.
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The Emerald Coast
By Linda Tancs
Just like the French Riviera, Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) attracts the rich and famous. Indeed, the luxurious yachts anchored offshore attest to that. You’ll find many of them at the marina of Porto Cervo, the beating heart of this Italian island in the western Mediterranean. Created by Prince Karim Aga Khan for the jet-set, this resort community is equally accessible by the hoi polloi, who can enjoy enviable views from Stella Maris Church perched above the port. Inside, its charms include the Mater Dolorosa attributed to the Greek painter El Greco, an organ from the 17th century and local juniper wood pews. If you’re tempted to people watch, then you’ll want to be there this time of year.
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Skye Walks
By Linda Tancs
Built in 1900, Neist Point Lighthouse is one of the most famous lighthouses in Scotland and can be found on the westerly tip of Skye near the township of Glendale. A concrete pathway leads to the light, offering as much interest as the famous light itself. The fairly easy walk down (in suitable weather) brings views of high cliffs and the lighthouse itself, a must for landscape photographers. The walk generally takes 45 minutes, but allow more time for breaks on the steep trek back up.
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Ireland’s Holy Mountain
By Linda Tancs
An important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Croagh Patrick is Ireland’s Holy Mountain. Known locally as “The Reek,” it’s over 2,500 feet high, overlooking the village of Murrisk. According to tradition, in A.D. 441, St. Patrick spent 40 days praying and fasting on the mountaintop as part of his effort to convert Ireland to Christianity. It’s still climbed today, particularly on the last Sunday of July (Reek Sunday), an annual day of pilgrimage.
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The Charm of Suriname
By Linda Tancs
Arguably one of the best-kept secrets in South America, Suriname is a small country on the northeastern coast of the continent. Once a Dutch colony, its capital Paramaribo reflects the integration of the European culture of the Netherlands and the indigenous cultures and environment of South America in the years of intensive colonization of this region in the 16th and 17th centuries. This fusion is what garnered the historic Inner City its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting attractions like a wooden cathedral, presidential palace and a palm tree landscape garden. Fusion extends to gastronomy as well, particularly in Blauwgrond, an ethnically mixed district known for its Javanese restaurants called warungs. Take a walk along the waterfront for local handicrafts and delicacies.
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Fortified in Corsica
By Linda Tancs
The fourth largest island in the Mediterranean, Corsica is a territorial collectivity of France sandwiched between France and Italy. Among its many charms is the 16-century fortified tower at Pointe de la Parata. It survives a series of defensive towers built between 1530 and 1620 by the Genoese (who once controlled the territory) to protect the island against Barbary pirates sailing from North Africa. Take advantage of direct flights from cities including Marseilles, Nice, Paris and Toulouse throughout the year.
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To the Top in St. Kitts
By Linda Tancs
Mount Liamuiga is a 3,792-foot-high stratovolcano forming the western part of the island of Saint Kitts. As the highest point in the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the entire British Leeward Islands, it’s a favorite trek for hikers who will be rewarded with panoramic views. A bit arduous, the climb is not for the faint of heart. But along the way you’ll see waterfalls, a tropical rainforest and the cloud forest at higher elevations. Consider a guided rain forest tour for an opportunity to explore and spot colorful hummingbirds, lizards, mongooses and monkeys indigenous to the island.
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Vintage Cars in Grapevine
By Linda Tancs
Located in the heart of historic downtown Grapevine, Texas, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad offers an authentic experience aboard 1920s-era Victorian coaches. The excursion moves through six different cities in Tarrant County before ending in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. Once there, riders will have the opportunity to explore the stockyards before re-boarding to return to Grapevine. The standard excursion runs from April to November. Specialty rides occur at other times of the year.
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A Crooked House in Poland
By Linda Tancs
As wonky as a funhouse mirror, Krzywy Domek is Poland’s crooked house. Located in Sopot, its warped shape was inspired by Polish fairy-tale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. Built in 2004, it’s part of the Rezydent shopping center and a go-to site for tourists and photographers. You’ll find it near the corner of Monte Cassino and Morska streets.
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