Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for travel writing
Africa’s Best-Kept Secret
By Linda Tancs
Portuguese is the official language of São Tomé and Príncipe, a country located in central Africa on the Equator in the Gulf of Guinea. It consists of two main islands—São Tomé and Príncipe, and several rocky islets. Its colonial heritage is evident in the capital city of São Tomé (Portuguese for Saint Thomas), dotted with pastel-colored, colonial-era buildings with arched windows and ornate balconies. The dry season extends from June to September in the northeast but scarcely anywhere else, which makes for lighter tourism than other places in the region. Nonetheless, intrepid travelers will reap the benefits of unspoiled nature in Ôbo Park, quiet beaches and spectacular volcanic plugs.
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The Light of Things in Bourges
By Linda Tancs
A popular medieval city in central France, Bourges is known for its half-timbered buildings. It’s also home to Saint Etienne Cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage Monument) and Jacques Coeur Palace, a national monument in the flamboyant Gothic style commissioned by an influential French nobleman. As if the view by day isn’t fine enough, the city outdoes itself in summer with Illuminated Nights, bathing the top attractions in a light and sound show beginning at dusk. Lasting almost two hours, the show starts at Le Jardin de l’Archeveche beside the cathedral.
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Argentina’s Final Frontier
By Linda Tancs
The southernmost city in the world and the gateway to Antarctica, Ushuaia is Argentina’s final frontier. In the past, the town has been a missionary base, a penal colony and a naval base for the Argentine navy. Perched on a steep hill, it’s surrounded by the Martial Mountains and the Beagle Channel, where adventures with penguins and orcas await. It’s also a prime site where “the longest night in the world” is celebrated. Although the festivities continue from June 20 through June 22, the longest night of the year and the winter solstice take place in the Southern Hemisphere on June 21. That’s the focus for the city’s festival, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists. A key event is a “burning of obstacles and impediments,” wherein participants write down all the difficulties that have prevented them from fulfilling their goals. The papers are then thrown into a large bonfire on the solstice night.
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The Flower of the Cyclades
By Linda Tancs
Situated between Mykonos and Santorini, the Greek island of Íos (or Niós, as the locals call it) is one of the most beautiful islands of the Cyclades, named for a Greek word alluding to flowers. It might be best known for its vibrant nightlife, but the hilly isle’s quieter reputation lies in its charming Cycladic architecture of whitewashed sugar houses and windmills, historic sites and, of course, beautiful beaches. Known as the resting place of the epic poet Homer, Homer’s Tomb is arguably the most well known historic site, located on the north side of the island. Other areas of note are Skárkos (a Bronze Age settlement) and Palaiókastro, an old fort from the Byzantine period. Be sure to check out the amazing view from Panayia Gremiótissa, a church built on the edge of a cliff. A ferry from Santorini takes under an hour.
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Italy’s Butterfly Haven
By Linda Tancs
Nestled in the mountains in northeast Italy, Bordano hosts the largest butterfly enclosure in the country, Casa della Farfalle. Thousands of butterflies of every species fly about in greenhouses designed to replicate ecosystems in Africa, the Amazon and Asian and Australian rainforests. The facility is open daily from March to September.
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New Zealand’s Iconic Tree
By Linda Tancs
Located in the stunning alps of the South Island in New Zealand, Wanaka is beloved by outdoor enthusiasts for its year-round array of activities amidst the lakes and mountains. It’s equally loved by shutterbugs, who flock to the region for their own storied photo of Lake Wanaka Tree, that lone willow tree in the middle of the lake. Perhaps the most photographed tree in the country, it may be the best known photo stop, but it’s not the only one. There are 24 designated scenic photo points with helpful commentary. Points 1-9 can be done either walking or biking and Points 10-24 can be done as a scenic drive with the opportunity to stop and walk about.
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The Great West Way
By Linda Tancs
Based on ancient routes, England’s Great West Way is a new, 125-mile touring route between London and Bristol. It beckons the independent traveler, offering a mix of journey options like the A4 Great West Road, the Great Western Railway, the Thames, canal transport and multiple foot and cycle paths. With that many options, you don’t have to miss a thing, like the honey-colored limestone villages of the Cotswolds, the urban culture of Bath and Bristol, riverside towns like Henley, Wiltshire’s market towns and plenty of renowned attractions along the way.
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The Paper House
By Linda Tancs
You may be familiar with the expression about building a house on sand. But what about building one out of paper? The Paper House in Rockport, Massachusetts, is just that—a house made from paper. Built out of newspaper by mechanical engineer Elis Stenman, the unusual abode also contains a paper-based piano as well as a desk and chair. The house is open for tours every day from spring through autumn.
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People Watching in Marbella
By Linda Tancs
A focal point for tourism in Spain’s Costa del Sol, Marbella is where ordinary folks go to watch the glitterati arrive in their yachts at Puerto Banús. When you tire of people watching, there’s plenty of shopping, dining and golfing. This time of year also offers concerts, dancing and plenty of flamenco fashion thanks to the fair celebrating the local patron saint, San Bernabé (Saint Bernard). Today is the saint’s feast day. The party continues through June 15.
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An Oasis of Coolness
By Linda Tancs
Mingling with monks is one of several things you can do while hiking Lousios Gorge in the Peloponnese, a peninsula in southern Greece. In fact, mountaintop monasteries like the Philosophou Monastery hinge precariously along rock faces throughout the gorge. You can visit many of them on an easy, one-day hike. A private day tour from Athens will set you back around 400 euros.
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