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
A City Between Two Castles
By Linda Tancs
The Czech city of Brno sits between two castles—Špilberk Castle on the hill in the city centre and Veveří Castle on the Svratka River. The castles play an important role in Brno’s history, having been laid siege by the Swedish army in the 1600s during the Thirty Years’ War. Despite their significant power, the Swedish forces failed to maintain their position and retreated empty-handed. The Moravian victory is celebrated each year on 15 August, Brno Day. The festivities include a re-enactment on the slopes of Špilberk, a period market fair and costumed parades.
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Chile’s Storied Island
By Linda Tancs
Out of the three islands comprising the Juan Fernández Archipelago (so named for Spanish navigator Juan Fernández), Robinson Crusoe Island has a storied past—in the literary sense. Aside from the navigator and his sojourn in the 1500s, the only other visitor to the island over the centuries was Scottish seaman Alexander Selkirk, who was abandoned there for several years in the early 1700s. His adventures are commonly believed to have inspired Daniel Defoe’s novel, Robinson Crusoe. Sparsely populated today, it is administratively part of Chile and a mecca for scuba diving with visibility extending more than 65 feet. A World Biosphere Reserve, it also reportedly has 61 times more native plant species and 13 times more birds than the Galápagos Islands.
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First Flight in America
By Linda Tancs
In 1793, Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard set off from Philadelphia in a hot air balloon, landing less than an hour later in a field in Deptford, New Jersey. Witnessed by George Washington and other dignitaries, Blanchard entered the annals of history as America’s first aeronaut. So proud is the Gloucester County community of their connection to this event that they’ve emblazoned a hot air balloon logo on their municipal signs and stationery, together with the phrase “1st Flight in America” on the township’s water tower.
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The Need for Speed in Abu Dhabi
By Linda Tancs
An interesting theme restaurant takes food service to new heights—as in 39 feet. That’s the size of the “tornado” track at Rogo’s, the world’s largest roller coaster-themed restaurant at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi. Surrounded by a series of tracks enveloping the two-story, 360-seat eatery, diners order their food on digital tablets and then watch it swoosh down in covered pots strapped to trays. If that doesn’t satisfy your need for speed, you can head on over to the adjoining Ferrari World and Formula One race track.
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Germany’s Parade of Sails
By Linda Tancs
Since the first summer following German reunification, Rostock has hosted a massive maritime festival during the second weekend of August, celebrating the freedom of its sea border with a parade of ships of every size and dimension. Known as the Hanse Sail, the event is quite appropriate for a city like this with a Hanseatic League history. Attracting over one million visitors, the event features tall ships, schooners, sloops, cruise ships, ferries, museum ships, vintage yachts and other vessels open to public inspection. Some even offer short cruises. A family friendly festival, children’s entertainment is provided along with a fireworks display on Saturday and several stages filled with music and dance. This year’s festival opens today and runs through August 9.
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India’s Venice
By Linda Tancs
Thanks to a large network of inland canals, the maritime travel industry in Alleppey (Alappuzha) is thriving. In fact, the proliferation of barges for sightseeing and houseboat cruising in the backwaters earns it the title “Venice of the East.” Located in southern India, its waterways also serve as the largest source of freshwater in the country, supporting local agriculture and fishing. Alleppey is the access point for one of the biggest events of the year, this weekend’s Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Held annually on the second Saturday of August, the competition takes place on Punnamada Lake and is the country’s most popular and competitive boat race.
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Gator Aid
By Linda Tancs
Over a million alligators live in Florida, a fact not surprising to Floridians and their guests. The ubiquitous creature was even declared the official state reptile in 1987. Unwelcome on golf courses and in backyard pools, this ancient species (more than 150 million years old) enjoys a happier haven at Paynes Prairie State Park. Encompassing a 21,000 acre savanna in Micanopy (less than 10 miles from Gainesville), the park’s nature trails circling wetlands and marsh habitat provide close-up views of this once-threatened crocodilian. A National Natural Landmark, the park is the state’s first preserve, boasting not only scaly denizens but also wild horses and bison.
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Taking the High Road in Colorado
By Linda Tancs
Trail Ridge Road, spanning Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, is the highest continuous paved road in the United States at an elevation of 12,183 feet. It connects Estes Park on the east side to the town of Grand Lake on the park’s western slope. One of the state’s most famous scenic drives, the road crosses the Continental Divide at Milner Pass. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to see the Divide as it winds it way through the state. Due to heavy snowfall, the road is only open from May to October.
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Japan’s Ghost Island
By Linda Tancs
Less than 10 miles from the city of Nagasaki, Japan, Hashima is one of 505 uninhabited islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. It wasn’t always that way. Once home to more than 5,000 inhabitants during Japan’s coal mining heyday, the island’s abandoned concrete apartments are emblematic of a forgotten age and impart an eerie feel to the place. Also known as Battleship Island owing to its silhouette, it opened to tourism in 2009. The boat ride takes 30 minutes, and walks are limited to defined paths due to the site’s damage and decay.
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Worms and Waterfalls
By Linda Tancs
A lush oasis awaits those seeking to avoid the fanfare of Bali, Indonesia. Just hop on over via speedboat to Lombok, a quieter escape offering pristine, unspoiled views like the one of Mount Rinjani, an active volcano. In that area you’ll find some of the island’s most popular waterfalls, like Air Terjun Sindang Gila, Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu. Just be cautious of local touts demanding excessive guide fees. Another hotspot is Kuta Beach, a mecca for sunbathers and surfers. Unlike its namesake in Bali, though, it lays claim to an unusual ceremony presided over by the indigenous Sasak people. Each February they celebrate the arrival of marine worms, said to represent the long strands of hair of a mythical princess who ended her life in the sea rather than marry the wrong prince. This little delicacy is often wrapped in banana leaves and roasted.
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