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
The Gibraltar of the Caribbean
By Linda Tancs
The most popular historic site in Puerto Rico is undoubtedly El Morro in Old San Juan. Otherwise known as Castillo San Felipe del Morro, it’s a citadel named in honor of King Philip II of Spain, built to defend what was a jewel in the crown of the Spanish empire in the Americas. And defend it did, for the most part. The fortress only fell once–to the Earl of Cumberland, who took the fortress by land for about 33 days in 1598. You’ll capture it the same way: on foot, down a large green field. You’ll be rewarded with breathtaking ocean views.
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Absolute Desert
By Linda Tancs
The Atacama Desert is a 600-mile strip of land from Peru’s southern border into northern Chile, the driest non-polar desert in the world. So dry, in fact, that some stretches have not seen a drop of rain in over 400 years. But for all its aridity, don’t be fooled into thinking this is just some barren dust bowl; the oasis is teeming with native cultures, soothing hot springs and pluming geysers. That’s particularly true at San Pedro de Atacama, where just a short distance away you’ll also find the largest salt flat in Chile and volcanoes beckoning in the distance. Late June is a perfect time to visit because of the numerous festivals leading up to Saint Peter and Saint Paul Feast Day on 29 June. San Pedro lies at around 7,500 feet above sea level; take precautions against altitude sickness.
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Virginia’s Oldest Plantation
By Linda Tancs
Shirley Plantation has survived Indian uprisings, Bacon’s Rebellion, the American Revolution, the American Civil War, and the Great Depression. In the hands of 11 generations of the same family, it’s Virginia’s first plantation and the oldest family-owned business in North America. A National Historic Landmark, it remains a working plantation, a private family home and a growing business, presided over by direct descendants of Edward Hill I, who founded the site in 1613. Lauded as the most intact 18th century estate in Virginia, the Great House is a treasure trove of original family furnishings, portraits, silver, and hand-carved woodwork, and its “flying staircase” and Queen Anne forecourt are the only remaining examples in North America of this architectural style. In addition to a guided tour of the mansion, the self-guided grounds tour includes formal gardens and eight original colonial outbuildings. This unique part of America’s heritage is located in Charles City, east of Richmond and west of Jamestown in the heart of Virginia.
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Legendary Waterloo
By Linda Tancs
On June 18, 1815, French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte met a bloody end against British troops led by the Duke of Wellington near the village of Waterloo in modern-day Belgium. The historic victory would end France’s quest for domination of Europe and give rise to one of the world’s greatest generals. Across Britain, the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo is being celebrated throughout the year with re-enactments, exhibitions and concerts. A particular project of interest is the Descendants Book, a collection of stories about the soldiers who fought at Waterloo. Are your ancestors among them? You can add your own details.
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Midsummer’s Eve in Germany
By Linda Tancs
Located at the confluence of the Rhine and Main, the German city Mainz is the home of the movable type printing press, invented by native son Johannes Gutenberg. One of the city’s most defining features, it’s no surprise that the print tradition takes on a prominent role during the Midsummer’s Eve Fair. A major festival, the four-day event includes a traditional baptism ritual for apprentice printers and typesetters, along with the expected entertainment and fireworks above the Rhine. This year’s fair takes place from June 19 to June 22.
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A Farewell to Arms in Slovenia
By Linda Tancs
Kobarid is a town located in the Upper Soča Valley in western Slovenia along the border with Italy. Its pastoral character—punctuated with picturesque mountains and peaceful green valleys—belies a stark history as the site of a bloody campaign during World War I. This amiable little town is where the Italian offensive gave way to the Austro-Hungarian army after a series of battles along the Soča Front, a conflict that was documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. The town’s monument and church up the hill, overlooking the valley and the Soča River, is where you’ll find the final resting place of over 7,000 Italian soldiers.
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The Birthplace of Modern Democracy
By Linda Tancs
At a riverside site near Windsor Castle, Britain’s King John signed the Magna Carta 800 years ago today. Lauded as one of the greatest constitutional documents of all time, it derived from a meeting between the King and a clutch of angry barons at Runnymede. It was a peace treaty of sorts, designed to quell the growing rebellion among barons against arbitrary and capricious policies of a tyrannical king seeking to line his own pockets. There are four remaining original copies of Magna Carta–two copies belong to the British Library, one copy is at Lincoln Cathedral and one is at Salisbury Cathedral. Today Queen Elizabeth II will attend commemoration events at Runnymede.
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Idaho’s Volcanic Wonderland
By Linda Tancs
Along Idaho’s Snake River Plain a series of eruptions over 15,000 years ago formed a volcanic wonderland known as Craters of the Moon National Monument. And yes, the name does derive from its lunar-like appearance, a moniker popularized by promoter Robert Limbert in a national magazine article. Dormant rather than extinct, the area comprises more than 25 cinder cones, each one a small volcano. This time of year tiny wildflowers in neat little rows adorn the cinder slopes of the monument. Rest assured, there’s no professional landscaping here. The plants space themselves naturally to compete for limited resources in this harsh environment.
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Ode to Indy
By Linda Tancs
What racing enthusiast wouldn’t want to lay down a hot lap for a chance to qualify for the Indy 500! You can indulge that fantasy at Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway, Indiana. Located near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the facility offers visitors the chance to get behind the wheel of full car simulators or box cart simulators equipped with iRacing. That feature is part of their Interactive Zone, where racing buffs can also immerse themselves in Dallara Automobili history and learn the engineering of an IndyCar. Want to take a victory lap at the Speedway? They offer that, too; choose a two-seat IndyCar, Nascar, or event car.
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The Paper Island
By Linda Tancs
Thailand’s southernmost island is Koh Lipe, a quiet paradise in the Andaman Sea near Malaysia. Its name has been roughly translated from the local language to mean “paper island.” From the looks of it, that’s an apt description. The island is flat, and its pure white beaches (three main ones) resemble a sheet of white paper. Now in low season, the good weather is coupled with low tourism (although the island in no way approaches the hustle and bustle of Phuket even in high season). Accessible only by boat, in low season the main transport hub is the pier at Pak Bara in Satun. Don’t go there via Phuket, though; the ride to Pak Bara is about seven hours’ long. From Hat Yai it’s only two hours by taxi to the pier.
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