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
Aphrodite’s Cultural Route
By Linda Tancs
The ancient island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean is the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. To be sure, you’ll find no shortage of sites commemorating her existence, especially along the cultural routes dedicated to her lore. One of the most popular is Petra tou Romiou (Rock of Aphrodite), a series of huge rocks off the southwest coast in the Pafos district from where the goddess is said to have risen amongst the waves. Even today, under the right weather conditions a human-like foam reputedly arises from the waves crashing against the rocks. And what would the tale of Aphrodite be without her lover, Adonis? They fell in love at the Baths of Aphrodite, a grotto towards the tip of the Akamas peninsula where Adonis met her while she bathed. The site lies at the end of a nature trail that offers spectacular views towards Cape Arnaoutis, Polis and Pafos Forest.
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One Big Fish
By Linda Tancs
Imagine a freshwater fish that’s bigger than a school bus. That’s the beluga sturgeon, the largest freshwater fish in the world. Prized for caviar, it’s a critically endangered species that breeds in Russia’s Volga River (the so-called national river). In fact, the largest accepted record is of a female taken in 1827 in the Volga estuary, measuring a whopping 3,463 pounds and 24 feet in length. Now that was something to write home about.
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Boone’s Forest
By Linda Tancs
A legendary huntsman and pioneer, Daniel Boone dared to cross the treacherous Appalachians to explore Kentucky’s great wilderness. A great part of that terrain is commemorated in his name, the Daniel Boone National Forest. Over 700,000 acres of rugged terrain embraced by forested ridges, narrow ravines and thousands of miles of sandstone cliffs attract nearly five million visitors annually. Those guests may not need to trap, hunt and fish like Boone, but they enjoy the foothills nonetheless by backpacking, camping, picnicking, rock climbing and boating. Not sure where to start? Try the 269-mile Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail, which extends across the length of the forest.
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Free Flowing Yellowstone
By Linda Tancs
Yellowstone National Park contains most of the world’s geysers, Old Faithful a great favorite among them. Its regular, billowing eruptions are not the only thing that’s free flowing in America’s first national park, though. The park is also home to the longest free flowing river in the United States, Yellowstone River. From there it glides 676 miles to its confluence with the Missouri River without a single dam to break its stride. Along its many points of access you’ll find plenty of recreational opportunities, including some of the best trout fishing ever and some cool Montana agate to add to your collection.
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Macedonia From the Top
By Linda Tancs
Over 50 percent of the Republic of Macedonia is mountainous. Among the highlights are the majestic peaks of Mount Korab, the forestal landscape of Jakupica, the glacier lake on Pelister and the constantly rising peak Dobra Voda on Celoica. Imagine viewing the mountain dynasty from the top. Paragliding, that is. Clubs abound in this Balkan nation, particularly in Skopje (the capital), Prilep, Mavrovo and Krusevo. Professional guides and tandem flights are available.
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Herrings and Scallops
By Linda Tancs
Something fishy is going on this weekend in Dieppe, the French seaside resort: the locals are celebrating the fishing trade that defines this northern town. Held annually every November, Foire aux Harengs promises a vast array of streetside barbecues celebrating herring. Scallops figure prominently, too, considering that this French port was the first to introduce them. Now in its 45th year, the event takes place at Quai Henri IV.
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Indigenous Art in Paraguay
By Linda Tancs
Seventeen indigenous ethnic groups call Paraguay home, resulting in an array of indigenous art. Basketwork and feathered ornaments predominate, hallmarks of the Guaraní peoples. Feathered cloaks are particularly striking, once reserved exclusively for shamans. Other handiworks find expression in ceramics and wood carvings. Three museums proudly showcase the indigenous art form: Andrés Barbero Ethnographic Museum, the Guido Boggiani Museum, and the Museum of Indigenous Art.
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The Heart-Shaped Land
By Linda Tancs
In Bosnia & Herzegovina, tradition and culture remain close at heart, appropriate enough for a heart-shaped country in southeastern Europe. This tiny Balkan nation celebrates the junction of eastern and western civilizations, part of its rich heritage. Sarajevo’s Old Town, for instance, still conjures the market center of the 15th century, when traders from Asia Minor and western nations gathered. Other towns throughout the country form the crux of the Kingdom Trail, where medieval fortresses bear silent testimony to the power and privilege of the ruling classes dominating the country’s history, such as the Turkish and Austro-Hungarian empires. Priding themselves on hospitality, you’ll come as a stranger but leave as a friend.
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The Center of an Ancient World
By Linda Tancs
New Mexico’s ancestral Native American culture is the highlight of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a World Heritage Site with the densest concentration of pueblos in the Southwest. During the ninth century, massive stone buildings known as great houses were constructed by the Chacoan people, influenced by lunar, solar and cardinal directions. This thriving ancient civilization is central to the origins of several Navajo clans and ceremonies. Equally as thrilling is the park’s designation as one of the world’s newest International Dark Sky Parks, which means that the site is a mecca for stargazers.
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The Horseshoe Curve
By Linda Tancs
What do Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and dozens of Hollywood’s elite have in common? They’ve all traveled the Horseshoe Curve. Constructed entirely by hand by 450 Irish immigrant workers, the Curve is an engineering feat at the base of the Allegheny Mountains in Altoona, Pennsylvania. A National Historic Landmark, the 220 degree arc opened in 1854 to facilitate train travel across the state through rough mountain terrain. Access the curve via the funicular or a 194-step nature walk and enjoy the stunning views.
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