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
Palace of the Parliament
By Linda Tancs
The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, is the second-largest administrative building in the world (after the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.). It’s also the heaviest building in the world, with an estimated weight of 4.1 million tons, due to its construction with vast amounts of steel, bronze, marble, wood and crystal. Created by former dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu, the building has 12 stories and eight underground levels, the last one being an atomic bunker. Designed to symbolize the triumph of communism in Romania, it now houses the chambers of government and various administrative offices among its staggering 330,000 square meters of space. Entry is by guided tour only.
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The Grand Canyon of Greece
By Linda Tancs
Although no match for Arizona’s Grand Canyon, Vikos Gorge is the deepest gorge in Greece and often referred to as the Greek Grand Canyon. It’s even listed in Guinness World Records as the deepest canyon in the world in proportion to its width, which can range to just a few meters at its narrowest point. Located in the Pindus mountain range, now is a good time to visit, when the river is shallow.
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A Towering Pinocchio
By Linda Tancs
Carlo Collodi is the pen name of the Italian novelist responsible for the character Pinocchio. He reportedly spent a considerable amount of time in Collodi as a child, which is why the locale lays claim to the famous author. It’s where you’ll find Pinocchio Park, where you can walk through the story on themed paths taking visitors past statues of characters in the order in which they appear in the book. You’ll first be greeted by a towering wooden Pinocchio, touted as the tallest wooden Pinocchio in the world. It stands 63 feet tall if you count the 11-foot-high plinth. Collodi is easily reached by train or car from Florence.
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Arkansas Grand Canyon
By Linda Tancs
It’s not unusual for a state to have a canyon so magnificent that it’s “grand.” In Arkansas, the Grand Canyon of the Ozarks is southeast of Jasper running alongside AR 7, the scenic byway. One of the most popular overlooks is Rotary Ann Roadside Park with its 180-degree view. The locale is also the first roadside rest area constructed in Arkansas, dating back to the 1930s.
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Cotton Castles in Türkiye
By Linda Tancs
Pamukkale (meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish) is a town in western Türkiye known for the mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside, which does resemble a kingdom made of cotton. Legendary for its healing claims, it’s been a flourishing spa destination since ancient times. The closest town is Denizli, which is serviced by a bus terminal, train station and airport.
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Oak of the Witches
By Linda Tancs
Heralded as a national monument, there’s a thriving 600-year-old oak tree in Capannori, Italy. In addition to its age, what’s enchanting about it is its size—over 65 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 13 feet and a crown diameter of 131 feet with gnarled branches stretching horizontally. Legend has it that witches met at the oak and danced on it, causing it to reach horizontally rather than vertically. The tree is so distinctive that it’s recorded on NATO maps as a military point of reference.
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The Oldest State House
By Linda Tancs
Opened in 1819, the New Hampshire State House is the oldest state house in continuous use in the United States. It’s free and open to the public during business hours. One of many attractions in the capital city of Concord, you might consider seeing it as part of a historic walking tour in town. A self-guided tour takes less than two hours and is about 2 miles long.
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Scenic 7 in Arkansas
By Linda Tancs
Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway is arguably among the most scenic drives in America. Approximately 290 miles in length, the north-south state highway runs from Louisiana Highway 558 at the Louisiana state line north to Bull Shoals Lake at Diamond City near the Missouri state line. It’s the state’s first state-designated scenic byway, incorporating the coastal plain region in the south with the Ouachita and Ozark mountains. The region is rich in wildlife, outdoor recreation and historical resources, not to mention top-tier views on the ridgelines.
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An Elegant Estate in West Virginia
By Linda Tancs
In 1900, Cleveland industrialist Earl W. Oglebay purchased what is now known as Oglebay Mansion in Wheeling, West Virginia, to serve as a summer home. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, you can explore 13 period rooms and impressive collections of American furniture, china, silver, glass, pewter, toys and textiles. Another feature is The Glass Museum, located on the lower level of Carriage House, which boasts over 4,000 examples of Wheeling glass made from 1829 – 1939, plus the largest piece of cut lead crystal ever made – The Sweeney Punch Bowl. Standing 5 feet tall and weighing 225 pounds, this remarkable piece of Victorian artistry is world renowned.
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America’s National Maritime Museum
By Linda Tancs
Designated by Congress as America’s National Maritime Museum, The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia, is one of the largest and most comprehensive maritime museums in the world. In fact, the museum’s library contains the largest maritime history collection in the Western Hemisphere. One of its most iconic features is the USS Monitor, representing the world’s largest marine archaeological metals conservation project. More than 210 tons of material were excavated from the ship’s wreck site in the depths of the Atlantic. Historically significant objects recovered include the revolving gun turret, two Dahlgren guns and the steam propulsion engine. You can get a bird’s-eye view of the conservation efforts from the observation platform at the Batten Conservation Complex. Leave some time to visit the 550-acre park which features the award-winning 5-mile Noland Trail that surrounds the 167-acre Mariners’ Lake.
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