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
Hunchback Bridge
By Linda Tancs
Nestled in Italy’s Trebbia Valley, Bobbio is a medieval village between Milan and Genoa. It’s often referred to as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy; writer Ernest Hemingway even called it the most beautiful village in the world. Framed by the Apennines, one of its most popular attractions is the abbey founded in the 7th century by Saint Colombano, home today to the City Museum and the Abbey Museum. Another focal point is the Ponte del Gobbo (Hunchback Bridge), so named for the 11 unequal arches that give it an irregular shape. First documented in 1196, the 900-foot-long bridge is an entry point to this scenic locale. The best way to arrive is via car; otherwise, the nearest train station is in Piacenza, with regular bus service.
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The City That Lit the World
By Linda Tancs
New Bedford, Massachusetts, was the 19th-century capital of the whaling industry. Most of the whale oil used in lamps derived from the locale, earning it the moniker “the city that lit the world.” Home to about 500 whaling ships during its heydey, the city also inspired Herman Melville’s classic, Moby-Dick. Its whaling heritage is preserved as part of New Bedford National Historical Park. One of its most impressive buildings is the U.S. Custom House, the oldest continuously operating custom house in the nation. Historically, whaling masters registered their ships and cargo at the two-storied, Greek Revival building; as the New Bedford office of the U.S. Customs Service, commercial fishing and cargo ships continue to log duties and tariffs there. The visitor center in the heart of the park provides orientation materials as well as information on city attractions.
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The Lore of Fire Island
By Linda Tancs
New York’s Fire Island is a 30-mile-long barrier island separated from Long Island by the Great South Bay. Much of it is protected as Fire Island National Seashore, a United States National Seashore. It features a lighthouse, high dunes and ancient maritime forests. The most alluring aspect of the place, though, may be the supposed wreckage of the Bessie A. White, a Canadian schooner that struck a sandbar off the island 100 years ago. After Hurricane Sandy rolled through the area in 1912, a ship’s skeleton believed to be the schooner became visible in an area not far from Watch Hill, a popular visitor site within the National Seashore. As winds and waves shape the beach, the remains appear and disappear, so be patient.
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A Birthplace of Industry
By Linda Tancs
Often described as the Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park runs from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Providence, Rhode Island. Several textile mills along the river sparked the transition from farm to factory, but it was the success of Samuel Slater’s cotton spinning mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, that transformed American industry. Visitors to the park can explore it at their own pace through walking tours of company towns and planned mill villages like Whitinsville and Slatersville. You can also take a ranger-led tour of Old Slater Mill, paddle along the river and bike through the soon-to-be completed Blackstone River Bikeway from Massachusetts to Rhode Island.
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Gateway to Burgundy
By Linda Tancs
Dating to pre-Roman times, the French city of Auxerre is officially labeled a Ville d’Art et d’Histoire (city of art and history) for its cultural significance. In the Old Town sector of the city, the 15-century clock tower (part of the original Roman fortress wall) dominates among ancient roads dotted with medieval wooden buildings. Another magnificent building dominating the skyline is Saint Germain Abbey, home of the Bishop of Auxerre from 418 until his death in 448. It houses a Museum of Art and History, which traces the history of the city from prehistory to medieval times. The city is also sometimes referred to as the Gateway to Burgundy, producing all of the usual varietals of the region. Once thriving with wine merchants and vineyards, Le Clos de la Chaînette (one of the oldest vineyards in France, dating to the 7th century) remains today. You can get there in under two hours from Paris.
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The Museum of the Future
By Linda Tancs
Dubai’s Museum of the Future is about—you guessed it—the future. That’s probably evident from the design itself. The exterior, covering a total surface area of 17,600 square meters, is made out of stainless steel comprising 1,024 pieces manufactured by a specialized robot-assisted process. The 225-foot, otherworldly-looking structure is embossed with quotes (in Arabic) about the future and is intended to project what the next 50 years might look like. Symbolically, the circular building represents humanity, the green mound it sits atop represents the earth and the void represents the unknown future. Using exhibitions, immersive theatre and themed attractions, the museum experience is an imagining of the future, aided by the visions of innovators, scientists, and prominent figures from leading industries. Dubai Metro (Emirates Towers Station, Red Line) is directly linked to the museum.
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Women in the Arts
By Linda Tancs
Championing women through the arts, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., promotes collections, exhibitions, programs and advocacy of women artists. It’s the only major museum in the world bringing recognition to the achievements of women artists of all periods and nationalities. The facility is located at 1250 New York Avenue, NW, which is a 78,810-square-foot Washington landmark near the White House constructed in 1908 as a Masonic Temple.
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The Slender Bay
By Linda Tancs
Baie Fine (meaning “slender bay” in French) is one of the largest freshwater fjords in the world. Nearly 9 nautical miles long, it’s bounded by high quartz mountains and dotted with anchorages that are ripe for gunkholing, a sailing term related to the practice of seeking out coves and other out-of-the-way places. Some of the more popular coves are Mary Ann Cove, North Shore Cove and The Pool. Located in Ontario, Canada, Bair Fine is entered from Frazer Bay, between McGregor Point and Frazer Point.
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The History of Detroit
By Linda Tancs
In 1701, French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded the settlement that would become Detroit, Michigan. The approximate site of his landing is where you’ll find Hart Plaza, located south of the intersection of Jefferson and Woodward avenues in the vicinity of the Detroit River. The 14-acre plaza is a popular festival and meeting space. Closer to the riverside you’ll find a statue of Cadillac, along with a memorial to the Underground Railroad (because Detroit was a critical stop). The plaza also features a Ford Motor Company historical marker, showing the site where the company’s articles of incorporation were signed in 1903.
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Portugal’s Oldest Town
By Linda Tancs
Situated on the Lima River in northern Portugal, Ponte de Lima is frequently referred to as the nation’s oldest town because it was given a charter by Queen Teresa in 1125. The small town may be most famous for its bridge over the river, particularly the Roman portion constructed in the first century. But it’s also the center of Vinho Verde (green, or young, wine) production, the history of which is recounted at the local interpretative center. Another gem is the toy museum (Museu do Brinquedo) on the right bank of the river, where you can travel in time through Portuguese toy manufacture from the 19th century to the 1980s. Almost 200 Portuguese manufacturers are represented. Driving there is recommended; public transport options are poor, even from Porto.
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