Travelrific®
A blog for travel enthusiasts. Listen to our podcast at Travelrific® Radio, and visit our Wanderful Places® Travel Shop!Archive for africa
Living History in Ghana
By Linda Tancs
Central Ghana’s history as the Gold Coast of the British Empire belies its shameful past as the post of last resort for African slaves bound for the New World. Specifically, Cape Coast Castle was a fort (more accurately referred to as a dungeon) for captured West Africans or those sold into slavery during the 1600s to early 1800s. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site and museum, the stark cave-like dwellings are open to tourists. Cape Coast is the capital of Ghana’s central region, located on the Gulf of Guinea. From its hilltop location you’ll get striking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
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Going Green in Madagascar
By Linda Tancs
Recent reports indicate that Madagascar, the Indian Ocean island off the coast of southeastern Africa, just got a little greener. As in frogs–200 new species of them. Not all of them green, of course, but if you put them all together it might look like a small treetop. The way things are going, it may well be the only way to get the feel of a canopy in this idyllic island nation. Word has it that the protected forests are being plundered. In fact, rainforest destruction there is among the highest on the planet. And that gives our amphibious friends really something to croak about.
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When Cars Fly
By Linda Tancs
The usual expression is “when pigs fly” (and of course they do, in some cultures) but now comes a flying car set on a course from London to Timbuktu–perhaps that journey is inspired by the metaphor “from here to Timbuktu.” The Parajet Skycar was developed by engineer and inventor Giles Cardozo, who seemingly has been inspired by Count Louis Zboroski, the maker of the Chitty Bang Bang series of flying cars in the 1920s, who in turn inspired Ian Fleming to write the children’s novel. Who knows, if they can perfect the contraption and mass market it, maybe our
childhood story will come to life.
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Pirates of Somalia
By Linda Tancs
We usually think of pirates as the stuff of history–and some glossy movie-making–but right now, real pirates are holding a luxury yacht captive off the coast of Somalia. Since April 4, the crew of a French-owned liner heading for its summer season in the Mediterranean have been sidetracked while authorities attempt to negotiate with the swashbucklers. This isn’t the first time an attack of this nature has occurred around Somalia. In 2005, another luxury liner came under attack by would-be looters sending shots and rockets. Luckily, the ship’s crew was able to overrun them. Granted, cruise travel is generally safe, but these seafaring shenanigans should remind us that vigilance during travel extends as much to the high seas as to the high skies.
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