Linda A. Tancs's Blog: The Long and Short of It, page 87

Iron Age Roundhouses

By Linda Tancs

A broch is a round tower found in Scotland. Dating to the Iron Age, it has an inner and outer dry-stone wall (that is, assembled without mortar) of imposing height. The best-known example is the Broch of Mousa on the island of Mousa in Shetland, Scotland. Its renown as one of the best-preserved prehistoric structures in Europe is no doubt due to its remote location. Enjoy a climb on the winding staircase to the top of the tower during the open season (April to September).

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

A Library in Chains

By Linda Tancs

A chained library is a library where the books are attached to their bookcase by a chain, which is sufficiently long enough to allow the books to be taken from their shelves and read but not removed. One such library, aptly named Chained Library, is at Wells Cathedral. One of four remaining in Britain, it was built following instructions in the will of Bishop Bubwith, who died in 1424. It was the largest medieval library in England when it opened in the 1450s. Cathedral guides offer tours of this enchanting relic.

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

A Ball of Twine in Kansas

By Linda Tancs

Cawker City, Kansas, is a quintessential small town at just one square mile and less than 1,000 residents. That might sound a bit sleepy, but as the saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover. That’s because the unassuming little town lays claim to hosting the world’s largest ball of twine. As recently as 2018, the ball weighed in at 20,511 pounds! It’s composed of sisal twine, a thread made from the fibrous agave plant, typically used to keep small bales of hay together. That’s the use to which local farmer Frank Stoeber put it. He started rolling his abundance of excess twine in 1953. By 1961, his ball had become a local tourist attraction. It’s been added to continuously—first by Frank, then his neighbors, and ultimately, by visitors who are provided pre-measured and weighed twine. That tradition continues to this day, especially during Twine-a-Thon, a festival on the third weekend each August. You’ll find the ball as you enter Cawker City from U.S. Highway 24.

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

Bathed in Lager

By Linda Tancs

The Czech Republic reigns year after year as the world’s top in per-capita beer consumption. But perhaps it’s surprising to know that beer spas are popular retreats. The beer isn’t fit for consumption—but it’s great for toning and relaxation, they say. One popular spa is in the town of Harrachov, where a local brewery offers a spa experience. The treatment entails sitting in a tub filled with light and dark unpasteurized beer in equal measure along with hop pellets and pure mountain water. And yes, you can drink beer (the potable variety) while you soak.

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

Nature and Culture in Finland

By Linda Tancs

Cultural attractions abound in Hämeenlinna, Finland, one of the country’s 107 towns. It’s the birthplace of Jean Sibelius, Finland’s national composer. You’ll also find a 13th-century medieval castle, the city’s signature attraction, overlooking Lake Vanajavesi. Add to that the forest park of Aulanko and you have the perfect mix of nature and culture. The park’s scenic lookout tower at Aulangonvuori Hill gives enviable views over the valley of Lake Vanajavesi with its bays, rocky islands and capes. Part of a nature reserve, the Aulanko area is the first national urban park in the country.

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

Underwater Malta

By Linda Tancs

Usually, underwater archaeological wonders are the province of scuba divers and submarine explorers. But thanks to Underwater Malta, a virtual museum, sites on the seabed off both Malta and Gozo can be viewed by anyone. What you’ll see ranges from a 2,700-year-old Phoenician shipwreck to surface craft, submarines and aircraft from both world wars. Go ahead and explore the archipelago’s underwater cultural heritage without getting wet!

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

Bears and Unicorns in Bolivia

By Linda Tancs

Located in the so-called Elbow of the Andes, Bolivia’s Amboró National Park is a place of tremendous ecological diversity. In fact, its location features the convergence of three ecosystems: the high-altitude Andes altiplano, the dry Chaco region and the lush pampas of the Amazon Basin. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the fauna varies widely as well and includes some rarities. For instance, spectacled bears roam there, the only wild bear remaining in South America. You’ll also find the horned curassow, a rare bird species. Its trademark blue “horn” above the orange bill is responsible for the nickname, “unicorn bird.” Several tours are available to guide you through this immense region. If traveling independently, it’s best to hire a local guide.

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

Railway History in York

By Linda Tancs

Billed as the world’s largest railway collection, the National Railway Museum in York, England, brings to life centuries of locomotive history. It’s also where they brought to life the Flying Scotsman, restoring it to its former glory and offering it for special passenger tours across the U.K. Boasting a collection of over 1 million railway-related objects, the facility hosts Mallard (the world’s fastest steam engine), a replica of George Stephenson’s Rocket (a pioneering steam locomotive invention) and the only bullet train known to exist outside Japan.

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

Turkish Battlefields

By Linda Tancs

One of the bloodiest conflicts of World War I occurred at the Gallipoli Pensinsula in Turkey at the Battle of Gallipoli, where the Allied Powers unsuccessfully attempted to control the sea route from Europe to Russia. Today those battlefields are protected as a historical national park honoring over 500,000 war dead. The park includes memorials, monuments and cemeteries ringed by green hills, sandy beaches and inviting waters. You can visit from Istanbul via car or bus or via ferry from Canakkale to Kilitbahir or Eceabat. Taking the route from Istanbul will give you a better view of the battlefields.

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.

Local Color in Tirana

By Linda Tancs

The future literally looks bright in Albania. Billed as the last unturned stone of Europe, the small Balkan country across from the heel of Italy is enjoying a boost in tourism, especially in its color-happy capital, Tirana. That’s where you’ll find boldly rehabilitated Soviet-era buildings, repainted in blue, green, orange, purple, red and yellow. Some local favorites are the “rainbow” building at Wilson Square, the “Titanic” (a purple behemoth at Bajram Curri Boulevard) and geometric chaos around Unaza.

*************

To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.