September 2023. Oriol and I are flying to Toulouse for a road trip in Occitania and (French) Catalonia. We include the Principality of Andorra, which I can finally tick off the bucket list, and Llívia, Spain‘s exclave in France. Besides Toulouse we visit Mont-Louis, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Perpignan and Carcassonne.
Month: January 2024
ANTWERP | 13.5 million day tourists, 2.6 million overnight stays and less Dutch visitors in 2023
In line with the positive trend since 2021, Antwerp also recorded good tourist figures for the past year, which indicate that the city remains an attractive destination for visitors. With 13.5 million day tourists in 2023, Antwerp recorded an increase of 16% compared to 2022. Stay-over tourism increased by 9% to 2.6 million overnight stays.
Brussels Airlines drops new uniforms and more inclusive style guide
On 18 January, Brussels Airlines (SN) launched its brand-new uniforms for its cabin, cockpit and ground operations employees. By choosing Gabrielle Szwarcenberg, a young designer from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, and several other established Belgian brands, the airline once again emphasizes its Belgitude, its Belgianness.
REVIEW | Mykonos Town Vencia Boutique Hotel & Karavaki Restaurant
Maspalomas on Gran Canaria. Sitges in Catalonia. Torremolinos in Andalusia. Mykonos in the Cyclades. These are arguably the main – and cliché – resort destinations for European gay beachgoers. But that’s not why Steve and I are going to Mykonos. We’re not beachgoers, we don’t have beach bodies, we don’t enjoy going out. No, we…
2024 at Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (KMSKA): Rubens, James Ensor, Jules Schmalzigaug and many more
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp or KMSKA – short for Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten van Antwerpen – has had a very successful year in 2023. The museum presents a 2024 filled with exhibitions and activities. The renovation KMSKA is a prestige project of the Flemish Government.
THE CANADIAN | Days 2 & 3: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
In May and June 2023, we travelled from east to west across Canada. From Halifax in Nova Scotia to Montreal in Quebec, to Toronto in Ontario, to Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia. Along the way some night trains and commuter trains, the Niagara Falls and – imagine this – a bus journey. A true…
ANTWERP | M HKA modern art museum presents first half of 2024 activities
M HKA is the Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst in Antwerpen or Museum of Modern Art of Antwerp. It presents its programme for the first half of 2024.
REVIEW | Caldea hot spring spa and treatments in Andorra la Vella
September 2023. Oriol and I are flying to Toulouse for a road trip in Occitania and (French) Catalonia. We include the Principality of Andorra, which I can finally tick off the bucket list, and Llívia, Spain‘s exclave in France. Besides Toulouse we visit Mont-Louis, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Perpignan and Carcassonne.
ANTWERP | Reopening Rubens House delayed to 2030
Soon visitors will be able to discover another piece of the Rubens House in Antwerp which currently closed for restoration and expansion. A new multifunctional building and garden are in line to open their doors in the summer of 2024. However, unexpectedly high costs for the restoration of the artist’s home require an updated plan,…
Antwerp looking for desingers and contractors for bicycle and walking bridge over the Scheldt
The board of directors of De Vlaamse Waterweg nv and the Council of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Antwerp approved the selection guidelines for the tender for the bicycle and walking bridge over the Scheldt River in Antwerp.