The highlight of highlights for prides is the pride parade or Pride March. This year, the Brussels Pride parade is on 17 May. And 17 May is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. IDAHOT or IDAHOBIT. This year, the theme ‘Unite, time to protect our rights‘ will call for a society where everyone’s fundamental…
Month: May 2025
THURINGIA | A day in Weimar
October 2024. During a week-long whistle-stop tour of Germany, we visit Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt, Weimar in Thuringia, Coburg in Upper Franconia (Bavaria) and Kassel in Hesse. Smaller cities, yes. But each with their own significance. Untouched by overtourism. We’re avoiding using the white trains of DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn‘s long-distance section and opt to use…
REVIEW | F1 The Exhibition in Amsterdam
The Kromhouthal in Amsterdam currently hosts The Formula 1® Exhibition / The F1® Exhibition / F1 The Exhibition. No, I don’t know what the definitive name is. On site, I felt ‘F1 The Exhibition’ was prevalent. I first saw Formula 1 live on television on 1 May 1994. Since 1996, I follow F1 closely. Amsterdam…
ANTWERP | Fifth edition of Open Houses brings stories of WWII victims to life
This weekend, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May 2025, the 5th edition of Open Houses will take place in Antwerp. During this commemoration weekend, storytellers, relatives and residents will share stories about fellow citizens who lived during the World War II years at various small gatherings throughout the city.
LUXEMBOURG | Diekirch and the Musée d’Histoire[s] or Museum of History/ies
We haven’t travelled to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg since 2018 and 2019, but in January 2025 we returned to get a taste of the Alstom Coradia Stream HC which the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL) runs under the name Série 2400. The Coradia Stream HC was a candidate to become NMBS…
Travel in 2024: Spain, France, USA, China, Mexico lose ground and Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, UAE to grow market share
In 2024, Google and consultancy giant Deloitte wrote the paper ‘NextGen Travellers and Destinations‘, studying the the before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, the paper was written before 2025, which has proven to be a year of turmoil the world hasn’t experienced in many decades.
REVIEW | Korail KTX Seoul – Gyeongju – Busan
Autumn 2024. Ten years after my first trip to Seoul in 2014, I am returning to the Republic of Korea, better known as South Korea. Not solo this time, but with Oriol, who has never been to Korea. On the itinerary: flying with Qatar Airways to Incheon via Doha, the capital Seoul, the historic city…
Eurostar calls for UK national strategy and investment to shape future of Channel Tunnel Rail and promises 50 new trains
Eurostar is calling for a long-term national strategy and significant infrastructure investment to support international rail growth, warning that without coordinated action, the United Kingdom could squander a major opportunity to expand sustainable cross-Channel travel. The appeal comes as competition to enter the Channel Tunnel rail market intensifies and pressure mounts to end Eurostar’s decades-long…
REVIEW | Hotel Elephant Weimar
October 2024. During a week-long whistle-stop tour of Germany, we visit Dessau-Roßlau in Saxony-Anhalt, Weimar in Thuringia, Coburg in Upper Franconia (Bavaria) and Kassel in Hesse. Smaller cities, yes. But each with their own significance. Untouched by overtourism. We’re avoiding using the white trains of DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn‘s long-distance section and opt to use…
France, Spain, USA, China and Italy most visited countries in the world, Belgium 41st
France, Spain, the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China and Italy are the most visited countries in the world. Belgium ranks 41st, the Netherlands 20th. Not only the 193 member states of the United Nations are counted, but also other top level domains such as Hong Kong (17th).