I turned 45 in June. I have this tradition – when possible – of not being in Belgium for my birthday. From Sweden in 2013 to the Châteaux of the Loire Valley in 2014, Lake Orta in 2015, Rome in 2016, London in 2018, North Carolina and Virginia in 2019, England in 2022, and Rotterdam…
Tag: Nice
France’s Intercités: a long-awaited renewal for the ‘forgotten’ rail network
For decades, France’s Trains d’Équilibre du Territoire – commercially branded as Intercités – have played second fiddle to the high-speed TGV and regional TER networks. These conventional long-distance services, encompassing both day and night trains, were established in 2011 to consolidate routes previously operated under brands like Corail Téoz, Lunéa, and Interregional.
GAY MONACO | Monaco Pride 2026?
I visited the Principality of Monaco past Sunday. At the start of Pride Month, which is mostly an American affair, I wondered if Monaco has a Pride. It has, but not at a scale we’re used to. The principality on the Mediterranean Sea isn’t exactly known to be a queer hotspot.
FRANCE | Government delays purchase of new night train rolling stock
When President Emmanuel Macron announced a major renaissance of night trains in 2020, the ambition was clear: by 2030 France should operate a dense network of ten modern night train routes, reconnecting cities domestically and across Europe. Five years later, the vision has collided with fiscal reality, Nico Callens of Duurzaam Mobiel writes.
European Commission pumps €2.8 billion in 94 transport infrastructure projects
The European Commission has announced in July 2025 the selection of 94 transport infrastructure projects to receive nearly €2.8 billion in grants under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), a flagship EU funding instrument aimed at building a sustainable and interconnected transport network across the continent.
Brussels Airlines carried nearly 2 million passengers this summer
Brussels Airlines reports a strong 2025 summer season, having transported over 1.9 million passengers on almost 13,000 flights in July and August, a 12% increase compared to 2024. The addition of more aircraft to the fleet enabled the airline to expand capacity and meet high demand.
Spain – Andorra – Catalonia – Occitania – Andalusia 2023
In 2023 I ‘rediscovered’ the for Belgians traditional holiday destinations of France and Spain. And in France, I mostly stayed in what was traditionally more Latin or Iberian than the France which we associate with Paris, Bordeaux, Nice, Brittany, Normandy or the Champagne. In 2023, I explored areas with a more or less fiercely independent…
Midnight Trains abandon United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark and Portugal to aim at Nice, Milan, Rome, Venice, Barcelona and Madrid
Back in June 2021, a company in France called Midnight Trains launched its ‘Hotel on rails‘ project for luxury night train services worthy a hotel experience. Every Friday, Midnight Trains sends a newsletter with some sort of update on its project.
REVIEW | SNCF Intercité de nuit sleeper train from Paris to Nice
In January 2023 Jeroen undertook a solo train trip to France and Italy. He travelled to Nice, Monaco, La Spezia, Firenze, Pisa, Siena and Cinque Terre. He returned home with an ÖBB Nightjet to Munich and from there flew to Brussels. To reach Nice, he took a Intercité de nuit. This is his experience.
Malmö – Brussels night train to become Malmö – Brussels – Paris?
Well before the hype of European Sleeper‘s Ostend – Prague and Ostend – Warsaw routes and of Moonlight Express‘ Barcelona – Perpignan – Brussels – Berlin dream, Sweden announced going for a night train from Malmö to Cologne and Brussels. But now, a French minister is implying a Paris – Brussels – Cologne – Copenhagen…