Benelux, Amsterdammer or Brusselaar. The intercity train service linking Brussels in Belgium to Amsterdam in the Netherlands has many names and has a long history. From December 2024, there will be two Benelux trains per hour. The ‘IC Snel‘ (‘IC Rapid‘) and the ‘IC Traag‘ (‘IC Slow‘). Those names are said to be temporary. The…
Tag: Norway
Mr Gay Europe 2026 contest to cruise with VACAYA at summer’s end
In 2026, the Mr Gay Europe contest will take place on a gay cruise, specifically a VACAYA cruise. “The finals will take place on board an all-LGBT+ cruise spanning nine days in late summer 2026 alongside the world’s leading LGBT+ vacation company, VACAYA”, the press release says.
ANTWERP | ‘To the Antarctic. The polar pioneers of the Belgica’ exhibition at Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS)
Since 21 June, summer solstice, the Museum Aan de Stroom (Museum At the Stream) or MAS in Antwerp hosts the ‘To the Antarctic. The polar pioneers of the Belgica‘. In Belgium, Baron Adrien Victor Joseph de Gerlache de Gomery‘s adventure is as famous as Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton‘s Antarctic voyages are in the United Kingdom…
SCENIC TRAINS | Train de Rhune (France), Texas, Oman, Alaska, Romantic Road (Germany), New York to San Francisco, Tuscany
You may have noticed we love to travel by train and we don’t shy away of travelling to ride on one or more specific trains or railway line. The Canadian in Canada, the California Zephyr in the United States, the Glacier Express in Switzerland or the Flåmsbana in Norway just to name a few. As…
RAINBOW EUROPE MAP AND INDEX 2024 | These are the LGBTQIA+ friendly and LGBTQIA+ unfriendly countries in Europe
2024 is worldwide a major election year. This is also the case in Europe. The Rainbow Map and Index by ILGA-Europe show(s) the continent – and yes that includes the United Kingdom – is not equipped against attacks from the far-right.
SPARTACUS GAY TRAVEL INDEX 2024 | Malta, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal the most gay friendly destinations; Belgium now 21st
Malta, Canada, New Zealand, Spain and Portugal are the most gay friendly countries for LGBTQIA+ travellers to venture to this year. Belgium stagnates and due to the advancing countries, it is now 21st on the list.
ILGA-EUROPE | Alarming surge in transphobic speech across Europe sparks concern for June 2024 EU elections
Ahead of the elections throughout the European Union coming June, a new ILGA-Europe report shows a stark rise in anti-LGBTQIA+, and in particular, transphobic statements from politicians across Europe.
Antwerp number 1 of 40 most exciting cities to visit in 2024
For the British newspaper of record The Sunday Times, Antwerp in Belgium is the number one exciting city to visit in 2024.
Pride movement in Europe expecting increased hostility
The European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA), representing Europe‘s LGBTQIA+ pride organisations has told the United Nations (UN) that it expects increased hostility in the coming years, unless there is a change in political mood across the continent.
REVIEW | VIA Rail’s The Canadian four-day night train from Toronto to Vancouver
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…