Brussels Pride returns on Saturday 17 May 2025 under the theme ‘Unite, time to protect our rights‘, as tens of thousands prepare to fill the streets in celebration and protest. Organisers expect around 200,000 people to take part, echoing last year’s attendance. The event caps off Pride Week in the capital of Belgium, which began…
Tag: Romania
TRAINS IN LUXEMBOURG | CFL’s Alstom Coradia Stream HC ‘Série 2400’
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…
RAINBOW EUROPE MAP AND INDEX 2025 | United Kingdom, Hungary and Georgia drop dramatically on LGBTQIA+ rights ranking
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has dropped six places on this year‘s ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map and Rainbow Index, as Hungary and the Republic of Georgia also register steep falls following anti-LGBTI legislation. The data highlights how rollbacks on LGBTI human rights are part of a broader erosion of democratic protections across…
What is Schengen?
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…
ILGA-EUROPE | New era of coordinated attacks on foundations of Fundamental Rights, as EU bins Equal Treatment Directive
A major report published today, 18 February 2025, identifies how LGBTQIA+ people are being weaponized to erode the foundations of freedom and democracy across Europe. The report describes the changes in 2024.
European Commission commits to single-ticket train travel, Back-on-Track unconvinced it will happen
In her working plan accompanying her application speech in front of the EU Parliament Commission, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen from Germany did not really raise high ambitions about progress in transport of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in general or improvements of the European railway network in particular, but one promise…
Turkey welcomed 62 million international tourists who together spent $61 billion in 2024
July 2024. Steve and I are cruising on the Norwegian Getaway, a Breakaway class ship by Norwegian Cruise Line or NCL. Interestingly, our stay on board happened shortly after the Getaway paid a visit to the dry dock for some refurbishments. The route? Piraeus, which is the port of Athens in Greece; followed by Mykonos;…
European Union, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein introduce European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) from May 2025
On 14 September 2024, the European Union launched its website for ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. The scheme will start being applied from May 2025.
United Kingdom introduces mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for US, Canada, Australia, EU citizens from 2025
The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is expanding its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to citizens of the European Union. Applying for the British ETA will cost you 10 pounds sterling.
REVIEW | On board the NS ICNG-B on the Brussels – Antwerp – Rotterdam – Schiphol Airport – Amsterdam – Lelystad route
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…