Owner: itravelnet.com Travel Blog URL:http://www.itravelnet.com/blog/notes.html Join Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:13:52 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Notes from the editor. Travel related news, articles, photos from itravelnet.com. Site statistics:Click here
Eurostar moves to St Pancras 2007-11-15 04:08:00 On the 14th of November London's Eurostar terminal moved from Waterloo to St Pancras. Eurostar began operations in 1994 but it has until now never been able to travel at high speed when in Britain. A new tunnel was dug under the east of London to enable high speed train travel all the way to the English channel.The move to St Pancras means that travel times to Paris have been reduced from 2 hours 35 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes. Travel to Brussels has gone from 2 hours 20 minutes to 1 hour and 51 minutes.St Pancras comprises two remarkable Victorian era buildings. The front of St Pancras is a classic London landmark, the former Midland Grand Hotel, built in the Gothic revival style by Architect Gilbert Scott. This part of the station is being converted into apartments, St Pancras Chambers, which is currently being advertised as 66 luxury apatments and 1 unique £10 Million Penthouse.Behind this grand frontage is the train shed of the Engineer William Barlow. This enclosed area c Read more:moves
Goodbye Waterloo 2007-11-13 03:22:00 The 13th of November 2007 is the last day of Eurostar at London Waterloo
. Goodbye
WaterlooWhile it may have amused the English to have the French arrive at a station named Waterloo, you can be assured that the French were having the last laugh before they even got to the station. Laughing at the slowness of trains in Britain.Underfunded British railway infrastructure meant that the high speed Eurostar would have to slow down to regular passenger train speed once it emerged on the English side of the tunnel.As of the 14th of November the Eurostar will operate from St Pancras and will use the new high speed tunnel under London.Eurostar - Waterloo International
World Travel Market - London 2007-11-13 03:06:00 The London WorldTravelMarket
is one of the biggest travel industry events in the world, and it is on from 12-15 November at ExCel in London Docklands. It is held every November and last year over 47000 people attended.Hungary Tourism StandSingapore Airlines show off their A380 first class cabinEmbracing Borat - Air Astana from Kazakhstan
London to Paris and Brussels: Train v Plane 2007-11-16 03:27:00 Eurostar has a market share of about 71% of the London-Paris
and 64% of the London-Brussels
air/rail routes, so it has proved to be the most popular of the two options. Travel TimeFor overall travel time the Eurostar is the quicker option once you factor in travel time to and from airports and minimum required time before flight departure. There is less hassle to travel on the Eurostar as well. You pass through both countries customs before you board. Clearing customs and baggage screening takes no longer than 20 minutes and you only need to be there 30 minutes before departure.As you carry your bags onboard and you have already cleared customs, once you reach Paris or Brussels you can walk off the train and straight out of the station.WirelessThe St Pancras departure lounge has a good laptop work area. Never mind Europe's longest Champagne bar, this may be Europe's longest laptop work bench.Laptop Work DeskI was soon to be disappointed though as there is no free wireless service on Read more:Train
, Plane
St Pancras Photos 2007-11-15 04:15:00 Eurostar International Foyer.Eurostar train at St Pancras.The Meeting Place. That's the name of the statue and the place.Pancras Road.Europe's longest Champagne bar.Depatures to Paris and Brussels.Visitors from Paris and Brussels can then connect from St Pancras to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. Lucky them.
Benelux Rail Pass 2007-11-03 06:58:00 If you are planning to travel in Belgium and the Netherlands then you may want to consider a Benelux rail pass. (Benelux stands for BElgium NEtherlands and LUXembourg). For European residents there is the Benelux pass from InterRail, and for non European residents the Benelux pass is available from Rail Europe. This pass can be bought at the international ticket department of major train stations, but it may be more convenient to order it before you travel to save time buying it when you arrive.Plan Your TravelAs with any rail pass you should do some homework beforehand to make sure you will save money from buying a pass.For example the Benelux pass Adult 2nd class is €139 and is valid for 5 days travels in 30 days. That works out at €27.80 per day of travel. Next you need to look at the map of Benelux to see where you would like to go. If you are only visiting a few places then it will not be worth getting a pass. If you plan to visit many towns and cities then the pass beco
Getting to Luxembourg 2007-11-02 04:04:00 Luxembourg airport is 6km from the city. It is the home base for Luxair, the national flag carrier airline. There are flights from London by British Airways and VLM Airways.The airport is a small regional airport so I was surprised to see 747's at an airport serving a city with a population of just over 75,000 people. These Jumbo's though are cargo airlines. Luxembourg has positioned itself as a cargo hub and it is one of the worlds busiest. During the day you will see 747 cargo planes flying over the city.Luxembourg AirportTrainLuxembourg has its own state railway, CFL. There are direct international services from Brussels, Paris and Trier in Germany.Gare Centrale LuxembourgBusLuxembourg has international services by Eurolines. Read more:Luxembourg
Luxembourg City 2007-11-02 03:07:00 The City of Luxembourg
is the capital of The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, a pocket sized little country in Western Europe of just 82km long and 57km wide.Luxembourger's are a linguistic lot, having three official languages: French, German and Luxembourgish. English is also taught at schools as well.Luxembourg is famous for its private banking services and many international companies have offices here attracted by its tax haven status. Luxembourg is a seat of several institutions of the European Union, including the European Court of Auditors, the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank.There is more to Luxembourg though than business, banking and bureaucrats.Luxembourg's eponymously titled capital sits on either side of a valley that splits the city in two. The river Petrusse flows here, where it joins the river Alzette. Down in the valley is the quarter called Grund.Grund - LuxembourgAbove the valley is the old town, where the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) can be foun
What do the Belgians really think of the British? 2007-11-17 02:19:00 To promote the new Brussels - London Eurostar service some advertisements have gone up all around Brussels which have caused a stir - the dream of every advertising agency. The one that has most tongues wagging is one of a football thug relieving himself in a cup of tea.London now just around the cornerOther advertisements include an Alfred Hitchcock and a John Cleese impersonator. While the football thug might not be in the best taste, the ads show how universal these British
characters are. There is no parralel ad campaign in London for Brussels. After all that old saying Name a Famous Belgian still rings true.I thought this ad though sums it up positively for Britain. Apart from the USA, how many other countries could have their last three leaders so easily impersonated and recognised?Eurostar - British Prime Ministers Read more:think
British Trash Mags 2007-11-16 01:04:00 Being a nomad I don't watch much TV. Youtube has replaced my tv. Sometimes I watch DVD's of TV shows but generally speaking I have no idea what's on the box anymore.I do like to scan the headlines of trashy magazines though in newsagencies, if only to keep up with names of the day.Who the hell are Chanelle and Ziggy? Read more:British
, Trash
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport 2007-11-12 03:12:00 I always feel a sense of shame on behalf of British Airports whenever I pass through Amsterdam
Schiphol Airport, and I'm not even British! Poor old Heathrow. I want it to be the world class airport it should be but it doesn't stand a chance when compared to Schiphol.Schiphol is a large gateway airport that is modern and relatively easy to find your way around. There is a State Railway station under the airport with regular trains only 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal Station.Sunrise at SchipholRijksmuseum Amsterdam SchipholIf you can't bear the though of leaving Europe then this is your last chance saloon. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol is located in the area behind the passport control between the E and F Pier. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam SchipholHolland Casino SchipholAn airport with its own casino.Holland Casino SchipholWireless InternetThis is the chink in the armour for Schiphol. There is no free wireless here - you have to pay an exorbitant amount. This is a European wide problem
Amsterdammertje - The Bollards of Amsterdam 2007-11-11 05:22:00 One of Amsterdam
most common features is a bollard known as Amsterdammertje (little one from Amsterdam in Dutch). AmsterdammertjeThere are thousands of these bollards all over the city. They feature the coat of arms of Amsterdam, the three Crosses of Saint Andrew's. When I first saw this I thought it meant that Amsterdam was the triple-x rated city of sin. I'm sure I'm not alone in this presumption.They are gradually being replaced though which is a shame. So here is an idea for the Amsterdam City Council. They should sell these as souvenirs on ebay or somewhere online. They would look great in your backyard, and anyone who has been to Amsterdam would instantly recognise it.
Writers workspace in Amsterdam 2007-11-11 05:40:00 Our Man in Amsterdam
In the film Pulp Fiction Vincent Vega has just returned to LA after living in Amsterdam. Quentin Tarantino lived in Amsterdam while he was writing the script so that is why Amsterdam is worked into the plot.Writers
WorkspaceAmsterdam's liberal environment has long attracted international artists to base themselves. If you are thinking of coming here to write then you could start off at De Woordensmederij (The Wordsmithery).I found this place in an advertisement in a local English paper and it sounds like a great idea to me. It is a non-profit for writers of all kinds. The prices are very good considering what you get and that you are in central Amsterdam.To quote from their website:The Wordsmithery is Amsterdam's first and only non-profit writer's workshop. It's a serene, convenient place for creative people to get quality writing done. Are you a wordsmith too - a writer, journalist, academic or translator?Working space is flexible, so you pay only for the time
A night in Amsterdam 2007-11-11 05:11:00 I end my Benelux railpass in Amsterdam
, where I make my way back to London. I have found a great budget hotel near Leidseplein, Kooyk Hotel.Hotel KooykNot far from here is the Cafe De Saloon. This Flatiron shaped building is by a canal in a quiet area and I come whenever I am in Amsterdam.De Saloon
The Great Grote Markt Market 2007-11-11 04:59:00 If I have learnt one thing about Belgium it is they have cornered the great Grote Markt market. Belgium has some of the best preserved Town Squares (Grote Markt) in Europe.Grote Markt - BrusselsGrote Markt - MechelenGrote Markt - LeuvenGrote Markt - KortrijkGrote Markt Cafes - Bruges Read more:Great
, Market
Armistice Day in Belgium 2007-11-11 04:46:00 I found myself at the Grote Markt (Main Square) of Mechelen on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Much of the trench war of WWI was fought in Belgium
.
Vending Machine Beer 2007-11-10 04:36:00 Belgium is a land that takes their beer seriously. There are over 1000 types of beer in Belgium. They even have beer in regular vending machines on the street. That would never work in any of the binge drinking Anglo-Celtic lands.Vending Machine
Beer
Ghent - The best of Belgium 2007-11-09 04:01:00 Halfway between Bruges and Brussels is Ghent (Gent). Like Bruges, much of Ghent's medieval architecture remains intact. Like Brussels, it has a lively nighlife and arts scene. Ghent is like having the best of these two great cities in one, which is why I don't understand why Ghent isn't as well known as it should be. To compare, there is one hostel in Ghent, and at least six in Bruges. The view from Sint Michiels Bridge is one of the greatest views in Europe.Graslei Read more:Belgium
Ostend - Belgium 2007-11-08 05:16:00 Ostend (Oostende) on a windswept November day is not the first place you would think of visiting, but these are the things you sometimes find yourself doing when you have a railpass.Being a major port it was bombed during the Second World War. Wandering around the streets you can see small hints that this place was once grander than it is now.There is a large sandy beach here which is popular in the summer.St Petrus and Paulus Church Read more:Belgium
Medieval Bruges 2007-11-08 04:35:00 Bruges (Brugge) was an important trading Port from the 12th to the 15th Century. When its estuary silted up, Bruges lost its trade to other cities. History has conspired in favour of Bruges though. The city was not involved in the theatre of war during WWI and WWII so the old city buildings remain intact.Today Bruges is one of the best preserved Medieval cities in Europe, making it the most popular destination in Belgium.BelfryRozenhoedkaaiCanal and Bridge
Brussels Bike Hire 2007-11-07 04:51:00 These bike hire stations can be found in locations all over Brussels
. You have to register and pay to use this service. While it is only a small fee, I prefer the system in Copenhagen where you you only need to put a coin in a deposit slot, like in a supermarket trolley.cyclocity.beCyclocity Brussels
In honour of the future victims of Swedish-made weapons 2007-11-07 04:40:00 An anti-war message in front of a war memorial at Place Poelaert near the Palace of Justice in Brussels.If Swedes are wondering why Belgians have singled them out it is because the installation is by Swedish
artist Fia-Stina Sandlund.In honour
of the future victims of Swedish-made weapons
Manneken Pis - Brussels 2007-11-07 04:20:00 Manneken Pis is one of the most well known places of Brussels
. Some say it's also the most disappointing tourist attraction of Europe. But as it is one of those things you "have to see", people crowd around this diminutive statue.Mannekin Pis TouristsManneken MascotManneken Pis is the unofficial symbol of Brussels. Every tourist shops contain Manneken Pis related items.Not the most appropriate statue to have near seafoodOther Pis StatuesContinuing the toileting statue theme, there are two more statues to see, the Jeanneke Pis and this one of a dog.Dog Pis - Rue Des Chartreux
Chocolates and Waffles 2007-11-07 02:00:00 Belgians are master chocolatiers. There are chocolate shops all over Brussels. They also claim the waffle as their own, so if you have a sweet tooth then you will enjoy wandering around Brussels.Belgian Chocolates
Belgian Waffles
Belgian Waffle - Grand Place
The grandest place in Europe 2007-11-06 05:16:00 The Grand Place (French: Grand Place, Dutch: Grote Markt) is the main square of Brussels, Belgium. Most of the Europe
an Union's institutions have headquarters in Brussels, giving Brussels its title of European Union capital. It is fitting then that the "Capital of Europe" has the grandest town square in Europe as well.Grand Place / Grote Markt
Bruxelles - Brussel - Brussels 2007-11-05 04:39:00 Brussels is a real surprise packet of a city if you don't know anything about it other than being the so called capital of Europe. It's a cosmopolitan city with a mix of old and new Europe. Belgians don't seem to be a boastful lot, perhaps this is why Brussels isn't as visited as it should be.LanguageBelgium is split into three linguistic divides. Flanders, the northern half of the country is Flemish (Dutch) speaking, Wallonia in the Southern half speak French, and there is a German speaking pocket in the east of the Country. Brussels is in the Brussels-Capital Region, which is in the Dutch speaking Flanders region, but officially Brussels is bilingual, French and Dutch. This is why all the street signs in Brussels are in both languages. Read more:Brussels
Oasis Hong Kong Flight Review - London to Hong Kong 2007-12-04 04:31:00 Oasis Hong Kong
is a long-haul low-cost airline based in Hong Kong. They currently fly to London and Vancouver and are expanding to other destinations in 2008.Oasis Hong Kong at GatwickI had not considered flying a low-cost airline long-haul due to the perceived lack of services, but the price difference was enough for me to consider again.PriceThis was what got me through the door. The cheapest advertised price was £99, with an asterisk of course.Fare Breakdown:Air Fare GBP 99Fuel Surcharge GBP 29.96UK Air Passenger Duty Economy GBP 40.00UK passenger Service Charge GBP 7.90Total: GBP 176.86This is for a one way fare from London to Hong Kong. This was booked about one month before travel, and was about half the price of the next best fare found on expedia/opodo with regular airlines. Booking as a one way flight might have made a difference to the fares with other airlines.Low-cost and Long-Haul?The low cost model works well for short haul flights as a cooked meal and entertainme Read more:Flight
Last Second Books at Gatwick 2007-12-03 14:29:00 Novel Idea book vending machine at a departure gate at London Gatwick, and none of them by Grisham or Brown.Novel Idea book vending Gatwick Read more:Second
, Books
Giant Spider at Tate Modern - London 2007-12-03 03:15:00 Outside the Tate Modern
is the giant spider "Maman" by Louise Bourgeois. It is on display until 20 January 2008.Maman Giant Spider
Maman at Tate Modern
Recommend Site To A Friend
