Paris to Venice. Barcelona to Amsterdam. Brussels to Bratislava, Slovakia. European cities could see a flurry of new rail connections in the next few years, as governments and private investors respond to climate concerns and strive to keep up with strong demand for cross-border passenger rail traffic.
Best Ways To Celebrate Christmas In Europe
17.12.2023 - 11:51 / forbes.com / Emerald Isle
By American standards, the holiday season starts early in Europe… Halloween isn’t traditionally celebrated here, and Thanksgiving doesn’t exist, so Europeans start thinking ahead to December in mid-October.
Big department stores begin to design gift displays and roll them out by Oct. 31, working ahead for the big day…
Across the Continent, Christmas markets often open in the first week of November and usually extend through the New Year, many featuring ice-skating rinks, fair rides, carnival games, and other festive pastimes…
Germany is the best country to visit when it comes to markets, as this is where they were born. Some have been held continuously since the 12th century.
At the same time, grocery store entries are taken over by towering displays of advent calendars of all kinds, some filled with chocolates, as we North Americans are used to, others filled with cookies, nougat, perfumes, candles, teas, toys, or beauty products…
By the end of the month, cities, towns, and villages of all sizes have laid the groundwork for Dec. 1, the day that the switches will be flipped and the festive lights will be turned on…
They’ve dressed themselves up in strings of lights, garlands and greenery, erected elaborate decorations, stages, and trees that take over their streets and plazas.
While most of this may seem familiar, each country has its own particular tradition… from Norway’s “Teeny Tiny Christmas,” celebrated on Dec. 22, to Spain’s “pooping logs,” many are curious to us foreigners.
Some of my favorite countries to celebrate Christmas in Europe celebrate quite differently than we do in the States…
Ireland
All over Europe, folks like to take a dip on Christmas day… from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, a dip in your nearest body of water is one of the most traditional ways to celebrate Christmas day in Europe.
This came as a shock to my family and I when we moved to Ireland 25 years ago—the Irish coasts are cold enough in summer, but during winter?
The Irish aren’t put off, though. From toddlers to retirees, you’re branded a chicken if you don’t at least splash your feet—and wetsuits are for the weak. Most run in and take a full plunge, running back out for whiskey or tea as soon as they’ve completed the mission.
My family and I watched the bikini- and Speedo-clad crackpots from the shore, bundled in blankets on top of our coats… and still shivering. (I describe more Irish traditions and my family’s adaptation to them in my book on raising a family and starting a business on the Emerald Isle, “At Home in Ireland.”)
The next day, Dec. 26, is St. Stephen’s Day and is traditionally known as Wren’s Day, colloquially, “The Wran.”
Back in the 1800s, a group of young lads would hunt a wren—believed to be
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theguardian.com
03.01.2024 / 10:18
From Arctic art to the Disgusting Food Museum: Europe’s top 10 culture destinations for 2024
Germany is celebrating the 250th birthday of one of its best-loved painters, the Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840). His work features mountains, ruins and stormy seas, often with human figures, such as Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog. There are exhibitions in Hamburg (until 1 April), Berlin (19 April to 4 August) and Dresden (24 August to 5 January 2025), where Friedrich lived for 40 years; he is buried in the city’s Trinitatis Cemetery. His birthplace, Greifswald, has a festival (31 August-1 September) and three exhibitions at the Pomeranian State Museum (from 28 April). Visitors can also follow in the artist’s footsteps – literally, as he preferred to travel on foot, sketchbook in hand – to locations in his paintings, such as Rügen Island or the Saxon Switzerland national park.germany.travel
euronews.com
31.12.2023 / 00:10
With a giant street party and flaming procession, this city is the best place to celebrate New Year
As midnight approaches, dark groups huddle on the freezing slope of one of the seven hills overlooking the soft yellow lights of the city of Edinburgh.
lonelyplanet.com
29.12.2023 / 20:39
The best ways to get around in Bhutan
Since opening to tourism in 1974, the Kingdom of Bhutan has long been a place that’s fascinated travelers. The country may be small, but criss-crossing its Himalayan terrain takes time and expertise.
euronews.com
29.12.2023 / 01:05
New high-speed train line to link Warsaw with a European capital of culture
Poland has announced plans to build a new high-speed rail line linking some of its major cities.
breakingtravelnews.com
26.12.2023 / 11:00
Enjoy Waves of Surprises during Christmas Holiday at HKTB’s “Hong Kong WinterFest”
Rock your Christmas Holiday with waves of happenings at the Hong Kong WinterFest by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB)! During the four-day holiday, members of the public can enjoy a diverse line-up of live performances at Christmas Town and the “Winter Harbourfront Pyrotechnics” at this Christmas extravaganza.
breakingtravelnews.com
26.12.2023 / 10:56
Merry Christmas!
Dear Readers and Fellow Traveller’s,
travelpulse.com
21.12.2023 / 22:37
The Best US Cities for Christmas Season Travel
If, somehow, you’re still looking for a spot to spend Christmas or the final week of 2023, the personal-finance website WalletHub’s latest report has some important insights for you. It reviewed data on the nation’s 100 largest cities to find out which are simultaneously the most festive and affordable for celebratory getaways this Christmas season.
forbes.com
21.12.2023 / 18:17
Last-Minute Christmas Eve Dinners Still Bookable In New York City
Christmas Eve is Sunday, December 24. And while Sundays aren’t typically the hardest nights to grab reservations, the holiday is changing things up, with plenty of top restaurants already fully booked. If you procrastinated, have a change of plans or just want to leave the cooking (and cleaning) to the pros, there are still plenty of great options to dine out in New York City this Christmas Eve. Here’s where to go:
forbes.com
20.12.2023 / 11:05
Ranked: Europe’s Top Stress-Free Countries For Expats According To Experts
Moving abroad can be one of the most exciting and rewarding steps in life, but it also comes with plenty of worries. If you’re dreaming of relocating to Europe, you might be struggling to decide what country or city would suit you best.
thepointsguy.com
19.12.2023 / 21:09
Taylor Swift heads to Europe next summer. Hotels are already selling out.
The economic juggernaut that is Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" is crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
matadornetwork.com
16.12.2023 / 14:50
Cycle, Paddle, and Hike Through Europe on an Active River Cruise
Standing astride a bike on a sunny morning in Austria, I waved goodbye to the AmaSonata, the river cruise ship I’d been on for the last few days, as it continued sailing west on the Danube River.