This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sara van Geloven, freelance editor and project manager. It has been edited for length and clarity.
20.10.2024 - 23:27 / euronews.com
DJs play thumping sets inside tiny taco joints as the fruity smell of shisha drifts past Turkish barbers and trendy crowds gather outside arthouse cinemas.
Across the Elbe river, Dresden’s New Town has a completely different atmosphere to its historic core.
Thanks to a new night train connection, this Bohemian east German enclave has never been more accessible.
Launched earlier this year, the Good Night Train by Belgian-Dutch start-up European Sleeper takes you from Brussels to Dresden in around eight hours.
I tested out the route on my return trip back to England. Here’s how it compared to flying - and why you should book a seat to explore this underrated city.
There’s no denying that the Good Night Train is a no-frills experience - but it’s a good choice for tolerant types who don’t mind forgoing some creature comforts.
The social aspect is one of the many things I enjoy about the Sleeper.
As I get to know my fellow passengers, Laura - a friendly Belgian who is one of the women in my female three-bed cabin - tells me how she loves sleeper trains and even finds their rattling movement soothing.
It’s not for everyone: as the carriages clang and judder their way along the tracks, even my trusty earplugs and eye mask can’t tempt sleep.
And climbing down the ladder from my middle bunk in the darkness to visit the toilet isn’t ideal either. But the bathrooms themselves are acceptable - nothing like the horrors I’ve encountered on overnight services in India.
This cabin is a more ‘deluxe’ option, costing around €108 compared to couchettes from €69 or seats from €49.
I appreciate the thoughtful touches, such as drinking water in plant-based containers, a handy shelf by the bed, and a complimentary pack of cards - I spotted three ladies playing a spirited game.
Compared to my flight to Gdańsk, the Polish city where I’d started my trip, catching the Sleeper has undeniable advantages.
There’s no faffing with liquids, no long airport queues or sitting around in busy terminals. Instead I’d begun my journey at a quiet station, after a short evening walk from my hotel.
Best of all? Trains are much more sustainable. And while flying is quicker, there’s something more authentic about travelling through countries rather than skipping over them.
As I tuck into my light breakfast - included in the sleeper compartment fare - I enjoy watching the hazy late-summer sunshine gather over Belgian fields.
Dresden is the capital of Saxony in east Germany, where lavish palaces and castles abound.
You can visit twee towns like Meissen, renowned for porcelain-making, and delve into the magical woodcarving heritage of the Ore Mountains - especially magical around the festive season.
These local crafts make their way into Dresden’s
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sara van Geloven, freelance editor and project manager. It has been edited for length and clarity.
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Rail company Eurostar is making it easier to travel around Europe spontaneously by offering up to 50 percent off last-minute and flexible tickets.
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“As far back as I can remember, I knew I was different,” says Alexander Smalls. Growing up in a Gullah Geechee household in Spartanburg, North Carolina, the chef says he recognized the implication of those differences—in appearance, history, and cuisine. “I discovered early that my friends did not eat any of the foods that I ate. My foods were more akin to West Africa, you know, and very much pronounced in that way,” he says. It wan't until he moved to New York as an adult, that he assimilated the value of that diasporic connective tissue. “Food was a big part of cultural expression and identity of the African diaspora,” he says.
Whether you’re a frequent flyer in first class or it’s a distant dream, the experience may soon be coming to an end worldwide.
This article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
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A last-minute trip to Europe is as romantic as it sounds. Not only is the spontaneity thrilling, but European countries lend themselves very well to travelers who appreciate local customs and enjoy exploring new places without a rigid itinerary. Often, impulsively turning down a cobblestoned street will lead you to an exceptional hole-in-the-wall wine bar, a short-notice boutique hotel booking will be the best place you’ve ever stayed, or a chance encounter with a local will lead to a life-long friendship. But come 2025, you will need to do a little planning before you cross the pond. Next year, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will come into effect. This rule will require visitors from visa-exempt countries to obtain a travel authorization before entering 30 European countries and this includes US travelers.
My dad is from a small town in Massachusetts and has never been much for travel, but his eyes lit up like a child’s when I told him I was headed to Stuttgart, the capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg in the Swabian region of southwestern Germany. A lifelong car buff, pop knew Stuttgart as the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Driving me to the airport, he gushed about the legendary car museums in his coarse Boston accent: “Christalmighty, Johnny Boy, you’ll see the most gawgeous Muhcedes and Pawsches evah made!” I could only imagine otherwise-polite Germans shuddering at his pronunciation of their cherished automobile brands (but I kept that to myself).