itravelnet.com Travel Blog

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.



Other 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?

Labels: advertisement, belgians, belgium, british, brussels, eurostar, london

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

Labels: belgium, brussels, coffee, horse

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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 Time

For 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.

Wireless

The 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.



I was soon to be disappointed though as there is no free wireless service on offer. So far none of London's 5 airports offer a free wireless service and there are currently no airlines that are capable of offering wireless inflight (yet).

Surely Eurostar could strike a blow to their airline competition by offering free wireless in the departure lounges and on the train. If a bus can offer WiFi, then why not a train.



Ticketing

This is where Eurostar, and British trains in general, are way behind the pricing reforms that have swept through the airline industry since the low cost boom. Ticket prices are still structured like the airline tickets of old, where a one way ticket can cost more than a return.

Looking for tickets on the UK site I found one way tickets for £150. Then I searched for a return ticket using the same start date and the total price was £60. So it is more economical to buy a return and not use the return half if you want to travel one way.

The one way price is different again on the US version, and there are price discrepancies, as reported by the Independent, where the same ticket is cheaper if you live in Europe rather than Britain (though cheaper prices in Europe than the UK won't come as a surprise for British readers).

In this age of DIY travel booking, it is easy to travel to one destination and leave from another, so it would be a good option to be able to book a one way train ticket, and return via air from another destination.

Finding cheap Eurostar tickets is easy enough. If you book in advance you can find return tickets for £59.

Eurostar

Note: London-Brussels travel was provided by Eurostar.

Labels: brussels, england, eurostar, london, paris, st pancras, train, train station

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: britain, england

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

At the St Pancras International station is a statue of English Poet Sir John Betjeman. The sculpture was commissioned to recognise the huge role John Betjeman played in the saving of St Pancras from demolition in the 1960s.



It's hard to believe that this station was threatened with demolition, but during the 1960's it was. During this time Victorian elegance was out and concrete brutalism was in.

Down the road from St Pancras the grand Euston station was demolished, only to be replaced by the abomination that stands today. Betjeman tried to save Euston, but did not succeed. Fortunately his efforts saved St Pancras from the wrecking ball.

If you are at St Pancras to travel or just there to marvel at the roof as Betjeman is apparently doing, go over to Betjeman's statue and give him a pat on the back.

Then over the years as appreciative travellers pat him on the back, may a shiny smooth spot appear on his back as a visible token of thanks from all who pass through this station.

Labels: england, london, sir john betjeman, st pancras, statue, train station

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

Visitors from Paris and Brussels can then connect from St Pancras to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. Lucky them.

Labels: england, eurostar, london, st pancras, train, train station

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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 consists of single span arches that measure 74.8m (243 ft) across, which at the time it opened was the largest single span structure in the world.



The Midland Grand Hotel was closed in 1935 and St Pancras went into a slow decline to the point where it was threatened with demolition in the 1960's. Fortunately the building was saved, and in in 1996 the building's fortunes changed when the government approved the new high speed rail link that would put 20 kilometres of tunnel under London, bringing the Eurostar service to St Pancras.

The building was then carefully renovated and modified to accommodate the new high speed service along with the existing mainline services that operate to the Midlands. A modern extension has been added to the arched train shed to accommodate the 400 metre long Eurostar trains. The basement of the old station, which was once used as a cellar to store beer brought to London from the Midlands, is now used as the Eurostar departures area.



Eurostar operates around 50 services a day between the UK and France/Belgium. Eurostar trains are 400 metres long and comprise 18 passenger carraiges and two power cars. There are 750 seats on each train, almost equivalent to the capacity levels of two Boeing 747 planes.

Eurostar

Labels: brussels, england, eurostar, london, paris, st pancras, train, train station

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

The 13th of November 2007 is the last day of Eurostar at London Waterloo.



While 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.

Labels: england, eurostar, london, train station, waterloo

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

The London World Travel Market 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.

Labels: london, world travel market

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.



Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol

If 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.



Holland Casino Schiphol

An airport with its own casino.



Wireless Internet

This 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 though (Shannon Airport in Ireland is the only place that I have used so far that have free wireless).

Labels: airport, amsterdam, heathrow, netherlands, schiphol

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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 Workspace

Amsterdam'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 you put in, and includes the use of:

* speedy internet connection (with wi-fi that extends to the nearby park) & printer
* facilities (workspace, kitchen & al.)
* discount at local copy/print shop
* and most importantly the company of other writers.

The tone is quiet, but the spirit convivial. Join a real word-lovers community!

Located on the tranquil Bickersgracht in Amsterdam Centrum, The Wordsmithery is only a stone's throw from Central Station and the multitude of shops on the Haarlemmerdijk.


This is great for nomadic workers as well. I will probably use this next time I travel to Amsterdam. Being on the road for long stretches it would be good to have a place to catch up on notes that I have put together.

I would like to know if anyone knows of other places like this in Europe, or around the world?

Labels: amsterdam, netherlands, workspace, writers

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

One of Amsterdam most common features is a bollard known as Amsterdammertje (little one from Amsterdam in Dutch).



There 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.

Labels: amsterdam, amsterdammertje, netherlands

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.



Not 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.

Labels: amsterdam, cafe, hotels, netherlands

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: belgium, bruges, brussels, kortrijk, leuven, mechelen, town square

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: belgium, mechelen, war

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: belgium, ghent

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: belgium, ghent

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: belgium, ostend

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: belgium, bruges

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.be

Labels: belgium, bicycle, brussels

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: belgium, brussels, war

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.



Manneken Mascot

Manneken Pis is the unofficial symbol of Brussels. Every tourist shops contain Manneken Pis related items.




Other Pis Statues

Continuing the toileting statue theme, there are two more statues to see, the Jeanneke Pis and this one of a dog.

Labels: belgium, brussels, statue

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Labels: belgium, brussels, food

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

The Grand Place (French: Grand Place, Dutch: Grote Markt) is the main square of Brussels, Belgium. Most of the European 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.

Labels: belgium, brussels, europe, grand place, grote markt, town square

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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.

Language

Belgium 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.

Labels: belgians, belgium, brussels

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

It is said that there is a thin line between art and porn when it comes to nudity in movies. So too with graffiti and its thin line between art and vandalism.

I saw this piece of graffiti though which I think sums up the reason for most of the rubbish graffiti in the world. It's usually done by young men who just need to get laid.

Labels: belgium, graffiti, liege

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

Drunken men are going to take a leak in corners no matter where it is. So this church has installed an open urinal in this prominent corner.

Labels: belgium, liege, urinal

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

A different budget accommodation option in Maastricht is the Botel Maastricht.



This boat hotel has basic single rooms with shared bathroom for €33. The river is tame and the boat is well docked so the only time you feel you are on a boat is when a barge would go past, and the boat would gently rock. I heard ducks outside my porthole as well as I drifted off to sleep. A beautiful way to go to sleep.

Labels: boat, botel, hotels, maastricht, netherlands

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

Dogs are so funny when they are spreadeagle like this. How can you not take a picture?

Labels: dogs, maastricht, netherlands

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

Labels: maastricht, netherlands, recycling

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

I have been served coffee at different places in Maastricht with a little side cup of liqueur and whipped cream. I'm not sure if this is soley a Maastricht tradition. They also give you a little chocolate, which makes for a nice touch.

Labels: coffee, maastricht, netherlands

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

Legend has it that French Fries were introduced to the U.S by soldiers returning from Europe after the Great War. They thought that Belgians were French hence the confusion. That is the story as told by Belgians anyway, but the term French Fries was already in America before then.

I would say that the Belgians probably did invent them as they are not one to boast anyway. Not that it matters. French Fries rolls off the English tongue nicley, and when you are in this part of the world you only need one word: frites.

Frites in the Netherlands are most popular with a big dollop of mayonnaise. It sounds wrong but its not too bad actually.

Labels: food, maastricht, netherlands

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

It seems that in the Netherlands there is a mania for fried snacks served out of vending machines.



Automatiek snack shops are all over the Netherlands, of which FEBO is probably the most widely known.

Labels: food, maastricht, netherlands

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

There are thousands of beautiful old churches across Europe, but many of them lack the funds and worshippers to maintain them, and they end up decaying beyond repair. So I thought this bookshop in Maastricht makes for a good compromise.



The Selexys bookstore chain has converted this old Dominican church into a bookstore. They have English language books in store and it is a pleasing environment to browse books in.

Related link: Bookstore Guide

Labels: books, church, maastricht, netherlands

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

Dinant sits between a rock and a river, which makes for a scenic little town.

Dinant's two main buildings dominate the view, the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Citadel, which is perched over the town on a cliff.



Dinant is famous for being the home of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the Saxophone.

Labels: belgium, dinant

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

The combined size of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux) is relatively small, less than the size of Austria or Czech Republic for example. Size is relative though, and being Australian you are asking the wrong person if you think this region is big. Australia has cattle stations the size of Belgium and I lived on a sheep station the size of Lichtenstein (though it sadly lacked castles and private banking facilities).

So having 3 coffees isn't as difficult as it sounds. I started the day in Luxembourg, got the train to Namur and Dinant in Belgium, then finished the day in Maastricht in the Netherlands. If I really wanted to I could have made it 4 coffees in 4 countries as Aachen on the German border is not far away from Maastricht.

I have already done 4 coffees in 4 countries once before though. Lake Constance in Central Europe is bordered by Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and Lichtenstein is not far away. Using the efficient rail network of that part of the world it is very easy to visit all of them in a day (with a bus trip to Lichtenstein as they have no passenger rail service).

Labels: belgium, benelux, coffee, luxembourg, netherlands, train

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email

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 Travel

As 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 becomes worthwhile.

Next you need to plan how to make the most of the pass by planning your travel days. Making the most of your pass include doing your long distance travel in one day or visiting a few different small towns in one day that require lots of train travel.

Starting your Benelux Pass Travel

People arriving from outside Europe will most likely arrive at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or Brussels International. If you are coming from another point in Europe then it might work out better to start at on the edges of the region. Some starting points could be:

- Luxembourg Airport
- Charleroi Airport(known as Brussels South)
- Groningen Airport in the north of the Netherlands has flights from Ryanair.
- Maastricht Aachen Airport

visitors from the UK can also get the Dutch Flyer, which is a combined ferry/train ticket from London to Amsterdam for from £25 one way.

Labels: belgium, benelux, luxembourg, netherlands, rail pass, train, train station

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
 Subscribe in a Reader or Subscribe by Email