Header photo – Zurich riverside/ Border photo – street cobblestones, Prague
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Category Archives: News from Europe
Czech National Gallery to return monastic artwork
From Prague Post. Several extremely valuable and important paintings that have been living in the Czech National Gallery will be returned to their monastic owners according to restitution law. However, they won’t be going anywhere for at least ten years … Continue reading
Dutch railways removing yellow timetable boards
From Dutch News. The giant yellow timetable signboards have been a hallmark of Dutch rail stations for ages. Nowadays, with so many passengers checking the up-to-the-minute digital signs or using online apps for trip planning, the yellow timetables have been … Continue reading
Cold War era bunker opened at Prague hotel
From Prague Post. Prague’s Jalta Hotel has opened its top-secret Communist-era bunker to interested visitors two days each week. Admission is €3. Pre-booking is required. This should be on the list for your/my next visit. Join the queue!
Perking up pictures with Photoshop
I’m spending more time on the blog and playing around a little bit with Photoshop. It’s one of those skills that requires a lot of repetition and it’s easier for me to learn how to use this software by concentrating … Continue reading
Ryanair makes some changes
From London Telegraph. Some changes to Ryanair, hoping to combat their crappy customer service reputation. Time will tell if it’ll be enough. I’ve never been anxious to try them. Make sure you read the tail-end of the story, with a … Continue reading
Microtheatre, a new entertainment option in Madrid
From France 24. An interesting choice for theatrical entertainment in Madrid – Microtheatre. It’s only been around for four years but it is intimate, cutting edge and above all cheap, making it more affordable for out-of-work locals as well as … Continue reading
Top European ski resorts for 2013-2014
From London Independent. Maybe I’m just bummed that I was never a great downhill skier (and my abilities have been going downhill in the other sense for decades) but I look at this list of fifty European ski resorts and … Continue reading
Posted in General magpie travel, News from Europe
Tagged European ski resorts, ski breaks in Europe
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2014 Tour de France route includes WWI sites
From France 24. The route for the 2014 Tour de France bike race has been announced. Since next year marks one hundred years since the start of WWI, the choice of route makes sense. I tried to chase down the … Continue reading
Posted in European festivals, France, General magpie travel, News from Europe
Tagged Tour de France 2014
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Reenacting Napoleonic battles
From Deutsche Welle. The Napoleonic Battle of Leipzig, aka the Battle of Nations, was fought again 200 years after the first go-round. It was the bloodiest battle prior to WWI, with almost one-sixth of those fighting being killed. Although this battle … Continue reading
Emperor Augustus on exhibit
From France 24. A new exhibition on Roman emperor Augustus opens in Rome and runs through early February. It turns up again mid-March in Paris until mid-July. This all coincides with the 2000th anniversary of Augustus’ death. No flowers please. … Continue reading
International Herald Tribune morphs into Int’l NY Times
From France 24. Just in case you’re looking on a European newsstand for the International Herald Tribune, it’s gone bye-bye. In its place, the International NY Times is now the masthead to seek. I liked the IHT. I could read most … Continue reading
Pay to park at one Oxford pub; no drinking zones in Prague
From Oxford Mail. Interesting news item – a pub with a pay&display parking lot. I don’t see a problem, unless there are a whole lot of patrons who aren’t spending £5 per visit to get their £2 parking fee refunded. Or … Continue reading
The debate on extended retail openings in France
From France 24. Doing business on Sunday in France may be coming. Groups are lined up on both sides of the issue. Will the spreading trend of acquiring stuff displace this more than one hundred year old law? Maybe this … Continue reading
The first keg is tapped for 2013 Oktoberfest in Munich
From Deutsche Welle. Oktoberfest 2013 has officially opened with the tapping of the first keg. Prost!
A good year predicted for Dutch wine – Dutch wine?
From DutchNews. 2013 looks to be a good year for Dutch winemakers. The Dutch make some great cheese. Who knew the Dutch made wine?? Great combination, though.
Historic battle reenactment in Prague
From Prague Post. The Battle of White Mountain, a landmark battle in November, 1620, will be played out again this weekend in a Prague park. I guess the crowds and the weather make a November event less than ideal. Put … Continue reading
Watch out – fake Louvre tickets!
From France 24. (This news item is a week old; I was out of town and away from my blogging duties). A new twist on ticket scams – fake Louvre admission tickets made in China. Wow. I was planning to … Continue reading
American brunch in Paris at Allen’s Market
From France 24. A unique restau in Paris’s 10th with all the best American-style brunch fare.
Posted in Europe food & wine, France, General magpie travel, News from Europe, Paris travel
Tagged Allen's Market, Paris brunch
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Amsterdam’s canals are 400 years old in 2013
From Dutch News. A short video celebrating Amsterdam’s canals and the fun to be had on them. More than just sightseeing boats; my favorite clip? ice skating on the frozen canal!
Posted in Amsterdam travel, BeNeLux, General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Europe
Tagged Amsterdam, Amsterdam canals
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Some autumn festivals and exhibitions in Europe 2013
From the London Independent. A new jewelry exhibition at the Museum of London opens in October for the now-named Cheapside Hoard. Dates from 11 Oct 2013 – 27 April 2014. Looks stunning. In Lisbon, the architecture triennale from mid-September thru mid-December. … Continue reading
Posted in Archaeology in Europe, Copenhagen travel, Czech Republic, Denmark travel, England, European art, European festivals, European museums, European music, General magpie travel, News from Britain, News from Europe, portugal travel, Prague travel
Tagged cheapside hoard, danish design fair, dvorak in prague, lisbon architecture festival, museum of london
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Increase your travel budget for Dutch tram and bus fares
From Dutch News. Bus and tram fares have been increasing across the Netherlands. While still cheaper than other options, you’ll pay more than before. The amount of the increase varies among cities.
Posted in General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Europe
Tagged Dutch transportation
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Rooms and meals in Greece just got a bit cheaper
From Deutsche Welle. As though visiting Greece wasn’t already one of the best deals in Europe, the VAT on hotel rooms and restau meals has been dropped from 23% to 13%. Get ’em while they’re hot!
Wine is back on the bill in nation of Georgia; Russia to upgrade its rail system
From France 24. Russia banned Georgian wine for a while beginning in 2008 but it’s baaaack! From Deutsche Welle. Russia is planning to pour pots of money into modernizing its rail system, including the Asian portion. Makes me wonder what … Continue reading
Tours International’s new website look
From Tours International. This is the UK-based tour company that Dad and I used for our tour of Normandy in 2002. Dad said it was the best trip he’d ever taken. I thought it superb – the sobering WWII locations, … Continue reading
Paris plage for summer 2013
From the Adrian Leeds Paris real estate newsletter. The sandy seaside along the Seine is open again. And here’s a map so you can pick your spot. Grab your blanket, shades and SPF gloop or IPS in France (indice de … Continue reading
Firemen and more in Paris for 14 Juillet
From Adrian Leeds’ Paris real estate newsletter. Things to do in Paris on Bastille Day. Those cute firemen could be reason enough to visit the firehouses, sip some champagne and kiss the boys!!!
Messing about in boats in Paris and more summer fun
From France 24. Take a boat out onto the lake in the Bois de Vincennes. And here’s a list of all sorts of summer activities throughout France indoors and out.
Posted in European festivals, European museums, European music, France, General magpie travel, News from Europe, Paris travel
Tagged avignon festival, boating in paris, bois de vincennes, france jazz, france travel, opera in aix, opera in europe, paris plages, Paris travel, summer fun in paris, summer jazz in toulouse
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Summer fun in the UK and beyond
From the London Independent. Adventure weekends around the UK. Plan a trip down to Portsmouth for the newly opened of the Mary Rose museum. Rembrandts and more sneak over to Bath’s Holburne museum from the Royal Collection. From Prague Post. … Continue reading
Posted in Europe food & wine, European art, European festivals, European museums, European music, General magpie travel, News from Britain, News from Europe, Prague travel, UK news
Tagged adventure fun UK, Bath art museum, Holburne museum, Mary Rose museum, Portsmouth UK, Prague music, Rembrandt, tea shops in the UK
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More euronews for spring 2013
From Deutsche Welle. Russia is trying to require passenger data for everyone entering Russia, a violation of EU law, if not others. The new Dutch king and queen are going walkabout. Seems they survived the warm, wild welcome we gave … Continue reading
Posted in Europe food & wine, European art, European museums, France, General magpie travel, News from Europe, Russia travel
Tagged air passenger rights in Europe, Dutch royal family, European air travel, French wine in a can, lake district whiskey, Lakes Distillery, Pushkin museum, Pushkin museum director
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A roundup of ‘Euronews’ for spring 2013
From the London Independent, DutchNews, France 24, et al. Ten gardens to visit when the weather cooperates. The Moscow Cat Circus returns. I’m hoping they get animal visas to travel outside Russia soon. Turn on your high-beams in the Netherlands; … Continue reading
Posted in England, France, General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Britain, News from Europe, Scotland, UK news
Tagged Aboriginal art in Paris, Airbnb in Amsterdam, driving in the Netherlands, Dutch - Belgian high speed rail, Marseille museum, Moscow Cat Circus, UK spring gardens
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SuzanneTheTravelMagpie 