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Come to Samnaun, in Switzerland, this November to see a display of Santas like you’ve never seen before! It’s the Santa Claus World Championship, taking place November 27-28, 2009.
This event is fun for the whole family with music and skiing, there’s something for everyone. So make plans in your schedule to come and watch these Santas battling it out. You’ll get to see them competing in chimney climbing, gingerbread decorating and of course, delivering gifts!
It seems vampires, nowadays, are drawing much more than blood, they are drawing widespread attention! With various television shows and movies airing, interest in vampire culture seems to be at an all-time high.
Count Dracula is probably the world’s most famous and well-known vampire. Dracula is known to many as a horror film, adapted from the novel by Bram Stoker. However, Stoker had created his story based on a series of stories published throughout Hungary and the Balkans.
Stoker selected Romania as the setting of his book, given it was the birthplace of vampire myths. He chose to model his character after Vlad Dracula from the Transylvania region. He figured in his audience, few knew of him, and those who did, would know of the morbid acts of cruelty committed by him, fitting perfectly into his story.
November 9, 1989. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I was studying for my High School finals and had the TV on as background noise. All of sudden, the movie was interrupted for the breaking news that changed the history of Germany and entire Europe.
Only a few weeks earlier I went to Berlin using an overnight train from Stuttgard to Berlin, now no longer an overnight journey due to the ICE High Speed Train. Nothing fancy, a 2nd class couchette cabin which had to be shared with 5 more travelers.
Though hard to believe, November 9, 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The tearing down of the wall is a well remembered event in history for most.
The city of Berlin is celebrating this remarkable anniversary with many events. If you’re more mature in age, you can recall hearing the words President Ronald Regan spoke on June 12, 1987, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall”. The wall was torn down a little over two years later. For those on the younger side, you most likely learned about the Berlin Wall in history class. Regardless of age though, there is no better time than today to visit the amazing city of Berlin.
Now through November 20th, 2009, Rail Europe is giving travelers 20% off the German Rail Pass to celebrate 20 years of freedom and the spirit of traveling freely. Not only will you get 20% off your German Rail Pass, you’ll also receive a Berlin city sightseeing tour, absolutely FREE!
Isten hozta Budapest! Or, welcome to Budapest for those who are not fluent in Hungarian! Budapest is a city split by the dark gold Danube by day and the black velvet Danube by night.
Budapest is a quaint city, while it has modern flair, you can embrace old-world architecture all around. On the winding streets of Buda you’ll see the reconstructed castle, and many rejuvenated pink and gold Baroque and Renaissance houses. You’ll also find the thermal baths and the remains of the city walls.
In Pest you’ll come across a combination of Art Nouveau, old turrets, museums, the opera house, banks and elegant shops. Buda and Pest are so close, yet provide completely different experiences for travelers.
If you’ve ever spent some time strolling through the winding streets of Venice, or taken a gondola ride under the famed Bridge of Sighs, you simply must take a trip to experience Stockholm, the so-called Venice of the North.
Stockholm is located on the islands between the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren, in Sweden. You’ll want to take a boat ride under the bridges of Stockholm, and you’ll think you’re in Venice!
Be adventurous on your trip to Stockholm and indulge in some great excursions, such as the harbor islands or to Lake Mälaren’s Royal Palace of Drottningholm, with its lovely grounds and 18th-century theater. Or visit one of the many museums, there are over 50 in the city!
As of right now, reservations for Artesia Day train service after December 13th, 2009, are closed. We just received this information from our partners in Europe. As soon as these routes are opened back up, we will be sure to post an update. Reservations for the Artesia Night train are not affected at this time.
The Artesia Day train travels on various routes between France and Italy. Operating on a high-speed network, the Artesia Day train reduces travel times between popular cities in France and Italy. A ride aboard the Artesia Day train is not one that is easily forgotten! Between the scenery that surrounds you and the pleasant staff on-board, you’ll almost wish you had more time on the train!
But as with most high-speed trains, the benefit of traveling at high speeds is that you can make the most out of your time in your desired destination.
Taking a trip to France or Italy before December 13th? You might want to look into taking the Artesia Day train and experience the thrill of high-speed train travel!
Rail Europe has received word that Cisalpino brand trains will be discontinued as of December 13, 2009. Cisalpino trains operate within Italy and Switzerland, transporting passengers to some Europe’s most beautiful cities.
Service along Cisalpino routes should not be effected, the routes will be covered by the parent companies, SBB and Trenitalia, without any disruption to passengers. This change in service will go into effect with the winter schedule change. And again, as of December 13, 2009, the Cisalpino brand will no longer exist.
So, you have a limited amount of time to travel aboard a Cisalpino branded train. The trains along this high-speed route actually tilt as they whisk passengers to their destinations. The tilting helps reduce travel times, allowing you to spend more time in Geneva, Bern, Milan, Florence or Venice (just a few top destinations on Cisalpino routes!).
Belgrade, or the White City, is located in Serbia. This city has been demolished 40 times and rebuilt. The amount of conflict that has been endured shows how strong the nation is.
There is much to see and do in Belgrade. From museums, to art galleries, and they even pride themselves on having the second-largest arena in Europe! The arena is magnificent and is a must-see on your trip.
As Halloween approaches, we thought it would be fun to highlight some of the spookier sights in Europe to get you in the ghoulish spirit! For example, you can take a train from London to Edinburgh and tour the underground vaults while listening to stories of horror, or visit one of many haunted castles in Europe.
This post will focus on a few scary spots that we think are worth visiting. Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia all contain cities that gave us goose bumps when we visited and learned some of their history and legends. The great thing is that you can get a European East Pass and travel by train in these countries.
Welcome to the blog of Rail Europe. We at Rail Europe believe that train travel in Europe is the way to travel and our future, by respecting the environment, enjoying simple pleasures, and connecting to people, places and cultures.
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