Passenger trains to link Finland with Sweden after four decades

Getting around Scandinavia is about to become a lot easier with the resumption of cross-border passenger trains between Finland and Sweden after a period of almost four decades. 

The return of regular cross-border rail services will mark a major milestone for regional connectivity across the Nordic region, Arctic Observer reported.

Finnish state railway operator VR has announced that passenger services between Oulu and Haparanda will begin on August 10, marking the first regular passenger rail connection between the two countries since 1988. 

The new route is expected to improve mobility, strengthen economic ties, and provide travellers with a sustainable alternative to air and road transport, local media reported.

The reopening reconnects Finland's railway network with Sweden's, allowing passengers to travel seamlessly from northern Finland into Sweden, with onward connections to Luleå, Boden, Stockholm, and the wider European rail network.

VR says the new cross-border service will operate every day, offering two departures in each direction daily: a total of 28 passenger services per week

VR has not yet announced official ticket prices for the new service.

Official pricing will be published once reservations open.

For Finnish travellers, the restored link also creates a practical all-rail route into Sweden and mainland Europe, reducing reliance on domestic flights for international travel.

Champagne readies for record early grape harvest

Winemakers in Champagne are predicting a record early harvest. 

Following an unusually early and heavily frost-damaged start to the season, followed by recent heatwave conditions, Champagne could be on course for the earliest start date for harvesting in its long history, trade news hub drinks business is reporting.

Region’s newspaper L’Union reported the feats and representatives from Champagne Canard-Duchêne and Louis Roederer said picking is predicted to begin on August 15 with some warmer sites possibly harvesting earier. 

Speaking to db, Roederer cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon said that the official start date is August 15, but “some places may start a few days before, such as Montgueux, which is an exceptionally sunny site.” 

Montgueux is a chalk hill located 10km west of Troyes in the Aube department, sometimes called the ‘Montrachet of Champagne’ for its unusually ripe Chardonnay.

Should picking begin on August 10 in Montgueux, that would mark the earliest harvesting on record in Champagne, with Lécaillon noting that some had started bringing in grapes as early as August13  in 2020, following an extremely hot summer – although the official start date that year was four days later.

The earliest official start to harvesting in Champagne on record is 2020, when picking began on August 17. 

Lécaillon said that the grapes were healthy, with bunches “forming well,” and, despite the hot dry conditions. 

Canard-Duchêne winemaker Cynthia Fossier said: "Today the vineyard is beautiful, but the temperature is too high.” 

How to enjoy Adelaide sights for free

The historic and booming South Australian capital is a destination that rewards leisurely exploration - and it can be done for free. 

Whether you are walking along the banks of the River Torrens or strolling around one of Adelaide’s many parks and squares, the city has a lot to offer.

There’s a beguiling mix of old, new and green, easily traversed because of the city’s grid system. Getting around is easy thanks to the city’s compact layout. Most of the main attractions in the CBD are within easy walking distance.

And if you don’t feel like walking there is an excellent public transport system including trains, trams and buses. The free Adelaide City Connector bus travels to many popular destinations and attractions.

Among them: Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Festival Plaza, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Zoo, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the National Wine Centre, Rundle Mall and the temptations of Adelaide Central Market.

Trams run all the way to Glenelg Beach, while you can catch a bus to Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills.

Adelaide is full of wine bars and restaurants: Africola, Arkhe, Soi 38 and Madame Hanoi are all reliably good.

For nightlife, Peel Street and Leigh Street are home to plenty of bars and pubs.

My recent stay was at slick and modern Eos by SkyCity – part of the casino complex.

There are 120 well-appointed 120 rooms suites here; very comfortable. As a collab with Adelaide's art and design community, the complex has 900 commissioned artworks on display.

BODHI Spa at Eos, a heated outdoor swimming pool, spa pool and expansive leisure deck are all on site, and the breakfasts at ITL are excellent.

Wine lovers can check out Penfolds’ historic Magill Estate in the suburbs, or head to the Adelaide Hills, with several wineries and cellar doors within a few kilometres. 

Hahndorf, originally settled by Lutheran migrants from Prussia in 1839, is Australia's oldest German settlement.

The main street of Hahndorf is lined with elm and plane trees and many original brick and timber cottages remain intact. The town is dotted with restaurants, cafes and providores.

For those who have wined and dined enough, the National Motor Museum is at Birdwood, while Mount Lofty is home to the Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens and the Mount Lofty Summit, which offers stunning views to Adelaide and beyond.

Check out www.skycityadelaide.com.au and www.cityofadelaide.com.au

Like the sound of a weekend of oysters and gin?

 

Like the sound of artisan gins paired with freshly shucked oysters? 

Never Never Distillery's OysterPalooza is coming up. 

From Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2, Never Never's McLaren Vale Distillery Door will host OysterPalooza, billed as "a flavour-filled celebration of South Australia's world-class oyster season".

It's the weekend before World Oyster Day on Wednesday, August 5.

Expect freshly shucked local oysters, a special OysterPalooza drinks menu, and the return of cult-favourite Shellies, frozen Oyster Shell Gin served in an actual oyster shell.

Friday night will feature a Boom Shuck-alaka party, while the days will showcase laidback Weekend Deck Sessions. 

Tickets include oysters, drinks, tastings and entertainment. 

The organisers promise live music, exclusive bottle offers and great vibes all weekend. 

Check out https://neverneverdistilling.com.au/ to book.

Airlines angered by European airport chaos

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European airlines are among those to have issued a letter to European Union Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen, warning that the rollout of the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing major operational disruption and threatening the smooth functioning of summer air travel.

While the aviation sector continues to support the objectives of the biometric border control system, industry leaders say its implementation is creating severe bottlenecks at external Schengen borders, resulting in excessive waiting times, flight disruptions and growing pressure on airports, airlines and border authorities.

According to the open letter, passengers are already experiencing waits of up to five hours at border control since the full implementation of the EES in April, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The delays are affecting millions of travellers, inconveniencing families, elderly passengers and those with reduced mobility, while airlines are reporting missed connections, delayed departures and mounting operational challenges for frontline staff.

The industry argues that these problems persist despite member states making use of temporary measures allowing border authorities to postpone biometric data collection until early September. 

Although intended to ease the transition, the flexibility has failed to eliminate long queues or prevent operational disruption.

With July and August expected to bring around 40 million more passengers through European airports than the previous two months, aviation organisations warn that the situation is likely to deteriorate rapidly unless additional action is taken.

The concerns extend beyond Europe’s largest hubs. Airports serving popular leisure destinations are also struggling to process arriving passengers efficiently, with travellers reportedly queuing outside terminal buildings while airlines face departures with passengers still waiting at immigration checkpoints.

Industry leaders also caution that prolonged border delays could damage Europe’s reputation as an attractive travel destination. 

They argue that reports of lengthy immigration queues are already discouraging some international visitors, potentially affecting tourism, air connectivity and the wider European economy.

The letter also challenges recent comments from the European Commission suggesting that long waiting times are primarily the result of airline scheduling and concentrated flight arrivals. 

Aviation stakeholders reject that explanation, noting that airline schedules are planned well in advance and that passenger demand patterns have long been predictable. They argue the EES rollout should have been designed to accommodate known traffic peaks rather than disrupt airport operations.

Amsterdam tells tourists: Pay up, or on your bike

Amsterdam is a small city with narrow thoroughfares and limited resources. 

Now the Dutch city is cracking down further on overtourism. 

Amsterdam authorities are planning to introduce new tourism measures which will make the city one of the toughest in Europe in managing tourism amid a growing hostility towards tourists, news hub Travel Mole reports.

 

Among the changes is a gradual increase in its tourist tax to 20% by the end of the decade, as city leaders seek to curb overtourism and improve the quality of life for residents.

The Dutch citg already charges one of the highest visitor taxes in Europe. Overnight visitors currently pay a tourist tax equivalent to 12% of their accommodation cost, while day visitors arriving by cruise ship pay a separate fee fixed at €15 per day.

Under proposals unveiled by the city’s new coalition government, the overnight tourist tax would rise to 16% next year before increasing by one percentage point annually until it reaches 20% in 2030.

City officials say the higher levy is designed to ensure visitors contribute more fairly to the costs associated with maintaining one of Europe’s most-visited destinations.

Amsterdam welcomed 9.5 millions guests last year. That makes tourism one of the city’s most important economic drivers but local authorities say the growing number of visitors has also placed mounting pressure on public spaces, municipal services, neighborhoods, and infrastructure.

According to the coalition agreement, tourism remains vital to the city’s economy, but the associated costs of managing large visitor numbers have become increasingly significant.

The proposed tax increase forms part of a much broader tourism management strategy designed to create what city leaders describe as a more balanced visitor economy.

Another proposal would see increases to Amsterdam’s entertainment levy, which currently applies to activities such as canal boat tours, canoe rentals, and other recreational services operating on the city’s famous waterways.