2023-11-25 05:01:30
This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
News from the tourist world, here and elsewhere.
Christmas at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
It’s not just the Christmas markets that are worth a visit in Europe at this time of year. In London, Christmas at Kew is now one of the holiday classics. The three-kilometer light trail takes place at dusk in the gardens, created in 1759. I had the opportunity to experience it last winter during the 10th edition. We meet both families and couples, both English and tourists, all generations combined.
Eight new installations are added this year to the natural architecture of the site, magnified by the decorations. For the first time, the contemporary art work The Hive, which represents life inside a beehive, will be part of the route. Multisensory, the creation of British artist Wolfgang Buttress connects to a real colony of bees. The thousand LED bulbs come alive according to the vibrations of the insects living in the gardens. They light up this winter thanks to a new soundscape imagined for the occasion.
Concerned regarding offering an experience that is as environmentally friendly as possible, the team managed to use half as much energy in 2022 as in 2021. All generators — used as little as possible — now run on HVO biofuel ( hydrotreated vegetable oil), a form of renewable diesel produced from vegetable fats and oils.
At the time of writing, it was still possible to get your hands on tickets. And, yes, it’s better to dress (very) warmly! Until January 7, 2024.
Nantes in winter
In Nantes, we never tire of discovering the hundred works of public art scattered throughout the city. If you plan to take advantage of direct flights from Air Transat, which has annualized its connection from Montreal, here is another reason to get there before January 7: The Winter Journey, a version of the Festivals of the artistic journey which has taken place in summer since 2012. Christmas markets, concerts and various activities are added to the programming of must-see sites, such as the Château des Ducs de Bretagne and Les Machines de l’île , inspired by the “invented worlds” of Jules Verne and the mechanical universe of Leonardo da Vinci. The most poetic image of this second winter edition of Voyage à Nantes, according to Jean Blaise, general director of the local public company (SPL)? The four bells loaned by the royal abbey of Fontevraud. Suspended at water level, in the castle’s moat, the bells engraved by artists “will ring, causing waves under a winter light”. We of course take the opportunity to also stop at the city’s emblematic places, such as the superb La Cigale brasserie, in Art Nouveau style, and the Passage Pommeraye, a shopping arcade whose construction began in 1840.
Via Rail launches its new reservation platform
Slowly (like its trains, evil tongues will say), Via Rail is moving towards better use of technology. Intended to be more intuitive, the interface of the new reservation platform allows you to quickly identify departure days and the lowest prices directly in the calendar, when selecting dates. In addition, it is now possible to choose your own seat using a map of the car and to mention various specific needs, for example if you are traveling with a pet. Note also that this new reservation system has been designed to be able to evolve, unlike its predecessor. Can we now dream of more efficient wifi on board?
Not new, but still beautiful!
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.
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