Simpson Conferences and Travel

26/03/2025

Travelling by train in Italy is quicker, cheaper and easier than going by plane. Italys train system is great and works well

see below

22/03/2025

I have yet to try this and will give feedback when I do, but what a unique experience

Have You Ever Taken a Train and Ended Up on a Ferry? Welcome to Sicily!

Trains run on tracks, right? Well, not always. If you've ever taken a train to Sicily, you might have experienced one of the most unexpected (and coolest) travel surprises in Italy: your train boards a ferry and crosses the sea!

Yes, you read that right. The train doesn’t just stop at the shore, leaving passengers to scramble onto a boat. No, no—your entire train is carefully loaded onto a ferry, and you continue your journey across the Strait of Messina as if nothing happened. One moment you're on solid ground in Calabria, the next you're floating toward Sicily.

It’s a strange yet fascinating experience. As the ferry departs, you can step outside, breathe in the salty sea air, and watch the coastline shrink in the distance. The crossing takes about 30 minutes, giving you just enough time to snap some photos, grab a coffee, and question everything you thought you knew about train travel.

Then, as if by magic, the ferry docks in Messina, the train is rolled back onto the tracks, and off you go—continuing your ride through the stunning landscapes of Sicily.

So, if you're ever heading south and suddenly find yourself on a ferry while still on your train, don’t panic. You’re just on your way to one of Italy’s most beautiful regions.

Welcome to Sicily

21/02/2025

21/02/2025

Seville can also be done from the Algarve, so Spain and Portugal can be combined in 1 trip

06/10/2024

European Christmas Markets Dates 2024🎄
🇦🇹Vienna, Austria - Nov 16 to Dec 24
🇫🇷Strasbourg, France - Nov 27 to Dec 30
🇨🇿Prague, Czech Republic - 30 Nov to Jan 6
🇩🇪Berlin (Gendarmenmarkt), Germany - Nov 25 to Dec 31
🇩🇪Cologne, Germany - Nov 18 to Dec 23
🇩🇰Copenhagen,Denmark (Tivoli Gardens) - Nov 17 to Jan 1
🇧🇪Brussels, Belgium (Winter Wonders) - Nov 29 to Jan 5
🇭🇺Budapest, Hungary - Nov 17 to Jan 1
🇩🇪Munich, Germany - Nov 27 to Dec 24
🇪🇪Tallinn, Estonia - Nov 21 to Dec 26
🇵🇱Krakow, Poland - Nov 29 to Dec 26
🇩🇪Dresden, Germany (Striezelmarkt) - Nov 27 to Dec 24
🇸🇪Stockholm, Sweden (Skansen) - Nov 30 to Dec 23
🇬🇧London, UK (Hyde Park) - Nov 21 to Jan 5
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Edinburgh, Scotland - Nov 17 to Jan 5
🇨🇭Zurich, Switzerland - Nov 23 to Dec 24
🇸🇪Gothenburg, Sweden (Liseberg) - Nov 17 to Dec 23
🇫🇮Helsinki, Finland - Dec 1 to Dec 22
🇱🇺Luxembourg City, Luxembourg - Nov 23 to Dec 24
🇧🇪Bruges, Belgium - Nov 24 to Jan 1
🇱🇻Riga, Latvia - Dec 1 to Jan 6
🇳🇱Amsterdam - 15 Nov - 5th Jan

02/10/2024

25/05/2024

Map of Africa according to its colours

Mapa de África según sus tejidos.
Sencillamente precioso 🖤💛❤️💚

27/03/2024

15/03/2024

Some interesting information about Croatia as I sit at the airport in Zagreb waiting for my flight back to Heathrow- DID YOU KNOW that’s the tie originated in Croatia? That piece of fashion that we all take for granted had its origins in the Croatian army during the 17th century.

16/01/2024

Absolutely brilliant

05/01/2024

Too cute not to share. I was lucky enough to see the ringtail lemurs when I was in Madagascar. Absolutely loved my trip to the island and I sent some very happy clients there in November

Lovely photo of the day: a sweet reunion of a lemurs’ family.🥰

📸 ©alvarowildlifephoto

27/12/2023

Amazing engineering

The Ancient Roman aqueduct in modern-day Turkey, dating back thousands of years, is a testament to the incredible engineering and architectural skills of the Roman Empire. These aqueducts were designed to transport fresh water to densely populated areas, and they were a significant improvement over the earlier structures built by civilizations in Egypt and India. The Roman aqueducts were constructed over a period of 500 years, from 312 BC to AD 226, and were funded by both public and private sources. Some of the most famous Roman rulers, such as Augustus, Caligula, and Trajan, commissioned the construction of these aqueducts.

The aqueducts were made up of pipes, tunnels, canals, and bridges, which utilized the natural slope of the land and gravity to channel water from sources like lakes and springs to the cities. Once the water reached the cities, it was used for various purposes, including drinking, irrigation, public fountains, and baths. The capital city of Rome had as many as 11 aqueduct systems, some of which were sourced from as far as 92 km (57 miles) away.

Interestingly, some of these ancient Roman aqueducts are still functional and continue to provide modern-day Rome with water. For example, the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct built by Agrippa in 19 BC during the reign of Augustus, supplies water to the iconic Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome. This remarkable feat of engineering demonstrates the enduring legacy of the Roman Empire and its impact on the development of modern infrastructure.