Philip of Staines
@philipdp.bsky.social
I love to share my adventures - and even more to enjoy yours! I live in Staines - and that is all you need to know...
Back home to Staines - cargo intact!
August 28, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Back home to Staines - cargo intact!
I fought the rush hour hordes into Liverpool Street.
August 28, 2026 at 7:25 AM
I fought the rush hour hordes into Liverpool Street.
A cup of tea and a faster journey are the two birds with one stone at Manningtree. Then it's on what feels like the executive version of SWR's horrible Arterios. Carpets, double the loos, seat back tables. Lucky Essex passengers...
August 28, 2026 at 6:46 AM
A cup of tea and a faster journey are the two birds with one stone at Manningtree. Then it's on what feels like the executive version of SWR's horrible Arterios. Carpets, double the loos, seat back tables. Lucky Essex passengers...
Good morning Britain!
The passport officer gave me Algerian stamps a sideways glance, but seemed satisfied with my 'just a holiday explanation'. No one checked my Waitrose bags. So off we go.
The passport officer gave me Algerian stamps a sideways glance, but seemed satisfied with my 'just a holiday explanation'. No one checked my Waitrose bags. So off we go.
August 28, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Good morning Britain!
The passport officer gave me Algerian stamps a sideways glance, but seemed satisfied with my 'just a holiday explanation'. No one checked my Waitrose bags. So off we go.
The passport officer gave me Algerian stamps a sideways glance, but seemed satisfied with my 'just a holiday explanation'. No one checked my Waitrose bags. So off we go.
I've sailed on these two ships so many times that boarding them feels like visiting a relative. Every now and then something small is changed. But those photos of people smiling and looking fulfilled reminds me of the ones in the gatehouse of our local prison.
August 28, 2026 at 5:22 AM
I've sailed on these two ships so many times that boarding them feels like visiting a relative. Every now and then something small is changed. But those photos of people smiling and looking fulfilled reminds me of the ones in the gatehouse of our local prison.
Soon it was time to go to the port. Embarkation formalities took no time and I was soon on board. You know the rest...
August 27, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Soon it was time to go to the port. Embarkation formalities took no time and I was soon on board. You know the rest...
After enjoying a swim and relaxing for a while, I watched my ship come in. This certainly beats waiting at the airport - or at Brussels Midi for that matter.
August 27, 2026 at 6:33 PM
After enjoying a swim and relaxing for a while, I watched my ship come in. This certainly beats waiting at the airport - or at Brussels Midi for that matter.
I was early for the ship so I stayed on until the end of the line. Looking like a desert station on the Saudi high speed line, here is Hoek van Holland Strand.
August 27, 2026 at 6:26 PM
I was early for the ship so I stayed on until the end of the line. Looking like a desert station on the Saudi high speed line, here is Hoek van Holland Strand.
Engineering work at Schiedam meant going via Rotterdam Blaak. Here I took the metro to... well you can guess...
August 27, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Engineering work at Schiedam meant going via Rotterdam Blaak. Here I took the metro to... well you can guess...
Another change at Eindhoven, this time to the sort of train that, in an alternative world, should have taken me all the way from Köln. A carpet and a catering service would also be nice...
August 27, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Another change at Eindhoven, this time to the sort of train that, in an alternative world, should have taken me all the way from Köln. A carpet and a catering service would also be nice...
A lot of people make the connection in Venlo for the Eindhoven train. But is it a same platform connection? No. Does it wait? No. I was lucky this time, but those with luggage had no chance. A through train would make all the difference.
August 27, 2026 at 11:08 AM
A lot of people make the connection in Venlo for the Eindhoven train. But is it a same platform connection? No. Does it wait? No. I was lucky this time, but those with luggage had no chance. A through train would make all the difference.
I was born here you know...
Well, not right here, but nearby.
Well, not right here, but nearby.
August 27, 2026 at 10:39 AM
I was born here you know...
Well, not right here, but nearby.
Well, not right here, but nearby.
Restless crowds waited on platform 9, but with my train only going as far as Neuss, there was plenty of space. In Neuss I ogled some fascinating vehicles, before hopping on the international Flirt to Venlo.
August 27, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Restless crowds waited on platform 9, but with my train only going as far as Neuss, there was plenty of space. In Neuss I ogled some fascinating vehicles, before hopping on the international Flirt to Venlo.
At the Carmelite convent 'Our Lady of Peace', I picked up 11,000 small communion hosts and 50 big ones. Then with my precious cargo in tow, I headed for the Hauptbahnhof. Things were not going well here either.
August 27, 2026 at 10:33 AM
At the Carmelite convent 'Our Lady of Peace', I picked up 11,000 small communion hosts and 50 big ones. Then with my precious cargo in tow, I headed for the Hauptbahnhof. Things were not going well here either.
Düsseldorf Hbf was in some kind of meltdown, due to a big engineering block on the main line to Köln taking everyone by surprise. I jumped on a southbound ICE and hopped off at Köln Süd, instead of Hbf because of a diversion caused by the works.
August 27, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Düsseldorf Hbf was in some kind of meltdown, due to a big engineering block on the main line to Köln taking everyone by surprise. I jumped on a southbound ICE and hopped off at Köln Süd, instead of Hbf because of a diversion caused by the works.
After a restful night at Düsseldorf's Premier Inn, close to Wehrhahn S-Bahn station, it was time to do one final task.
August 27, 2026 at 10:24 AM
After a restful night at Düsseldorf's Premier Inn, close to Wehrhahn S-Bahn station, it was time to do one final task.
So all is well. My alternative connection arrived on time, a seat by a window was free, it was the 'nice ICE' with good seats, and the bratwurst 'Bosna style', the wedges and the beer were all delicious. Is this some kind of dream?
August 26, 2026 at 5:57 PM
So all is well. My alternative connection arrived on time, a seat by a window was free, it was the 'nice ICE' with good seats, and the bratwurst 'Bosna style', the wedges and the beer were all delicious. Is this some kind of dream?
DB makes the first strike - missing the 'probably' connection at Mannheim. LNER would let me book a new seat, but with DB we just have to see...
August 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM
DB makes the first strike - missing the 'probably' connection at Mannheim. LNER would let me book a new seat, but with DB we just have to see...
As we headed north up the Rhine valley, with the Vosges to the left and the Black Forest to the left, clouds appeared in an otherwise blue sky. DB shaped clouds...
August 26, 2026 at 4:10 PM
As we headed north up the Rhine valley, with the Vosges to the left and the Black Forest to the left, clouds appeared in an otherwise blue sky. DB shaped clouds...
Then I headed back to Basel and onto the ICE to Mannheim. The train was in, the buffet was open, the loos worked. All looking good...
August 26, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Then I headed back to Basel and onto the ICE to Mannheim. The train was in, the buffet was open, the loos worked. All looking good...
After lunch at Zug's Coop restaurant (what a find), I headed back to Zurich for a swim at Strandbad Mythenquai, another lovely spot.
August 26, 2026 at 4:04 PM
After lunch at Zug's Coop restaurant (what a find), I headed back to Zurich for a swim at Strandbad Mythenquai, another lovely spot.
A pretty journey to a pretty town gave me the chance for a swim at the Strandbad Seeliken, a lovely spot with a cafe, changing rooms, and free lockers.
August 26, 2026 at 4:01 PM
A pretty journey to a pretty town gave me the chance for a swim at the Strandbad Seeliken, a lovely spot with a cafe, changing rooms, and free lockers.
I am going to Düsseldorf, but a quick prayer at Zurich station's little chapel inspired me to take another train to Zug.
August 26, 2026 at 3:57 PM
I am going to Düsseldorf, but a quick prayer at Zurich station's little chapel inspired me to take another train to Zug.
We are arrived in Zurich behind the Budapest portion, which ran two hours behind us at Wien, but catches up during the extended stop at Salzburg.
August 26, 2026 at 3:55 PM
We are arrived in Zurich behind the Budapest portion, which ran two hours behind us at Wien, but catches up during the extended stop at Salzburg.
I slept well and enjoyed a good little breakfast, followed by a refreshingly cold shower.
August 26, 2026 at 3:53 PM
I slept well and enjoyed a good little breakfast, followed by a refreshingly cold shower.