Save time on travel check-ins with Face Scanning!

Last week, whilst travelling from London St Pancras to Paris, I discovered a fantastic tip to bypass queues and passport checks on Eurostar – exclusive for Business Premier passengers, and Carte Blanche and Étoile members.

One of the Eurostar team, a helpful gentleman called Daniel, introduced me to an amazing travel hack that allows you to bypass the usual queues and passport checks, saving you precious time.

Travellers now have access to a dedicated lane, eliminating ticket scanning and reducing passport checks to just one before entering the departure lounge.

The efficient new system, (surprisingly not yet featured in the Eurostar magazine according to Nadia from customer service), streamlines the process beautifully.

This SmartCheck system supports English, French, and Dutch, adding a layer of convenience and ease to our travel experiences. How fantastic is that?

A similar service is popping up in most major air and train stations, including Singapore where the EVA-Ready facial recognition technology helps ensure seamless immigration processing.

Find out more here

February 17th is Random Act of Kindness Day

To mark this special date, I’m looking back on the occasion when I provided Italian and English consecutive interpreting for Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize winner, at a UNICEF event.

Betty was co-awarded the prize in recognition of her work as co-founder of the Community of Peace People in Northern Ireland.

What few people know is that she also had strong ties with Italy. One of her initiatives led to the creation of the Fondazione Città della Pace (City of Peace for Children Foundation) in the Municipalities of Sant’Arcangelo and Scanzano Jonico.

This Foundation has a mission to provide hospitality, information and integration services. This allows those forced to flee their homes to contribute to the development of the local community which welcomes them.

I like to commemorate Betty with one of her quotes:

“To say that on a daily basis you can make a difference, well, you can. One act of kindness a day can do it.”

This day is the perfect opportunity to make a positive impact on someone’s day. You could surprise a coworker with a cup of coffee, hold the door for a stranger, or simply offer a listening ear to a friend in need. And if you’re looking for more ways to be kind, why not try doing something thoughtful for someone every day for the rest of the month?

Remember, kindness is contagious, so let’s keep spreading the love!

And, if I’ve done anything kind for you over the past year, I’d love to hear about it! Or, if you’d like to support me in a different way, you can Buy Me An Espresso! Every little bit helps, and it’s a great way to show your support for my work.

Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia)

It’s that time of the year when the city of Venice once again transforms into a magical place of wonder and excitement. Yes, The Venice Carnival takes place from 3rd to 13th February 2024!

The word Carnival has Latin origins (carne levare, meaning to remove meat) and traditionally refers to the day after the revelry of Shrove Tuesday, when the period of abstinence and fasting known as Lent begins. In Venice however, it ends on Shrove Tuesday, and for the ten days beforehand the city is transformed into a dazzling stage of colour. Known for its elegant masks and costumes and vibrant energy, The Venice Carnival has a rich history that dates back to the 12th century, when it was a chance for the wealthy elite to show off their opulent costumes and masks.

Today, times have changed and more modern looks appear alongside the classic regalia. However, the fact remains that Venice’s unique streets and squares continue to be packed with thousands of tourists every year, filling the city with fun and light-heartedness.

Historically, the most popular masks were Harlequin, Pantaloon and Colombine – but there is more to Carnival than masks, a lot more.

During Carnival, all cake shops and bakeries make mouthwatering specialities which you can only get at this time of the year. Mostly sweet but savoury too, you are spoilt for choice with all kinds of treats to enjoy. Depending on the region you are in they have different names: crostoli, chiacchere, frittelle, castagnole or zeppole, but whatever they are called, they are delicious!

The Venice Carnival is a truly unique experience and I have many treasured memories which will last me a lifetime of both my time in Venice and celebrating the Carnival. If you get the chance to visit, I highly recommend you do.

Have you ever visited The Venice Carnival? I would love to hear about your experience.