One of the real benefits of #NotFlying on long journeys, even ones you've done before, is the chance to choose where you want to stop and explore. And where you'll scoot straight past.
With the recent renaissance of night trains – more on that on Tuesday – that choice is getting wider.

Back #NotFlying from Sweden to Wales. Not a sprint like last time, instead it's an overnight ferry to Gdynia (Gdansk) then 24 hours exploring Warsaw, a city I've never visited.
The trip hopefully has some other novelties too. You're welcome along for the #LowCarbon ride.
#WarsawAndWelsh

One of the main advantages, for me anyway, of #NotFlying across Europe is the chance to choose where to stop/connect in order to see places and meet friends.
Hamburg or Berlin is almost always on the #WalesToSweden route.
Dinner last night with a Hamburg pal was curry in a restaurant that was worryingly empty but actually did decent food. Didn't risk "Indien scharf" though.

So it's time for another go at #NotFlying from #WalesToSweden.
Actually, that time was 2.40am when I got on the National Express from Cardiff. Now it's an 8am Eurostar to Brussels followed by a dash across northern Germany to Hamburg (8pm). Sleeper train to Stockholm leaves at 10pm then northwards, onwards.
More relaxed schedule (Sunday, playing safe with connections) so it will be 38 hours door to door.

Meanwhile in what's Ian up to news, a #NotFlying journey of two thousand kilometres begins at a simple stop.
Denmark, Germany, Belgium, England, Wales on the itinerary, but it's nonstop by trains and overnight Flixbus. Sweden to Cardiff will be about 30 hours.

Just arrived at #paris Gare de Lyon with the #tgv from #grenoble. I'll stay in Paris overnight. Tomorrow morning I'll have a meeting with colleagues at the #sorbonne, and then I'll take the #eurostar back to #oldblighty.
#railways
#europe
#traintravel
#notflying

UPDATE
The department head was fine about me opting out of the China trip, which involved at least 2 long haul flights plus other impacts.
But has (as was predictable) offered another colleague the chance to go instead. Given they are unlikely to prioritise CO2 or similar concerns, it is almost certain that by #NotFlying, I have increased the environmental impact of this project.
#FlightFree

Stop the clock. 3 hours to draft, walk away, do something else and think it over, then finally hit send.
This is the only time standing up for my #FlightFree pledge and my #NotFlying principles have ever given me stress.

Hello Borlänge. Hello Sweden's Ugliest Town®. Hello cold and proper snow. Hello my home.

It's 32 hours from London, 36 from Cardiff, when you're #NotFlying.

#RostockAndTwoMinsInBrussels

Working out #TrainTravel to attend #fossnorth in Gothenburg. This is the plan:

Outbound (6 trains)
Friday: Cambridge ⇢ London ⇢ Brussels ⇢ Cologne ⇢ Hamburg (hotel stay)
Saturday: Hamburg ⇢ Copenhagen ⇢ Gothenburg

Return (6 trains)
Tuesday: Gothenburg ⇢ Malmö ⇢ Hamburg (sleeper train)
Wednesday: Hamburg ⇢ Cologne ⇢ Brussels ⇢ London ⇢ Cambridge

#SleeperTrain #NotFlying #Eurostar

But today has been a good start to my return travel #notflying from Wales to Sweden.
A guy on a train gave me a whole (small) box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. A woman on a bus gave me a wholly unexpected hat compliment.
#2boats5countries

The train from Malmö to Copenhagen calls at Kastrup, CPH airport. The stink of jet fuel inside the train is grim.
Local air pollution is just one reason for #notflying. And one that so-called sustainable aviation fuel will do nothing to address.

In a previous life, on another site, I have whiled away the miles as I take trains and ferries, #notflying across Europe. As in, visiting every country in the EU (except Cyprus - no ferries until recently) and a few more.
This has, on occasion, been slightly interesting, gently amusing, not the worst thing on social media that day. Stand by for your own chance to be the judge of that.
I am about to set off for the 36-hour train trip from central Sweden to Cardiff.
Via…? Not saying. Suspense, eh?