
Effervescent spritzes are built for summer sipping
This was for a work conference unrelated to cocktail writing, and it was a shock: In decades of travel for my nonprofit job, I have slept in cars, tents, a closet with a bunch of cowboys snoring in the hallway and dozens of budget hotel rooms that could typically be described as 'dreary' but occasionally veered into 'stabby.' Spending a few days in Cannes was a freakish occurrence. It did, however, encourage me to try to manifest wonderful things simply by declaring an intent to write about them. Testing it now: Next column, I shall write about ponies. Take heed, universe.

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News24
an hour ago
- News24
Travel chaos: French air traffic strike strands 300 000 passengers as summer holidays begin
French air traffic controllers staged a two-day strike affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers, with around 1 000 flights cancelled on Friday. The strike caused ripple effects across Europe with 1 500 total flight cancellations affecting 300 000 passengers, including 400+ Ryanair cancellations and disruptions. Two minority unions called the strike to protest chronic understaffing, outdated equipment, toxic management practices, and a new clock-in system. French air traffic controllers staged the second day of a two-day strike on Friday, prompting the cancellation of flights affecting hundreds of thousands of people not just to-and-from France but also overflying the country as summer holidays kick off. Paris airports were even more severely affected than on the first day of the strike on Thursday, which was called by two minority unions calling for better working conditions and staffing. The timing of the strike is particularly acute with Friday the final day of school in France before the summer holidays and many families planning an early getaway. France's DGAC aviation authority said 933 flights departing from or arriving at French airports were cancelled on Thursday, some 10 percent of the total number of flights initially scheduled. The proportion of cancellations rose to 25% at the main airports in Paris. Around 1 000 flights had been cancelled on Friday morning, after the DGAC asked companies to cancel 40% of flights to deal with the strike. The government has condemned the strike, with Prime Minister Francois Bayrou telling BFMTV that "choosing the day when everyone goes on holiday to go on strike at air traffic control is taking the French hostage." 'Unacceptable' Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot told CNews that "yesterday and today, 272 people in our country will impact the well-being of more than 500 000 people". "This is unacceptable," he said. UNSA-ICNA, the second biggest labour group in the sector, launched the action to protest against "chronic understaffing", the planned introduction of a clock-in system, outdated equipment and "toxic management practices that are incompatible with the requirements of calm and safety". It was joined by the third largest union, USAC-CGT but the main union, SNCTA, has not joined the action. The effects of the strike are not limited to France and the stoppage has triggered hundreds of cancellations of flights that fly over the country. The European Airlines for Europe (A4E) association said 1 500 flights would be cancelled on Thursday and Friday in Europe, affecting 300 000 passengers. "French air traffic control already delivers some of Europe's worst delay figures and now the actions of a minority of French air traffic control workers will needlessly disrupt the holiday plans of thousands of people in France and across Europe," said A4E chief Ourania Georgoutsakou. The association said the strikes also caused "almost 500 000 minutes" in delays in Europe on Thursday on nearly 33 000 commercial flights. 'Stuck' Ryanair, Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, said it had cancelled more than 400 flights. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary urged the EU Commission to protect such overflights by law in case of strikes. He said: 'Of these 400 flight cancellations, 350 would not be cancelled if the EU protected overflights over France.' "Of these 400 flight cancellations, 350 would not be cancelled if the EU protected overflights over France," he said. At Paris airports, passengers stared at departure boards loaded with cancellations to assess their options. "I came here on holiday to celebrate my wife's 40th birthday, but now I'm stuck at Charles de Gaulle Airport," said Julien Barthelemy, a passenger travelling to Marseille from New York, late Thursday. "I'm currently on the waiting list for three flights and am waiting for a spot on the next one to become available." Lara, 30, was scheduled to take a flight from Paris to Berlin with her partner to visit friends. "The flight was scheduled for Thursday evening, but we were informed on Wednesday that it had been cancelled. We had been able to get another ticket for free, for Friday evening, but that was also cancelled," she told AFP, adding they had to buy more expensive train tickets. Around 30 flights at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam were cancelled while others were delayed on Friday due to the strikes, an airport spokesperson said in an email to AFP. "Around 30 flights have been cancelled today by airlines as a precaution," the spokesperson said. "We expect a return to regular operations this weekend as the strikes are expected to end." Airline KLM said the strikes have caused operational irregularities including delays and two flight cancellations.


Motor Trend
2 hours ago
- Motor Trend
You've Never Experienced a Truck Stop Until You've Been to the Beyond-Wild Iowa 80 Truckstop
Off Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa is what is perhaps one of the most uniquely American establishments ever created: the Iowa 80 Truckstop, the self-proclaimed 'world's largest truck stop.' A haven for long-haul truckers, road trippers, and tourists alike, the Iowa 80 Truckstop is something you must see to believe. For instance, here are some superlative figures to start: The Iowa 80 Truckstop, the world's largest, features amenities like a movie theater, restaurants, a dentist, and more on a 225-acre site. Open since 1964, it serves 6,000 daily visitors and offers unique services and a museum. Owned by the Moon family, it's a key destination for truckers and travelers. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next 225-acre property 900 truck parking spots 250 car parking spots 20 bus parking spots 42 car and RV fuel pumps 34 diesel pumps 10 EV chargers 130,000-square-foot main building Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the stop boasts it hasn't closed its doors since first opening them in 1964. In addition to a convenience store and nine restaurants (one of which includes a buffet or à la carte), there's also a workout room, 24 private showers, truck service center, a movie theater, a library, an arcade, a laundry center, two dog parks, a pet wash, a barber shop, a massive gift shop, a custom embroidery and print shop, a chiropractor, and a dentist. Finally, its onsite museum tells the story of trucking in the U.S. It houses more than 130 antique trucks, with the oldest one built in Iowa in 1903 and the most modern one made in 1996. Admission is free. The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. In short, visiting the Iowa 80 Truckstop is like being in a small city. MotorTrend stopped here for lunch as part of the cross-country road trip we took in our long-term 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid sedan, and it was possibly the smartest move we made on the whole trip. Grab a seat at the Iowa 80 Kitchen for the tasty and filling buffet, or order a sizable burger cooked to perfection. Once you've refueled yourself, we highly encourage you to wander through the massive gift shop and truck parts store to take it all in. Here you can purchase anything and everything you'd ever need as a trucker or road tripper. Besides obvious items like snacks, chargers, and seat cushions, you can buy truck mattresses, pillows, sheepskins, DVDs, books on tape, guitars, high-visibility clothing, and a truly impressive array of ... swords. If you budget enough time, you can even get something custom vinyl embroidered. A Man, a Plan, a New Interstate Highway, Truckstop! The Iowa 80 Truckstop's history began with the passing of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 and the subsequent need to place truck stops along Interstate 80. Upon returning from service in the Korean War, founder Bill Moon worked as a district representative and location scout for Standard Oil. A bit of farmland beside the highway caught his eye. It was about three hours from Des Moines and Chicago and six hours from Detroit and Omaha. At mile marker 284, just north of Walcott, Iowa, Standard Oil broke ground. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. Opening in 1964, the early truck stop was modest compared to what it is now. Customers were welcome to a single-bay service area, a handful of fuel pumps, a communal shower, a communal and cot-filled sleeping room, and a 24-hour car and truck wrecker service. The Moon family eventually bought the truck stop from Standard Oil of Indiana (or Amoco, as it was known by then) in 1984. From then to 2004, they began turning it into the destination it is today by expanding the service center, store, and restaurant; installing individual showers; and adding amenities like the arcade and movie theater. There were even fax machines for those needing to do business before the Internet was a thing. The completion of the Iowa 80 Kitchen was a cornerstone event between 2004 and 2024, transforming the food options from a cafe to a 300-seat restaurant and buffet. Pictured, the Iowa 80 Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. Bill Moon died in 1992, so he never saw the completed work. But his legacy lives with the family members that survive him and anyone who visits the stop. Under the Iowa 80 Group, the Moon family—now in its third generation—also owns and operates the Joplin 44 Petro and Kenly 95 truck stops in Joplin, Missouri, and Kenley, North Carolina. But the Iowa 80 location is undoubtedly the family portfolio's crown jewel. A Trucker's Diagon Alley As for being 'the world's largest truck stop,' how can the family make such a claim? 'Acreage and amenities, and we've checked with other truck stops,' Iowa 80 Group spokesperson Lee Meier told MotorTrend . 'Our Kenley and Joplin locations are probably No. 2 and No. 3 in terms of size and amenities. So we're beating ourselves here. Plus, we've been called the 'world's largest' since we were branded [as] Amoco. That probably started in the '80s.' The convenience store. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. Iowa 80 serves nearly 6,000 customers per day, and that volume is split approximately 50/50 between truckers and people in passenger cars. Summertime sees more families and vacationers, but Meier said there really isn't a 'slow' time for the truck stop. Its busiest days depend on the weather and season. 'Some of our customers are fourth- or fifth-generation customers, which is very cool and pretty humbling,' Meier said. 'Sometimes we have the same customers three or four times a week, depending on routes, and other times we don't see people for a couple of months. Maybe once a year we have this same customer, but we're glad to see them however often they visit us.' The sheer variety of things to do at Iowa 80 is what keeps them all coming back, so it's a pretty great place to spend a mandated break if you're on one. There's plenty to choose from if you're there for more than one meal, and the staff keeps the showers clean and running around the clock. Meier said the on-site chiropractor and dentist are particularly popular. Both accept walk-ins and insurance, depending on the provider, and even take emergency appointments at odd hours. '[A truck driver's] truck is their [only] vehicle [when they're out on the road], and oftentimes, parking lots for normal dentist offices can't accommodate a semi-truck and trailer,' Meier said. 'So it's nice they don't have to worry about parking or getting some kind of rideshare to a dentist office in order to fix an emergency.' By far, though, the most interesting wing is the Super Truck Showroom. Here, truckers can buy seemingly any part for their trucks under the sun. Hood ornaments, trumpets, bumper guards, mud flaps, mirrors, seats, and stacks were just a few of the things we saw for sale. Up and down the aisles, truck drivers strolled with salespeople, chatting specs and prices. The Super Truck Showroom. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. For the casual road tripper, the Iowa 80 Truckstop is a highly unique place to visit, as well. The Iowa 80 Kitchen is a relaxing place to sit, and you don't feel like you'll be chased out as soon as you finish your food. The convenience store is stocked with what looks like every snack and beverage known to humankind, and the gift shop has some truly spectacular options, such as these shoes. The stop's aesthetic is a bit of a time capsule, as you can see the different eras of development in the decor. But each is a testament to Iowa 80's continued expansion. No doubt cherished by truckers and travelers alike, the Moon family has managed to craft some permanence into an industry built on transience. — Additional photography courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop.


Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Could Cruise Lines Be Forced To Rethink Size As Europe Pushes Back?
Could smaller cruise ships be the future for busy European cruise ports such as Barcelona? getty For years now, it seems that cruise lines have been obsessed with going bigger. Each new launch seemed to outdo the last, boasting more decks, more passengers, and more headline-grabbing onboard attractions. But as some of Europe's most iconic destinations move to restrict or even ban large cruise ships, a question looms: Could this be the beginning of the end for the megaship era? Cannes is the latest city to impose tough new rules. From 2026, ships carrying more than 1,000 passengers will no longer be allowed to dock in the glamorous French Riviera hotspot. It's just one example of a growing movement across Europe where authorities are drawing a line between the economic benefits of cruise tourism and its social and environmental costs. As pressure mounts and ports tighten their rules, cruise lines may be forced to reconsider not just where they sail, but how. The future of cruising might not be bigger after all. Cannes Says No To Cruise Lines' Megaships From January 1, 2026, vessels carrying more than 1,000 passengers will no longer be allowed to dock at the harbor in Cannes. Instead, larger ships must anchor offshore and transfer guests via tender boats, while daily disembarkations will be capped at 6,000 passengers. Described by the city council as a form of 'drastic regulation,' the new policy aims to make tourism in Cannes 'less numerous, less big, less polluting and more esthetic.' Mayor David Lisnard insists this is not a ban, but a strategic response to balance visitor demand with environmental concerns. 'Cannes has become a major cruise ship destination, with real economic benefits,' he said. 'It's not about banning cruise ships, but about regulating, organizing, setting guidelines for their navigation.' Environmental advocates have welcomed the move. In 2024, Cannes hosted 175 ships and more than 450,000 passengers, underscoring the significance of the shift. A Growing Movement Across Europe Cannes is just the latest in a series of high-profile European ports placing limits on cruise ship access. In recent years, cities across the continent have introduced restrictions to tackle the environmental impact of cruise tourism and the pressure it places on local infrastructure. Venice led the way by banning large ships from entering its historic lagoon in 2021, rerouting vessels over 25,000 gross tons to nearby industrial ports. Amsterdam has announced a phased reduction in cruise traffic, aiming to cap visits at 100 ships per year from 2026, with a long-term goal of eliminating cruise ships entirely by 2035. In Spain, Palma de Mallorca limits daily arrivals to just three ships, only one of which may carry more than 5,000 passengers. Meanwhile, Barcelona has capped arrivals at seven ships per day and banned the biggest ships from its downtown port. While that figure may seem high, Barcelona is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world and a major turnaround hub, making the restriction a significant step. Other cities, including Dubrovnik and Zeebrugge, have implemented caps on daily dockings, while Nice has restricted access to ships over 190 meters or with more than 900 passengers. The message from Europe is increasingly clear: smaller, better-managed cruise tourism is the way forward. Cruise Lines Need To Segment To Survive The rise of megaships continues to dominate the cruise industry's marketing and media coverage. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean are investing heavily in these floating resorts, aiming to attract younger travelers looking for an all-in-one vacation experience with amenities such as surf simulators and water parks. However, this is only one direction the industry is taking. Alongside the growth of megaships, a quieter but equally significant trend is reshaping the sector. There is increasing demand for smaller, boutique-style vessels that focus on cultural enrichment and sustainability, together with access to ports that larger ships cannot reach. Industry analysts report strong growth in the luxury cruise segment, where intimacy and curated experiences are prioritized over size and spectacle. Viking Ocean Cruises is a clear example. Its ocean-going ships each carry fewer than 1,000 passengers and focus on thoughtful itineraries and an enrichment-focused onboard atmosphere. Other lines, such as Explora Journeys, Seabourn, and Ponant are expanding with similar models that emphasise space, style and service. As cruise lines adapt to changing traveler expectations and increased regulatory pressure in major ports, the shift toward a more segmented and diversified market appears not just likely, but inevitable. Large megaships are likely to remain popular on well-established routes such as the Caribbean and parts of Europe, especially where the appeal lies in the ship itself. Travelers seeking cultural depth, unique ports, and a quieter, more personalized atmosphere will increasingly seek smaller ships. As ports introduce new restrictions and passenger expectations continue to evolve, cruise lines that can serve both ends of the market will be better positioned for long-term success. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes New To Cruising? These 5 Cruise Traditions May Surprise You By David Nikel Forbes When It Makes Sense To Book Cruise Line Shore Excursions By David Nikel Forbes Turnaround Ports Are The Cities That Power The Cruise Industry By David Nikel