by 2021 definitely lifted Flyctory.com to another level. The community is steadily increasing – days with less than 2,000 page hits her day became extremely rare. The more frequent postings also lead to a huge increase of album and EP reviews. My selection of favorite releases is finally supported by roughly 475 music reviews I did this year. Here are my best ones 2021 – you might like to compare them to my 2020 selection. And if you are rather into singles, there are also my Favorite Songs of the Year 2021.
My Favorite EPs in 2021
Like in 2020, I do not separate between country and non-country when it comes to selecting my five favorite EPs of the year.
5. Honky-Tonk Hippes by LANCO
LANCO did an amazing party music EP in July 2021. Just five tracks, but filled with a lot of fun – Cheers!
4. 29 by Carly Pearce
29 by Carly Pearce had a lot of potential to be at the very top of my “Best of EPs” list this year. Unfortunately, she spoiled it by “upgrading” the amazing EP to an album – I could also say cheating her fans. Nonetheless, an amazing release..
3. Love, Kylie by Kylie Morgan
Love, Kylie has been my first contact with Kylie Morgan music – and the June 2021 EP is just an amazing collection of very versatile songs.
2. Die Songs, die ich nie schreiben wollte by Alex Diehl
Finally, Alex Diehl is the only non-country music artist in my list. This rather reflects that country music is still the key genre of Flyctory.com – and EPs feel to become more and more popular in Nashville. Alex Diehl recorded an amazingly straight set of songs in his November 2021 release – I absolutely loved it.
My Favorite EP in 2021:
Behind The Bar by Riley Green
There were two EPs this year, which received the full 5.0 rating. One of them is Carly Pearce’s 29 – and the other one is the amazing Behind The Bar by Riley Green. Seven amazing songs, which simply lead to my most favorite EP of the year. Thanks, Riley!
My Favorite Non-Country Albums in 2021
Even though country stays the main genre of Flyctory.com, I feel that I had a really nice and wide range of genres this year. This also leads to a very high quality in my favorite non-country albums in 2021, which this year all have been reviewed on my blog. From Hawaiian instrumental sounds to hard rock – enjoy my suggestions.
7. Ka Honua Maluhia by Jim “Kimo” West
Jim “Kimo” West has so much emancipated from “just” being the guitar player of Weird Al Yankovic. His releases have amazing quality. Just having won a Grammy, Ka Honua Maluhia is another wonderful instrumental album. Absolutely worth a listen.
6. The Weight of Man by Ray Wilson
Ray Wilson is an amazing performer on stage – and with The Weight Of Man, he proofed (again) that he is great in the studio as well. Absolutely loved his 2021 album.
5. Labyrinth by Stefanie Heinzmann
The Swiss Stefanie Heinzmann is in the music business for so long now – but I still feel she is underrated and not just “the talent show girl”. Labyrinth shows great pop songs. I loved to listen to her 2021 release and spent quite a while with it.
4. Chez Kane by Chez Kane
This ten song release (by the way, one of the albums which received the full 5.0 scorings this year) is maybe the one I feel most gifted about that I ran into it at all. What an amazing collection of rock tracks with a retro style – and it is even her debut album! Love it!
3. 80 plus by Dieter Hallervorden
I was really skeptical when I read that German actor and comedian Dieter Hallervorden will release an album. Bad luck that it felt to be promoted as German schlager, as his very personal 80 plus is so much deeper and comes with great stories. One of the best hidden gems of the German music scene this year.
2. Wenn die Kälte Kommt by Santiano
Santiano are not at all a “hidden gem” in the German music scene any more. They are established and they deliver great music. So they did in 2021 with their Wenn die Kälte kommt again. Fantastic and unique shanty-folk-rock style.
My Favorite Non-Country Album in 2021:
The Lockdown Sessions by Elton John
To me, the 2021 release by Elton John was the best album of the year, also regardless of the genre. Elton is a musical genius – and the way he is working with his own songs and sounds but finally also allowing his guest musicians to give their touch of music to the tracks is simply amazing. Great listen!
My Favorite Country Albums in 2021:
Last, but not least, here are by top long-play listens in country music.
7. Travelin’ Kind by Ashland Craft
If I look to the album side, it did not feel to be a really good year for the ladies to me. Finally, Ashland Craft is the only artist who made it into my Top 7. Great September 2021 album by the South Carolina artist.
6. What Is Life? by Brett Kissel
Great country music from Canada: Brett Kissel did this lovely album with a beautiful atmosphere in April 2021. Very good one.
5. High Country Sound by Canaan Smith
One of the best lyrics in an album in 2021 to me. Canaan Smith’s High Country Sound has also been released in April 2021 and I really loved to listen to his stories.
4. Pelagio by Ryan Hurd
Ryan Hurd did an amazing job with Pelagio – and I just cannot stop emphasizing that the album is his debut release. Definitely look forward to his future releases.
3. Country Again: Side A by Thomas Rhett
With his Country Again: Side A, Thomas Rhett again illustrates his vast musical talent. That’s superb country music.
2. Room To Dream by Ryan Kinder
Maybe the most beautiful atmosphere in all country albums I reviewed in 2021: Indeed, Ryan Kinder’s Room To Dream is a musical room to dream in. Lovely production, which just has been an easy choice for this list.
My Favorite Country Album in 2021:
Heart by Eric Church
Eric Church released the amazing triple album Heart & Soul in April 2021. While I slightly struggled with & (and) and absolutely enjoyed Soul, Heart has been the outstanding part of this release to me. Fantastic album, which finally made it to my album of the year.
Most Special Music Release in 2021:
Lordiversity by Lordi
I just could not close this posting without giving a very special award and praise to my favorite band Lordi: the seven album box Lordiversity comes with ups and downs – but just being able to release seven albums in one and thereby also doing music far away from their comfort zone (like in the amazing album Superflytrap) is just fantastic. To me, the most remarkable release of the year.
Media Reviews – 2021 Debut EPs/Albums
Here are all my 2021-released Media Reviews about Debut EPs and Albums:
Ian Tray Band – Electricity
The time right before Christmas is typically not featuring too many new releases. In my point of view, it is ...
Musa Dagh – Musa Dagh
When the press kit of a music release uses the wording superband, there are typically two options: either the combo ...
Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP
There are multiple ways how I get to listening new albums and EPs for my blog. Most of them are ...
Navian – Cosmos
What are you doing when you are making new friends at the party celebrating your recent Bachelor graduation in contemporary ...
Flora Falls – Ankle Deep EP
In early November 2021, I received a promo EP from a folk music duo from Berlin, Flora Falls. A bit ...
Michael Heppes – Achtung Leben
Honestly, when I ran into his debut album Achtung Leben, I did not know anything about Michael Heppes. However, the album ...
Thabile – Look At The Sky EP
The press kit said that Thabile's music is having "a wide bandwidth, which is merging elements of jazz, soul, gospel, ...
Tom Aquinas – XMas Greetings EP
Four Christmas song on a small EP: I just liked the sound of Tom Aquinas when his XMas Greetings became available ...
Winter 2 – Winter 2
Interesting pop sound from Hamburg in Northern Germany: Winter 2 are just active for some one year. Nonetheless, the are ...
Paulina Wagner – Vielleicht verliebt
From TV talent show to her debut album - some one and a half year she became well-known to the ...
Simon Jela – Safe Place EP
Hail to promotion platforms - just after I was really angry that I had listed some interesting publication with an ...
Nox Holloway – If Only The World Didn’t Spin So Much EP
When I started to write the review of the debut EP If Only The World Didn't Spin So Much by ...
Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name
Especially in the curse of the Black Lives Matter protests, Mickey Guyton felt to be very present in media. She ...
Taylor McCall – Black Powder Soul
Another emerging artist with his debut album: I received Black Powder Soul by Taylor McCall from a promotion company. I ...
Power Plush – Vomiting Emotions EP
The first set of the press kit I received about Power Plush are (translated to English) "Emancipatoric power meets empahtic ...
Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman
Debut album by Riddy Arman: the young female country music artists gets into the virtual record stores with a nine ...
Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind
Debut album by Ashland craft: after the female country singer grew quite a fan base by a strong TV talent ...
Freakstorm – Storm Inside My Heart
A tribute band growing to an album with seven very own songs and two covers: Freakstorm from Gummersbach near Cologne ...
CueStack – Diagnosis:Human
Like quite likely many of you, I ran into the Austrian metal / metalcore band CueStack due to a Crowdfunding ...
Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth
One album out of the 6th August 2021 releases I was looking forward listening to especially was the self-titled one ...
Leah Blevins – First Time Feeling
Leah Blevins is doing country music with a touch of folk. On 6th August 2021, the Kentucky-origin artist is releasing ...
Charli Adams – Bullseye
There are very different things which fascinate me about an artist. I definitely enjoyed listening to the very first tunes ...
Callie Twisselman – Closure EP
One of these things I really still don't get: checking the new releases of the week, I ran into Callie ...
Tigirlily – Tigirlily EP
I did not know Tigirlily (who want to pronounced as Tie-Girl-Lilly) before I ran into their music for this review ...
Luna Morgenstern – Taking The Blow EP
A debut EP by a home town artist - of course I have been curious when I ran into Luna ...
Alexis Taylor – Ain’t No Quittin’ You EP
I am a bit of jealous of Alexis Taylor. Not (just) because her Facebook and other social media accounts are ...
Kat Eaton – Talk To Me
Even though she is an active musician since a bunch of years, Kat Eaton releases her album debut on 2nd ...
ferdinant. – Airplanes EP
How could I refuse to enjoy an artist who is naming his debut EP Airplanes? ferdinant. (with small letters and the ...
pez – All Lowercase EP
Modern country from Bavaria? No, this is not about Nik Wallner, but about pez, who is singing in English and ...
Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP
I enjoyed Kylie Morgan's single I Only Date Cowboys that much that I added it to the Country Music Playlists on ...
Cleopatrick – Bummer
Hard rock from Canada: with Bummer, the band Cleopatrick is releasing their first-ever album on 4th June 2021. The album ...
Brynn Cartelli – Based On A True Story EP
A very interesting release with a talent show background: Brynn Cartelli won The Voice in 2018 - now she released her ...
Southerland – Boot Up EP
A debut release on 28th May 2021: the country duo gathered seven songs and released their debut EP Boot Up ...
SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen – SILVER LAKE by Esa Holopainen
Covid-19 felt to be a good opportunity for Esa Holopainen to go solo. Instead of releasing new stuff with Amorphis, ...
Lori Rayne – 1926 EP
I unfortunately do not know too much about Lori Rayne, but due to some country release listings, I ran into ...
Alexander Ludwig – Alexander Ludwig EP
A Viking doing modern country? Sounds like a weird Scandinavian story - but in fact the artist is a Canadian actor, ...
Allison Russell – Outside Child
Allison Russell's album Outside Child is in fact a debut. But the singer songwriter is already quite established in the ...
Nikola – 369 EP
Due to a promotion platform, I ran into the debut EP of a German pop artist, Nikola. There was just ...
Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground
Country to The Core with Rock'n'Roll's rebellious reputation or Jesse Keith Whitley is a modern day outlaw. The first words ...
Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP
After two successful singles, which both had several million streams on Spotify only, Dillon Carmichael is back his first ever ...
Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos
It can't be too bad to have a smile in these times, can it? When I ran into the German ...
Etaoin – Bedroom Walls EP
If two of your first three singles already made about a quarter million streams each on Spotify, you are likely ...
Elvie Shane – County Roads EP
A new artist with a quite powerful touch of country music - Elvie Shane with his EP County Roads made ...
Leslie Jordan – Company’s Comin’
You debut album at the age of 65? The story behind Company's Comin', the album released on 2nd April 2021, ...
As Everything Unfolds – Within Each Lies The Other
This release is for the guitar lovers. As Everything Unfolds is a band from Southern England, which has developed very ...
Hanna Batka – Mitten in Berlin
Indeed, Hanna Batka is Mitten in Berlin - "In The Middle of Berlin". She is not only indeed living in the ...
Morgan Wade – Reckless
I always enjoy to listen into the music of new artists. One debut album I received out of the 19th ...
Schorl3 – Sprudelpop EP
I am not even sure if it was about the cheeky lyrics and the fresh sound or simply the album ...
Chez Kane – Chez Kane
A young female British rock artist, born in the 1990's, who states that she loves 1980's rock? Feels like a ...
Joey Hendricks – Between The Clouds EP
Joey Hendricks came from the West Coast to Nashville to become a songwriter - but already his first song as ...
Mason Hill – Against The Wall
Some things take some time to get really good. If you think about Scotland and about something already having a ...
Hayden Joseph – Different
Spotify is a bit of a strange thing sometimes. The scanner I use every Friday to check out for new ...
Bones Owens – Bones Owens
Bones Owens already worked with really big names of the business and has released two EPs so far. Nonetheless, seven ...
Ben Rice – Future Pretend
When I ran into the debut album by Ben Rice, Future Pretend, I initially thought he is a blues musician ...
Carly Pearce – 29 EP
Carly Pearce is one of my absolute favorite country music artists. No doubt that the Kentucky lady was on the ...
Callista Clark – Real To Me EP
I already felt that I had closed my Flyctory.com media review work and all the playlist stuff on 12th February ...
Dustin Bird – Unscripted
A brief debut album from Ontario: Canadian Dustin Bird is releasing Unscripted on 5th February 2021. The eight track debut ...
Colton Chapman – Can’t Hide The Truth EP
When I scanned the country music new releases as of 5th February 2021, I got stuck at the music of ...
Alex Hall – Six Strings EP
Tenille Townes, John Osborne, Vince Gill and Brad Paisley on one record? Oh, and I forgot Kassi Ashton and Brad ...
Don Marco & Die Kleine Freiheit – Gehst Du Mit Mir Unter
Gehst Du mit mir unter - "Are you drowning with me" is the album title of a new German music project ...
Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP
While many talent show candidates rather have a tough time in the "real world" in Germany, the US show winners ...
Matt Wynn – Matt Wynn EP
Another debut EP on Flyctory.com: while I was checking the new releases as at 22nd January 2021, I ran into ...
Willie Jones – Right Now
It is almost nine years ago, since Willie Jones stood in front of the The X Factor jury to persuade them ...
Bow Anderson – New Wave EP
Bow Anderson is an interesting Scottish artist. Even though the young lady did her first single releases previous years, her ...
Petric – Flashbacks
Just a week before Petric released their album Flashbacks on 15th January 2021, I ran into their single Kids and really ...
Tanner Sparks – Living A Nightmare
Old Fashioned Country Music - that's how Tanner Sparks declares his style of music on his website. On the very ...
“Rides on Rail” Postings
Here is everything about trains, trams and other rail vehicles:
Cab Ride at the Florida Railroad Museum (Parrish)
I am transportation nerd. Even though there is a certain touch of aviation in that regard on Flyctory.com, I do ...
Food I Had Onboard XXI (January 2024 – early February 2024)
With my recent mileage run and the trip to the World Floorball Championship Qualifications in Italy, I had quite a ...
Food I Had Onboard XX (November 2024 – early January 2025)
While quite a lot of traveling is ahead of me during the next weeks, November and December 2024 was rather ...
Flyctory.com Best Ones 2024
has come to an end - and my Best of posting is the one which is "traditionally" concluding the year. The ...
2024 – My Year in Travel
Like I did in 2023, I will kick off my looking back to the year 2024 with some travel facts ...
Austrian Rail Lounge (ÖBB Lounge) Innsbruck
While most of my lounge reviews deal with airport and airline lounges, I am always flattered to also visit lounge ...
Food I Had Onboard XIX (October 2024)
While my 18th edition of the Food I Had Onboard just came with a limited number of trips rather widely ...
Czech Rail (CD) Railjet Business Class
I really enjoy riding the Railjet. The type of trains is majorly the backbone of the Austrian high-speed rail network ...
Riding KCIC Whoosh – The Indonesian High-Speed Rail – in First Class
17th October 2023 marked a very special day in the Indonesian and South-East Asian transportation history. The first ever high ...
Exploring Vienna Prater with the Prater Train (Pictured Story)
What's a good way to explore the permanent fun fair and entertainment area in Vienna, the Prater, if you are ...
Food I Had Onboard XVIII (end July to mid September 2024)
I did not have that much traveling during the last weeks - but as some major trips are ahead, I ...
DB (German Rail) Lounge Dresden Main Station
Being the only guest in a lounge almost demands me having a lounge review. This happened to me in Dresden ...
Flytoget Oslo Airport Express Train
Airport trains are a very convenient option to get to an airport. The Arlanda Express in Stockholm, for example, makes ...
Dresden Funicular (Standseilbahn)
After I already introduced you to the Dresden Suspension Cable Railroad (Schwebebahn), it is urgently time to share my other ...
Grand Central Terminal New York (Pictured Story)
Even though the Grand Central Terminal (or: Grand Central Station) in New York City is a popular touristic attraction, it ...
Food I Had Onboard XVII (mid-May to mid-July 2024)
Oh, I traveled too much the last weeks again. Time for another Food I Had Onboard posting - this time also featuring ...
Museum of Public Transport of Wallonia
During a trip to Liege / Luik in Belgium, i took a short detour from a shopping mall to visit ...
Kusttram – The World Longest Tram / Light Rail
67 kilometers alongside the Belgian Coast, serving 67 stations - the Kusttram ("Coastal tram line") is regarded to be the ...
Riding the Bergensbanen (The Bergen Line) in Norway
The engine of the train states Se Norge. Ta Toget - or: "See Norway. From the train". Apart from the Flamsbanen, the Bergensbanen, ...
Riding the Öresundstag (Öresund Train)
The Öresund Bridge connecting Copenhagen in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden revolutionized did not only revolutionize travel and transport between ...
Food I Had Onboard XV (March 2024 – early April 2024)
In my fifteenth edition of my Food I Had Onboard posting series, I have a quhttps://flyctory.com/tag/deutschebahn/ite nice range of flight and ...
My Loyality Program Portfolio 2024
In early April 2023, I gave you an insight into my loyalty program strategy for 2023. The posting Thumbs up ...
Kansas City Union Station (Pictured Story)
According to Wikipedia, twelve different railroad lines overall operated from and through Kansas City overall. However, the golden age of ...
Getting Around in Tokyo with the Greater Tokyo Pass
During our trip through Tokyo in September 2023, getting around the Japanese capital has been one of the key issues ...
Flyctory.com Best Ones 2023
Is it really New Year's Eve already again? The last day of the year? I am posting this one in ...
Dresden Suspension Cable Railroad (Schwebebahn)
As you know, I am very interested in iconic public transport systems. Thus, I had to visit the Schwebebahn, the suspension ...
Food I Had Onboard XII (Late October 2023 – Mid-November 2023)
After my eleventh Food I Had Onboard posting majorly concentrated on two Lufthansa First Class legs between Frankfurt (FRA) and ...
EuroNight EN 40476 Night Train from Budapest to Berlin
TraMy trip in late October / early November 2023 involved a lot of traveling. Once I made it back to ...
Riding the Pennsylvanian Train (Business Class) from New York to Pittsburgh
If you solely take the ease of traveling as a criteria, I definitely took the wrong choice in regards of ...
SkyTrain Dusseldorf Airport
The public transport situation of Dusseldorf Airport (DUS) is a bit more complex than it might feel at first sight ...
Riding the Heathrow Pod
The Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth Line or the good, old Piccadilly Line - there are many transport options to get ...
Southern Florida Regional Train Rides with Tri-Rail
After I introduced you to the amazing Florida high speed rail service Brightline already, this post is about about rail ...
Great Western Railway First Class Lounge London Paddington
Travelling to the very last Rock of Ages shows by the British DLAP production company brought me to Swansea in Wales. The ...
Food I Had Onboard IX (Mid-May 2023 til June 2023)
One more Food I had onboard until I have a full set of ten postings. Hope you also enjoy reading ...
Wuppertaler Schwebebahn (Wuppertal Suspension Railroad)
The name of the German city of Wuppertal in the Bergische Land region near Cologne is indeed a perfect fit ...
Heathrow Express – The Fastest Rail to the City (Business First and Express Class)
With the introduction of Elizabeth Line, there is now a third option to get from Heathrow Airport (LHR) to the ...
Northern Trains Class 331/0 from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North
For my trip from Manchester Airport (MAN) to Blackpool in February 2023, I was able to explore a new rail ...
Travel all Germany for 49 EUR a Month? The New Deutschland Ticket
Using public transport all over Germany for 49 Euro? Sounds like the perfect deal, especially if you are a visitor ...
Riding the Heidelberg Funiculars
Even though Heidelberg is a tourist magnet for many reasons, the Heidelberger Bergbahnen (Heidelberg Funiculars) are part of it. They offer you ...
Dutch Railway Museum Utrecht
The website states that the Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum (also: Het Spoowegmuseum) is the best train station in the Netherlands. In fact, the ...
German Rail (Deutsche Bahn) Lounge Hamburg – Premium Area
In January 2023, I took a rail trip hitting all 16 German states in one day. Apart from that geographic ...
Union Pearson Express Toronto – The Airport Express Rail
Especially when airports are located a little outside the city, airport express trains feel to be the perfect mass transportation ...
Thumb Up or Down? A Personal View on my Loyalty Program Portfolio
A major part of optimizing your travel portfolio is to determine the loyalty program which suits best to you. Thereby, ...
Food I Had Onboard VII (mid-February 2023 til March 2023)
The last legs of the 2023 Weird Al Yankovic European Tour, Rock of Ages shows, the Pittsburgh Penguins and many ...
Cyprus Railways Museum
If you nowadays look at the map of Cyprus, you won't find any rail-driven vehicles. However, the country did have ...
Five Years of Flyctory.com – My 20 Most Popular Travel Posts (so far…)
Damn, it is already four years... And it is more than 2,750 postings since then. On 25th February 2018, I ...
Riding the TransPennine Express Nova 2 / CAF Civity First Class
Traveling by rail is typically a bit of an extra adventure: the reliability is low, compared to other European countries ...
Food I Had Onboard VI (December 2022 til mid-February 2023)
Wow, it's already half a dozen of episodes. This time, I start my Food I Had Onboard posting with two ...
German Rail (Deutsche Bahn) Premium Lounge Berlin Main Station
What a day - on 14th January 2023, I traveled through all 16 German states in a 24 hour train ...
All German States (and the Eleven Biggest Cities) on one Rail Ticket – Part 2
AIthough has just been a day trip, but I just felt it is too long to tell the story of ...
All German States (and the eleven biggest Cities) on one Rail Ticket – Part 1
Okay, I give in: this trip is weird. While people typically feel that I am "just" a die hard aviation ...
Riding the TECO Line Streetcar in Tampa
Even though people typically think that I am an aviation nerd "only", I am in general very interested in any ...
Brightline Premium Lounge West Palm Beach
In previous postings, I already introduced you to my excellent travel experience with the Southern Florida high-speed rail provider Brightline ...
Flyctory.com Best Ones 2022
The last posting of the year - Best Ones 2022 is introducing you to my best experience last years (as ...
ICE 3neo High-Speed Rail First Class (Pictured Story)
A trip to a Frequent Flyer meeting lead to a post about train rides: Less than two weeks after the ...
Riding Flixtrain trains in Germany
Even in the United States, you nowadays run into the green coaches of Flixbus. The company turned out to dominate ...
German Rail Museum (DB Museum) Nuremberg
Especially when I visit large places for Flyctory.com, which give me a lot of memories - and pictures - I ...
High-Speed Train Rides in Florida with Brightline
Car Free. Carefree - that's the slogan of one of the latest additions to the US public transport network: The company ...
Dutch Open Air Museum Arnhem (Openluchtmuseum)
Especially when I visit large places, which demand and deserve a major number of pictures, it may take quite some ...
Brightline Premium Lounge Miami
In between of tour-chasing Weird Al Yankovic in Florida in October 2022 (see my picture posting), I also had the ...
Food I Had Onboard IV (May 2022 til August 2022)
Already the fourth edition of my Food I Had Onboard category. Even though my Covid-19 infection changed quite a lot of ...
Riding the Kansas City Streetcar
While I visited Kansas City in summer 2022, I have been quite amazed that the US-American city drives its own ...
Traveling Avanti West Coast Railways Pendolino First and Standard Premium Class
People always feel surprised when I state that I am not just a passionate frequent flyer, but that I also ...
Riding the WeGo Star – Nashville’s only Mass Transit
I guess that most Nashville tourists don't even get to know that Music City in fact has a mass public ...
Avanti First Class Train Station Lounge London Euston Station
In June 2022, I had the opportunity to have a (for me) rather unique experience as a rail traveler: right ...
Halton County Radial Railway / Streetcar Museum
During my trip to Canada right after the borders have been opened again in September 2021, I visited a very ...
From Heathrow Airport to London with the Elizabeth Line
Adding a rail connection for Heathrow Airport, improving the travel options between the West and the East of London - ...
Riding the Stadler FLIRT Train of Swiss Südostbahn (IR 26 Treno Gottardo)
For my trip to Ambri-Piotta watching local HC Ambri-Piotta at their home ice, Gotthard Arena, I took a seven hour ...
Food I Had Onboard II (Nov 21 til Mar 2022)
After I got some quite nice feedback about my first Food I Had Onboard posting, I felt to continue this ...
DB Lounge (German Rail Lounge) Stuttgart
What has started as Stuttgart 21 - the refurbishing of Stuttgart Main Station including changing the main travel direction and putting ...
Exploring Munich With Tram Line 19
I have been a bit of puzzled when I arrived in Munich in late January 2022, learning that the Stammstrecke, the ...
Stuttgart Funicular (“Standseilbahn”)
Due to its rather hilly geography, the German city of Stuttgart has some quite iconic public transport systems. During a ...
Lokwelt Freilassing
The Lokwelt Freilassing is one of the most famous train museums in Germany. During a trip through Bavaria, I had ...
Riding the Berlin-Warszawa Express Train (EC 40 to 48)
Yes, I do like flying - but I am also a fan of rail travels. Just to find out how ...
Flyctory.com Best Ones 2021
It is time for the final posting of the years, simply named The Best Ones 2021. After looking into my ...
The Berlin Tränenpalast (“Palace of Tears”)
The Tränenpalast ("Palace of Tears") in Berlin is the former border crossing point between East and West Berlin. It is located at ...
Riding The Malpensa Express
Milan-Malpensa Airport (MXP) is the major of the two airports serving the North Italian city. However, there is one issue ...
Schlossbergbahn Graz
Sometimes, iconic attractions don't need to be overwhelmingly large to become really worth a visit. The Grazer Schoßbergbahn / Graz Castle Rail, ...
VIA Rail Business Class Train Ride from Ottawa to Toronto
After flying with Porter Airlines from Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) to Ottawa, my return trip was on rails. For ...
Riding the Express InterCity Premium (EIP) in Poland
While I did the "traditional Flyctory.com way" on the outbound trip from Dusseldorf to Krakow and flew LOT Business Class, ...
Graz Fairy Tale Train (Grazer Märchenbahn)
Yeah, I give in: in amusement parks, I love to do what I call atmospheric rides. Not too quick, but colorful, ...
German Rail Lounge / DB Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
For years, if I would have wanted to deeply bash the Deutsche Bahn (German Rails), there would have been a simple way ...
The Venice / Mestre Tramway – The Alternative Connection to the Lagoon?
Fancying a trip to Venice? If there is no pandemic and the lagoon city is empty, hotel prices in central ...
My Full Tour With The Palm Monorail (Dubai)
If you want to travel to The Palm in Dubai, you typically go there by rental car, taxi... Or by ...
The Eschede Derailment Memorial
I have always been wondering how people from cities like Lockerbie or Lakehurst deal with the faith that their hometown ...
Tranvia de Soller – The Very Special Tram on Mallorca
It is one of the the classic trips on Mallorca and something like a must-do for many tourists: taking the ...
Flyctory.com Best Ones 2020
After praising my favorite songs of 2020 and the favorite albums and EPs in 2020, the final posting to do ...
Riding Italo Rail Club Executive Class
Apart from Trenitalia and their Frecciarossa network, there is also NRT (Nuovo Transporto Viaggiatori - "New Travellers Transport"), who are ...
The train to Hogwarts? King’s Cross, Platform 9 3/4 (Pictured Story)
I am not too much in Harry Potter - but therefor, my wife is compensating my lack of knowledge. After ...
FRECCIALounge Milan
After visiting so many German Rail lounges in my life, I was really looking forward how the more exclusive waiting ...
Frecciarossa 1000 Executive Class
On my Four Contries, Four Trains trip in summer 2020, my rail trip on Day 2 was an absolute highlight of ...
ALPEN-SYLT Nachtexpress – A New Night Train Crossing Germany
One thousand kilometres to the sea - or vice versa One thousand kilometres to the Alps - was the slogan a new private ...
ECE 451 – The Non-Stop Train from Frankfurt To Milan
Also due to the current situation in aviation, I could follow my idea to invest more time in rail travel ...
Nightjet Night Train – Single Deluxe Class
While - especially for business reasons - trans-European rail connections may still take too much time for daytime transfers, night ...
Four Countries, Four Trains – A Trip on Tracks (Day 4, 10th August 2020)
Heading back home. As said in the Day 3 coverage, I did not expect too much going on on that ...
Four Countries, Four Trains – A Trip on Tracks (Day 2, 8th August 2020)
Being in Milan until the early afternoon, checking out an Italian rail lounge for the first time - and then ...
Four Countries, Four Trains – A Trip on Tracks (Day 1, 7th August 2020)
So excited to travel again and do a proper. I did my first day of the rail rides through Germany, ...
Traveling Through Germany at Covid-19 Times – A special Trip Review
Coming back from London from the (finally cancelled) Country To Country Festival 2020 was the last trip I took before ...
Flyctory.com Best Ones 2019
While I so far made an semi-annual look back in time, the "Very Important Postings", I decided something with my ...
Pittsburgh Light Rail – It’s (partially) for free!
The climate discussions during the last months again boosted discussions whether local traffic could not be for free to reduce ...
Mount Washington and the Pittsburgh Inclines
Pittsburgh is not only the city of the three rivers and countless bridges - on the southern bank of Monongahela ...
Riding the Arlanda Express
If you want to travel from Stockholm's major airport Arlanda to city center, you have multiple options. Undoubtedly, the strongest ...
Madrid Railway Museum
Not just due to my favorite flight with LATAM from Frankfurt to the Spanish capital, I love being in Madrid ...
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway (Chattanooga, TN)
Just after I left Chattanooga Airport on Day 3 of my CMA Fest Trip, I went to the Lookout Mountain ...
Platform 0 Chamberí – A Madrid Metro Ghost Station
If you use the Madrid Metro Line 1 between Bilbao and Iglesia, you will likely notice that you pass another ...
Bergisch Historic Trams Wuppertal
Wuppertal in the Bergisches Land region Northeast of Cologne hosts a very special attraction for train and rail enthusiasts: the ...
The only Rail Track on Canary Islands
The 15km long Tenerife tram track system between the harbour area of Santa Cruz and the old capital, San Cristobal ...
Riding the Hogwarts Express
The "Jacobite" connecting the Scottish villages of Fort William and Mallaig has always been regarded to be one of the ...
