Travel Briefs
Deilmann golf cruises
MS Deutschland features a golf theme in 2007. Among others, the 11-night “Britannica Golf” cruise offers rounds of golf at the 18-hole course at St. Andrew’s in Scotland and rounds at five other courses in Ireland.
Helsinki Citybikes
During summertime (from mid-May to September), Helsinki offers Citybikes. Find one of the 26 Citybike stands in the city center, pay a deposit of €2 ($2.65) and tour as you please on one of the bright green bikes. After you have finished, return the bike to any Citybike stand and your €2 deposit is returned.
Cutty Sark fire
A fire on May 20 burned for over two hours aboard the historic 19th-century Cutty Sark, kept in dry dock at Greenwich in southeast London. The skeleton was substantially damaged and much of the deck was destroyed.
Naypyidaw’s debut
Naypyidaw, the new capital city of Myanmar that was built at the behest of the military ruling party, was opened to journalists for an Armed Forces Day parade in March.
Rail Europe’s Pass Finder
Rail Europe’s websites now offer an easy-to-use Pass Finder function. Type in the name of the country or countries you’re planning to visit and specify the number of days you want to use the train and the number of days you’ll be in each country, and you will be presented with both first- and second-class options.
‘Hindenburg’ mockup
At the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen, Germany, a life-size reconstruction of a 33-meter section of the LZ 129 “Hindenburg” can be explored. The museum houses the world’s largest collection on the history of the airships.
Clock Museum in Portugal
The town of Serpa, in southern Portugal, has a clock museum housed in a former 14th-century convent. The collection includes more than 1,700 watches and clocks dating from the 17th century, including many rare Portuguese watches.
Princess & NCL go ‘e’
Norwegian Cruise Line has followed Princess Cruises in converting to all-electronic cruise documents. Passengers receive e-mail messages directing them to the website for access to the documents.
Lighthouse and penguins
Montague Island, off the coast of Narooma, New South Wales, Australia, has a historic lighthouse and a nature reserve which seals and seabirds, including little penguins, call home.
The trend towards not smoking in Europe
The list below shows the current and planned policies regarding smoking in public in various countries in Europe. Note that in many, various versions of legislation are still being debated and challenged in courts.
Airline crew helps save life
Three cabin crew members saved the life of a pasenger who had become seriously ill with chest pains while on a British Midland Airways (bmi) flight from Chicago, Illinois, to Manchester, England, in February.
Guernsey Tennerfest
More than 60 restaurants, hotels and cafés throughout the Channel Island of Guernsey will compete in a “gastronomic grand-prix,” Oct. 1-Nov. 12, 2004, to serve the best menu for £10 (near $18.40).
Avis free phone
Avis, through their “Stay in Touch” program in Europe, offers car renters the newest global cell phones free for the first seven days.
Insect-repellent clothing
Among new products in Magellan’s summer 2004 travel supplies catalog is “Buzz Off” Insect Shield clothing. It repels mosquitoes, ticks and other biting insects without lotion or spray; offers 30+ SPF sun protection, and wicks moisture away from skin for comfort.
Fan museum
Running until Sept. 19, 2004, in London’s riverside Greenwich, the exhibition “A Garden of Fans” displays floral motifs on fans from Europe and Asia from the 17th century onward. The Fan Museum, at 12 Crooms Hill, is open Tuesday to Saturday. £3.50 adults, £2.50 seniors. Phone 020 8305 1441 or visit www.fan-museum.org.
Jewel of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International has a new ship, Jewel of the Seas, the fourth and final ship in the line’s Radiance class.
Amphibious limos in London
For some of its Upper Class passengers traveling to and from London’s Heathrow airport, Virgin Atlantic in late summer 2004 plans to start offering Gibbs Aquada amphibious limo service.
Royal Opera tickets
Some of the best seats at London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, will cost just £10 (near $18.40) for the 2004-2005 season, thanks to a sponsorship deal with Travelex. One hundred top-price stalls and stalls circle tickets will be made available every Monday, 1½ hours before a performance.
Buy four nights, get eight in Nevis
Through Nov. 30, 2004, those booking Mount Nevis Hotel’s “Match Made in Nevis” family package at $375 a night for four nights get four more nights for free. Families who stay and pay for five nights get an additional five nights for free.
Bird observatory in Korea
The delta of the Geumgang River is one of Korea’s main breeding grounds for migratory birds. Just opened there in the Seongdeok-ri, Seongsan-myeon, Gunsan-si, area is the Geumgang Migratory Bird Observatory (phone 82-63450-6273).