French national train operator SNCF discovered in May that 2,000 new trains it had ordered were built about 7½ inches wider than the older trains, making them too wide for some stations. SNCF had been given station dimensions from France’s rail operator, RFF, which had neglected to measure stations built more than 50 years ago.
In May, the city of Palma on the Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca), in the Mediterranean, enacted laws requiring that appropriate clothing be worn in public areas. Men and women caught wearing swimwear around town or going shirtless will be assessed fines of €50 to €200 (near $68-$272). The areas where fines can be given do not include the beaches, boardwalks or adjoining streets, where swimwear will still be considered appropriate.
The ordinances have also banned drinking on the streets.
In February, the US and Chilean governments reached an agreement to ease travel between the two countries, and the US designated Chile a member of its Visa Waiver Program. As of May, Chilean nationals can travel to the US without a visa, and US travelers are no longer being charged a “reciprocity fee” of $160 to enter Chile.
Near the birthplace of conservationist John Muir in East Lothian, Scotland, the trail John Muir Way opened in April.
From Helensburgh in the east to Muir’s birthplace of Dunbar in the west, the route is 134 miles long and takes seven to ten days to walk in its entirety. The trail is divided into ten sections, and the website has listings of hotels, campsites and attractions for each part. For maps, call 0845 370 0067.
On the coast of Hengquin Island, a 15-minute drive from Macau, the ecological theme park and hotel Hengqin Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Fuxiang Bay, Hengqin New District, Zhuhai City, Guangdong 519031, People’s Rep. of China; phone +86 756 299 8888) opened in January.
The park is separated into eight areas, Ocean Main Street, Dolphin Cove, Amazing Amazon, Ocean Wonders, Polar Adventure, Colorful World, Mount Walrus and Hengqin Sea.
Visitors to the Caribbean island of St. Kitts may ride on the narrow-gauge St. Kitts Scenic Railway (phone, from the US, 869/465-7263), built 1912-1926 to carry sugarcane from fields to mill, that is part of a 30-mile loop around the island.
The website VeggieHotels (phone +49 30 3680 29 29) has listings of more than 500 vegetarian and vegan hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in more than 60 countries. Hotels listed must serve no meat or fish.
Selections range from the hostel Dharma in Croatia, with singles for HRK135 (near $24) and doubles for HRK185 ($33), to Lancrigg Vegetarian Country House Hotel in England’s Lake District, at £79-£140 ($132-$221) per night for a double.
“Animals of the Serengeti,” by safari guides Adam Scott Kennedy and Vicki Kennedy, provides information on animal behavior and includes photos of more than 70 mammals and 18 reptile species likely to be seen in Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania.
“Birds of the Serengeti,” by Adam Scott Kennedy, has pictures of 270 species of birds in the park and Lake Victoria’s Speke Gulf and is written to make it easy to identify any species.
“The Valencia Paella Project — Foodie Mini Break,” a 3-night package to Valencia, Spain, the home of paella, is offered by The Spanish Thyme Traveller (phone +34 96 225 41 48).
Participants will visit a winery, taste typical Valencia cuisine and learn from chefs how to craft paella and tapas.
The tour costs €650 (near $900) per person, double occupancy (single supplement, €110), and includes boutique hotel accommodations, breakfasts, two lunches, wine and guide.
Opened in April 2014, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, at 375 feet the tallest sculpture in the UK, is located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (Stratford London; phone +44 0 333 800 8099), a 10-minute walk from London’s Stratford Tube station.
The tower’s unique design includes a complex structure resembling a roller-coaster track wrapping around it, and from either of two observation decks within it (£15, near $21), visitors can take in views of the adjacent Olympic stadium and the skyline of London.