On June 1, Bulgaria expanded its ban on smoking in public to include school courtyards, playgrounds, cinemas, restaurants, bars and cafés. Since 2005, smoking had been banned in government buildings, schools and airports and on public transportation.
Fines for smokers breaking the law run BGN300-BGN500 ($192-$320), and business owners face fines of up to BGN5,000 for the first offense, increasing to BGN10,000 for further violations.
ITN reported that the new Willy Brandt Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) would open on June 3 (June ’12, pg. 68). Because German authorities are concerned about fire-safety systems, the opening has been delayed until March 2013.
In April, in response to noise complaints, Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) imposed a curfew on all flights between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., in accordance with a ruling by the Federal Administrative Court in Germany. The court also reduced from 150 to 133 the number of flights allowed in the “shoulder hours.” The airport is the second busiest in Europe for cargo traffic, and this will negatively affect many firms that depend on night deliveries.
LAN Airlines (Chile) and TAM Airlines (Brazil) merged in June to form LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (Santiago, Chile). It will service 150 destinations in 22 countries. Frequent-flyer programs will continue and be shared.
Switzerland’s Preda-Bergün toboggan run is the longest in Europe that is illuminated for nighttime use; you can sled until 11:30 p.m. The 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) course begins in Preda and drops 400 meters (1,300 feet). Average run time is half an hour (fastest record is five minutes).
Visitors take a narrow-gauge train from Bergün to reach the head of the run in Preda. A single-run ticket costs CHF13 (near $13) for an adult or CHF6.6 for a child (12-17). A half-day ticket costs CHF26 for an adult, with a full-day ticket costing CHF36 for an adult or CHF18 for a child.
In honor of Queen Elizabeth II — on the occasion of her 60th year since ascending to the throne — the tower in London’s Palace of Westminster that houses Big Ben (which is the name of the Great Bell inside the 4-faced clock atop the Clock Tower) has been renamed the Elizabeth Tower by the House of Commons.
The first bluegrass festival cruise, “Mountain Song at Sea,” is being offered aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky, Feb. 1-4, 2013. On a sailing from Miami to Grand Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, artists will include the Dave Grisman Sextet, Peter Rowan, the Steep Canyon Rangers and more.
Cabins for the three nights cost $398 for an inside cabin, quad, up to $1,795, penthouse. Specifically contact Sixthman (877/379-9189).
The preparation of blowfish, or puffer fish, must be done carefully, as certain parts contain a deadly neurotoxin. In Tokyo, laws coming into effect in October will allow restaurants each to serve blowfish without a license to do so. Officials noted that outside of Tokyo, where restrictions on serving blowfish have been less stringent, very few poisonings have occurred. Within Tokyo, the licensing requirement had led to blowfish being served mainly in expensive, high-end restaurants.
The completion of the interior of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, in 2010 increased the number of people visiting the church by over 40% to more than 3.2 million in 2011. After a review of the traffic congestion, the city council set up an exclusion zone for group-tour buses around the church. Except for school buses and buses for mobility-impaired groups with reservations made at the Sagrada Familia ticket office, all tour buses must park at least five blocks away.
In Travemunde, north of Lübeck, Germany, 70 sand sculptors will use over 70,000 tons of sand to create sand castle masterpieces at a beach festival, July 9-Aug. 22, 2004. In fact, 2-hour workshops in sand sculpting will be held twice a day, Monday through Friday.
Sand World itself is open until Sept. 5. Entry costs €6 adults and €3 children five to 11.