Travel Briefs

Zimbabwe switched to using the US dollar as its currency in 2009 and now is experiencing a coin shortage. Coins are too heavy to ship in economically and currently are too difficult for the Zimbabwe government to mint. The shortage means that shop customers often must purchase extra items to round up a purchase, a burden to some.

South African rands and Botswana pulas also are legal tender, but their values fluctuate greatly, making calculations troublesome. Some stores offer paper scrip to be redeemed later.

After 32 years, Air Zimbabwe ceased flying in March due to financial problems. A debt of over $150 million, labor strikes and aging planes all played parts. The airline may close completely or be purchased by another airline. The airline never had a major air disaster. Other international airlines continue to service Harare.

The final steps in the merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines took place on March 2, 2012, as the last Continental flight landed, the remaining “Continental” signs at airports were removed, its separate ticket counters closed, the “CO” code stopped being printed on tickets, both airlines’ passenger reservation systems were combined, frequent-flyer programs were combined and the old website went dark.

In April, the European Union Parliament ratified an agreement with the United States on the sharing of EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) information with US authorities.

What looks simply like a series of concrete steps descending into the Adriatic Sea at Zadar, Croatia, is actually a pipe organ that is played by the waves and wind. Located in the city’s Riva section, along Istarska Obala street, the 230-foot-long Sea Organ (morske orgulje) incorporates seven groups of five polyurethane pipes tuned to two chords and opening onto the sidewalk. There is no cost to visit.

At Baird Bay in South Australia, you can swim with sea lions in their wild habitat.

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.

€7.50 ($10) adult, €6.50 senior. Gift shop, restaurant. The Zeppelin Museum (Seestraße 22, D-88045 Friedrichshafen, Germany; phone +49 7541 3801 0, fax 3801 81).

Several of these six heritage cities in Britain have regular “ghost walks,” taking visitors to haunted places: Bath, Brighton, Chester, Edinburgh, Stratford-upon-Avon and York. York offers ghostly walks every night, while in Edinburgh Mercat Tours searches for body snatchers. Visit www.haunted-britain.com or www.heritagecities.co.uk.

Go Pedal is a service supplying bikes to guests of any hotel in London. The simple hybrid bikes come with locks, helmets, maps and touring advice. Rental costs about £20 (near $39) per day (more for just one bike), including delivery and collection. Call 07850 796320, www.gopedal.co.uk.

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. There are well-marked bike paths throughout Helsinki and in scenic districts such as Töölö Bay. Visit www.hel.fi/hkl.