Travel Tips

Diving with sharks on Mallorca Palma de Mallorca - Holidaymakers on the Balearic island of Mallorca now have the opportunity to get closer to sharks with the start of diving trips at the Palma Aquarium.

Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday visitors can get a better view of the aquarium’s sharks - as long as they have an internationally recognised scuba diving license.

Dives take place in the company of one of the aquarium’s curators in a 33-metre long, 25-metre wide and 8.5-metre deep tank.

According to the aquarium’s management, it’s the largest and deepest tank of its kind in Europe.

Teenagers and children under 18 years need the written permission from their parents.

Each dive costs 200 euros (314 dollars) including an all-day pass to the aquarium for the diver and two other persons.

Diving equipment is also included along with a video introduction explaining how to behave with the sharks under water.

For more information, check the internet website: www.palmaaquarium.com —

Poland reopens section of the Way of St James =

Berlin - Poland has just completed renovation work on a section of the Way of St James that is now open to hikers.

The 230-kilometre stretch of what is known as the Lebus Way of St James goes from Murowana Goslina near Posen to the German border at Frankfurt-Oder, according to the Polish tourist office in Berlin.

On the other side of the frontier the way continues onwards towards Berlin.

During the Middle Ages, pilgrims from all over Europe travelled the Way of St James to the grave of the apostle James in Santiago de Compostella in north-western Spain.

Several of these paths lead through Poland and have been rediscovered in recent times. A description of the most important routes through Poland can be found online at www.camino.net.pl in several languages. —

Oslo’s urban nature reserves =

Oslo - The flora and fauna in the Oslo region and 37 surrounding areas are now officially protected, according to the national tourist office.

Some of the protected species are in Oslo itself including the Oslo Fjord and the government district of Akershus.

There are a total of five square kilometres of nature reserve with 78 different protected kinds of trees and plants.

These areas also happen to be the most densely populated in the country. One of the latest areas to come under official protection includes a field with pre-historic rock drawings.

Internet: www.regjeringen.no —

Germany’s Hanse Sail attracts 250 vessels =

Hamburg - Tall ships, yachts and old steamers will be on display at the Hanse Sail event on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast in early August.

From August 7 to 10, around 250 ships from allover the world will take to the waters off the port city of Rostock. Hanse Sail is the second biggest nautical event in Germany after the Kiel Week Sailing Regatta.

Hanse Sail will be kicked off with a formation of vessels in the harbours at Warnemuende and Rostock.

Attending Hanse Sail for the first time is the Dutch clipper Stad Amsterdam and the Swedish brigantine Baltic Beauty. Organisers expect about 1 million people to flock to Hanse Sail.

Internet: www.hansesail.com, www.rostock.de