The history behind the building in our November mystery photo — located in Helsingør, Denmark — began in the 1420s, when Denmark's King Eric VII chose that spot to build a stronghold known as Krogen ("The Hook"). Over a century later, in 1574, King Frederick II transformed it into a Renaissance castle that was eventually named Kronborg Castle. Following a fire in 1629, the castle was reconstructed in the same style.
Located in northern Norway, over 215 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the city of Tromsø, is a landmark known as the Arctic Cathedral, also called Tromsdalen Church. Completed and consecrated in 1965, the church — shown in our October mystery photo — was built with cast-in-place aluminum-coated concrete panels that were based on a design by architect Jan Inge Hovig.
When I'm not in Europe, I like to recall my favorite meals on the road. I especially love the way Italians enjoy their food.
In an onsen (hot spring) resort area two hours north of Tokyo, Japan, visitors can book a ride on the steam locomotive SL Taiju.
SL Taiju travels from Shimo-Imaichi station (accessible by train via Tokyo’s Asakusa station) 35 minutes to the Kinugawa-Onsen station, with a stop at Tobu World Square, a theme park featuring scale models of worldwide attractions. During the journey, attendants dressed in traditional Japanese clothing hand out tourist info and travel advice.
At Dollar Canyon, 45 minutes from Edinburgh in southern Scotland, visitors can take a 3-hour canyoning course with The Canyoning Company (Perthshire, Scotland, UK; phone +44 7725 813 729, thecanyoningcompany.co.uk).
For vaccinated travelers only, Royal Caribbean International (866/562-7625, www.royalcaribbean.com) is offering preboarding rapid COVID-19 antigen tests at select US ports: Miami, Canaveral and Tampa Bay in Florida as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Royal Caribbean requires a negative antigen or PCR test taken within 48 hours in order to board.)
The US opened its land and water crossings along the Mexico and Canada borders to vaccinated foreign travelers, regardless of their countries of origin, on Nov. 8. The borders had been closed to all foreigners except essential workers since March 2020. US citizens and permanent residents had been allowed to cross back into the US with proof of a negative COVID test during the border closure.
