Brutalo Wellness in plastic slippers.

Sweating in Sulfur: For some inexperienced visitors is to visit in a real Turkish hamam only partially a pleasure. Lutz Jäkel could soak, boil, knead and Peelen - and survived to them to report.
  When the Ottoman sultans would have heard! Shaken would it! Only one time should be Louis XIV in its 65-year life have washed. Pfui Deibele! But no matter whether they knew it or not, then, that the Sun King was so afraid of water: The hygienic conditions in European courts of the Middle Ages were the Orientals, with its magnificent palaces Hamams equips, anyway Graus. The Prophet Muhammad has made his faithful: Intensive personal care is one of the Reinlichkeitsgeboten of Islam. And not in the broth, as the Europeans have always been in his bathroom to enjoy maintains, but with running water.
The city of Bursa was already in antiquity because of the fresh climate, water wealth of the rich and famous vegetation. Sulfur and iron-thermal sources of the district had already Cekirge skin rashes and pimples to the Roman Emperor disappear. Until now swears on the healing power of these baths. Therefore, Bursa as the capital of the Turkish Hamam (spoken with a length on the "a", ie Hamaam) and skin pulls Geplagte from all over the country.
The "Yeni Kaplica", the "New hot spring", is one of the oldest Hamams the city. Grand Rüstem Pasha had this bath middle of the 16th Century for his father build the famous Suleyman the Magnificent, Sultan those who first Ottoman captain to beat the gates of Vienna. We know nobody opened it.
Together with his architect Sinan Süleyman gave so much pomp buildings in order. If one, however, the facilities, so visitors receive the neon lights and plastic chairs, Sultan atmosphere makes you different from before. Well, grand behavior is also a long time ago.
Plastic slipper against aquaplaning
TURKEY-QUIZ [M] AP, DPA, blogs ONLINE They are more often than in the Hamam in the Finnish sauna, drink more coffee than espresso and have a döner subscription? And you think, so well equipped for a vacation in Turkey to be? Test your knowledge in blogs ONLINE Reisequiz! Plastic Speaking after the old wooden slipper repeatedly slipped bathers, there are now against the Hamam Aquaplaning plastic slippers , arguably the worst nightmare of every German would Hautarzt. But they fulfill their purpose.
At the reception with the obligatory portrait of Ataturk paid one of his Obulus converted four EUR, including all-round massage Abschrubb wellness deposit. Then come the valuables in a Holzschatullchen that the reception closes champion, he binds the key to the guest about the wrist.
The cabin, the man assigned to get is plastic-free, namely holzvertäfelt and more convenient than an indoor pool locker. Again, the belongings in a small chest closed, we have slides on the plastic with a slipper and elegantly tied around the hips in the holy linen cloth, kuppelüberwölbten halls. The air feuchtheißen swaths can imagine, representing an inside imminent.
"My skin fungus has capitulated"
The Hamams of Bursa, however, because of its thermal effect is a special feature. While you are in traditional steam baths in the Göbek Taschi the "heel stone" in the middle, and the impurities ausschwitzt, glides in Bursa in the hot sulphurous water.
Like Nizamettin, with verschrumpelten fingers in the steaming water relaxed, as it makes the heat of about 50 degrees from nothing. Amusedly he observed how the inexperienced foreigners recovered with abdominal and facial schmerzverzerrtem slowly, slowly gaanz into hot water slides. Quick rötet the skin, the air is thin, but yes, it's all for health, against the shed, blackheads and blemishes.
Nizamettin is extra from Muschalle arrived in eastern Turkey, as air and water, his lungs will relieve symptoms. "I've tried everything," says the 51-year-old, "Now our village has my doctor prescribed this treatment." And? "But, but, even better."
The old man who sits next to him, lives a few blocks away from the bathroom. "I come every day and put me two to three hours in the water. My skin fungus has capitulated," he says.
Farewell to the top layer of skin
Thus, the bathers relaxed and partly exhausted in the water or on the ground, the clapping of the slipper and Geplätscher water resonates in the individual domes resist and lose as a weak response in the small niches. There, waiting on the Tellak visitors. He called the lifeguards, torturer would be a more appropriate name.
With his rough cotton glove, the Kese, scrubbing it so martialisch on the skin that many of those in the form of small brown beads and rolls adopted and swirls through the air. Now tilt the master liter gel into a vast cotton bag, blow into it a few times and lets the offenders in a cloud of soap disappear, after the torture-Kese very relaxing effect. Carrot and stick.
Finally Tellak pours the plastic bowls of water masses over the reddened skin? hot for Hartgesottene (ie Turks), cool for weaklings (ie foreigners). Finally, in the skinned awaited released. As an intermediate course will be on the warm soil, sweat pleasurably to himself, and pour off water and about himself.
Massage as a frontier experience
Who but the all-round carefree program has chosen, is himself to blame. Indeed, as the conclusion of the wet torture still waiting Metin, the masseur. "Do not worry," he reassured. "I do this for 15 years. So far nobody has broken bones." Reassuring.
He pulls on the arms and legs, kneads feet and hands, scrubbing with his fist on the back, it cracks and crashes, you feel bones and muscles, which you do not even know that it has. And the Turks do that on every visit to voluntarily? "No," says Metin. "This was just the gentle tour. Turks like it harder."
Loose, verschrumpelt, durchgeknetet, but happy slain man slides back into the foyer, dresses in new linen and towels are yellow, sits on the yellow plastic chairs, and refreshed in a glass of tea or a cool ayran, the classic Joghurtgetränkt with much salt, which is sweating after many good use for.
Satisfied with the satisfaction to have survived, you pay an additional Obolus as a gratuity and will be with the traditional farewell "Güle güle kirlen" sacked "Will dirty laughing again!" Louis XIV is certainly a lot of laughter.

The Emperor's sunken fleet.

Dive into the past: Before the Scottish Orkney Islands are still remnants of the Imperial fleet in the deep seabed. The icy waters of Scapa Flow is a paradise for divers wreck? Deep, cold and darkness, however, are not for beginners.
  Bulky double tanks, buoyancy strong Jackets, oxygen bottles for decompression - and hanging on hangers drying Wetsuits: The deck of the motor ship "Loyal mediator" is fully covered by the equipment of the wreck diving shows. "Dives in Scapa Flow are not for beginners," says Horst Dederichs. "The warships are some fairly deep, the water is just nine degrees warm, and on the edge of the bay can cause dangerous currents come."

The 39-year-old historian and instructor is one of Europe's leading experts wreck. As the first German succeeded Dederichs in the Irish Sea to the descent in 93 meters depth of the wreck of the "Lusitania." For the authors of several books is Scapa Flow "Europe's most interesting wreck dive site." Nowhere else are so many vessels on such a small area.
The aim of today's dive, the "SMS Markgraf, a 175.40-meter long ship of the battle royal class, the 45 meters in depth headfirst to the ground lies. Slowly can Dederichs previously installed on the line deeper into the dark green water to fall. On his back, he wears a double package tanks, filled with Trimix, a special gas mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and helium.
Both tanks are connected by a bridge, at the two regulators are breathing - a security measure while diving in cold waters: Despite the latest technology can be a breathing regulator freeze and breathing out of the bottle blow off. In such a case, Dederichs block the bridge and on the other lung machines change.
In less than 25 meters depth, peel the first outlines of the steel giants from the diffuse green, shortly after the keel has Dederichs achieved. More than 1100 men once belonged to the crew. Today most live on their crab, bigger than a tennis ball, in the light of the underwater lights scurry like this.
"Like ants on a sleeping whale"
"Warships are due to the heavy superstructure usually upside down or on the side", the TDI (Technical Diving International) instructor told. "If you as a diver on the mighty Hull lands, you'll feel like an ant with a sleeping whale explored." Dederichs glides along the fuselage and is looking for suitable openings for a future invasion.
In light of the strong lamps dissolve radio antenna from the darkness, the crow's nest is to see and one of the many guns board, whose term schreck tube cancer disappears. Otherwise, the maritime life is rather sparse from here? who in Scapa Flow diving goes, does not want to see fish and coral, which is just scrap metal at a fallen era interested.
Suddenly, things are before the wreck divers a hole into the ship's interior on. A big cod flees before invading divers. The fingers of fluorescent lamp Dederichs snatches of darkness further details: rust-brown walls, twisted wires and small handwheels, which no longer mechanic will rotate. And in between - a boot.
The view extends only a few meters away, a false Flossenschlag can be fatal? when over the whole ship is feinstaubige sediment will be raised again, the visibility drops abruptly to zero. It can take hours, until the sediment is then set. Time a diver in this depth does not have.
ON TO ONLINE Mantas blogs before Thailand: Flying Carpet on a collision course (01.12.2008) diving as James Bond: A Quantum lucky (13.11.2008) before diving Bali: Aliens of the Secret Bay (27.10.2008) diving in the Red Sea: from dream Scrap and coral (02.10.2008) Walking in the Cairngorm National Park: Launischer giant (20.10.2008) Photo Series: journey into the past blogs TV: Scapa FlowZur security has Dederichs from the entrance a line shifted to him in an emergency the way back to the light points. Too many wreck divers were already at their hobby their lives? who in the winding inside a giant steel loses the orientation is usually lost.
On 21 June 1919, formally still under German command below, included the "SMS Markgrafentheater" to Wilhelminian oceanic fleet, with 73 other ships and guarded by the British in Scapa Flow was set. On this day distinguished himself in the peace negotiations in Versailles, the effect that the British were not ready, the fleet re-release. In order for the heavily armed colossi the English do not fall into the hands, ordered Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter to the self-absorption.
59 battle ships sank out at his command before the Orkney Islands, a large proportion of them was later salvaged and scrapped. The "Marquis" did not go unpunished: Huge steel plates were from the fuselage and cut their machines secure. The wreck today is reminiscent in many sections of a Swiss cheese? ideal conditions for professional wreck divers as Dederichs.
In the darkness lurks the panic
"The deep penetration into big wrecks with normal scuba diving there is little to do," said Dederichs. "Such materials are often dives battles, when the divers tremendous experience and a corresponding training expertise. Deep, cold, darkness and the closed environment for inexperienced divers produce a quick mental anxiety, which often rise to panic." Feels he ever fear for his dives? "Bottom funktionierst you like a machine. Respect yes, but fear you should not have."
With the experience of several thousand dives Dederichs penetrates deeper into the belly of the ship. It is almost impossible in this monster precisely guided, he says later. Slowly slide the technical divers in the direction of the rear before passing steel shelving, the rust and sea anemones are occupied.
ON THE INTERNETTDI / SDI - training for technical diving scuba diving at the wreck of blogs online is not responsible for the content of external internet Seiten.Während he studied carefully the details, running in his head from a movie: What could have played here? What purpose did the switch on the wall? Who likes to umgestürzten chair once sat, what role he had on board? Wreck diving are also downs in the past, the attempt, the veil of time to air and a time to stand in an era that is long gone.
One issue is the historian no rest: How has it reduced the German occupation 89 years ago under the watchful eyes of the British managed to bring the sinking so generalstabsmäßig prepare? A satisfactory answer to that, he has not found. Not yet.

Orgy party in post-communism.

The Serbs celebrate Christmas on 6 January and New Year on 14 January - but actually delighted each year a whole month is the celebration of atheism liberated country. With a similar effort a wedding ceremony will be next to the Christ Child, the Holy Family, the Slava, revered.
  No holidays, no? An entire celebration charmed months a year from mid-December to mid-January, the Serbian people. Woe to him who in this Orthodox Christian reflection period is a serious treatment of its authorities, or even expected to issue a quick appointment with the dentist.
It is with God's blessing gejubelt, shot and celebrated - albeit initially with fish on the table and if it takes a very strict, even with a remaining menu, each popular diet to feast makes Pasul (white beans) only in boiled water, no fat, no milk, no cheese, Finally, the creator of a several weeks before Lent, the roast suckling pig set. On Christmas Eve, however, the faithful wait until 6 January, at which then not only two, but for three eating and holidays connect.
Christmas-moderate, however, no strict rules set? there is a European tradition: If the tree, which is often calculated according to meter, is too expensive, takes the ax to organize themselves and one. Even the date of Benadelung of the living room is optional. The balls, tinsel and angel hair wrapped jewel is from mid-December, well in use.
Joys and sorrows of Slava Festival
However? nor are the true Christmas joys strenuous days before: 19 December is the "Slava of St. Nicholas, only a few Balkan countries known festival, where each family its own saints, the Slava, is celebrating. And with this ceremony and guest list, which is appropriate with all the wedding celebration of a middle Princely House are comparable. There are strict rules. The son of the revered father of the Slava, the wife to her husband.
Who is invited to Slava, must be based on his own Slava festival invitation with a counter-revenge. Which of the guest list is also from the life of the host divorced. The 19th So December is a day on which you can either celebrate or even to celebrate loaded. The rest? Finally, it takes some voluntarily the sin of the crusher to be fast - lasts just twelve days.
At 31.12. If the missiles in Germany to rise, celebrates the "modern Serbia" with loyalerweise. For the children on that day, paradoxically, a kind of "Santa Claus". The next morning shoes and stockings with nuts, chocolate or other gifts filled. Sometimes appears to Santa Claus in person in costume and beard, he usually leaves the job invisible companions. Of course, follow the modern New Year's party at least two holidays. Their number varies from year to year and will not be too strictly interpreted? Believers enjoy a bonus, the working people celebrating in the operation further.
Already, the Christkind on 6 January preceding the door, and this belief with a ritual, the travel time from the frosty German Christmette away. Surrounded by a sea glowing candles and weihrauchträchtiger air begins to celebrate Christ's birth in the church interior in order to later in the Kirchenhof connected to relocate. Around a fire stimulated the faithful to pray in the late night hours. Each receives a farewell some dry oak branches, the traditional Christmas decorations, either on the door or in the house symbolizes the holiday.
On New Year's is the devil's going on
On the morning of the 7th January is the parent of a fire ignited? it's in the oven in the fireplace or anywhere else. While children and adults around the fireplace and sit with her in the oak wood embers poking be desired, according to the address of the Almighty said: healthy livestock to their own financial well-being. A large, round corn cake with a coin is hidden or a jewelry piece is broken with the hands. On whose plate later cake is the money, which can be a financially successful New Year hope.
Just not too early to begin alcohol abstinence: The New Year is still at the door. Since the communists and atheists Serbia no longer govern, there are still only in Serbia Orthodox patriots. Their New Year's Eve is 13 January. They like it in Belgrade restaurants leichtbetuchten typical turbo-Folksängerinnen, bang, frogs and fireworks at midnight and sporadic shooting from the residential blocks more civilized approach, in some areas of the country's interior on the other hand, the devil is going on.
Villagers, dressed in uniforms Chetniks, on the head mandatory cap Chetniks "Sajkaca" inaugurate the end of the year here in memory of the Second World War, when the Chetniks, the Serbian resistance fighters under the leadership of Draža Mihailović were called, equally against the Germans and Tito's partisans fought. An ox turns on rust, in a huge cauldron will Slivovitz (plum brandy) is heated, and each farmer has his hunting knife in the belt - each copy of lightning and feudalerem handle than the other.
With its own knife to cut each "piece of meat" by the seductive smelling roast, with, on the other side of the belt plug the gun or rifle is umgehängten at midnight geballert that even the gods to ensure the continuity of their heavenly kingdom fear.
The 14th January heralds the New Year become final one. A break is called for, of course, with several rehabilitation phase. Unless someone is celebrating the Holy Jovan as Slava. He is on 20 January.
APFeierorgie in PostkommunismusDie Serbs celebrate Christmas on 6 January and New Year on 14 January - but actually delighted each year a whole month is the celebration of atheism liberated country. From Renate Flottau, Belgrade more ...
Business APBig with tip cap Halloween, Christmas or Valentine's Day - the Chinese celebrate the festivities as they fall. With the Christian religion, the lights shine in the big cities and the giant Christmas tree production nothing to do. By Andreas Lorenz, Beijing more ...
APHakan and UrtürkenLametta and lights everywhere: In Istanbul are also conservative Muslims from the global Christmas mood contagious. Especially as the festival fir eh an invention of the Urtürken is, says the researcher renitente Altertum Muazzez Ilmiye Cig. By Daniel Steinvorth, Istanbul more ...
REUTERS MonstertanneDie flirting with Brazilians have the largest. How could it be otherwise in this country that loves superlatives? Here are the most beautiful women, the best footballers, the longest carnival? and the largest floating Christmas tree in the world. By Jens Glüsing, Rio de Janeiro more ...

"Come to me, sisters !".|| Naples is in the crib important than the Christmas tree - but it will not only adorned with biblical figures. Even politicians, celebrities and priests find their place here, often, however, quite good food presentation.  Behind the head of Lega Nord leader Umberto Bossi is on the dulcimer. In addition, Berlusconi with a golden crown and a broom in his hand. Lüpft right of a monk's robe and exults: "Come to me, sisters!" On the Nativity stand in the Via San Gregorio Armeno in the town of Naples is to eat. "Qui in Vision Pastori dalle mani pullite" - "Here you can see shepherds with clean hands" is about the delivery? an allusion to the criminal investigations of the nineties. Celebrities and politicians are ready for their use in the Christmas crib. Compared waiting on a double Footballer buyers. Even Nicolas Sarkozy, and Barack Obama have already been to the famous street of the Nativity Bauer managed. And a few meters away is ! a huge Puppenstube insight into the daily lives of the Neapolitans in the 18th Century. Bakers push their pizza in the oven, market women offer their vegetables, and a farmer pumping water from the wells. The Nativity scene in Naples has an important role as the Christmas tree. Finally, the Neapolitans as the inventor of the "Nativity figures." Was originally to the portrayal of the Holy Family, later came increasingly painted terracotta figures of donkeys, goats and sheep to do so. In the second half of the 16th Century, the first members of dolls made of wood, moving their arms and legs allows the characters in a variety of ways. Their heyday enjoyed the nativity art under the Bourbon King Charles III. in 18th Century. His crib, several palace rooms filled it. Well were also depicted everyday scenes and landscape pictures. The Krippenbau was a popular hobby of nobles. "The princesses sewed some gorgeous clothes, the King determines the list," says Laura Vigilante guid! e. Blanks for the hobby handymen Today is the Christmas cr! ib at th

"Iceland is the latest craze."

Iceland has been no popular winter destination - Nearly bankrupt state and a more favorable exchange rate, however, mean the small country near the Arctic Circle a visitor record. Nightlife, geysers and hot pools delight mainly U.S. tourists.
  Reykjavik - Already at the international airport make the Icelanders from her great distress as a virtue. "Are you because of the nature or because of the exchange rate here?", Says on an advertising board. It should be because of low prices and not be ashamed before the start of the holiday but ask nicely in the duty-free shop oneself.

Americans, Britons, Danes and Germans themselves especially when beer cans, which are cheaper by half than in the rest of the country. Since Iceland was facing bankruptcy and the crown by nearly 70 percent on the euro has fallen, holiday here is cheap as ever - even if prices slow to pick up again. Compared with November 2007, last month 2.6 percent more tourists visited the country.
"The number is expected but still far higher, because even now the lack of foreign workers have become less and businessmen in the tourism figures are included," says Maria Reynisdottir from the tourism office in the capital, Reykjavik. In November it had 40 percent more discussions in the offices where tourism. So far this year were 450,000 tourists - a record.
"Tourism is in crisis very important for our economy, in order to get foreign currency, but also for our image," she says. And the foreigners buy heavily, which the number of tax refunds for tourists occupied. For purchases over 4.0070 Icelandic krona (about 25 euros), there are 15 percent tax back. The leading refund Iceland in November Refund paid 271 percent more taxes than in the previous same month last year.
U.S. tourist: "The nightlife is the madness"
Most taxi drivers in Reykjavik benefit these days, as well as hotel and guesthouse owners of the crisis: "For me it is very good times," says one of the drivers. In the U.S., Iceland as new low-cost travel destination on everyone's lips. Even though the prices for a simple dinner in mid-December already converted at ten euros are included in Reykjavik and environs for this season unusually encountered many Americans, from one crisis to another country rüberjetten.
ON-LINE TO blogs photo line: Beautiful Iceland - Why travel lohntGeysir duel: Iceland v Andernach (03.12.2008) New cheap holiday destination Iceland: locational advantage national bankruptcy (21.10.2008) Penis Museum in Iceland: Who has the biggest? (08.09.2008) Westfjords Islands: Symphony of the water (13.08.2008) stroll in Reykjavik harbor: What eats Iceland? (10.07.2008) One of them is Kim Shaw. After hours, it is with four girlfriends at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport and driven 5.5 hours after flight landed in Iceland. "It's a cheap deal" ( "It's a cheap thing"), calls the blonde fashion designer, while the completion of their dreieinhalbtägigen trips in the Blue Lagoon planscht. Shaw has to travel with flight and hotel paid 635 U.S. dollars. "You can not get leave, and if there are such offers, you have access despite crisis."
In the 42 degrees Celsius warm milky-blue Heilsee, the number one tourist attraction, between the black lava stone in the middle of a snow-and ice-scenery is, it is relaxed about the crisis chat. "What we are connecting with the Icelanders, our optimism," says the 26-year-old New Yorker Shaw. "Iceland is just the latest craze," she says. The country in which it blubbert everywhere, and steaming geysers shoot into the air was a bit like Utopia. "And since the arrival we have not slept, the night life is madness."
David Heinziger is the Blue Lagoon not miss, he works in New York's Fifth Avenue in tourism advertising. "Cheap holiday in Iceland in the media is just a big issue, so there is a rush to package deals with hotel and flight." The 320,000 inhabitants of the island was daring operations of the money houses almost come into the abyss.
Price out of gratitude
Through the nationalization of banks and with the help of foreign loans amounting to around ten billion dollars, the state government a bust just yet as to avert. As the billions of credit among others by the International Monetary Fund - was approved, it lowered the airline Icelandair "out of gratitude" prices for flights from Germany a flat rate of 25 percent.
Because of the fast-bankruptcy were also hundreds of press representatives who contributed their part, tourism in the winter unexpected growth rates to mean: Since the television crew from Taiwan, the backgrounds of the crisis reported in the country, where the cola at the kiosk to for the taxi ride everything is paid by credit card.
Or the American magazine journalist who hitchhike around the island, to the Icelanders always the same question: "Are you happy? -" Are you happy? "Finally, Icelanders, according to the European Happy Planet Index" the happiest Europeans . The question now is whether this is the face of an impending economic slump by almost ten percent and sharply rising unemployment is still so.

Hüllenlos through the resin.

Nudist hiking shoes in - an idea is through: Since the idea of a nude path in the world, more and more enthusiastic Harzer for its establishment. Including the Bügermeisterin of Wippra - because there are a lot of beautiful forest, but no tourists.
  Magdeburg - Hüllenlos through the idyllic Wippertal: The idea of a nude official trail in the resin is heated in the cool winter in the minds of Germany's most northern highlands. From "nonsense" to "public relations gimmick" of the reactions to the discussion, originally from the Harz Transport Association HVV come. This holds now in this matter rather subtly back.
In the two small villages Herzberg and Wippra in the south of Saxony-Anhalt germinate nevertheless hopes for a revival of its tourist region with maximum hat, backpack and hiking shoes clothed.
At the forefront of the movement naked walking want but also the mayors of the two places do not set the HVV with the idea initially in connection had brought. "I have just mentioned that we have in a community forest area free naturist area," says Gerhard Herzberg Mayor Walter.
If someone had interest, because he has the lead. But a naked trail near the small town in southern Lower Saxony residence? Totally against the idea wants to head the city does not provide. "I'm not a preventer, Herzberg is still 'the Esperanto-city'," he says. "I'm not one who goes forward and says, I go walking naked."
"As long as I did not go ahead"
Even Wippras Mayor Monika Handley would be a naked no trail in the then probably expected to inaugurate dress code. They responded initially surprised and amused at the news that their resort such a tour should plan. But the numerous purchases and inquiries - "I was downright bombarded with calls" - they could aufhorchen.
Goldberg discussed the matter first with the council, which is not generally rejected. The mayor himself says that it was "for any wickedness to have, as long as I nude hikers should not go ahead." She now wants details with Heinz Ludwig in the not far distant from Wippra Dankerode discuss. The landlord and campsite operators in that "quiet, beautiful place, but far away from the shot," enthused from the outset for the idea of a nude trail, "because there is no such thing in Germany do not exist."
A number of people and groups wanted to be happy hüllenlos hike, says Ludwig. The idyllic landscape Wippertal to offer for a specific route, the trailer on the free body culture then would be almost under. Because here there are a lot of beautiful forest, but few tourists.
18 km nudist hiking pleasure
Innkeeper Ludwig and Mayor Rauhut want to before Christmas together and discuss whether and how to have a naturist trail between Dankerode and Wippra ausschildern can - past the dam dump in the ever is also bathed naked. Six kilometers from Dankerode up to the dam, then again three to Wippra there and back - they did so 18 km walking naked pleasure to offer.
Of course should naturist trail sign no prohibition sign for walkers dressed, as at a beach nudism Ausziehzwang not even exist, emphasize both. What are the legal things but what exactly needs and bureaucratic hurdles may be overcome, white Monika Rauhut yet. Ludwig would be at his campsite a guarded parking lot and perhaps even set up Safe, "because somewhere so people have to leave their things."
Whether now for next season in the resin officially on a specially designated route can be wandered naked, "I will not promise, but I am good hope," says the restaurateur.
Naked wandered in Germany, moreover, has long been, individually or in groups, and mostly in remote areas. The origins go at the beginning of the 20th Century. Then began supporters of the free body culture, sporting activities outdoors on clothes to renounce to nature, sun and wind-free and pure experience and feel them.

Tour operators get stranded tourists home.

Approximately 90,000 travelers from all over the world hang in Bangkok since Wednesday finds. On Saturday begin the German tour operators, their customers back. A first charter machine, the guests begin in Phuket.
  Bangkok / Berlin - Due to the blockade of the two airports in Bangkok by government opponents, tens of thousands of travelers are sitting firmly in Thailand. "Estimates were around 90,000 passengers between Wednesday and Thursday not to leave Thailand," said Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat on Friday after a crisis meeting with airlines. In the next two or three days should be divided into four hotels in Bangkok set up information centers, where travelers could transfer flights.

Even thousands of German tourists are affected by the closures. The tour operator TUI, Thomas Cook and DERTOUR / Meier 's World Travel in the coming days their customers at home, told the German Travel Association (DRV) in Berlin. The local customers would benefit from the trip wires of the respective organizers and cared about the exact departure times in the next few days informed.
Like Meier's World Travel and DERTOUR jointly declared that launched two charter pilots of the two companies on Thursday of Phuket and U-Tapaoh near Pattaya from Germany. The first machine with 118 tourists on board was already in Frankfurt landed, the second machine will be on Friday evening with 95 tourists on board in Dusseldorf expected. More 660 guests should still be on again this weekend in Germany to land.
Also, the travel group Thomas Cook brought his finds in Bangkok seated customers on the road after Phuket. 74 travelers should still there on Friday evening with Thai Airways will be flown to Germany. More tourists should return Saturday morning to muster. Thomas Cook announced orders all travel to Bangkok until Monday. The affected customers will receive their money back or can transfer free of charge.
With two special flights will travel group TUI about 250 of its customers back from Phuket, told the company in Berlin. The same number of seats put it the other German organizers are available. The first machine of the Dutch charter TUI ArkeFly subsidiary of Boeing 767-300 is already on its way from Amsterdam to Phuket. There, the guests on the plane, which is currently in Bangkok with coaches on the island located southeast of Thailand market.
INFORMATION FOR REISENDEDas Foreign Office offers under the 030 hotline - 5000 600 601 holidaymakers constantly updated information about the unrest in Thailand. Information about the right to free cancellation of trips to Bangkok, see hier.Das aircraft will return, according to TUI on Saturday noon and arrive in Germany after a few hours with new crew returned to Phuket burst to fetch the other vacationers. For guests outside Thailand rear with planned trips through Bangkok, such as Vietnam or Cambodia, were examined alternative flights.
TUI has also arrivals to Thailand via Bangkok until next Monday canceled. It affects approximately 100 customers, the charge can transfer or cancel. Direct flights to Phuket are not affected.
Tourists were also in small groups from the military U-Tapao Airport 190 kilometers southeast of Bangkok suspect, said a representative of the Thai aviation authority. Per day there could be 48 flights, said the tourism minister.
Lufthansa launches flights to Phuket to
Because of the unrest also directs their Lufthansa flights continue in the resort of Phuket to. The planned for Thursday evening machine from Frankfurt to Bangkok is only started on Friday morning and will land in Phuket, as a spokesman announced in Frankfurt. From there, guests can then use buses in the Thai capital continue. Also planned for Friday evening flight from Frankfurt to Bangkok has been postponed. He is now on Saturday morning after Phuket go
The international airport Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang National Airport were under occupation by supporters of the regierungsfeindlichen People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have been closed. The closed since Tuesday evening Suvarnabhumi Airport, on the other day up to 70,000 passengers, should, according to the authorities remain closed until Saturday. Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat the state of emergency imposed on the two airports.

Suurhusen against pisa.

In Pisa comparison, Germany is ranked one. At least when it comes to crooked towers goes. For the community in East Friesland Suurhusen meant an entry in the Guinness Book of Records - is still the popular Campanile in Pisa.
  Getty Images; Helmut Mudd
Leaning Tower of Pisa tower of SuurhusenWas? The Campanile of Pisa is the famous Leaning Tower of the World with an inclination of 3.97 Grad.Was? According to the Guinness Book Leaning Tower of the World with an inclination of 5.19 Grad.Wo In Pisa, Tuscany , About 90,000 Einwohner.Wo In Suurhusen, Ostfriesland, approximately 1200 Einwohner.Zieht tourists because: ... The UNESCO World Heritage Carrara marble on one of the most beautiful places in the world and to defy gravity scheint.Zieht tourists because: ... Although he is only half as high as his Tuscan rival, but slate. More than 10,000 visitors come every Jahr.Liebesgrüße from Suurhusen: "I ask you! Pisa! Long out of the race." Frank Wessels, pastor of the evangelical community Suurhusen.Liebesgrüße from Pisa: "You have a tower with more than 5 degrees inclination? Then he collapses soon." Poalo FONTANELLI, Mayor of Pisa. Risks and side effects? The danger of collapse should now be banned. For more than 26 million !
euros was the tower by a few centimeters geradegerückt.Risiken and side effects? A little thrill remains - although the foundation with concrete and steel has been stabilized, enlarged the overhang from 1996 to 2007 by four centimeters. Whom do you here? So-called Pisa losers, which are tourists from all over the world, the middle of the Piazza dei Miracoli in strange poses the arms of stretch. On the photo looks then, as they would the tower stützen.Wen meet you here? Sprightly pensioner. As the ground in the seventies, the ailing tower ruins wanted to leave, attacked a group of senior citizens themselves to the mold and rescued today's landmarks. Why go now? In winter onslaught of tourists not so groß.Warum go now? Because he still stands.
THE DUELLIn the heading "The Duel" SPIEGEL ONLINE regularly compares a German and an internationally known tourist attraction. Muster in the future, among other things: Babelsberg against Hollywood, surfing in Munich against surfing in Hawaii and the Berlin Wall against the Chinese Wall.

The last sows from St. Moritz.

Waste recycling in Nobelort: What the caviar treat guests in the luxury restaurant leave, feed a pig to his host animals. In St. Moritz, he is the last in this job - out of consideration for the sensitive noses of the tourists.
  "The fact that the race must always so." Danco Motti shaking his head and turns from the kitchen window. The little house with its two related scales and the big back a little stall is located in the ski resort Corviglia. The farmer is impatient. Today he delivered one hundred pigs.
He is the only one of these animals in St. Moritz may still hold. Too much bite them as guests in the nose. Actually, he has no time to lose. Until the arrival of his sows remain only a few hours. But it applies only to cows and horses to provide.
On the doorstep he slips into the boots. On the peaks is a red fireball. Motti keep the nose in the cool evening air and sighs quietly. The day is soon to. There will be a freezing night type. Slowly returns on the mountain on a quiet St. Moritz. Also, the last skier to have their sills Talabfahrt under taken. The railways are silent, the lights are erased, the ski area empties itself. The life has shifted to the heat.
In the Unique Hotel "Laudinella" sound of champagne glasses, wine goblets are expertly waved, deep red lips sipping on drinks and smile flattered. Day and fur coat are stored. Skidress against lightweight clothing bartered. In pigsty silence reigns. Through the ceiling can be weak milling Kuhmäulern and the soft rattling of chains hear. Here comes down to nothing. It's cool. The door is open. Danco Motti loosens pressed bales of straw and circulated it on the bare concrete floor. A mouse huscht over.
Nobel-rearing at the hotel
Here on the upper Alpina, 2000 meters above sea level and just above that of St. Moritz district in which the richest in the world their villas in the hillside have stuck, he prepares his pigs the neighborhood. In the dining room of the buffet restaurants rattle shiny silver cutlery. It blogs many small ceiling lamps and candles on the white covered tables reflect a starry sky equal. On the buffet groomed hands move skillfully between lettuce leaves, salmon and vegetable bouquets installments. Fragender a glance, of course, there is caviar, please excuse.
A truck creeps from the village up the street. On the brightly lit "Suvretta House," he turns right into the forest. He snarls and schnauft. Meter for meter, he works along the Via Alpina up to the ski area. A pale moon is at the sky and plunges the snowy landscape in its pale light. But the driver has no eyes for him. He needs to concentrate on the road. Finally, hundreds of pigs loaded.
FOUND IN ... Alpine - The Mountain magazine edition 9/2008InhaltsverzeichnisHeft bestellenwww.alpin.deDie guests have the St. Moritz nightlife turned. In the empty dining room hangs the scent of food, coffee and cigars in the air. Officials rush between the orphaned tables back and forth. It is in the kitchen zurückgeschafft what remained of the meal is. There are also the buckets ready. In the lines gargles it. A groan passes through the plastic pipes on the ceiling of the pig house. The new system under the high pressure threatens to burst. "That would be a mess." Danco Motti groans. Nervousness affects him. Not now, because everything is finished and the pigs every moment as can be! "It must simply fold up!"
Timid, it opens the next cock. It roars back over his head. The gray pipe trembles, as the pigs get him food not. But then the only way it bubbles out of it. Everything goes smoothly: trough to trough filled with brown liquid. "The buffet at the hotel Laudinella." The farmer laughs relaxed. Danco had this morning when Motti "Laudinella" bucket of food wastes fetched. Besides the hotels in St. Moritz Bad, he also serves those in Samedan and the entire ski area Corviglia.
Horse-drawn carriages bring revenue
Previously, the collection of kitchen waste in such a large scale is not necessary: Since the beginning of the tourist boom of the 1860s had almost every hotel's own farm. Was almost always a pigsty in the process of not only meat and sausage on the table of guests provided, but also where the surplus food for recycling arrived. "Had the tourists not there, I would also not farming," said Motti Danco.
Thus, he not only on his terms pig, but also to his work with the horses. Because it makes no secret of the farmer. The horse-drawn carriage ride him in the few weeks in the winter of Merit, with which he is operating throughout the remainder of the year brings. Maintaining a tradition alone is not what it as one of the last two farmers in St. Moritz can survive. His skill, out of necessity to make a virtue.
Before a new challenge presented him because now the new Bioschweine. For them he had to not only rebuild the barn and provide an outlet, they are also only about 30 percent of food may eat leftovers. Their remaining food needs must be purchased, organic feed costs. What is, however, with many hotel waste begin? Danco Motti said: "generate electricity." This is not a crazy idea of a farmer, but a project already launched.
Together with professional colleagues from Silvaplana and Sils he has a biogas plant built into their normal electricity network development. "What the tourists do not eat today, tomorrow comes in the light bulb." The phone rings on his belt. Every moment, the pigs come. The chauffeur was at the bottom of the forest turning to snow for the last path to assemble. Motti occurs on the terrace. In the moonlight are the ropes of the signal station like silver threads through forest and farm. It is as froze the world.
Every evening the same drama: With the sun disappears from the mountain's life. The swarm of icy silence makes the place. If tomorrow morning the tourists in the cable car hinaufgetragen the mountain and its ski slopes the back, wallow here 70 meters under the wire ropes the last hundred pigs from St. Moritz.

Greece provides ferry On.

A severe autumn storm has the ferries in Greece brought to a halt: Numerous islands remained from the outside world cut off. Body of the gusts reached the strength of ten and more.
  Athens - consequences of the heavy autumn storm: The ferries in Greece has been discontinued, because the Ionian and Aegean Sea in the strength of storms ten and more raged, the Meteorological Office announced on Sunday with.
Two ferries with around 300 passengers on board were forced to shelter in the bay of the island of Santorini to find. The Coast Guard ordered the cessation of all ferries to. Numerous islands remained so from the outside world cut off.
ON TO SPIEGEL ONLINE winter burglar: eisglatten Fatal accidents on roads (22.11.2008) winter slump in the Harz Mountains: The first time in the snow Weather Chaos: Serious injuries after winter slump in Germany (21.11.2008) deep "Irmela": Storms directed chaos in the west of Germany in (21.11.2008) onset of winter: snow storm and cold temperatures fall slump: The winter is here (21.11.2008) In the port city of Patras collided because of the strong winds, a ferry with a freighter. No one was injured.
The firefighters had in more than 200 cases Outdent to umgestürzte trees and other large objects from the highway to remove the Greek radio reported.
The storm will wane on Monday again.

Princely sleep, bourgeois pay.

In northern Germany are dreams come true: Nowhere else in Europe are as close as castles in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. And even guests with a smaller budget can enjoy the lavish accommodations - as in the Schlosshotel in large plastic goods.
  Somewhere here must have a castle. "You have reached your destination," says the voice of the navigation device. Yes, but where? One avenue is through a seemingly deserted land. But then flashes but a pale yellow building between the oaks on. A gardener in the huge park zusammenharkt the foliage looks briefly. The representative on the gravel driveway crunches under the tires. Before the former aristocratic seat at the small lake Plasterer plätschert a fountain in the middle of a roundabout. Now is the Prunkbau no longer be ignored: The Castle Hotel is a large plastic castle - one in the picture.
Birte Nagel, director of this fairy tale castle in goods to the Philippines, may also be in the off-season does not complain about lack of guests: "It runs surprisingly well." Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was the "land area with the greatest momentum in tourism," says Bernd Fischer, managing director of the National Tourism Association. The Northern Province was as a tourist destination among other things, so popular because it is the high price sensitivity of the German equivalent. In plain English: The expenditure for a holiday in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is about 15 percent below the average level in Germany. Stately hotel delights are already starting from 35 euros per night.
The Internet can lock nights even more favorable be posted. Especially in the off-season, many chateau owners are forced to bring down prices. Vouchers for two people and three nights in Internet auction houses like Ebay partially for less than 100 euros auctioned. Even the castle hotel offers its large plastic beds on eBay. Such measures were necessary "to a certain base load to create," says Nagel, since July this year, the hotel director. And: The online auctions attract young tourists.
"We compete with discount travel offers abroad"
Is just a young couple from Hamburg angereist and has in the Palace Hotel for three days einquartiert. The two documents are from the noble ambience, the delicious food at the restaurant - and the price. The bottom line, each 16 euros per night paid. The double room, they have won at Ebay. After this experience bargains examined the couple now always the Internet for cheap holidays - and it looks specifically for castles in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Nevertheless holds Claudia Schaffhausen by such dumping prices low. She is chairman of the Association of castles, manor houses, farmhouses in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. So that even smaller hotels in the competition can say, before the association was about ten years ago.
All former palaces and noble seats in the union, which has been converted to hostels, are privately held and is a historical monument. "People like these individually designed tourism," said Schaffhausen. But "we all compete with discount travel offers abroad," says the 34-year-olds. They even carry the goods Gremmelin in Mecklenburg Switzerland, around 40 km from Rostock away.
The 22 houses of their association put more on "quality rather than on earth." But even in the palaces of the association, it will be very favorably sleep. The average price for a double room is 60 to 70 euros. "Up there is no limit," admits Schaffhausen On.
On every tenth square kilometers is a castle
If you're looking for a großherrschaftlichen accommodation, has in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania a great choice: On every tenth square kilometers is a castle - more than 2000 are as a whole. "In a density like nowhere else in Europe," says the Tourism Association spokesman fishermen. 300 houses were touristy used in about 220 of them to stay. And it will add what ever. For the country was a very imageträchtiges issue, says Fischer.
The history explains the high density Locks: Until 1701 in Mecklenburg inherited the first-born son is not reason alone, land and buildings. He had the power to his younger brothers share. The siblings ran about often in dispute - and divided the country. Each Regent then built his own residence, besides summer residence and hunting lodge.
ON TO THE MIRROR ONLINECôte Meck-Pomm: Yummy country on the Baltic rim (03.08.2008) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where houses stories (28.07.2008) Castle Hotels in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Neuschwanstein in the mini format (21.08.2004) Another reason for the multitude of noble houses in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is in the scope of addiction find large landowners. By pompous family members she wanted to "ordinary people" their present wealth - unsuspecting that centuries later Civil sleep in their beds are.
Castle lords from Essen
In July 1995 opened a large plastic castle and the adjacent building Kutscher its doors to guests who are between 54 rooms can choose. In the year before had the Essen couple Marga and Ernst Walloschke the past three years, vacant buildings ensemble from the community and bought a lot of money in repairing the dilapidated castle invested. They settled einreißen walls, the staircase newly formed panel and the interior style with substance wallpaper, elegant mahogany furniture and heavy curtains. Despite all the renovation work remains the castle houses - the wooden floorboards creak under the carpet in the entrance hall it smells a little musty, and it is bleak. But this also makes the charm of the house.
"It is expensive, an old building in shot to keep," says hotel director nail from experience. The monthly operating costs and expenses for repairs are higher than for new buildings. Moreover, a lot of money flowing into the monument. Many of the chateau owners were idealists, says Fischer, the last Euros in their homes for that reason.
Japanese prefer to go after Neuschwanstein
Schaffhausen and its association endeavor, the product "Castle Hotels in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" at home and abroad to place. The increased advertising to attract foreign visitors seems to pay off. Although there were still a few tourists who come from abroad - up to five percent - "but it is slowly and steadily," notes Gutschefin noted.
ON THE INTERNET Castles in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Tourism Association of Mecklenburg-VorpommernGutshäuser Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania SPIEGEL ONLINE is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Above all, there are Scandinavians who have discovered the region, but also British, Dutch, Swiss and French have. Americans and Japanese, however, rarely seen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. "The road you prefer to Neuschwanstein," said Schaffhausen.
For German Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has long ceased to tip more. "Many appreciated the family atmosphere in our homes," said Schaffhausen.
For the Hamburg couple is the day of departure came. The sun glistens on the Plasterer small lake. A heron in the water stake, makes the castle idyll almost perfect. The gardener harkt back foliage in the park together. Or still.

In the heart of the coalfield.

When it rains rather than snows and no longer wants to be hell - why not go underground? In the German Mining Museum at Bochum leads an elevator for more than 15 meters in depth and monstrous devices past the pit.
  Bochum - The best is the view of Bochum on the platform of the scaffolding support from Germania: The bell towers, chimneys and power stations in the city are here in the 62 meters in height just to see how the stadium from VfL - in good weather and visibility ranges up to Villa Hill after dinner. But the view from the top most interested visitors only on the fringes. The headframe Germania heard since 1973, the German Mining Museum (DBM). And that deals primarily with the world in days.

It is considered the largest mining museum in the world and has around 400,000 visitors to one of the most popular museums in Germany. As elsewhere, many city fathers did not imagine was that industrial culture in a museum space could have decided the city of Bochum, the Westphalian mountain Checkout unions and several mining companies, even a group. That was 1930. Since 1976, states that German Mining Museum - which is an indication that there is not only regional history will tell.
And so is not only about the removal of coal in the Ruhr region, but the techniques in the mining industry as a whole, regardless of whether Feuerstein, salt, iron or other metal ores to be won. What the charm of the museum represents, is also a showcase mine, in which the visitors arrive by the elevator with 15.40 meters deep drive. This is ridiculous compared to what the buddies on their way to work in the tunnel had to take. But it is exciting and vivid.
80 tons of heavy tunnel cutters
Mining history is history of technology. Because of the difficult conditions deep under ground engineers had always something else. And so in Bochum are a whole series of unusual machines to see. Some of them are non-miners like science fiction from a neighboring galaxy.
There are already many museum: A tunnel cutters Year of construction 1967 belongs to a more than 14-meter-long monster part, 80 tonnes of heavy, designed to be adamant about cutting through the rock.
Centimeter for centimeter, it works itself forward. Just five meters in the hour creates the gigantic trencher. Hundreds of meters below the ground level but is much more complicated and dangerous. Sometimes even louder - for the drill and drill, built in 1955, applies for example: If he starts, he comes to the noise level of a jet fighter. Even a brief demonstration shows convincingly why miners in such a device better wore ear protection.
Pneumatic hammers were used in 1920 - deafness was at the miners are not uncommon. To get it to protect the miners schoben with fat eingeschmierte sheep wool in the ears - a lot has not helped.
Tobias horse went into retirement with 17
A job as Kohlhauer was also in other respects no pleasure. The work was physically hard, the daily requirement stood at 7,000 calories. And work with pneumatic hammers made much easier while, was but a huge burden, often health damage had.
OSH played in earlier centuries, a much smaller role than today. Sometimes it went underground, the animals better than humans: there were horses there for a long time, especially for pulling the tram. The last pit horse in Bochum said Tobias. It was 17 years old when it went in 1966 in retirement - after a life underground in the heart of the coalfield.

German Mining Museum, Museum of Mining On 28, 44791 Bochum. Phone: 01805/87 72 34, Internet: www.bergbaumuseum.de

Pinot Yellow gold, ruby red Kadarka.

Budget grapes and sweet girl Kadarkas shaped the image of Romanian wines. But following the turn of the winemakers have upgraded and revive their old culture. Result: "Chile is in Europe, partly chaotic, but with wonderful potential," as a connoisseur says.
  Jammervoll and arrogant at the same time were the letters, which Ovid from exile on the Black Sea, sent home: In the barbaric Tomis it was so cold that the wine in the vasculature freeze up. You can not live here: "Rings a nation of savages, not worthy of my singing."
The fine Roman exaggerated and silent, that he was in exile also friends among the locals had. The life in a strange place to him Emperor Augustus 2,000 years ago prescribed, certainly had its amenities. After all, there were Tomis, today's Romanian port of Constanza, plenty of wine.
What the poet left behind on this issue, are the oldest written testimonies about the wine-growing region. The Romanians have his snootiness not resented: Ovid's grave in Constanza adorns a large statue, Ovidiu is today a popular male name, and a popular wine by type of sherry is called "Lacrima lui Ovidiu", the "tears of Ovid."
At this historical reason, between the Black Sea and Danube, in the territory of Moldova, cover today the vineyards of Murfatlar, the largest winery in the country, which includes a single manufacturer. Ion Dobronauteanu holder, Mr over 3000 hectares of vineyards, is also among the most innovative wine Romanian industrialist: "We have modernized everything, from the basement Rebgärten on the technology to the bottling plant. The technology is adapted to each grape variety, which is harvest time for each wine science down. "
Many awards at wine exhibitions
The typical continental climate with hot, dry summers wines brings out the Dobronauteanu and his young manager Cosmin Popescu proud, "because of its smoothness and richness of her body." Several international prizes, including awards at major wine exhibition in Brussels, has roots in recent years with the golden Pinot Gris won, even with the complex Chardonnay, hay and acacia flowers aufweist tones, with Merlot of great finesse ( "touch of blueberries "), But also with Ovid's tears.
To 300,000 hectares, with the accession of Romania and Bulgaria 2007, the vineyard area of the European Union has grown, two-thirds of this increase is in Romania. "With its large vineyard, the country is now the fifth rank in the EU after Spain, France, Italy and Portugal," said Valeriu Tada, Romania's most prestigious Weinkundler. Approximately 27 liters of wine to drink every Romanian annually in Germany, 20 liters per capita consumed. The Romanians like their wine obviously, because 90 percent of annual production is consumed in the country.
But winemakers and oenologists Tada fight as a matter of the Romanian wines finally on the international market reputation and success. "After the political upheavals and decades of neglect, we have caught up tremendously," Tada said, "we have an extraordinary potential." With distinct varietal characteristics advertise more than 100 local wines. By historical cultural relations with France are also fashionable varietals like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay or Aligote in Romania has been 100 years at home.
"Especially in the middle sector, our wines in quality and price good pace," says Dobronauteanu winemakers, "the problem is our image, as the whole country."
"Multifaceted country with fantastic vineyards"
"Oh God, Romania," says Dirk Würtz, wine maker - as he wants to be called - from Rheinhessen and connoisseur of Moldova territory, "it is for most still Dracula, thieves, gypsies." The 40-year-old maverick and wine bloggers, in the German wine scene is a quality fanatic and his Riesling and Pinot noir stir, has been "in love with this multifaceted country with its fantastic vineyards."
EASTERN EUROPE-QUIZ [M] DPA; blogs ONLINEIn hausen Vampire Romania, Bulgaria, there is only robbery and theft? on stereotypes about the two countries, there is no shortage. Try our Reisequiz how good you are actually on the latest EU members know! Even the Romanian Riesling tastes him. "Great stuff" has Würtz also in the Moldovan wine cellars of Panciu drunk, from Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling or white grape girls (Feteasca Alba) sparkling wine produced. The wine maker is now planning, as a joint venture, "the first Demeter farm in Romania with wine, agriculture and livestock."
But still had much to do to Romanian wines internationally competitive and to demand forward, Würtz says: "Investors have since EU funding should be used." Unlike the high-tech operation Murfatlar winery still looks much as in Communist times: The vines are zugewachsen sauerkraut, wine-making in old fiberglass tanks was "a nightmare".
Kadarkas sweet grapes and cheap girls in the lowest shelves of German supermarkets long shaped the image of Romanian wine. The full, extensive dry white and red grape girls, however, a Romanian indigenous grape variety, hardly anyone here knows. "This is systematically from the old wine industry has been murdered," says the hamburger wine critic Mario Scheuermann.
"Chaotic, but with a wonderful potential"
Especially for compensation with the GDR and the Soviet Union was "unspeakable Kadarka these Brereton of the East", as he describes Scheuermann, mass-exported. The time ruined reputation as vintners try Balla Geza in his 1999, after the political change, founded Winery "Wine Princess" to rehabilitate. For Arad, in western Romania, near the Hungarian border, builds the vintners to 60 hectares including the traditional Kardarka to. The ruby-red wine is "fundamental honesty," said Scheuermann, and "the best Bauernkadarka that I've ever drunk."
Senile vineyards, cellars outdated technology and old boy in the wine throughout the country will be renewed. Following the rest of the wine world have now been numerous ambitious undertaking found, whether private, governmental or cooperative organized.
Placed on quality from the outset, the French winemakers Guy Tyrel de Poix, in 1994 northeast of Bucharest SERVE founded the first private company in Romania's wine industry. With French know-how is the Count especially with the brand "Terra Romana" in Canada, the United States, Belgium, Germany and France successfully. Romania sees it as "the Chile Europe, partly chaotic, but with wonderful potential."
After laborious inception, Rodica Capatina, chief manager of the Carl Reh Winery in südrumänischen Oltenia, now prides itself on first international successes, "not only for us but for the whole country": Two top wines of the company, a Sauvigon Blanc, Chardonnay and Shiraz - Cabernet, were the gala dinner at the Berlin Press Ball served.
ON-LINE TO blogs Eastern Europe Quiz: Do you know the new neighbors? Danube Delta in Romania: Bullerby on Hartz IV (29.08.2008) km42 in Romania: The cheese-BluesDer growing prosperity in the country itself has the wine merchant Ciprian Banciu demanding opening stores inspired In the booming Transylvanian Cluj / Cluj, in Oradea, Timisoara and soon in Bucharest he sells not only Romanian wines around the winery Davino, but also "the best from each country," in the selection helps him Brett Crittenden, a renowned New Zealand wine expert .
With a share of 55 percent is already Germany's most important export market in Romania. With development strategies and the development of cooperative structures for years to help the German Society for Technical Cooperation (GTZ). GTZ has just a common German-Romanian viticulture project completed. "Support also comes from the German Viticulture Association, which is already an old friend," says Oana Mueller, Bucharest, GTZ project manager of the program: "We are confident that our image will be transformed."
With a new leader by the Romanian wine-growing regions, which also appears in German, want the GTZ and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation help.

Valeriu Tada, Florin Andreescu: "Romania, land of wine." Adlibri Publishing House, Bucharest, 20 euros plus shipping.

Emergency in the Roman city.

Competence, art robbery and decay: The ruins of ancient city of Pompeii is located in an ailing condition, because the money for conservation measures is missing. Some geologists now believe even an early eruption of Vesuvius neighboring possible.
  Naples / Pompeii - The Masters wraps itself in clouds and in silence. It is as if he wanted to look close to all the garbage that is on the roads to him are still piling up. On the radio the southern Italian city of Naples million is a heated debate underway on the recent decree from Rome, the harsh penalties for announcing, in the area around Vesuvius rusting cars or broken refrigerators just on the edge of the street waste.
Bored, the driver of the "Vesuvius Express" and the radio from the vehicle, invites the dozen or so tourists. Another steep zigzag pieces on foot and the throats of sleeping colossus is achieved - the only active volcano on European mainland, whose eruption 2,000 years ago soon buried Pompeii.
At the top of the crater rim Wabern impenetrable swaths of red lava. No, here it is not seething from the bottom of the deep hot high, not threatening or fatal Gashauch hellish glowing magma flow.
Rather, the 1281-meter high Vesuvius on the Gulf of Naples, first of all just a mountain. And as such he wraps often in thick clouds. From the island of Capri might be so look as if smoke and steam from the earth's train would break. But it rains only drizzles incessantly. Cold and moisture penetrate through and through. Even the souvenir vendor suffers, offers his listless minerals and Campania American wine. That should be the dangerous Vesuvius, which researchers say it could soon become active again and the lives of hundreds of thousands at risk?
Fishermen have problems than others the Volcano
Tags that adorns only a cloud of the crater, the Basic looks exactly like the smoke plume of the volcano spitting, as they each painted picture of Naples with Vesuvius belongs. He is terrific in the sunlight on the picturesque golf, but the fishermen on the beach of Marina Grande Sorrento turn their backs on him.
The Vesuvius will be dangerous again? You shrug the shoulders, prefer to study sports newspaper, especially since Naples Premier club has played famous again. What them burning: how they deal with their meager water quotas on hold, the recent garbage chaos, poverty in times of economic crisis and the uncertain future.
ITALY-QUIZAFPPasta, pesto, Prosecco - that everyone knows. But what is behind the Vespa, who has invented the Cosa Nostra, and where is the oldest pizzeria? The SPIEGEL ONLINE Italy Test your knowledge is put to the test. Andiamo! Muck At the moment he is not, shows only mild evening light in his face peaceful life. But the small seismographic equipment on the bizarre crater rim it demonstrate and warn. There must therefore be measured continuously, even if the Vesuvius in the past six decades was not so active, such as Etna. But exactly what could be deceptive, said Italian and French geologists recently in the magazine "Nature".
Since a devastating outbreak of violence from the depth was again possible, as on that of August in 79 AD, when lava is not only the ancient Pompeii is buried under there alone and more than 12,000 people killed. Around the clock watch scientists of the Osservatorio Vesuviano therefore every emotion of Vesuvius, and the Italian Civil Protection is working on an ambitious evacuation plans.
"Life is finally"
If the Neapolitans from Vesuvius speaks, he is philosophical. And a trail mixes a pride: "The people do not see as a threat. Look, life is finally," explains the hotel porter Mario curious guest: "You do not know when it happened." A kind Schicksalsergebenheit, a Mediterranean perspective on life. Particularly but live thousands of Vesuvius, which attracts tourists. Not to mention the millions who each year visit Pompeii and Herculaneum, their attractiveness to the Vesuvius owe.
With the weather improves will also look again at what was lava is neglected and thus was preserved. More than 2.5 million tourists in 2007, after Pompeii geströmt, fascinated by the huge city of ruins from ancient times.
Since 1997, on the UNESCO list of cultural heritage, is Pompeii before the archaeologists a mountain seemingly impossible task. The size of the ancient city is not alone when pessimists "Downfall a second Pompeii" fear. The ravages of time, vandalism and inaction threaten walls, frescoes and murals; bureaucratic proliferation and different interests hindering much-needed work.
Pompeii, which is a long, fascinating and even walk across town flagging bumpy patch in the distant past. The maze of ruins, wall pieces and alleys is also the area of numerous stray dogs, which warned before, and for some vierbeinige only the embodiment of decay are.
Other signs are the robbers, in the still under volcanic ash of Pompeii outside of the part of UNESCO Heritage site dig, and in summer the cutthroat on the hunt for tourists willing to pay to a parking lot looking for her car.

Pilgrims tour as a journey.

Brandy, Loukoumi and stuffed tomatoes: In the Greek monk Republic Athos meals are simple, uncomplicated life. Who among the wandering pilgrim moves, has the feeling that in a past century to be landed - and in a world without women.
  The narrow, overgrown vegetation of the Mediterranean path abruptly goes into a small olive tree-lined clearing about. A deep blue sky and the lush green means a wild mountain scenery surround this piece of earth. I'm here until two hours wandered, and gradually there is euphoria On. There are only a few hundred yards downhill on a rocky road to craggy coast.
Here waits the goal, the majestic-looking Russian Orthodox monastery Panteleimonos. The dimensions of a small town more than a monastery, currently reside in its walls just 50 monks. Toward the end of the 19th Nor 1500 Century praying friars in the plant.
The white-held monastery complex with its bright green roofs lies quietly in the midday sun. Construction machinery indicate renovation work out. I complained easily feel uneasy. Whether an overnight stay is possible at all? In the cool entrance hall, I initially comes at a time knife, the Byzantine time shows. Their zero hour begins with sunset.
Then I finally hear voices from a lounge. A young monk discussed with two workers and is surprised by my presence. With an expression of regret he says in perfect English, that it really does not give way overnight. The alternatives? He leads me to a voluminous wall paintings. It shows the Athos peninsula, on the eastern foothills of Halkidiki in the Aegean sea, and its 20 major monasteries. After a glass of brandy, two glasses of water and the obligatory candy Loukoumi, from fruit jelly and powdered sugar, I must back into the nearly pristine nature. On the next monastery.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the monks
Indeed expect meanwhile several monastic communities an application. In the past it was sufficient at the Pilgrim Office in Thessaloniki requested entry certificate for inspecting the autonomous territory. It costs 25 euros and entitled as a kind of visa to a four-day. However, only for men - women on the island have no access.
Simonos Petras is finally my second choice. A spectacular the construction of geschotterte switchbacks on a road to achieve. After an hour walk keeps a car, an off-road vehicles, at whose tax sonnenbebrillter monk sits. He brings pilgrims to the monastery and still has a free space. His offer, I would like to chill at 30 degrees Celsius not refuse.
Sonic backdrop of singing monk from the radio is the journey continues. A spectacular Petras Simonos located on a 280 meter high cliffs. In the background is the barren, 2033 meter high Mount Athos the backdrop. Several monks say the newcomers are welcome. In a small reception room of the friars brandy, water and Loukoumi, then follows the entry into the monastery book.
Until the time left Abendgottesdienst for a walk in the surrounding nature. Steeply sloping rocks, which glow at sunset to begin, leading to further downward monasteries on the coast. These have a castle-like character, since they in the Middle Ages had to fend off pirate raids. In the distance, beyond the deep blue sea, is the silhouette of the secular shaped peninsula Sithonia recognizable. It does not seem to be several kilometers, but several centuries to be removed.
Suddenly A rhythmic tapping disturbs the stillness. One of the monks, suggests using a small hammer against a wooden time for the evening worship. In the church of the monastery is pushing pilgrims and monks. Candles cast a warm light on the present. Incense permeates the room. Prayers and chants unfold their meditative effect. Gradually, I believe the legend that the Athoshalbinsel the garden of the Virgin Mary should be.
In klapprigen bus to Karyes
The next day a monk chauffiert the guests of the monastery to the main port Daphni. There ferries connect the monk republic with the border town Ouranopolis. There is considerable activity on the port forecourt. The present men with backpacks and bags hantierend discuss in the languages of the Balkans. There are pilgrims, monks and workers. On some waiting an intercity klappriger, with the Daphni Karyes connects the capital. Central to this village in the mountainous interior, I would like to hike.
The path leads through forest clearance but also by shadowless landscape shrub. It is almost entirely uphill. A difficult issue, which attracts flies intrusive. Only a single time I meet more hikers. A father and his son, whom I already far into your mobile phone listening. Towards evening, I finally reach Karyes, a municipality with 200 inhabitants. At first glance, a perfectly normal Greek village - if not the women were missing. Monk in the Republic are only allowed male guests.
From Karyes upside from a minibus heading to the main monastery of the Athoshalbinsel, Megisti Lavra. It lies on the southeast coast and is on a runway holprige reach, partly by acting urwüchsig forests leads. Here is the grave of pilgrims Athanasios Athonites. He settled in the 10th The first century monasteries built on the mountain. Although he wanted the life of a hermit, but his friend, the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros Phokas, persuaded him to the construction.
Here is the oldest and largest church so that the monk republic. Today resembles the monastery, with its defensive towers of a mighty castle. It stands on a 150-meter-high plateau and allows a fabulous view over the Aegean. Only the helipad in front of the main entrance of the plant disturbs the medieval ensemble.
Relics at a glance
Towards evening pilgrims get the opportunity to take a look at the relics treasure to throw. The presentation of individual bones made at a speed that in the post-viewing no doubt Holy assignment allowed. The attendees are devout and a number of veneration and kissing in the hope of future assistance to any relics.
The great library, with its 20,000 books meanwhile remains sealed. It has next to the crown of the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros of the biggest treasures of the imposing monastery. As the clock by 21 monks, the monastery gates close, a quiet gradually returns. In the ten men shared accommodation will be occupied only by the regular individual snoring disrupted guests.
After four-day I leave the monk republic. Daphni investigated in the customs farewell routinely backpacks and bags after stolen property. Then take the ferry named St. Panteleimon on the course two hours away Ouranopolis. There are women sunbathe on the beach. Shorts and airy clothes dominate the scene - after the days of pilgrims on an almost forgotten island picture.

Cows, Klunker, cocaine.

From quiet mountain village to the luxury Mecca: When in St. Moritz Hordes of tourists invade, it's a challenge for the police force - instead of traffic accidents and poaching gets it with Pelzmanteldieben and Kokaindealern to do.
  Mario Salis is chief of the Canton Police in the Engadine. He is Lord over 423 kilometers of asphalt, over hundreds of meadows and pastures, on the 4048-meter high Piz Bernina, eight pass transitions and 37 municipalities - and the CID base in St. Moritz. But most of the time in his office in Silvaplana before service plans and statistics. "There is little crime here," says Salis, and his bushy eyebrows bounce high.
In January police arrested the Skidieb, the 20 pair of skis, snowboards and ski boots had stolen. In February, against a determined poachers who ordered the deer. And last year, a woman mistook an underpass with their garage. "The last murder was 18 years ago," says Salis.
Urs Grigory his staff and Albert Künzler are actually sergeant with special responsibilities: Grigori, the divers special unit; Künzler at the CID. But in the off-season, they work under the principle "all do everything." You drive patrol, monitor traffic offenders, are a blow back on grid construction site - and get on the Bernina Pass a computer for their administration. Not without a coffee in between with the Italian colleagues to drink. But the idyllic life ends on 24 December.
"From RambaZamba Christmas is here, around the clock until the end of March," says Gregory, "and there is no additional staff." He likes his job, but sometimes it goes to the nerves. On the second weekend in March, for example, if 12,000 cross-country skiers at Engadine Ski Marathon invade the valley, he would prefer to dive anywhere. Then ring for the colleagues in the operations center at a morning up to 800 times the phone. If enough snow? Where can we leave his luggage? Which brand winter is the best?
Grigoli Künzler and then from 5 clock morning on his feet, rushing the Julier up and down to the car to conduct columns. In addition, the usual offenses such as traffic accidents, burglary, arson and - thankfully - less frequent deaths: an avalanche, a paragliding accident or the crash of a private.
Rich attract thieves and dealer
Grigory had previously also a lot of work with celebrities. Meanwhile, there are special units dedicated to the safety of Angela Merkel or Berlusconi care. If something really happens, you can see the entire valley within 15 minutes be blocked. "But most celebrities come sooner, because not much fuss around their identity is made," said Grigory. Also, they are making a him, and some famous actors do not even recognize it.
ALPS-QUIZswiss-image.ch Have you heard of "Mrs. Montblanc" or the Sennentuntschi heard? The Alps lie in front of our door, but they stuck full of secrets. Test your knowledge in the mountain travel quiz SPIEGEL ONLINE! In high season lure tourists to thieves and dealers. Everything is stolen from a package of noodles to diamond necklaces and Pelzmänteln. Even the drug abuse is increasing. According Drug Report of the United Nations at the St Moritz world's cocaine is quite far forward - in sixth place, ahead of London, Paris and Zurich. Künzler chief, Inspector Colombo, angry these statistics, because it is wrong. The values were on 29 and 30 December measured - if the city six times as many tourists as locals houses - and was then expected over the year.
For several years, many rich Russians to St. Moritz. They now represent approximately one third of the guests and output are extremely sociable. "The oligarchy controls everything with money, even before the police called," complains Künzler. But most crimes are perpetrated by domestic criminals, are finally one third of the Swiss tourists. On New Year's Eve almost all revolve around alcohol offenses and sex.
Since there are sometimes requires that all four prison cells are occupied. Künzler the prisoners with food from the neighboring hotel supply. A separate kitchen is not worth it. The inmates sit only a short time in the cell; criminals are after a few days into the trial moved to Chur.
Police Chief Mario Salis packs his bag. He must go? Alphorn blowing. Since 1995 he plays in his spare time in the "Alphorn Ensemble Engiadina" - along with a few colleagues and the Kurdirektor of St. Moritz. The six Alphornbläser give regular concerts for tourists.
They are now so popular that they have appearances in Johannesburg, Singapore and Dubai had. And on television, they were even. Twice weekly exercise group, so that they can cope with - for the next season in St. Moritz.

Twenty seconds in Snow intoxication.

168 meters high is the highest mountain in Schleswig-Holstein. It operates Horst Schnoor Germany's northernmost ski lift? Since 38 years ago. What is at Bungsberg mostly missing, however, is not quite unimportant: the snow.
  The thermometer has risen to five degrees. Storm gusts sweeping across the sea. It's raining on verdant meadows. The conditions in the northern German Ski area on that day could hardly be worse. The Bungsberg with 168 meters is more than ever a lonely hill in the north German lowlands. No walker has focused on the highest mountain in Schleswig-Holstein between Luebeck and Kiel lost. The cows, from spring until late autumn graze here, are stable.

Only one man stands up there and points in the distance. "With good view from here is the ships in the Baltic see," says Horst Schnoor, "we are proud of our mountain? On each meter." He pulls the cap with fur occupied in the face, initially checked the engine, then the steel, the sad shake in the wind. "These are the stirrup, to which the people can firmly hold," he says. It opens up a non immediately that what there 200 meters wide leads down the hillside, a ski lift should be. Because what is lacking is absolutely crucial: the snow.
In early November, Horst Schnoor already had the lift installed and the pasture fences dismantled. Since 38 years, operates from the farmer Schönwalde on Bungsberg together with his neighbor Henry Schroeder's northernmost German ski lift.
Ten card for 6 euros
2500 people live in the small town in the Holstein Switzerland. The municipal administration had the lift for the 20,000 mark for a company in Grabenstätt am Chiemsee bought and entrusted the two. Because they heard the paddock on the southern flank of the mountain, the "shot slope," as Schnoor himself says. Many hours of operation since the lift has not yet behind him. Snow-free winter always ensured that the turf is always well recovered.
"There have been years since I had hardly any pleasure at all the thing up," confesses the 70-year-olds. Mostly because he has everything back on the trailer load and bring into the barn without the generator for the small cable car just angeschmissen once was.
LOCKE gap and Benne OchsOliver Lück is on Europe tour. With the young Hovawart-bitch Locke and his motorhome he travels first through the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Latvia - and then always follow your nose. When SPIEGEL ONLINE reported Lück regularly by people and their Geschichten.Doch again this year are the ski passes printed again, mulled wine and sausages for the après-ski party are reserved. The old caravan, which Schnoor seated and Schroeder and the tickets will sell, is already as a "valley station" ready.
A ticket will cost tens of 6 euros, a ticket for 20 Liftfahrten 8 euros, a day ticket 10 euros. "With the prices we have tightened somewhat," says Schnoor, "is nothing cheaper." On the back of the passports is also the phone number of farmers, among whom one will be under the snow conditions can inquire. In the last two winters, no one called.
More attentive prosecuted Horst Schnoor cold evenings at the weather forecast. Because the next morning it might be ready. "I feel it when there is snow," he says. Just as in January five years ago, when the Bungsberg better winter conditions than in Bavaria had. "Zero centimeters in the south, almost ten with us," says he is today.
Nearly three weeks of the elevator was consistently in operation. Previously, he had five years quietly confessed. But now came on some days more than 2000 skiers, snowboarders and Rodler on the mountain. Even families from the resin and Denmark were then angereist. "There was a total traffic chaos," recalls Schnoor, "also on the elevator was always jam." The only creates about 600 people in the hour.
Eight days lift operation three years ago
When impressive 17 percent gap takes the exit to the 300-meter-long slope down only about 20 seconds. "Sometimes we build a slalom on, so we went half a minute on the road." However, if you are not comfortable swings glides down the runway, already has a few seconds after the barbed wire fence at the end of the coupler reached. And then you have the snake back into the elevator, sometimes five minutes or longer, and more minutes up to the summit.
ON TO SPIEGEL ONLINE gold prospectors in Lapland: The Nuggets by Lamborghini City (19.11.2008) Kiiking-world 'swings is addictive "(07.10.2008) Vilanu TV in Latvia: News from neighbors (30.09.2008) Years ago, pondered Horst Schnoor , A used snow cannon indicated. The cost estimate he had been given leave. Once the temperature below minus one degree drops, so he had white on stocks can produce. "It would be nice sometimes to be able to help," he says. But the price of almost 50,000 euros prevented the snow from the retort. Now he considers a second elevator to install. "One for sled."
That the consequences of global warming the snow limit increase and the North German Plain soon absolutely no white winter could mean more, let Schnoor not believe: "Five years ago we had so many days like snow since the late eighties no longer." And three winters were nevertheless also been here eight days. Every minute we have then used as the Liftwirt, "from morning until it was dark."
The hope may Horst Schnoor therefore also for this season not give up: "The winter is coming, we are ready." Until April, the elevator will remain? as in any year. It could eventually some day to be white. "That I think really," says the farmer. And the belief is well known even move mountains.

Steam is addictive.

They hiss, toot and rattle still: the steam of Wolsztyn. Twice a day they Course at Poznan, the site of this year's World Climate Change Conference. Environmentally Friendly are the old steam horses truly not, but of enormous attraction for nostalgic - and for the summit participants.
  If the expected participants of the 8000 UN World Climate Change Conference starting next Monday in Poznan westpolnischen on their forums and discussions boring, there is an alternative for them. And although a political climate not at all correct, but still for many of stimulus is likely to be uncommonly: The trip to 70 km west of town Wolsztyn (formerly Wollstein) also appears in the official accompanying program for the Conference on.

Wolsztyn expected in the climate politicians over one hundred years old railway works. Lending is still operated a fleet of steam locomotives, which - unique in the world - continue regular passenger trains daily draws. Wolsztyn is the Mecca of steam addicts from all over the world, and which are mostly in Britain so many that the demand for visits to western Poland is greater than supply.
"We are already fully booked until the end of 2009," says Howard Jones, British and founder of the travel company Wolsztyn Experience, which even today mainly in the Polish town of lives. 1997 Jones's business as a specialty organizers. With revenues of steam addicts, the coals for Schipper, locomotives and preen itself around 1000 euros per week pay, the operation of the cargo subsidiary of the Polish State Railways PKP dependent steam division subsidized.
Five times more expensive than a Railcar
"We all feared the end of the steam plant," says an active volunteer staff of PKP in Wolsztyn, his name will not mention. "In the seventies times, we had 340 people, today is one tenth of them," says the retired, "we are here all lovers."
Although the operation was completely uneconomical, "because one kilometer to go by steam train is five times more expensive than in a modern rail bus," says the veteran PKP. But there is also good news for steam fanatics: After a new agreement between the organizers, the regional government and the PKP will be for the next five years to go with two daily connections between Wolsztyn steam and Poznan. The first train leaves the station next to the railway work already morning at 5:40 clock, the second at 11.40 clock. "We hope that as many enthusiasts as possible the offer, because only the railway tourism, the regional government to initiate the steam operation to continue to support," says Howard Jones.
A total of 30 steam locomotives once the fleet consisted of the railway premises Wolsztyn, many of them German design. The oldest was born in 1917 and was built Schwartzkopff in Berlin. The big hub before Lokschuppen was established in 1908, on the other hand, the installation of German production still works perfectly. Today, a total of 25 giant steam from 13 to officially Series stock. Six of them are still running, but only three locomotives are actually further steam, which at times only one is operational.
Four tons of coal for 140 km
Particularly, the sprightly Ol49-69, built in 1953 in Poland, from their daily morning ride back to Poznan. The three green and beige carriages are only very sparsely occupied today, money is at least the ticket sales hard to earn. Well, that people like the roots Ireen Englishwoman from Brighton there.
The woman is wearing rough work boots, blue cap and gloves and sets hand when fueling the powerful water boiler. 25 cubic meters will be required for a single trip. "We pump the water directly from the nearby lake, the city otherwise would have no more water through the steam locomotive operation," says Ireen wienert and the mighty iron wheeled around, it hisses and steams. Then at the tender coal refilled? four tons of which are elected for a tour over 140 km to Poznan and back consumed.
ON TO SPIEGEL ONLINE Swiss Rail Adventure: Thoughts on track (25.06.2008) station of Durlesbach: There is a train in the hallway (23.10.2008) night-Nomad: On the track the realization (14.12.2007) Mazury: slowness in Polish (24.09.2008) Poland: The last of raftsmen Dunajec (24.07.2008) is precisely the total opposite of climate-friendly travel. Creating the old steam horses then expelling large quantities of soot and other pollutants even top speeds of up to 134 km / h, "but we travel an average of only 70 km / h," asserts Ireen. It actually says "we" even though they are actually only paying customer is. After all, one that has the strange pleasure, daily clock at 5 am to get up, only to then kohlenstaubverdreckt to be.
"I have worked themselves into the railways in England and was already about a dozen times here in Wolsztyn," outet itself as Ireen Dampffanatikerin. Overall, organizers said Jones, since 1997 were already 3,500 customers, of which only 2000 different, the rest are repeat as Ireen, which always return to the pilgrimage to Wolsztyn break. Steam is addictive. Six lucky can at any time and travel to Poland on the original train pleasure delight, only in August is travel break.
"Everything you need is a stronger arm"
The effort, the steam trains to leave, is outrageous. "We have ten hours fuel, so you can go," says Ireen and wiping the sweat from the blackened face. "Even if the locomotive shed in the stands, the boiler is not cool." The largest of them and other guests are the drivers courses, the so-called Footplating. Mondays are newcomers to a pure freight route introduced before then twice on Tuesday during their one-week stay in the cab of the train ride and may even hand.
"This will help people to make an advanced age," advertises Howard Jones, "everything you need is at least a strong arm, the stiffness speed regulator and the brake valve to operate."
And of course a lot of enthusiasm for the train drivers on the historic tour.

Via Alta - mamma mia!.

Despite uncertain weather and closed cabins: Who on the Alta Via number 1 in the Dolomites wants to escape the masses, wanders in the autumn. Before a breathtaking natural backdrop of war once reigned here - today we are only soldiers still in mushrooms.
  What to do if the Dolomites wants for himself? Given the hundreds of thousands, of the summer at the height classic routes on the most beautiful part of the Alps pilgrimage, we decide for an autumn tour in late September. Since Regenscheue are already back in the valley, and with a bit of luck gives us the Southern Alps yet clear weather. The tent we take for safety's sake of order against weather and overcrowded huts to be immune.
Five days of receipt of our tour of Lower Village (Villabassa) to Cortina d? Ampezzo, we see more columns from around the excursionists Pragser Wildsee stroll. Ecologically correct, we were with the train and ran angereist us from Niederdorf until Pragser Wildsee On. Between parking and hotel on the lake Steps bear, so we decide outside the national parks, the most Wildsee starts, the right way to lodge Kaser aufzuschlagen the tent. The nature reserve is prohibited.
The tent quiet night ends in cool seven degrees. At dawn we rödeln rapidly from the tent and put on the backpacks. Back at the lake lies before us a Winnetou turquoise water below the magnificent wall of Seekofel. The rises in the pale Weißgrau of dolomite, the rock to the mountain's name was, over 1000 meters on steep.
We want to noon on the 2810-meter high top. So to fix the eastern shore beneath the Great Apostle herumgelaufen. We reach after 30 minutes in the narrow valley of the southern tip of the lake and thus the entry into the Dolomites Ridgeway 1 ".
The classic begins in loud map at the northern tip, but we are not just walking through trails. South of the lake, the path leads now moderately steep and well developed on. It goes through fragrant Latsch land, a little higher to cheat larch and birch needle into the eternal green. Where the autumn has already set up yellow flames. We breathe deeply and the end of summer. Left Hand protocols stones down a heap. Three, four chamois look chewing (what?) Down. Scheu are not here. We are in a weapons-free zone of the park.
From the tree line to Ofenscharte
Shortly below the "Nabigen hole" is the slope significantly. We switchbacks us to the heights. Excellent marks, a rope show clearly that this Aufweg to the slight, perpetrated much belongs. At approximately 2,050 meters forks in the road.
FOUND IN ... Alpine - The Mountain magazine edition 12/2008InhaltsverzeichnisHeft bestellenwww.alpin.deWir keep us right and industries by tall larch and the large map of the "oven" on some sophisticated way to Seekofelhütte from. The tree line is now among us, and thus the heavy rich smell of autumn. Look up here among the rocks just a few thistles in the pure air in the winter opposite.
We cross the "Ofenscharte" (2388 m) and already see the stone hut on the hillside lie. Here on the small saddle at the junction between Seekofel "Rifugio" and the Dolomite peaks show us in the clear light of morning, her beauty. Behind us the mountain with his bright dolomite, with the sun in so many colors can play. Among us the wide valleys, which only seems to reduce to the wild, jagged mountains behind it to lift.
But the beauty can not forget the pressure, with the heavy backpacks back of the bow. We climb from the cozy lodge, throwing the luggage into the room sometimes and strive to cross on the Seekofel too. Now we are really in the Dolomites arrived.
The climb from the lodge to the summit turns out to be surprisingly easy? compares to the small trouble with the magnificent panorama. Only the first third goes steeply uphill. In some places is the rock of boots as polished as the stairs of a medieval church. In the upper third helps a rope on the ridge plattenglatten each on the tricky places.
Topping indulge already two "overhaul" at the prospect. Beneath the feet is perpendicular hundreds of meters in depth, in the fathomless sea silent. West, south, east, we see the Three Peaks, the High Gaisl the Tofana Group and the Summit of the Sennesalm and Kreuzkofelgruppe. Rugged rock, jagged peaks, steep walls. We remain seated, enjoying the cool wind summit the prospect stroll back to the hut and beratschlagen jackdaw when feeding, as we weather and the west route will bring together. Another beautiful day, then threatening, according to weather bad times. "
Soldiers collect mushrooms
So we enjoy the beautiful morning of us along the path height 1 of the Seekofelhütte on a tundra to the first Sennelager area Hut leads. Pleasure we espy Italian military in the open bush land. What autumn after hard training looks, turns out through the binoculars rather than wooden mushrooms in the back of the huge tanks Seekofel-South.
ALPS-QUIZswiss-image.ch Have you heard of "Mrs. Montblanc" or the Sennentuntschi heard? The Alps lie in front of our door, but they stuck full of secrets. Test your knowledge in the mountain travel quiz SPIEGEL ONLINE! The landscape ahead is reminiscent of the Highlands. Late in the year has been mixed gray under the green, the wind tugs at the white tufts of cotton. At the herdsman Hut is closing with idyll. The hut is rather a hotel. A "natural road" leads up to the joggers, bikers, school romp. We leave these "Rennsteigtunnel" 15 minutes below the hut and branches left on a narrow path toward Fodara-Vedla hut from.
Again, this lodge is? said sympathetically? touristy, and was tapped the old cates after closing probably times a hamlet. Now is the wild life here Dolomites tamed. Wild is? S just behind the cabin, across the meadow stream. For behind Bach and lodge maintains a steep climb up through larch pine thicket and loose stock to Sentiero Bancdalsè, a wild card, whose steep scree under the dripping walls sometimes Sandpiper already quite grind is.
Who does not want to believe that the Dolomites their origin in the sea have felt it here under the soles. Directly across the narrow slit in the mountain forests of southern aromas with us spoiled, we get the loose scree at the feet. So that must be hiking: varied, challenging, lonely. And bottom roars of the creek.