The austere charm of Maddalena.

Hui today, tomorrow pfui: The place of the G-8 summit in July, La Maddalena was fired - but as a tourist destination is the small archipelago, Sardinia coast as attractive as ever. Turtles, Sardinians, and not least tourists will be the summer resting appreciate.

 

La Maddalena - Rugged cliffs, fjords with a Mediterranean touch. Palm trees, juniper and pine woods, giant pink flowering oleander bushes: what before the Northeast Sardinian coast archipelago of La Maddalena in the azure water seems to rise, looks like Norway in the Mediterranean Sea. There are fabulous beaches, surrounded by bizarre rock formations. The wild group of scattered islands, seven in number, is 15 years since a national park.

Only the largest of them, the archipelago's name, there is year-round inhabited. And until a week ago she was still as the conference venue for Italy's G8 summit of leading industrialized countries chosen. But then came the earthquake in the Abruzzi and the idea of the Government Silvio Berlusconi, the Gipfelort to L'Aquila to relocate in the devastated capital of the region. The Cabinet nodded and relocating with her alleged saving of 220 million euros.

La Maddalena is so also in this summer's calm can be. In the half hour to run the ferry from the island of Palau in Sardinia and supply them with fresh supplies and tourists. The little capital is bustling with restaurants, bars and cafes. Baunarben and military terrain halbverfallenes recall that La Maddalena until recently the Mediterranean base of the Americans was that once Berlusconi had brought into the country.

Granite formations, such as animal figures

But the concrete jungle can easily be left if it is on the scenic road goes, the island circuit, mainly due to the wonderful beaches like Bassa Trinità Spalmatore or leads. The leading gently into the sea, sandy beaches of La Maddalena to the bays of Corsica, the rich water. On the horizon appear the high mountains of the neighboring French island, while the road down to another "Cala" leads.

TMN
Before Nordostkste of Sardinia, the archipelago of La Maddalena: It consists of seven islands.

There you can already unpack the trunks, now for the graceful half a bay with the beautiful name "Nido d'Aquila" - the eagles. And who now needs a little hype, which then makes the obligatory stroll through the port with the town houses from the 18th Century and the countless shops, the Sardinian Carpet feilbieten, but also everything the gourmet into the eye stings. From the bar or from the balcony of the hotel room can be made even more lively at night with ferries Palau observed.

A small dam and an old railway bridge connecting the big sister Maddalena with the small, Caprera called. Still here are the lush forests, yet grandiose pile on the rock, which in this Gallura region of Sardinia is often referred to as animals from granite rocks look like. Is not that a snake, a horse or a fantasy creature made of stone? Caprera can be found on the beaches only with some effort. Tucked away, they are, or are just wandering and kraxelnd reach.

The freedom fighter Giuseppe Garibaldi, however, can be found at the second largest island of the archipelago do not miss: In the dense pine forest is its Casa Bianca, where he worked after his patriotic deeds settled and 1882 died. Schlicht "Garibaldi" stands on the granite block, under the revolutionary fighters against the Austrians and German buried. On the walls, the graffiti has not faded, the "Americans out" call. But Maddalena suffers financially including that U.S. soldiers are deducted.

Not quite the end of the world

The two sisters herbschönen La Maddalena and Caprera, of wind and weather disheveled, are - as planned - the summer in insular Beschaulichkeit spend. It would be the summit as advertising was more important than ever for the archipelago, where many wild boar left their mark and turtles crossing the roads.

The evening will end after the pack with a cozy togetherness overlooking the port of La Maddalena. Meanwhile, the ferries glide noiselessly just as busy back and forth. About the Sardinian mountains in the distance, ie on the "mainland", which is also an island, cloud formations can be observed. You seem so astounding figures as to some of the granite blocks.

Then dive from nothing swarms of swallows to pull over and soon the night sky. From the bottom booms Hafenbar still disco music, the grappa is served. However, the archipelago seems to gradually sink to the silence. It is not the end of the world, but also not far away.

Kingdom of the stone giant.

An underwater petting zoo, giant stone sculptures and lots of beach: the sun-drenched seaside resorts in the Danish West Jutland in Germany are enormously popular summer holiday - even though life here is anything but cheap.

 

Henne beach - the perfect day at sea is from: Over night the wind turned on Southwest, raises a strong breeze in the grasses of the wide landscape of dunes, beach Henne back and forth.

Again and again the shadow scurry over the sand hills, thrown from the high white clouds, the wind from the North Sea since the Danish west coast drives. This Sunday afternoon but the sun is clearly the upper hand. Heftig the waves on the hard sand, where a young woman and her daughter struggling with a dragon - he will not rise to heaven, as it should. Some beach walking, barefoot and in shorts, looking sometimes amused, sometimes sympathetic to, until the dragon is finally up.

Not every summer in the western part of Jutland is as pleasant as this: sunny but not too warm, with white clouds on deep blue skies and plenty of time in order to be active and yet relaxing.

It can sometimes rain or oppressively hot, the weather is difficult to calculate. And with a strong east wind is ever before, millions of beetles Marie worn on the beaches, where they all cling to what they were before the labor pains of the sea also saves the dune grass, sand castles, beach and bikinis.

No destination for travel bargains

Seaside resorts hot Blåvand West Jutland, Vejers beach, beach and hen Hvide Sande and consist of thousands of holiday homes, situated between the dunes hide. And although the number of visitors from Germany no longer as high as in the early nineties, the expansive beaches in the summer firmly in German hands: in the car parks are only a few cars from Denmark and Norway, between those with D-marks.

There are many regulars who come back every year, and others who are on a visit to West Jutland respectively. Because Denmark is not known inexpensive travel destination. The cottages are very comfortable, but electricity is incidental to the powerful book. When you walk eight bread baker for almost six euros converted on the counter.

Also eggs, milk and meat are more expensive than in Germany, many families pack up their wagons with stores full. This helps to make the entrance fee for example for the theme park Legoland anzusparen of an hour's drive from the coast to inland Billund is: In the colorful world of millions of Lego bricks with their white-coasters and a family of four will pay around 130 euros at the entrance day.

ON TO ONLINE blogs

Diving in the Baltic Sea: dancing lights at sea (24.04.2009)

Fehmarn Belt: Danes say 'yes' to the Baltic Sea Bridge (26.03.2009)

Copenhagen: Mermaid after China (13.03.2009)

Other trips are more favorable - to Ribe and Esbjerg, for example. Both cities are well suited for a visit to one of the not so perfect days when the beaches remain empty. Ribe is the oldest city of the Kingdom of Denmark and offers a beautiful pedestrian area, above all, a very old church architecture. The cathedral, with its nearly 50-meter high tower is on the 13th Century, the abbey church of St. Catharina is about 200 years younger.

For families with young children could, however, a day trip to Esbjerg is the better choice. Because there is the Fisheries and Maritime Museum established, which offers many interactive areas: The visitors can marine biologists at work in the lab watching, a small pool with fish serves as an underwater petting zoo. "

Seal-show in the pool

Between the old fishing boats show Seiler and forged under the open sky, as craftsmen who have worked earlier, a net-maker can look at the finger when he draws up hammocks. And twice a day, the gray seals and sea lions in an outdoor pool fed - the museum staff, make this a great show with explanations in three languages. Because the crowd is often large, families should be the places early in the first row secure.

Esbjerg has approximately 83,000 inhabitants, the fifth largest city of Denmark. Yet here too close - as in the rest of Denmark - the shops in the city on most days already at 17.30 clock, which many tourists do not calculate. As a port city of Esbjerg is also partly influenced by industrial buildings, also in the field of view, if visitors to the recent west coast of the landmarks are: the sculpture "People at Sea" by artist Svend Wiig Hansen with her four nine-meter-high white figures, as a symbol of the encounter between man and nature since 1995 over the North Sea look.

These tours away from the beaches offer a variety - the main reason for a trip to West Jutland in the summer, they are not. The host quickly remembers when morning before he enters his holiday house and a first idea of getting that on this day back at the North Sea could be a perfect with white clouds on blue sky, a strong breeze and a bellowing surf.

The churches of Ribe and the monumental figures in the port of Esbjerg is a reminder to the memory chip of the camera. But today is about the kite on the beach right into the wind to get very relaxed evening and sausages on the grill to lay Cottage.

Dance of marine lights.

Between submarine and shipwrecks floating glowing jellyfish ribs and fish, their eyes on the top of the body bear dives in the Baltic Sea are spectacular, as many believe. And while a trip into the past.

 

A three-aisled hall church from the 13th Century, small towns surrounded by extensive dune landscapes which later became white sand beaches in the sea will lose the edge on the Kiel Bay Island of Fehmarn is water on a holiday paradise. For the biologist Jan Langmaack However, the true charm of Germany's third largest island at the water's surface, between boulders, and mussel.

"Who the Baltic Sea as uninteresting devalues water immersion, they do not know. There are turbot, cod and Lumpsucker, beautiful seagrass beds, sea stars and nudibranchs. This relatively small area probably more wrecks from various time periods, than in any other sea in the world .

And full of adrenaline dives: "When is the proper flow through the drift Fehmarnsund a wild thing. Fluid And there is almost always in the narrow and narrow island between the mainland."

Equally exciting is a dive in the Fehmarn Belt, which connects Denmark with Germany. There should be a companion boat to the safety of the divers always be there. "And by that I mean not a dinghy," adds Langmaack laughing, "to give no radar echo, since driving the big pots in the street simply drüber shipping."

Langmaack is not only biologists, but also instructors and trainee at a school. Above all, however, is a 27-year-old blond child of the coast, through and through "nordic by nature". In the spring, when the wind is still cold stress on the Baltic Sea and the water depth of ten meters in any ten degrees temperature, Langmaack is in his element.

A sight like "Das Boot"

Equipped with a dry suit and two working separately from each other respiratory controllers - a prerequisite for diving in cold waters - it goes with the boat out into the bay of Kiel, to the wreck of the "Sten Trans. The 1976 in a storm and sunk 65 meters long vessel is one of the most popular destinations for recreational divers in the western Baltic Sea.

The bow of the starboard side in 21 meters deep wreck is lying covered with mussels and anemones trees and soars out into the Baltic Sea. From the "Sten Trans" has become a habitat has become what many young fish serves as a refuge. Langmaack emerges slowly along the railings along the two open mouths looking like cargo, out in the direction of the wheelhouse. Luminescent jellyfish ribs and cods cross his path, inside eels lurk on prey. The "Sten Trans" is an easy dive, even the less experienced divers can be overcome.

Significantly more demanding and more interesting historically is a wreck, which is 1945 in the Kattegat, near the Danish island of Anholt shelling the British aviator fell victim to U-251. A German U-boat of the type VII, with some 700 pieces meistgebaute the class of all time - and the actual main characters in Wolfgang Petersons film "Das Boot".

The 35 meter deep down to U-251 is liable to something mystical. If the wreck slowly from the shimmering green water peels, it is believed in mind the well-known film music can be heard. As in the initial scene of the film condense diffuse contours to a long hull, give free characteristics, the mouth flaps of the torpedoes, the open Turmluk, the depth rudder. Much can be bullet holes in the saddle tanks recognize. There is a dark, eerie atmosphere of the submarine, whose sinking in only four of the 43 seamen were rescued. U-251 is a war grave.

Luminaires in marine habitats threatened

The Baltic Sea is filled with wrecks. And Peter Klink, the main professional engineer in the rescue cruiser "Berlin", she knows almost everyone: He runs along the dive boat "Bubble Watcher", which he prefers trips to wrecks in the western Baltic Sea offers. Divers appreciate the friendly atmosphere on board and six people on a limited number of participants. Rudel diving as in Egypt or Asia, where often more than 50 divers on a wreck while einfinden, there is not: the cold temperatures and poor visibility often discourage the typical vacation from diving too much.

In only 24 meters in depth at the mouth of the Flensburg Firth about 40 meters long "Inger Klit" on the seabed, the bow already buried in the mud. For Jan Langmaack it is nonetheless "one of my favorite wrecks." For good reason: The former cargo ship is covered with sea anemones curtain, what the contours of the wreck barely recognize - and even biologically very interesting. Often schools prefer cod over. The biologist may contact you hardly see enough of, when discovered new details every dive.

For the most beautiful dives Langmaack but requires neither a wreck still a big fish. Only it must be dark. When the night is over the Baltic Sea sets, it rises into the waves and turns his divers under water lamp. Alone by the smooth movements of his hands he then solves the marine lights from which his body with a cocoon of blue-green light wraps.

One can thus generated in the mood to lose, it's like dancing with another world. Triggered is mostly observed in winter phenomenon by unicellular algae called dinoflagellates. It does not matter how exactly the chemical reaction would describe - you would be unable to make the uniqueness of their vision so that way.

But Langmaack fears for his paradise on the doorstep: The Baltic Sea is threatening to collapse, due to lack of oxygen resulting dead zones in the sea doubled approximately every ten years and now cover an area which is one fifth of the surface corresponds to the Federal Republic. The reasons are manifold: first exhaust from car and boat transport, discharges from sewage treatment plants and a massive over-fertilization in agriculture.

According to the latest findings of the Meteorological Institute in Sweden every year 1.4 million tons of nitrogen and 60,000 tons of phosphorus into the Baltic Sea led - too much of a stretch of water, which is geologically considered almost an inland sea: though a shining.

Castle in Blütenmeer.

"FIET" was almost overwhelmed: With the opening of the Federal Garden Show in Schwerin had the mascot against the onslaught of thousands of fans say. The ultra-modern and baroque gardens, English landscape parks and natural habitats attracted by free admission.

 

Schwerin - Picturesque scenery would not be, as German President Horst Köhler on Thursday in Schwerin, which is now 30th Federal Garden Show (Buga) opens: Brilliant sunshine, blue skies and spring one of many waters framed flourishing parks and gardens in a wide radius around the Schwerin Castle dominate the picture. The blossoming landscapes, from Helmut Kohl on the reunification 20 years ago promised, here are literally to be found.

DPA
"FIET": The ladybirds mascot was at the opening of the visitors almost umgerissen

As the "Olympics of horticulture called the President in his opening speech the traditional Buga." Even the colorful opening program had Olympic format, "said Köhler. The event is capable of temporarily distance to everyday life and also to the prevailing crisis to win. Köhler was convinced that this Buga thanks to their sustainable approach Schwerin on a permanent and more attractive quality of life for the people will bring.

SCHWERIN BUGA

The Buga under the slogan "Seven gardens middle" lasts from 23 April to 11 October. The
Exhibition space in the draw Schweriner around town
the castle and along the lakes. Focus is the historical development of
Horticulture, 18 Century until today.
Admission: Day ticket costs 16 Euro, reduced 14 Euro, children under 15 years are charged four EUR and a ticket costs 90 euros. We offer one-and three tours in several languages.
Internet: Buga-2009.de

After the opening ceremony with invited guests and season ticket holders on the outdoor stage in the Palace was a veritable onslaught of thousands of Schwerin and tourists on the 55 hectares large exhibition terrain. The big man, waving invitingly Buga mascot, the Ladybird "FIET", was adopted by the masses on the porch of the main entrance area almost umgerissen. No wonder, but the organizers had for the opening of the afternoon free admission to the seven around the Schwerin Castle underlying theme gardens, which are initially on a Buga at all or as islands on waters.

Neglected park landscapes redesigned

"That you can not miss it," says the 46-year-old Horst mechatronics Gluth, who with his wife Ruth from the surrounding Schweriner had arrived. "We will continue until completion in October, one or the other once again come to the announced change of plantings to see, even though we are 16 euros for the day berappen need," he assured. The 70-year-old Adelheid Riems from Lübeck is enthusiastic: "I have relatives in Schwerin and have already been extensive preparations specifically pursued in the castle. Now everything is great, many spring flowers bloom, and I enjoy the deliciously prepared installations."

Unlike previous Bugas, where the cultivation of ruin landscapes, wasteland or abandoned military sites in the foreground, focuses Schwerin with its budget of more than 70 million euros to existing, but sometimes grossly neglected or used for parking purpose alien landscapes, according to historic reconstructed or newly designed.

Thus the visitor, for example, the interesting shift from strict baroque gardens of spaciousness English landscape parks or the contrast between the hyper-modern floating "gardens of the 21st century" and the site of a natural habitat garden.

Schwerin hopes to increase attractiveness

With all the effort and despite difficulties in the past have not yet Buga host regretted his involvement, because evidence of a location and a significant revaluation gain in quality of life at the individual venues have been achieved, assured the President of the Central Association of Horticulture (BMA), Heinz Herker.

There will also make Schwerin no exception. His experience suggests that when the Bugas up to ten times the money to set up follow-up investments and synergy effects. "The garden for everyone is a contribution of high social value," he says. And he waits to a saying of: "Stupid race, Kluge wait, but go way into the garden!"

Mayor Angelika Gramkow believes firmly that with the Buga not only a wonderful event for the planned 1.8 million guests over the stage, but after the completion on 11 October Schwerin consistently attractiveness and attractiveness as a tourism and residential location will have won.

THE GARDENS OF SEVEN BUGA SCHWERIN

Garden of the 21st Century

Right at the main entrance of Buga site is the garden of the 21st Century. The garden was on a lake in the towering concrete platform than 7,6 hectare large "floating meadows" was built.

On the hilly landscape lawns, numerous flower beds with shrubs and flowers have been created. Benches and deck chairs invite you to relax.

Schlossgarten

The castle garden is located next door with 24 hectares of the largest of the Buga. It consists of a symmetrical baroque gardens of the 18th Century and the Greenhouse-Garden, the Peter Joseph Lenné in the 19th Century as the English landscape park designed. In a maze to be stern and stern forms of plants shown. The exhibition design for the grave is located in the castle gardens.

Kitchen Garden

The kitchen garden was once provided fruit and vegetables, but also citrus fruits and bananas in the kitchen of the Grand Duke. While there are Buga latest varieties of crops to be seen. Even the crowd-pullers of any Garden - the Hall shows - are in the kitchen garden to experience.

Waterside Garden

From the garden directly on the shore Schweriner lake offers a good view of the opposite lock. Guiding theme of this garden is the water and its relationship to the land. A pontoon bridge over the bay to the castle garden at the Royal Stables.

Garden at Marstall

In the garden at the stables are in a park landscape new trends in flower breeding shown. Smaller theme gardens hobby gardeners give suggestions. Against the background of the neo-classical building Marstall bloom among other things, roses and dahlias.

Nature Garden

The Nature Garden includes Buga-terrain east. It is for children and adolescents, the "green classroom" with environmental educational opportunities. There is also a children's farm and a large playground area.

Burggarten

In the charming, historic Castle Garden at the Castle, there are echoes of the Italian Renaissance garden terrace, by the lake reminiscent of an English landscape garden. In the castle garden is also the Orangerie, in a café today, is housed. The castle garden, which in recent years has been lavishly restored, is the only Buga Garden eintrittsfrei.

Sound of Loneliness.

Whale watching, garden care, cook for guests: the everyday life of the hermit Ernst on La Gomera has little in common with the bustle of his previous jobs in a Düsseldorf Grillbude to do. For years he lived alone in his house with Atlantic Ocean views - and conjures up tired walkers sumptuous three-course menus.

 

First heard on the asphalt. The road becomes a sandy road that winds curve to curve for miles through the rocky, only by cacti, agaves and some palm-covered landscape. The farther one travels, the more the surface is pitted. Then the path ends abruptly - at a precipice. At this point La Gomera, the second smallest of the Canary Islands, lost only very rarely someone with the car.

For here, where the road ends, the world begins by Ernst, whose last name "does not matter now," he says. It is a simple world, "without a lot of frills," says Ernst, "it is my world." On a plate, we read: "Welcome to the hermit! In 80 meters, herbal tea and cactus soup!"

Ernst sits on his terrace, fingert a cigarette from the box and igniting them. Ernst lived alone for ten years, half ruined stone cottage, set in a sea of green cactus dickblättrigen hidden. Without mail, telephone and electricity. With dogs and five chickens.

Maybe this place is one of the remotest of the entire island. And yet the man says with deep Lachfalten and the mighty mustache: "I am not
Outs, I'm a beginner in life. "Then he smiles, as belonged to him this panorama alone. And somehow, it is indeed so - it belongs to him alone, because nobody else is there, with whom he could share it.

The house stands on a hill. On clear days, you can far above the ocean to the neighboring island of El Hierro look, where the evening sun burnt up, where whales often pass them by. Since Ernst has a good telescope, it is often hours on his terrace. But now there are no animals to see. In the distance just digs the Express ferry, which connects the islands, a white foamy furrow in the deep blue sea, the noise of the engines is also up - to almost 700 meters - still clearly be heard.

Aloneness Learning

The noise is always such a thing, says Ernst, "began with the sounds of everything. They help you to understand your loneliness." If, for example, in the distance, hear something, you're mentally in this noise, so in the distance. But it is still completed, one is only in his own breath, in your own deeds So it's with you. "As I often am," says Ernst, who many simply the "hermit" call.

GAP AND LOCKE

Benne Ochs

Oliver Lück is to tour Europe. The young bitch Hovawart Locke and his mobile home, he travels first through the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Spain - and then always follow your nose. With blogs ONLINE Lück reported regularly by people and their stories.

But in the first few months of being alone was not so easy. "That I had to learn. I cried a lot," he says. And there were days, since he believed to be insane. "Because you do not hear, you hear everything," he says, "and I was quite shocked when the many sounds come from. Until I realized that my guts are."

From a farming village near Wels in Upper Austria with 18 Ernst came to Dusseldorf. He stayed 27 years, initiated many years, a grill bar with twelve employees. "The store ran really well, seven days a week, lunch from 60 to 80, a gold mine," says the 56-year-old, "but I had concrete in the head and came to a standstill, I needed fresh ideas." So he did what many talk about her life, but it would never do: He started a new life.

Actually, he wanted to Tuscany, but a friend told him of La Gomera, the island in the middle of summer in the Atlantic, the Aussteigertum celebrated as a second of the Canaries, where people volunteer for a few weeks back in caves, and then the independent nature of life call. Ernst grabbed the essentials together, had 40,000 marks in his pocket, his entire savings. He lived well, celebrated every evening in the pubs of Valle Gran Rey, the Valley of the King on the west coast, where many like the kings want to live, where many of "enlightenment" and "self-realization" is mentioned, where German is spoken.

This saved was gone. On a hike in the mountains but Ernst discovered the remains of a shepherd's house. A ruin, almost 30 years, she had stood empty. Eight months it took until he had found the owner. An old lady, who now lives in Tenerife. He renovated and leased the Walls with the feral land for five years, then for five more, and finally for life. Now he can stay as long as he wants.

Lippfisch looking grouper.

Ghostly jellyfish, sharks hurtig: The head of the aquarium Sea Life Speyer provides a daily basis for the welfare of bizarre water-dwellers. Quite natural conditions the animals can not, however, offer - and at the suggestion to reproduce it must trick.

 

The predator has been very quiet on the ground. His red body coloration becomes pale gray - that is the characters. A small, brightly striped Lippfisch approaching. Carefully reviewed the lean animal, the skin of the Great picks here and there something out, and slowly works his way to the head of the tropical grouper before. The spreads now even the gill cover to the inspection. "Sometimes the Putzerlippfische then swim into the mouth and out again," explains Arndt Hadamek the visitor.

Local nothing happens, because the robbers deliberately seek their help to get rid of annoying parasite responsible for the colorful turn carers are an easy prey. To benefit both sides. Meanwhile, circle a few meters higher agile black lace-reef around, swinging elegantly Kuhnasenrochen their wings, and a swarm of horse-mackerel gleams like polished silver. What a magnificent underwater.

But no, this scene will not be around in the azure waters of the Australian Great Barrier Reef, but in a rather unimpressive-looking building at the old port of Speyer, a few hundred meters from the famous Duomo. Perch, Lippfisch & Co. are residents of the large tropical basin in the local Sea Life Aquarium.

The five-meter deep concrete tank has a capacity of 320,000 liters, through the ground attracts a Plexiglas tunnel. From there, visitors can admire the colorful troop carriers shed almost close marvel. Another showcase is one level higher, near the water surface. At this pool can swim movements and behavior of animals extensively observed. Just as the work of Putzerlippfische flat. However, it needs to be patient and an eye for details. Who here just beautiful colors respects missed something.

Hadamek Arndt, chief of the aquarium at Sea Life Speyer, knows the problem. "Many visitors do not look out just march through and then complain because it is supposedly nothing to see." Others were too small sharks. Hadamek however, the enthusiasm for these aquatic animals in the face written. A native of Rhinelander is originally trained chemist and expert on Klärtechnik. "But here I have my hobby into a profession." A truly passionate, almost around the clock. In his spare Hadamek participate in a resettlement project for European marsh turtles.

Multikulti at 16 degrees

Of course, houses the gray building at the port more than the tropical pool. In a series of freshwater aquarium is in outline the course of the Rhine from the source region to the estuary displayed. Local pike, perch and bream to cavort, but also introduced species such as the North American-born brook trout.

Not always are the species correctly assigned to their habitats. North American catfish alongside trout in clear mountain stream? Well, yes. In the coastal basins is also some weird combination. Northern European Aalmuttern and butter fish - not to be confused with the eponymous Smoked products in the fish shop - share with sea bream Junker and tape from the Mediterranean Sea an aquarium.

Such a multicultural society poses potential problem, because the northern and southern different ecological demands. Arndt Hadamek encounter with the one simple trick. "We keep the temperature constant at 16 degrees. I believe both groups." For some, it is always winter, for the other summer.

A few steps further, the visitor suddenly in a shallow pool and eye to eye with a nail adult skate. The animal swims to the surface, drawn by the electric field of the human body. With its highly sensitive sensory organs, the so-called Lorenzin vials, the cartilaginous fish exactly the two-legged varieties.

On the ground cat sharks hang around, hang in the artificial kelp Eikapseln their bizarre shapes. There are plenty of young, small sharks seem to feel comfortable. Conger, however, up to two and a half meters long eels of the eastern Atlantic, there is now no longer Speyer. "The pools are not large enough, and they just grow too fast," says Arndt Hadamek. "You do not show everything."

Witching hour with mangrove jellyfish

Currently, the special exhibition "Jellyfish - Ghost of the seas." The somewhat lurid title is misleading. It is by no means a kind of horror show, even if the animals glibbrigen many contemporaries easily cause shuddering. Four different species are on display, including the bizarre mangrove jellyfish, the most time with their tentacles stretched out on the top floor.

In their tentacles they host unicellular algae, which need light. The animal provides the nettle green mini plant shelter, and these in turn provide their host nutrients - a perfect symbiosis. The attitude or even the breeding of jellyfish in aquariums is a tricky matter. The North and Baltic Sea jellyfish native ears about the easiest way to reproduce asexually by budding.

But Arndt Hadamek know how he convinced them that the correct date for the reproduction has taken place. "We strongly cool the animals down to about four degrees Celsius, then we leave to cool for a day, the temperature rises to about twenty degrees, and then let's start." The jellyfish believe so, unless a sudden spring, and the supply of nutritious zooplankton will soon rise. Of these, the young can benefit.

Wastewater treatment plant breeding and feeding

The Sea Life visitors come Arndt Hadamek rarely in contact. Normally, he works behind the scenes. Much time is spent in the technology space, where it is loud and a slight sea smell in the air. Everywhere there are tubes hanging in a corner Watts trousers and diving suits, on a circuit diagram with green fluorescent yellow points is at the heart of the aquarium Appendix. The house has an elaborate its own treatment with biofilters, protein skimmer, ozone disinfection, and even a special column denitrification, in which specialized bacteria in pure nitrate convert atmospheric nitrogen.

This material cycle requires an enormous effort. "We need every three months, five tons of salt," says the aquarium boss. And annually, about two tons of food delivered. Some produce Hadamek and his team but himself in the feed back room kitchen boiling it in large perspex cylinders. This is the plankton breeding. In other receptacles Artemia eggs are hatched. Salt cancer are the body's food of jellyfish and seahorses ears.

At three is feeding time in the large tropical pool. The water people swim already excited at the surface of the water back and forth. One of them raises Hadameks assistants a few hands full swing shrimp and shellfish meat. Geplätscher loud sounds of water splashing against the ceiling. The Kuhnasenrochen eat the young woman literally out of your hands. "This is a good thing, nothing else would abkriegen."

The black tip reef sharks, however, are shy - who would have thought? The robbers have the nervous squid enriched with a stick, otherwise they do not trust ran. As a small feast receive from the sharks and all thawed rainbow trout prefixed says Arndt Hadamek. "The love it."

Walking in treetops.

Wild cats and deer, roe deer and wild boar from a high seat in the National Park Hikers can Hainich lots of wild animals. Some are extremely shy, however - even rangers get mostly thanks to tricks with a hidden camera to face.

 

Craula - Sunday morning at 6 clock - it is cold and still not right bright at Millstone, the central point in the Thuringian village Craula, leave a few young people who party night bar. In addition to wait a couple of hikers with backpacks. Slowly driving a pick-up jeep approached, stopped, and a stocky middle-aged man climbs out. The emblem on his green cardigan shows him as a Ranger from. By Helge Graßhoff is in Hainich National Park.

The park itself has an area of 7600 hectares. It is located in Hainich, a forested ridges in the northwest of Thuringia. With a total area of about 16,000 hectares is the Hainich the largest contiguous forest area of Germany. It is virtually in the middle of Germany - in the triangle of the Thuringian city of Eisenach, Mühlhausen and Bad Langensalza.

Only once does it cross Craulaer - start and end points of the same path. Normally this is for cars conclusions. Ranger Graßhoff, however, has a key for the barrier, with the unauthorized vehicle access will be denied. Behind the barrier shakes the car through the rugged terrain. Suddenly, a deer in the headlights, but disappears just as quickly as it appeared. It is not the last animal, the visitors this morning in the forest to face.

On a clearing in the parked car, the tour participants prefer thick jackets and backpacks to shoulder. With the flashlight is on foot. There are only a few minutes to the observation deck, a spacious seat designed high. Slowly, the twilight - the first sunbeams of the day the light of the forest on Laubdach. Even ground fog hampered the clear view of the glade, a trail on the former shooting range, which is now more and more about the jungle is. Here again, the nature of nature: in an area of approximately 5000 hectares of national park is in use free hardwood floor.

Rehegucken from the high seat

That pleased the wildlife. From the high seat of deer were often observed, tells Graßhoff. But no game is still evident. This flap over two dozen Kolkrabe. And Jay is looking for breakfast. Suddenly, perhaps 200 meters from the observation point, is a deer with his kid on the clearing and nibbles here and there on the branches. Every now and then looks at the mother to make sure that everything is in order. After 20 minutes, the two disappear, and also for the observers, it is time to move the legs to represent - two and a half hours on the high seat rich.

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Saxon Switzerland: Walking on the sea of fog (03.08.2007)

Now we have to walk through the Hainich - whose name incidentally is from the Middle High German hagen 'infer which means "standing forest." This term was sacred, with a hornbeam hedge designated fenced copse. Here on the former site of the shooting place of the trees is often still young - the stems and branches hanging low in the surreptitious way in, the Graßhoff knows how his pocket.

The Ranger has a job at the roadside where the grass is slightly pressed flat, just like on the other side of the path. "Here comes the game through," explains Graßhoff. A few meters further, the visitors from the city a bit puzzled in front of a big mud hole. "Wild," says the ranger short order afterwards to push reassuring: "Healthy game is always on the run from the people." Fear of aggressive Borstenvieh is rather unfounded.

Wild cats also live in Hainich. Middle of the day you encountered, it is unlikely - there would need help of the random force. Helge Graßhoff shows a folder with photos, where the shy animals can be seen. He photographed the cats with a hidden camera, with the help of a motion sensor triggers.

Typical of the Hainich are many small canyons. Here and there are from the last big storm cut trees on the ground. Around 50 different species of trees, there are Hainich. These include beech, oak, ash, and the lark Elsbeere rare. Then a final crack to hear. But in the trees is just one big shade escaping to find - a deer, there heels money. To really be a large animal can be observed without heels takes it, it needs a lot of patience and a little luck.

Walking in tree crowns

Only their traces are everywhere. Graßhoff points to a tree out - on the ground before decaying wood pieces are. "As cited in the hole is very likely a raccoon gehaust." Also, there are so Hainich. Just as forest bats, or the many woodpecker species - woodpecker, gray, green woodpecker and turning the neck for example. In addition, biologists here have 2028 beetle species counted.

Who the forest at an altitude want to experience, in the only other birds or insects are, at best climbs the spectacular, at the castle situated Thiem Baumkronenpfad: He leads the visitors - as the name suggests - a dizzy height over a length of 308 meters through the forest habitat. Dangerous is not the whole thing - the path, the width of sidewalks and is well secured with railings.

Also the visitor must not Klettermaxe: The more than 20 meters high, can climb to Baumkronenpfad with the Elevator overcome. As a reward, there is a magnificent view. Weather Caused Baumkronenpfad times can be closed. If you look at the diversity of Hainich also wants to see, but can in principle always do: "One of the most beautiful times, the wild garlic in spring bloom," says Graßhoff. "And in the autumn leaves."

Art meets mountain.

Abstract in the Alpine idyll: In the middle of the Upper Engadine mountain world a white cone topped by a marble. The artwork on the Muottas Muragl irritated while the hiker - also shows how high the Engadine appreciate their culture. Very high.

 

What is it? A marker for the piste caterpillar? Hikers Guide disorientation? Just what a crew here has forgotten? Who's at the top station Muottas Muragl from the oblique compartment of the funicular climbs, 2456 meters closer to the sky, breath in the thin mountain air and intoxicated by wide view to the bottom, stands in front of a picture puzzle: add photo wallpaper mountain panorama towers so obvious how strange sense, a large cone like a stone Stehaufmännchen, accurate verdübelt with the hard granite floor.

What nailed this one view? A pensioners group debated, and a visitor from the Far East disturbed orbits the obstacle, fumbled on the camera and seems to ask: keep it around or take pictures? Correct would be: keep it. And do not worry: It's just a bit of art.

With the "drop" the sculptor Timo Lindner, the brave Rhaetian Railway done a little extravagance. The four-meter-high sculpture made of stone, mortar and white marble, the same wassertropfen enthroned above the valley, is the summit of the glacier ice to symbolize, says his creator Lindner, and like "a mountain to irritate visitors.

It is not the first time that the area around the hill station of Mouttas Muragl is an open-air gallery. Only two years ago planted a local group of artists on behalf of the Society Bergbahn hundreds buntgestreifte wood slats on the neighboring mountain sheep - where long mountain meets art.

Symbolism fits apple pie

For those who are in the south aufmacht and two hours through tree-free, barren mountain landscape goes, passing by an ocean flechtenüberzogener slate, waterfalls and almost provocative marmots, that comes to Segantini hut. Here its namesake has long lived here, he is a September night in 1899.

Giovanni Segantini has the Swiss Alps in a facial oil, and hardly a place that appeared to him better than the small field stone on the mountain sheep: a Logenplatz before what they are "the ballroom of the Alps" baptized have painted as a backdrop: Under the deep blue sky Palü access the Piz Bernina and the top, below the dark green Roseg and Mint in the chain of lakes of St. Moritz to Maloja. Famous Segantini particularly with the luminosity of his paintings. Who wants to know where the symbolistic its light was very special, must be on the mountain sheep. Many but mainly because Susannes apple pie.

The Segantini hut she and her husband Angelo a few years ago leased, now they are culturally interested sweetened mountain walkers with homemade art. "Most," she says, "want both." For Susanne, submit the walking sticks out of hand, and sit beside Edelweiß marguerites on the terrace, looking at the subject of Segantini Alpine Triptych and let the anecdote, as the painter in the winter the oven out easel dragged on, so that the Colors remained liquid.

Before the road into the valley, they still on the mountain and to the Angelos art with special mixture "Murmeltierfurz": herbal liqueur with a cherry on top. "Segantini" says Angelo, "would have been hooked."

Star hotel with private art guide

Segantini was especially addicted to the Engadine, and not only he, painters, sculptors, photographers, the small piece of Switzerland with the great gig always dressed. And more and more people are curious to what it is incurred. The museums and galleries in St. Moritz have now also in summer. The venerable hotel in Pontresina Saratz has recently completed a sculpture exhibition of 80 works was opened.

And the five-star competition from Kronenhof is proud to be the only hotel in Switzerland, which is its own art making guide. The guests said the Byzantine-Romanesque frescoes in the St. Mary's Church, knows the text by Nietzsche, Hesse and Tucholsky over the Engadine and he knows where Giovanni Segantini his final resting took place: in the village cemetery of Maloja, beside his wife under Lupines and a piece of marble, which states: "Art and Love beat the time."

The cemetery runs along the Segantini way, the stations in twelve of the painter motifs follows, from the village center Malojas until Sils lake. Who here is leaving the village and ascends toward Blaunca is probably soon in the salvation of all Swiss worlds: in the middle of a meadow of flowers lies konfettibunten between Turks and Akelei federal, lady's slipper and yellow poppies, Grevasalvas where Luigi Comencini 1952 Heidi and Peter goats in front of the camera bat.

Heidi Toy Wunderland

Much can be grown in a handful of houses schindelgedeckter not have done, only one is new: the green sits Anger Now a group of hikers and culture enjoys lunch before a reading, listening, as their mountain guide from Johanna Spyri book reads the passage in which Heidi is in the remote zurücksehnt Frankfurt to Switzerland: "So every day because Heidi was sitting and had all the time to imagine, as now the pasture was green again and how the yellow flowers in the sunshine sparkled and shone like everything around the sun, the snow and the mountains and the whole valley. "

And in the broad valley below the red leaves Rhaetian Railway on the green lake, in which the blue sky and white snow blogsn. A toy wonderland, like an unreal nachkolorierte kitsch-postcard, really genuine and yet hardly bearable. But who knows: Maybe coming soon, a young sculptor, is a stone Stehaufmännchen in the middle of the countryside and make the world heal Heidi simply a gallery.

Water fight as Balzritual.

Wet T-Shirt Contest with tradition: In Poland, Easter Monday, the moist-happy affair. With water pistols and buckets to make men hunting on the most beautiful women - some people unhappy in the river lands.

 

Panting, sweating and running the 25-year-old from Kalisz Joasia houses around the corners. The male pursuers are tight on their heels. Why is it just out of the house gone? But you knew exactly how unsafe the streets of their village on that day would be.

Especially when she dares to hope again, finally shaken off their pursuers who need them against an insurmountable brick wall to stop: a dead end! There is no escape anymore. Resignedly Joasia remains are to be her destiny to make. Splash! A few seconds later she is dripping because their clothing is down to the skin.

This fate is not an isolated case. Every Easter Monday in Poland are countless people on the street and even in their own homes victims insidious water attacks. Water bombs, large water pistols, buckets or the nearby lake - every conceivable means, the perpetrators are usually quite young.

But nobody, at least not in the country, came up with the idea to call the police or even compensation for ruined clothing or cell phones to ask. Because of the "poniedziałek Lany", the "Wet Monday", is part of a centuries-old tradition, which goes back to the Middle Ages and just as inseparable as Poland belongs to the cult of Mary, the herb court bigos and John Paul II Your Name: "Smigus Dyngus.

Eheanbahnung with water splash

The first written sources, from the ritualized pouring of water reported to date far into the past: "It is a universal custom of habitually subject to the highest circles of society, that men on Easter Monday the women douse with water," wrote in a Polish medieval historian.

In those days the men penetrated the early morning secretly into houses, the women chosen to be a wet upon awakening. A source from the beginning of the 19th Century holds the reactions: "The girls shriek, but in their hearts they are happy because they know: Those who will remain dry, the same year, no longer married!"

According to Christian interpretation is the custom in the Polish King Mieszko I return. This was on Easter Monday of the year 966 baptized and representative for the whole of Poland can convert to Christianity - the birth of Polish Catholicism. Other sources see the origin of the contrast of wet ritual pagan traditions in order to have a symbolic cleansing of young women in early spring wetted with water.

Much has changed in the centuries that followed, certainly not. Especially in families with children is the day the alleged highest water consumption of the year is still a real highlight. Monika Maliszewska a Mittzwanzigerin from Warsaw, recalls: "Every year my brother took me with a cup of cold water awakened. And every year I made him pre-empt the next time. But he was always faster."

Cooling after Gottestdienst

Meanwhile, many in the emancipation of the water battle arrived. Long, the representatives of the female sex role in their pure and are victims themselves with buckets and water pistols armed. Especially popular is the day in the rural regions of Poland. In some places the priest should himself personally to ensure that its Ministranten Easter Monday after the Fair will receive a small slowdown.

Under Poland's young people is "migus-dyngus" not just pure fun and Tollerei, it also has another, not socially unimportant function: that of a kokettierenden Balzrituals. "It is practically a beauty contest: The more beautiful and desirable is a girl, the more it will be wet," explains Urszula Mochocka from Zabrze - admittedly not add that they themselves always in their youth in the village pond or a specially chartered bath was organized .

The fact that adolescent boys an institutionalized Wet T-Shirt Contest-like, is obvious. The opinions of the female population on the other hand side go far apart. Some simply see the tradition as a childish waste of water and prefer, the whole Easter Monday trapped in their homes to spend.

Others, like Joasia and Monika, looking forward to a day in the year child. But they also criticize the excesses, the "migus-dyngus" betimes can accept. "Today there are no borders anymore. Even old people or people in buses and trams will not be spared," says Monika.

That there is another way, proves the Polish gentleman of the older generation. He also celebrates the tradition of "Nassen Monday". Instead of a water bucket he welcomes the ladies but with a few splashes colognes.

Rendezvous with the culture.

On 16 May the "Night of the Museums': the French initiative has in the past five years at the cultural event to change Europe's borders - between dusk and dawn to open more than 2000 collections, castles and galleries will open their doors.

 

A Witches' process in the Swiss Jura Museum of Delemont? A circus fun exhibits between the Pompidou Center in Paris? Sleeping overnight in a gallery of UK Newcastle upon Tyne? Or an exciting treasure hunt in the streets of the city of Mulhouse, Alsace?

In the "Night of the Museums' exhibition happen in unusual places in Europe or original things: On 16 May venerable halls, medieval walls and modern architecture of scenes and shows met the context of museum traditions blow - at least for the time between dusk and dawn: As a numerical fresco covers, an interactive design, the façade of the "Musée des Beaux - Arts in Valenciennes, the Paris Center National d'Etudes Space "gives visitors a perspective on space museums.

Between Altkirch (Alsace) and Yzeron (Rhône-Alpes) around 1050 museums offer concerts, workshops for children, theatrical performances, explanations of astrology and astronomy, or imaginative light shows. The events will be the cultural heritage of the French nation in the proper light set. "The Night of the museums, collections and monuments of a night for all open," said Culture and Communication Minister Christine Albanel, "creates each year, an extraordinary rendezvous with the culture."

Three dozen institutions in Germany

But not just in France. Although there was five years ago the idea of a Europe-wide marketing nightly Museum was born and now certainly has the annual cultural event in which this total of over 2100 institutions involved, partners to the borders of Europe found. The list of participating museums comprises 42 countries, from Andorra to the Ukraine, Armenia and San Marino. Also in Germany to open more than three dozen collections, castles and galleries will open their doors the night of curiosity - so the games museum in Chemnitz, the Simplicissimus Renchen in-house or the museum Alamannen Ellwangen.

The goal of cross-border activity combines national and regional organizations: the museums, which are gradually the pressure of economic crisis experience, want to work with the amazing offers its image as a haven of historical and cultural offerings Dedusting with bonds in music, theater and dance, a new, younger audiences . At the same time, unusual presentations to emphasize that the museums as a tourist attraction goals for sure.

UNESCO opens its doors

The (Free) recipe, created along the lines of similar events in Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich or Basel, works - with increasing success: Only in France was 2008 more than 1.5 million curious to nocturnal hour, the way to the museums. "Even the events are not quite perfectly," says Udo Gößwald, President of the International Museumsrats (Icom), "but we support this extraordinary initiative and Europe alongside the event the evening of 16 May, two days later, the 'International Day the museums' oriented. "

And because this year the ambitious self-presentation of the first museums under the auspices of the Council of Europe such as UNESCO, are also the ordinary houses for nocturnal hour, the visitors opened - at the Paris headquarters of the UN cultural organization, 7 Place Fontenoy, 200 volunteers will be around until the morning 1 clock by the House lead. The Council of Europe, in May of its 60th Celebrates anniversary, is in Strasbourg, while the "Palais d'Europe" open - a rare opportunity to look at architecture and art treasures of this institution.

Riviera on the Rhine.

What is Europe meistbestiegener mountain? The Drachenfels! The only 320 meters high hill in the Seven Mountains was already Lord Byron and William Turner to the shoals. Today, a lot of romantics in the Rhenish Riviera - and the Dutch.

 

Fog is located in the valley. So tight, that the Rhine can only guess. He swallows all the noise. No ship diesel we hear no engine noise. It is quiet here on the height, so quiet that one could believe, very far away from any civilization. This is in clear air even the Cologne Cathedral can be seen. But today, Bonn and Cologne are among the sea of fog - as well as the Seven Mountains, one of the oldest nature reserves in Germany.

An hour ascent have enough to get out nassgrauer cold in the sunshine to come. Now compensated a shining day for early departures. The peaks of the Mount of Olives and Drachenfels protrude from the white mist as the summit of a high mountain. They are just 460 and 320 meters high. Not exactly that which we call mountain giants. But the amount is relatively Siebengebirge, just like the word "mountains" for more than 40 hills in the southeast of Bonn.

Sei's drum, a mountain, then, albeit one that poses no danger. Even inexperienced hikers make the climb to the Drachenfels, and no one must fear to lose. Among the trails are well developed and marked, as it would need a mountain rescue. No, the Seven Mountains is a mountain without fear, to the distress in heeled shoes to cope. Although in such a case, rather the cog railway recommends.

From Dutch incorcoporated

Who the view from the Drachenfels can roam, can hardly imagine that this summit is still the most popular in Europe should be. An amazing wonder that every true mountaineer just a tired smile would. But as I said: Everything is relative. In the absence of their own mountains, the Dutchman even the highest mountain of Drachenfels to their chosen country. So many come every year that you might believe all of our western neighbors must be at least once in his life, the hajj the Rhineland, to conquer the Drachenfels.

It was not the Dutch, the popular Drachenfels made. This honor is due uniquely British: Lord Byron was the first person in his anthemic poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" an image of the Rhine between Bonn and Mainz designed, which for decades the idea of his fellow countrymen should dominate.

In the center of the third Cantos focuses on those lines that every Englishman accompanied on his tour: "The castled Crag of Drachenfels Frown o'er the wide and winding Rhine..." So popular were these lines that they are in the travel guides that time again and again been reprinted. Only a little later, it was the painter William Turner, whose watercolor paintings from the Rhine the enthusiasm of his fellow countrymen fired.

Within a few decades, the Seven Mountains as the epitome of the romantic landscape of the Drachenfels and its symbol. With sufficient material in the presentation of luggage made the British so on a journey into the Sommerfrische, transported by a technical innovation: The steamship shorten the arduous journey from London to Cologne to a few days.

An idea of the rush to the Rhine Valley and Siebengebirge convey the passenger numbers of the Rhenish-Prussian Steam Navigation Company. 1828, a year after the opening of the regular service, whose vessels carry 33,000 passengers. 1853 there were 153,000. Six years later there are more than 800,000. Between 1860 and 1890 fluctuated in the yearly number of passengers at about one million one. Every other travelers coming from England. This is mass tourism, one in the history of humankind, a new phenomenon.

Luxury Hotels of the Rhenish Riviera

As a result, experienced the "Rhenish Riviera" a veritable boom. On both banks of the Rhine build wealthy families from Cologne and the Ruhr summer seats. In Koenigswinter arise at the Rhine promenade numerous luxury hotels for a bourgeoisie, according to the turmoil of the Napoleonic wars of the incipient industrialization benefited. Today, the typical seven-day-visitor a mountain, after the walk and the steak fries are still on the same day the homeward journey compete.

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Bavarian Gourmet Vegetables: One hop, always hops (03.04.2009)

Berlin Museum: the cult of currywurst (19.03.2009)

River Cruises: With Casanova on the Danube (07.03.2009)

But what is it exactly what the people are so fascinated by the Rhine and the Seven Mountains? Why did not the masses on to the Ruhr? Who simple curiosity and a certain herd instinct aside can be found in Byron the answer. The keyword is - Pilgrimage. The journey to nature becomes a pilgrimage, the natural place for a quasireligiösen experience. At the Ruhr as in Manchester, from the incipient industrialization already disfigured, was such an experience hard to imagine.

Who the Dragon Castle, halfway up to the Drachenfels located, viewed, but still on a different idea. So splendid is this "castle" on the Middle Ages trimmed - from the neo-Gothic architecture to knights armor in the corridors - that imposes a thought: Was it just Siebengebirge the Disneyland of the 19 Century, a kind of landscape Wunderkammer Guaranteed Showers effect, mythological surrounded by seven dwarves behind seven mountains, the knight Roland and the dragon?

Whatever the explanation was that there is some truth in this miniature edition of a mountain, something that is now almost two centuries for its attraction provides. Maybe it's simply the beauty, the charm of this landscape represents. A beauty, which each reveals the aufmacht and a few hours on the well-groomed trails through valleys and mountains.

Only embellished, then protected

The fact that this beauty is preserved, since 1869 to ensure the "beautification association for the Seven Mountains." Beautification should not take too literally. The intervention of the Association shall be limited to the installation of trails and are otherwise conservative in the classic sense of the word. Preserve the landscape should be, that capital, for the constant stream of visitors makes. This is primarily aesthetic task compounded until recently, classical roles of nature such as the protection of flora and fauna add.

How seriously are the founders of the association was with the embellishment of beauty, one can read the statutes: Until today, the association has the right to purchase to make. But until now no cause for such drastic measures. But there is widespread agreement that the whole magnificently Siebengebirge is protected - and thus well prepared for the annual influx of visitors.

With Asterix in Corsica.

Where could you have more on country clichés learn than reading a book Asterix? In the comic learned Jutta Minarschik that Corsicans hospitable, eloquent, and are easily offended - a visit to the island should provide evidence.

 

"Corsicans are individualists of exuberant temperament. At the same time controlled and left in their behavior, hospitable, faithful to their friends, connected home, eloquent and courageous. And you are easily offended." As it says in the foreword of "Asterix in Corsica". Since the Asterix books like clichés operate without political correctness, the peculiarities of the peoples but aptly and humorously unmask, we have the adventures of the brave Gauls accurately studied.

Corsicans are hospitable "C'est vous qu'on attend?" - Are you the one we expect? With a warm smile comes forward Marie-Jeanne Franceschetti from the Pension e Cime in Asco opposite. After the first hike in the Cap Corse, we come a little late on our first night in the beautiful valley of Asco.

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Alpine - The Mount Magazine

Issue 4 / 2009

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But earlier it was not easy: To idyllisch was the Sentier des Douaniers - the Zöllnerweg - which is surrounded by fragrant sage, rosemary and juniper bushes along the coast to the northern tip of the island of snakes, were too tempting sandy beaches with crystal clear water; to peacefully was the view of sailboats dümpelnde before the hazy silhouette of the island of Elba, to the dazzling concert of crickets. And why should we have to fly Mediterranean island, if you look at it on their mountain retreats? Good reasons for active days in the mountains, there is certainly enough. After attracting 50 Two-thousand and the 2706 meter high Monte Cinto as the "king" of Corsica.

Had we but knew what delights Daniel - husband of Marie-Jeanne and CEO of e Cime - served for dinner, we would have rather found their way here. The view from the room high panoramic windows on the green-gray mountain flanks the other side of the valley, the pasta with wild boar ragout, the type of goat cheese with fig jam, the Corsican red wine, apple tart with vanilla ice cream ... the cordial nature of the host is just opulent. As Daniel the menu for the next evening - Charcuterie, Milchlamm and Chestnut Flan - reveals, it remains unclear who will be more pleased: the boss or the guests.

A Corsican as the comic Volume

Corsicans are controlled and composed. When we clock at nine morning as agreed at the Active Sports Agency In Terra Corsa in Ponte Leccia appear, we get from the Secretary - black and monosyllabic as Marmelada, the sister of comic Dörfler Waggonlix - only scarce information: Jean-Christophe n'est pas encore là. " When Jean-Christophe Bastiani, the head of the agency, as will be remains a mystery.

After all, it can be to a dahingemurmelten comment about the weather ravish, the words from the storms, dangerous and slippery are apparent. But when the tribal leaders finally goes to the yard and eventually also for the tourist audience with bequemt, he wipes the inquiry with a brief "... secretary ..." and a patronizing hand away. Everything half the wild, he says, it would be clear.

Jean-Christophe embodies the Corsicans, as he (Asterix) beech stands. The dense, black, shiny hair, he wears shoulder-level in nearly cut his stature is strong, he speaks incredibly quickly, without having to shave about whether foreigners can follow him, gives tips on routes, activities, schedules, and at the end he smiles for the first time - very short. "D'accord?" Agree? The question is rhetorical of course. Pierre, one of his guides, accompanies us, finally, 13 kilometers away to the "Parc de loisirs," the park ", which the team at Mont Allurado in the Asco Valley has created.

CORSICA - THE MOUNTAIN IN THE SEA

The "Island of Beauty" is twelve kilometers north of Sardinia, 83 kilometers west of Livorno. After Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus, it is the fourth largest Mediterranean island. From north to south it measures 183 kilometers from west to east up to 83 kilometers, and thanks to the many bays, it can with 1000 miles of coastline splurge - but only one third of this beach, the rest rocky. 86 percent of the island area to be used by mountains, where proud 50 Two peaks in the sky! The highest peak is Monte Cinto with a 2706 meters.

You wait five Ferrate, a High Ropes course with two in 10 to 15 meters high and, according to brochure, "exclusively at In Terra Corsa": Tyrotrekking, a series of twelve up to 300 meter flying fox cables in which one pulley and harness 180 meters above the scrub through the air rushes downhill. We want to work with Felskontakt uphill. Pierre Klettersteig distributes the kits, we recommend the route A Torra, shows us a brief - and wants a lot of fun.

For two hours we kraxeln steel over the rocks to the top. For experienced walkers Klettersteig-this adventure park is not a big challenge. A nice Turnerei are creatively designed Ferratas with a total of 2000 meters cable, several suspension bridges and vertical iron ladders, however, all. Unbeatable however, is the location of this playground at Asco River. After the tour, we can comfortably on a flat rock picnic, strengthened in fresh cold plunge pools and us - the length hingestreckt - on the sun-warm stone rehash.

Lost To Advanced.

Fishing villages and fairytale forests, rugged coastlines and quaint pubs: During a hike on the South West Coast Path is Cornwall at its best. Strittmatter Judka followed the path of smugglers and soldiers - and the five most beautiful stages.

 

This path requires respect. A little traipse, loiter, look, that's not on the high road to England's coast. Happy times as a Almspaziergang, zehrend times like a high mountain expedition. The South West Coast Path (SWCP): 1020 kilometers long, from Minehead to Poole after almost, about eight weeks for the average hiker. One wanders through worlds that could not be more different.

Is high times at the top of the Iron Coast, sometimes at the Granite Coast, looks black and sharp pointed coasts of much gloom umweht or zartliebliche hanging, orange and pink mossy covered with heather. Time mixes chalk, slate times in the rugged cliffs of the skin, sometimes lit and broom sprouts or cabbage fields.

Only the blackberry grows almost everywhere. With its thorn branches picks after the walkers, with their fruits they are comforted by his dry mouth. Who they have been as lax Snack spurned by the wayside, will pounce on them here, because stocks are in the backpack on the path of the paths quickly.

1. From Pollock Weir after Lynmouth

We prepare to be our first tour in Porlock Weir, a fishing village in Somerset, a county, we want to take a stage. In Porlock Weir harbor fish boats in the Modder schlagseitig, the tide has given them under the water of Kiel gemaust, the sky gloomy rain fronts. But prefer a hot tea in the "Anchor Hotel" in which the cat purrs, and the wood fire crackles in the fireplace?

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Cornwall

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Hotel behind a wooden fence, the entrance to the SWCP. This is the path to itself, its entrances often hidden behind private gates of the garden, beach dunes or parking lots. Pubs kitchens, bedroom windows and garages schlingelt he is happy to pass before the free cliff is visible or undergrowth. The entrances to the road are everywhere marked with a wooden shield, the logo of the official England emblazoned hiking trails - the penis. Two Bänkchen is mostly because the hikers climbing over a fence to facilitate, guide, and the goal of mini-stages.

Behind Porlock Weir starts a fairy tale forest, in which fairies and goblins might lurk. Mystisch his overgrown trees, moss on the trunks, Farnbüsche and little light, through the closed roof flashes green. In such an environment is a dark tales, and ghost will be here around the coast also have given. The legend says, and knows what is right. The night they suddenly sit on the bed sleeping, scurry as free dental wife through the bathroom and let toy horse whinny.

Before the Porlock-free lawn in forest land einmündet leads us to the path of passing Culbone Church, a church, its oldest parts dating from the 11th Century, the smallest parish church in England, not even 40 square meters large. Before her gate lies a Tiny cemetery where the tombstones - weathered and mortality data for 1800 - jut diagonally into the sky. A Filmort, as done for sinister mystery or scary scenes.

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Lynmouth direction, Endstation, we pass the Silcombe Farm, a Bed & Breakfast. Einsam romantically because she has haylofts Phloxbusch and mümmelnde sheep in front of the door, the coast is at this point the only way to guess. A bitter, windswept SWCP section meets us here, and later, in Lynmouth, a virile impressed Harbor, through the clock to strike five o'clock in the afternoon tourists scurry, then dancing is dead.

To feed the seagulls is prohibited, perhaps because the birds continues, sooner or later zuzuschnappen if they hunger plagues. The only landmark in Lynmouth: the flood museum. 1952 The disaster, a huge flood, an event in the United Kingdom ripples.

On the trail of smugglers and soldiers

During the long years of its existence has seen a lot of the coast: Ship sets, tornado attacks and war. Smugglers, peasants and soldiers. And all have left their footprints, have him, the times began as a trail, to a veritable way. There are cards, which it described in detail, books, the psychological him, his story fills shelves.

Today, tourists are its most important visitors, before, until the First World War, it was the coast guard, after the liquor, soap and candles hunt. In bays, caves, ledges hid the loot finds. And because the search was for neither helicopters nor cars, was on foot and by hand gefilzt. The officials got - to the spot to be - cottages were built. Even their wives and families took advantage of the path of the corridor into the neighboring village or school.

That he is not always right on the cliff entlangführt but erschlängelt detours through dense forest, with adjacent sites, therefore, that a lot of coastal land in private hands and transferred it to the present dispute is who is now a priority - tourists or owners. The SWCP Association takes care of recovery and proudly proclaims: "Through our tenacity, we have many good parts back."

So many facets, such as the route has, so different are the people who use it. Some look after the birds, others for the rock, including artists and archaeologists come. Some dive into the nature, set off with a backpack, tent and cooking utensils, who needs it more convenient, will be held on Wegesrand always a Bed & Breakfast with shower and TV.

There are sections, but also through, Paddy Dillon, English travel writer and expert SWCP, advisable especially leisure, does not recommend starting a hurry. A little planning is needed, however: How long does it for twelve miles, there's the next bay in a cafe when the B & Bs open?

L'Aquila, university town of Abruzzi.

 

Hamburg - The central Italian city of L'Aquila is surrounded by a wreath of mountains up to 2912 meters high peaks in the valley of Aterno. The industrial and administrative center with about 70,000 inhabitants is the capital of the Abruzzo Region and the Province of L'Aquila. The place was built in the 13th Staufen century by Emperor Frederick II founded and suffered in recent years by several severe earthquake damage. L'Aquila is the only town in the Abruzzi with a university.

Tourists appreciate the historic city center, with palaces, fountains and churches of the Baroque and Renaissance period. These include Santa Maria di Collemaggio from the 13th and the monumental Basilica of St. Bernardine of Siena from the 15th Century. According to the Ansa news agency, rushed the dome of one of the churches in the earthquake, and the cathedral was damaged.

Between the Adriatic and Abruzzi Apennines located shall be considered as one of the last wildernesses in Italy. For hikers interesting is the nearby Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, the oldest national park in the Apennines, which - although still meager marked - Hiking between rugged mountains, rivers and lakes along lead. In the dense forests live bears, wolves, lynx and deer.

Single hop, hop ever.

From the poor man's meal for rare gourmet specialty hops asparagus from the Bavarian Hallertau is a vegetable with a moving story. Troublesome is his crop, the season lasts only a few weeks - that is the allegedly shoots the power increase.

 

Like every year it all started quite gently with a bowl of lettuce. Knack fresh and garnished with marinated asparagus tips hops. This appetizer was the guest Hallertau hops, asparagus soup followed, then there were hops Zander fillet with asparagus vegetables.

The next time you visit, the gastronomic equivalent of the fast lane: On two puff pastry pies filled with hops, asparagus vegetables followed by lamb with two pastry bags. Of course, filled with hops, asparagus. His culinary festival week in glutton left at the third visit pork medallions with asparagus and hops to an extra dose of hops, asparagus vegetable bar. And in order to process it all, he tipped one Stamperl schnaps hops behind.

Where it is so obsessed regulars there, the specialty must be something special. "He has told me that he had in the winter a few extra kilos abspeckt, then in the spring of the card up and down to try," says Jakob Sixt on its best customers well. In mid-March as the man was always considered one of the first innkeeper at Sixt in pipe in Lower Bavaria on the mat to the young root sprouts einzuverleiben.

In the Hallertau, a landscape, which almost exactly in the middle of Bavaria, is since the middle of the 19th Century hops grown in great style. Here Jakob Sixt senior as one of the re-discoverer of the young spring vegetables. Thirteen years ago, he hops the asparagus on his card. He refined old recipes and new tüftelte. That was not obvious, because in the largest contiguous hops grown in the world were the sprouts so desires like salt in a salt lake. Hops, asparagus was a poor man's meal frowned upon.

Remembering barren times

Even today, some allegedly refuses Hopfenbauveteran that only a few centimeters long and thick pen shoots of dead animals - because they are economically poor times to remember. Previously, day laborers were given namely, the hop gardens in the thousands of plants in winter packaged laborious manual work for the growth phase prepared, a few hundred grams of hop asparagus as part of the weekly wage.

Fasting view of hops, asparagus is merely a waste product of the hops. But a tasty, with a distinctive nutty-earthy note. How many spring herbs and vegetables is also hop asparagus blood cleansing, and purifying entsäuernd. Even so, as if the nature of the opulent winter dishes out an agenda for the people, the body just the right season to be delivered to him for the spring to fit.

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Each hop plant has 20 to 100 young shoots. Only four to six hops, the farmers are. The remaining shoots are developing the so-called hop vines. You hangeln on thick metal rope upwards, which in turn, angled, meter-long pole attached. This hop gardens give the Hallertau, spread over the districts of Lower Bavaria and Upper Bavaria extends its characteristic appearance. "Holledau" call it the way, the residents. Motorists are aware of the same motorway junction.

In the Holledau says about the hops growers' Den, where the hops has scratched that he no longer happening. " On High German: Once hops, always hops. Beer lovers can sing that song. Two-thirds of the Hallertau hops are exported, only one third remain in the country, the three ingredients of the German beer purity bid to complete: hops, malt, water. And for brewing hop cones are used.

Big burden on small shoots

One of the hop shoots in the truest sense of the word re-excavated, is Konrad Rieder Arch. With 25,000 plants, his yard as a small business. "The big catch with 100,000," says Rieder Arch. But his existence as a so-called part-time farmer was also his chance. Only for the smaller farms worth the business of rare vegetables. This is the only hand-harvested and sorted sprouts have the necessary quality to the plate to be allowed to wander.

An expense that is not worthwhile for Großagrarier. They edit their gardens with time-saving machines. The shoots are cut off and vergammeln on the field. For one kilo of asparagus hops needed arch Rieder one to two hours of work, depending on the hop variety. "You have what understand from the plant, otherwise they are damaged," says Rieder Arch. Temporary workers, he wants to be you do not use.

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In the few weeks of the harvest is Konrad Rieder bow with his family a day long student on the field. With thumb and forefinger, the excess abgeknipst shoots, later in the cooking pot land. Incidentally, not only in Bavaria. Archery Rieder sent the precious goods vacuum-packed and sent by Express - fresh shoots are at most 48 hours long shelf life - at ambitious cooks in Germany and Europe. The full kilo costs 40 euros.

A handful Edelrestaurants in Hamburg and Berlin are among its customers. Maîtres But in Vienna, Venice and Barcelona are even with hops from the Hallertau asparagus supply.

Still, the young old vegetables a shadowy existence. For too long, it was forgotten. But at least in the growing areas reminds you of his roots. Shoots his way relationship. Incidentally, you are like the "real" asparagus potenzsteigernde an effect said.

Hops and asparagus sushi pizza

The tourism associations to see asparagus in the hop a chance, the little tourist developed area of the hop poles, bell towers and rolling hills, to market. A working group of tourism professionals, farmers and restaurateurs would like to hop shoots and thus the Hallertau to bring the man. Hop asparagus weeks, was launched. They usually last from mid-March to mid April.

That meanwhile some Hallertauer Gasthöfe hop asparagus offer will include a merit of Jacob Sixt. But even some of the sprouts herumexperimentieren, awakens in his rather mixed feelings. Hops than sushi wrapped asparagus, hops, asparagus or pizza as a lining - for Sixt is too much frills. "Mir san finally in Bavaria," he says.

Pastry filled with hops, asparagus vegetables but receives the blessing of the earth innkeepers. It is one of the favorite of Jacob Sixt. And the guest, the rustic ambience in the building from the 17th Century to appreciate. Here was formerly a monastery brewery complex.

Every now and then look at a few priests from the nearby convent over. Of course, also to hop to enjoy asparagus. Needless to say, without ulterior motive. Nevertheless tells you tube still in a true anecdote. A guest spooning full benefit from his hops asparagus soup, as another says: "There is your wife but you." The sobering answer: "I bring the nix. I am the chaplain of the convent."

18 square meters of freedom.

Here are moose and beavers good night: With two km / h, it can be on a raft in Sweden wonderfully with the whole family to relax - at least until the selbstgezimmerte vehicle on a sand bank stuck.

 

"You always need a good first sentence," says my son, Jan. "Writing: Oh God, it just comes to us!"

Such phrases Jan films knows that he looks when he and his brother alone at home. Films in which people of monster waves and killer bees will be prosecuted or have to flee before extraterrestrials. Since our raft near the village Osebol stored, about 100 kilometers north of Väner, Jans is set for our team to five winged word.

Actually, one of the rafting trip contemplative types ever. It is progressing, without doing anything to them. Provides direction and pace of the water, and this has happened in our case not in a hurry: Only about two kilometers per hour to pay us the Klarälven, the longest river in Sweden, in far extensive loops through the wooded hills of Värmland.

We sit there and watch him to be, hour by hour. Counting the beaver castles on the shore, follow the overtaking formations of ducks or look after fish, for a fraction of a second from the dark water jump. Only now and then, a team member of zest for action yet. Intervenes in the food box, and retrieves the cookware to prepare tea or a can Köttbullar - those meat balls to the children nor the last visit to the Ikea restaurant are familiar with.

FOUND IN ...

GEO Special No. 2 / 2009

Sweden

Content
Heft bestellen
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Published in GEO Special 2 / 2009 "Sweden"

Your editor has Floßabenteuer Johanna Romberg for the current GEO Special durchstanden Sweden. The booklet was published on 1 April 2009, other topics: A look behind the scenes of the royal family, bestselling author Håkan Nesser said the Swedish thriller boom and a summer house-owner, tells of her personal Bullerbyn.

And then it happened. Whenever're all concerned about the hob geschart have a steaming plate in hand, full of confidence that the raft in the next half hour his way alone place. A tree appears on whose branches as a barrier over the water tower. Or a sand bank, identified in a pair of geese in the middle of the water seems to stand. We are still a good 50 meters away from the barrier, far enough to avoid. Actually.

Jan and his friend Robin plunge the four-meter-long Stakstangen into the water. But the lane is too deep. Photographer Ralf and my second son Jacob after paddling forces, port and starboard. But the flow is stronger. My cheer cause only that they still be more to pull and the raft is spinning. Rods and paddles in the hands, balance us bow to stern, encounter with the heads of wooden beams, curse, yell, wring their hands.

During the day, drift, night camp

But the raft holds unerringly course. Even a few seconds, then it is under our feet crunch ugly, is a powerful Weidenast with full force against our Deckzelt crash. Even 30 meters. Even ten. OH GOD, IT JUST COMES TO U.S. TO!

That it would be an adventure, we knew before. But that's not what a.

The itinerary read like a guide for the perfect family vacation together to build a raft and four days Klarälven walks, mountain biking, so clean that it made him even water to the tea maker can draw. During the day, to drift, in the evening on a meadow on the shores tents - somewhere where there are moose and beavers to say good night.

The description is not failed, that the adventure could be exhausting. From the "enormous power of water" was the speech, and that wood is hard and tons heavy. It was stressed the need to ensure meaningful regular meals, as well as to the usefulness of rain gear, insect repellent and, last but not least, work gloves. We have taken note of everything you need wrapped. But what's really on us, we guess, than we in a cool August morning on the shores of Klarälven stand, about 50 kilometers north of our destination Gunnerud.

Before us are three truck loads tree trunks, each in three-meter long pieces zersägt. The have the thickest amount of telegraph poles. The thin, are not much more slender. There are other potter Bautrupps next to us, including families with small children. I see that some fathers, the sight of the wood pile faces get tense, and I'm glad that I have four men at my side had: a veteran, experienced wildlife photographers, two 15-year-old friends, only to burn in their everyday lives mostly untapped body forces operation, and a ten-year-olds, who always complains that it is not for the adults take fully.

Now strikes Jacob, my younger son, with glowing eyes on the work gloves. "Go, Mama," he says, "I take the thick end, you take the thin!"

Bandages, wrap, knot, lashing

We roll tree trunks into the water to the six dozen in total. Three layers of our raft strong, so we are on the top later dry foot can move. But first we need to above the knees into the cool water to rise to the principal of: bind, wrap, knot, lashing. On the eve Instrukteurin had shown us how to about 200 meters of rope around the trunks winds that they do not slip into being - and yet at the end of the trip with a few back into a loose pile of drift wood can be transformed. An ingenious system. But - as it worked the same?

The instructors are just next door with the Bautrupps employed. But fortunately, we have Robin. Jans camping experienced friend has a capacity to us in the course of the trip will still often benefit: He brings objects by mere in-the-Hand Take functioning. Recalcitrant ropes obey him as verkantete tent poles, burning gas stove lazy, Bitchy small electrical appliances.

"The strap across the top," says Robin. "Nee, the other way. To the ordinary rum and then nee .... Let me, I do that already."

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After about six hours, the raft ready. It measures 18 square meters, one half is covered with a tent. Some extra-thick tree trunks serve as a railing, the backrest, Solarium and fishing stool in one.

We are, except with several Seekisten fully Proviant, spare ropes, a dinghy and a weather-resistant map, with a range of good advice equipped. "If, sand banks out!", We have the instructors eingeschärft. "Pay attention to overhanging branches! Addiction necessarily a warehouse, before it gets dark!" This may be no problem, we think. What is in this gentle waters have unexpected happen?