Quetsch, hüpf, blubb.

Frog Men's Alpine valley in the Austrian Atterseehaus is a popular diving area - although there is little colorful fish and always fatal accidents. Taster diving When Martin declined Cyris still the allure of the underwater worlds.

 

Water is wet. That divers wet suits and cold may be with this knowledge we must be a beginner once warm. Because there is hardly something unpleasant, as in Frühtau of the mountains in a damp wet suit to fit. The heater in the corner of the locker room says it is good, but it only alleviates the worst torments. "Igitt" and "Bäh" are the comments of the immersion students.

"Close your eyes and clean," advises Robert, our instructor. Because on the eve of the summer brought a break and had the sun behind thick clouds made, the suits on the clothes horse is no longer dry time. The diver is destiny. Professional costs of cold a smile, genuine novices overcome. "After the water, you will not feel like this," says Robert.

The Austrian lakes for beginners are very good. Especially in the Attersee Lake, the largest inland waters of Austria, there are often best viewing conditions. 20-25-meter diver can see. Daylight penetrates to a depth of 30 meters in front. A clear vision helps beginners to get into diving. And of course the fact that - unlike the sea - currents is unlikely. The freshwater areas in Austria are therefore an ideal training ground for newcomers.

At the sight of men in the middle of the frog has mountains in the Salzkammergut region long accustomed. Although the region usually with walking than with diving is associated. The scene could hardly be österreichischer: Baroque church towers, old farmhouses, fragrant herb meadows. And in many a hotel bathroom is located next to the shower cap instead of a modern body lotion tried Franz spirits in a basket - to rub tired limbs.

Legs and hips as a problem area

Also Muskelkater threatens us, because our legs are over the stripes of the extreme wet suits claimed. Especially the legs and hips are proving to - regardless of the body proportions - as a problem. It is the creation of a diving suit actually quite simple: squeeze bottle full and dragging. More is not to do. "You have created the" Robert encourages us, "if you do have on the hips, you are almost there."

DIVE-QUIZ

AP; Linus Geschke; Andreas Hilsenbeck

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After the last participant in his wet suit is stowed, we run the gen shore. Better said, we falter. Because of the weight belt around our bellies and the air bottle on our back to make our lives difficult. "And that should be fun?" asks a diving Neuling tormented. He was by his wife, an avid diver, using the gift voucher ushered taster. "Wart's ab!" says Robert.

After a brief introduction to sign language and the most important rules of conduct under the water - "Very quiet weiteratmen, just like on land!" - We even invited into the water. None of us was ever more than one lung filling below the water surface, let alone with diving equipment.

"The introduction of country should proceed as quickly as possible," says Robert, "we want the people do not get bored." Add cold water will still not be thrown on two participants, a trainer. The safety standards of diver education in Austria are high. Behind the two groups are driving the guides and keep an eye on the novices. Motion errors will be corrected by bold attacks. We dive at two meters down.

Calmness and Blubb

And lo and behold, what old diving hare routine may be, for a newcomer is a real eye-opening experience: This rest under water. This silence. The underwater world is like a separate universe. The hectic life on the water surface has degenerate with the first fin movements incidental. The bubble of our breathing apparatus is the only sound heard.

That it is in no Atterseehaus colorful coral reefs and other bizarre creatures on display there - regardless. Peace under water is to be the pros and beginners alike in the spell. And of course the weightlessness.

But this does not make it any easy. My Mittaucher, an arid type of almost two meters in length, like a rowing cockchafer helpless in space. His fins caught in his glove and my drive to me regularly in front of the glasses. Our dive guide has his hands full to do it on the right track. After my Mittaucher somewhat brought under control, the guide directs us into something deeper regions. Three meters. Four meters.

Dawns on me why diving can be addictive. Even if at the bottom of the Attersees only stones and shells are to be seen and only occasionally a few fish scurry past - in order to experience this Weltentrücktheit it has paid off in the wet suit to fit, and afraid of any dive to one side.

Again and again in accidents "Todessee"

"Respect yes, but no fear," Robert describes his feelings under water. Because some of the respect for the elements is lost, the pass Atterseehaus deadly accidents regularly. In Austria, the lake is so often in the negative headlines, has been called "Todessee" means. Debt is the depth: Up to 175 meters is in Atterseehaus down. "The euphoria is under water, unfortunately, some of the dangers of forgetting," says Robert. Hubris is the most common cause of death.

He and his colleagues of the other dive schools on Atterseehaus are annoyed because of the discussions. "Some people seem to be too much and then throw a bad light on all the diving," says Robert. Would observe all safety rules, diving is a sport with a calculable risk.

In the last 10, 15 years has been a veritable boom in the freshwater diving developed in Austria. On weekends, be strong around 3000 per day dives Atterseehaus counted. Other districts, such as the Mondsee, the Traunsee or Hallstättersee are within reach.

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We are glad for the time that the exit stairs to reach. Indeed, the unusual movement and the many impressions have made us tired. Backwards - we have finally have the fins on the feet - is the stairs. We have again ground under our feet. We fasten the air bottle and breathe deeply through only once. "I feel somehow as difficult," puffed one participant, "in the water that's so beautifully simple."

Robert takes a look at the beginner and breaks into hearty laughter from: "No wonder you did so even to the weight belt." The dive school pained smiles and exempts itself from the Beschwernis. Some loads are also at Atterseehaus not alone from.

Voices of the Green Lady.

Whiskey, sheep and Spukschlösser: Scotland will all more than just stereotypes. But who could they not like? The ghoulish legends, the Knights' dramatic castles and smoky single malts of the highlands in the north island.

 

Turriff - Allegedly Stinginess is typical for Scotland. But in a tour of the Highlands which is nothing to remember. At least the northeast of Scotland is not stingy with small and large attractions. Tourists learn here: Typical Scots are more whiskey and wool, sheep and castles, ghosts and people for whom all life is.

Fyvie Castle is a castle, all the clichés of Scotland met: The entrance hall is a few feet high, knights armor stand around. On the rear wall flickers an artificial fireplace, hang on another crossed swords, but also a deer antler and a Elchkopf. The stuffed polar bear, however, the seemingly grinning over a stuffed seal also prevents acts here in the northwest of Aberdeen Turriff something exotic.

Fyvie Castle would be the ideal backdrop for a movie about Scotland's shrill locks. The alligator, the mighty Elefantenstoßzahn and the Turtle, on the castle to visitors marked the beginning of their visit, show exactly how the crocodile skin from Sudan that one of the former castle lords an avid hunter and collector was. The castle is also remarkable in other ways - not only because of its more than a hundred rooms in the haunted Flyvie Castle Green Lady, and have done so for centuries.

Smoking, drinking, games

Andrew Collins leads the guests through the stairwell. "It dates from 1599 and is the widest in Scotland," he says and moves on research progress. "It is so great that some early visitors to the horse to be ridden up." The castle is 800 years old, says Collins, "it was in medieval times of the hunting seat of the Scottish king." The bulk of the body but comes from a late time.

In the men's room a buffalo head hanging on the wall and a collection of rifles. The pool table which is two tons. "Here the men indulged their vices," says the Castle Guide: "Smoking, drinking, playing." To see is also the room in which the 16th Century castle of the Lord for his wife always einsperrte because they are four daughters but no son had received. She died in despair and is now still in order: "In the green dress, which she had worn," says Collins.

The castle today is Mr. Robert Lavie, and is not noble. He managed Fyvie Castle on behalf of the National Trust, the British institution, which ensures that many historic buildings are open to visitors and remain. "The Green Lady I've never seen, but the rose scent of her perfume I have smelt," he asserts. "She was also a few in my apartment, has adjusted things and once even turned up the taps."

Lavie chances of ghost apparitions are relatively good: He lived for ten years under the palace roof. On a cabinet is a photograph taken next to it shows Prince Charles. "A super etter type. He was only in October here, and it has really liked him." Lavie and Prince Charles share several interests. These include Scotch whiskey - single malt whiskey, to be exact.

Water for the whiskey

Single Malt is the pinnacle of high spirits from the north of the British Isles - a matter with which you look at solid conviction Lavie best in practical basics. He pours a Balwhinnie On. "Twelve years old," he says charm, "six years in oak and six years in sherry barrels, easy and full of sweetness." Lavie is a filigree silver jug a sip of water in the whiskey before he first saw it sips. His guests are doing the same to him. "The water," he says, "brings the flavors to really apply."

A piece of Turriff is located west of the Highland town of Elgin. With Fyvie Castle has it together, that Prince Charles was there recently: 2008, he has a visitor center opened in Johnston. Johnston, at the end of the 18th Century, is an institution in Scotland and the first choice for everything from wool manufactured. Craig Ware, one of the tour guide, pointing to the white cashmere from Mongolia, which is processed here. "This is camel hair," he says, and puts a little bit flauschiges them around, "wonderfully soft."

Johnston is also behind the scenes look: Visitors may use the division to look at where the wool is spun, the hall where the looms and also the huge washing machines, the oil from the wool wash - with Scottish spring water. The small Elgin, otherwise best known for the majestic ruins of its medieval cathedral, is also on behalf of major brands produced by about Lacoste Ralph Lauren to Burberry. Above all, scarves and blankets come from here.

Elgin is located south of Speyside, a region in the Highlands with very many whiskey distilleries. In Grantown on Spey is home to Graham Harvey, a whiskey connoisseur of a special kind because it uses its flavor not just to drink: Harvey is the chef in the "Craggan Mill". The restaurant in an old mill dating from the 18th Century is known for its cuisine with specialties whiskey - all of Harvey's creations. "It tastes just great," he says. "You only have the courage to try out a lot." Den he has, so guests get haggis soup with a touch of 15 year old Glenfarclas or smoked fish served with a whiskey sauce Tabasco.

Scotland's smallest distillery

No longer in Speyside is Edradour, the chances to be the title of "Scottish distillery schnuckelig" would. In any case, it is the smallest. It is located in Perthshire near the town of Pitlochry. The white building, including the burning house bubbles, are from the street to see. A stream splashes it on a narrow bridge. The farm owners are Andrew Symington. "We are the final Farm Distillery in Scotland," he says, "originated from a farm on which the surplus barley for the production of whiskey was used." The distillery has its fuel license since 1847.

"Today, three burners and myself," says Symington. "Elsewhere control everything via computer, we do this by hand yet." In the whiskey industry, he worked for more than 20 years. Seven years ago he stood with his from Germany-based partner in front of the distillery. "Beautiful here," she said. "Should I tell you to buy?" He asked. "A year later we were back before, this time with the key in his hand."

The distillery can be visited, the room where the barley in a huge "Big Bags" is stored, to the mash tun and the "stills" for distilling.

Symington makes his mature malt extensively. "We use Sherry, Port, Burgundy, Madeira, Masala and drums," he explains. Depending on how long the whiskey is stored and in which the barrel, there are many different variations of the Edradour Malt. In the visitor center, they are bottle to bottle on the shelf, an impressive range, how to demonstrate what is possible to taste everything.

In its seams from all the warehouse space has Symington 700 barrels lie. One of them belongs to his son Andrew Gerhard. Even the little moves with the Bobbycar over the yard. "But if it 21 is, he gets the barrel for a birthday," says the boss Edradour. It can fill 700 bottles - from a then very old, very uncommon drops. This would not only celebrate birthday, but a party like a lock master.

Andrew Gerhard Symington did not even know how good he has it.

From the crusaders to the castle lords.

On cruise ships, it will be very good live. But what if one of the endless sea voyage after years of weary of is? One option: Mr. Burg to be on a 800 year old castle in Franconia.

 

Crusaders are sophisticated guests. People meet here and there, tells of traveling to Africa or the Indian Ocean, is exchanged on the quality of ships, slaps on Masters, met on board people who are already on other ships has to know there is a small and familiar society based on high-quality boats on the oceans schippert. But not only the passengers as it goes.

Stronger is the volume of the lake or the crew. Three months on the "Sea Cloud", year on the "Bremen", a contract next season at the "Hanseatic", a coming and going; Housekeeper, Bartender, shop manager, chef, the professions, there are many.

Not everyone believes the tight space on board, is made in this microcosm, where freedom and confinement are so close together. Who made this, you can hardly leave them, too, there are numerous moments in the stranger, to the exciting encounters. But sometimes it is simply not on board, children want their parents to miss no more, members are to maintain the desire for more space is urgent, Constance is desired. Then, only to settle on land.

FOUND IN ...

mare

The Journal of the seas

Issue No.74
Topic Title: Monsoon
June 2009

Content
Current Issue Order
www.mare.de

Some try to miss the sea, the fickle, are unhappy, almost mad yearning and go back to the ship. Not so Christian and Ilona Schneider and her two children. They have become masters castle.

At night by three to roost Abenberg. The courtyard is empty, silence, blackness, a steep staircase, the handrail narrow considerably the height of a sky with many stars from the town below is nothing to see. Is it the imagination, which goes through with a? In this medieval castle in Mittelfranken begs the thought of a ship on gently.

Is it the stories of the evening, talking about the world of the crusaders, the Hermetic, which each ship is unique? So as the self-completed area of the castle Abenberg: a restaurant, a museum, a few rooms in the tower, a thick wall that surrounded the whole thing. Microcosm roost. Fern the rest of the world.

So it must have been in the Middle Ages. We in here, its out there, just like on a cruise ship. The world beyond the railing is alien. Delightful mostly, sometimes hostile. Inside, however, does the same eternal rhythm of sleep and wakefulness, cooking, Auftischen, removing the rhythm of a very orderly life.

A passenger on the couple "Europe" was it that Ilona and Christian Schneider jumped ashore fond presented with a tip that the Frankish castle Abenberg in new tenants need. When the two are actually committed to the years of seafaring behind them, they did not own. They hired a whole crew together, people with whom they are already on many ships had worked together - the chef, the receptionist, the Maître, the Chef de Partie, the upper waitress, all former crew members.

Cruise community to roost Abenberg

The Schneider and her team have given the restaurant a more modern and luxurious nature, when it Abenberg were used to. No more hearty farmhouse kitchen, the food has been refined, subtly renovated the cellars, the dishes match; morning there are only jam in porcelain bowls, the superior taste is recovered.

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The inhabitants of the small city with its crowded houses only had to get used to it that the great world come to them is that the chef is a much-traveled man, all sorts of exotic brings to the plate. And that even the guests arrive from far away. Indeed, precisely because crusaders guests are sophisticated, they also visit the castle Abenberg.

At the inauguration ceremony, they were all there, the celebrities, to the ships as an entertainer have occurred, the passengers, while the directors are friends, crew members, it was a single rendezvous. People who are otherwise interrelated by Yemeni cities were, asian cookshop tried lifeboats crew or between parties to celebrate, they sat together that evening at a mighty castle in Bavaria. And talking of the sea.

Awakening to the Adriatic.

On the wildly romantic Adriatic peninsula of Punta scale grows a giant holiday complex approached with luxury and family hotels Giant Hamam and self-sufficient supply. The ambitious project is a sign: Croatia emancipated itself from its image as a cheap holiday destination.

 

Zadar - Larger families with children, students, seniors and young lovers in the past decades as a holiday destination Croatia driven - often by car. All together, the little purses, for the "best weeks of the year" was available. As the foreign tourists, including the Offer: Only 14 percent of bed supply was in quality hotels. The vast majority were in neighborhoods with modest private campgrounds or satisfied.

But those days are gone. Also in Croatia - with a spectacular coastline of 1700 kilometers from the natural abundance presented - can be demanding guests now come at their expense.

Over the past three to four years, a hotel in Croatia landscape, including the discerning holiday-makers from Istria in the north to Dubrovnik in the south of the Adriatic Sea is now a dense network of four-star hotels.

Tourism is the main industry

Valamar has 22 hotels and eight apartment facilities, the largest foreign tourism enterprises in Croatia. The Austrian owners have abgewirtschaftete equipment from the seventies and modernized a network of four-star hotels set up. Their flagship is the new "Valamar Lacroma Resort" in Dubrovnik. The "President" hotel overlooking the sea and the Elafite Islands in the north and Poreč in the "Diamond" and "Tamaris" have become among foreign guests made a name.

In 2008, nine million foreigners visited the Croatian coast. A tight-thirds of them came from Germany and Austria. The guests from beyond the borders flushed together with the two million domestic tourists for more than seven billion euros in cash. Meanwhile, the tourism, with a quarter share of the gross domestic product by far the most important industry moulted.

Nevertheless, the beaches, even in high season is not populated by masses. There are only about 120,000 hotel and 440,000 private beds. There are 200,000 parking spaces in good camping facilities. With few exceptions, especially in Istria, Croatia has mostly cliffs. Thus, the natural limits to investors, following the example of other Mediterranean countries to establish concrete deserts.

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That tourism still has a great future, show the latest investment by foreign companies. Recently, for example, runs the "Softopening" said step-by-step opening of the Kempinski Adriatic "in Savudrija at the extreme northwest tip of Istria, practically across from Venice. The "five-star golf and Spahotel aims with the first 18-hole golf course in Croatia points. One trick is to its own wedding chapel. Already three years ago has a Hilton hotel in Dubrovnik, its doors open.

Artificial Ferienregion for 210 million euros

By far the most ambitious project seeks just the Tyrolean Falkensteiner Michaelerplatz-group to the wildly romantic peninsula of Punta Skala in the Adriatic city of Zadar. With investments of 210 million euros to be 30 hectares with 1.6 km of natural beach holiday a whole region. "Mixed approach" is the magic formula, says manager Gerhard Mans Bart: There is a family hotel just opened, a spring-ready in the coming five-star luxury hotel and 187 apartments. The 40 to 100 square meter apartments can be rented or purchased.

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The complex includes a saltwater pool, in which "the Dead Sea postpositive" is a giant hamam with ten-meter high ceilings, 6000 square meter spa area, change gears and water everywhere, bright rooms and ocean views from almost every room. Because the car-free holiday landscape is disappearing, the mobile sub-sets in the garage. The desalination plant, sewage treatment and electricity production to guarantee the operation, even if it is one of the feared loss of local businesses should be. "We are at least three days Vollbelegung self-sufficient," says manager's beard.

In Croatia, it has around the millennium change dozens windy privatization of the old hotels from communist times, where. The buyers did not concern the improvement of tourist offer, but a quick profit. The disinterest of the rut and when the workers from the era of socialism worked more as a brake than as an engine for the industry. Only the unique combination of Croatian landscapes and proven expertise hotel opens new prospects now tourism.

Elchsalami with beer cans.

Grell Green lit the birches, red lichen and the azure sky with colors and light stingy Lapland in the summer - and not even with mosquitoes. Bite-tolerant hikers start in Abisko in the wilderness of "Kungsleden," Sweden's most famous trail.

 

Abisko - the sky is the sun still high above the horizon. At the rest stop a campfire crackles, the wanderer stochert - umwabert of smoke - after a potato. So it is, the wilderness romanticism in Abisko National Park, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. 1909, ie 100 years ago, the park was established. This anniversary celebrates Sweden, which then became the first country in Europe has created national parks, now with a "Year of nature."

The smoke at the picnic area is good, because he keeps the - too many. Culex vulgaris, the common gnat, buzzing in massive swarms through the North Country, Summer, and next to her are also brakes, flying, Kriebelmücken and other nasty Schwirrgeister underway. But who goes hiking in Lapland, who knows that and ensures that: With clothes, by no proboscis sticks with defense sprays and Wildnishut together with a network before the face.

More exciting than all the rest of the insect fauna in Abisko: moose and reindeer can espy with high probability, as well as many rare birds. With a little luck are polar or Auerhahn fox, lynx or wolverine. Also bears and wolves roam through the park

In persistent rain through deserted wilderness

For the visitors from Central Europe is a Lapland trip, but even without such a rendezvous with a predator adventure enough: He wades through icy rivers, tracks 15 kilograms of luggage on the back, drinking from sources that sleeps by the fire and stapft by continuous rain in the deserted wilderness. Through lonely expanses of Lapland winds probably Sweden's most famous trail, the "Kungsleden. In Abisko begins the roughly 440-kilometer-long "King", which crosses several national parks.

Apart from some Sami reindeer breeders, live in the Fjällregion almost no people. But the trail opens up the mountains for nature: He is well marked paths lead through Bohlen otherwise barely passable Moore, and bridges span raging rivers. Moreover, because the managed huts, always beautiful one days march apart. There are dry beds, hot soups, cold beer and food for the road.

Even for shorter Fjälltouren Abisko is a good starting point. There is a supermarket, a petrol station and a few hostels. In parallel with the Europe street rattern day and night long freight trains over, the iron ore from the mines in Kiruna to Narvik port to bring in Norway. In Abisko start small hiking trails and guided tours, a chairlift goes up to the mountain Nuolja.

There, above the tree line 900 meters in height, shows the Lapland mountains in all its vastness: Below extends the mighty sea to the east from Torneträsk. Between the snow-capped peaks are bogs, marshes, rivers, pine forests and birch groves.

Log instead Felljurte

Who before the march in the mountains more about the landscape experience will find next to the tourist station in Abisko the Naturum. There are maps and touring tips, lectures and guided tours. A few steps behind the station of Abisko is also a replica Sami settlement. The Village Museum shows how the indigenous people 150 years ago and lived.

Today there are still many of them in the reindeer herding active. But instead of using skis and sled drive the animals now with helicopters and snowmobiles together. And they have their Rentierfelljurten against long block houses with electric heating and flat screen TV exchanged.

Anyone who truly wild wilderness searches, may from Abisko Vadvetjåkka arrive. Sweden's northernmost national park is only 25 square kilometers in size and is located in the high mountains on the border with Norway. There are no paths, bridges and huts, and few visitors to get lost here. You have to deal with the boat on the Torneträsk bring to and from the northern shore of six miles through unmarked, swampy terrain penetrate to reach the park.

On the campfire has become even baked potatoes. There are Elchsalami and beer cans in the river chilled. The mosquito net on the hat is folded down, the sun is shining still, the sleeping bag is rolled out. Were now a troll from the forest geschlendert, it's not a big surprise. He should like salami cost, sipping on beer and tell his life. But such thoughts probably only come here in summer Lapland.

Always after the hare.

Gradients are rare: A bike ride in the country is flat Osnabrücker comfortable nature. On Wegesrand shine quietschgelbe rape, lures homemade plum cake - and who has the bike over, simply switch to rail.

 

Quakenbrück - The rabbit is not a friend of excitement. Leisurely winds the little river through the countryside north of Osnabrück. The same applies to the entire Hasetal: The relatively flat landscape in the dandelions in the meadows and rape in a sunny yellow glow, is made as to the discovery of slowness. Cycling here is exactly the thing to them as much as possible NOTICE, rape or even smelling rabbit grazing on the lollop to see.

The rises in the rabbit Teutoburg forest and flows into the Ems in Meppen. Between the river seeks its way through pastures and rape, passing many large farms and some small cities like Bramsche, Löningen and Heart Lake. Cyclists can Hasetal not much wrong. Her motto is: "Always after the hare" - in the "hare-Ems Tour" for example, according to the signs and made up of Osnabrück Heart Lake, but also to Meppen Rheine or can be driven.

For the first time the river is still on the Osnabrück city to see. Since he appears suddenly behind a bend, as it leaves a green roof in the west, the direction. Gradients are rare - between Osnabrück and the destination Bramsche is practically only on the bridge over the branch channel several meters uphill. Bramsche worthwhile because of the already Tuchmachermuseums stop.

The town was once famous for its materials: "The Tuchmachergilde had been since the 16th century," says museum director Kerstin Schumann. To work in 1824 Bramsche 150 Tuchmachermeister. Material for the uniforms of the Prussian army was well established as blankets for the Hamburg fire brigade. "Today there are only very few companies. But we did not want the legacy of the drapers lost."

"Spun and woven"

And so is the old mill building, which is the middle of the 19th draper Century for their own purposes have taken over, now a museum, which tells her story. On a completely different story reminiscent of the battlefield Kalkriese where Arminius, with its Germanic troops exactly 2000 years Varus and his three Roman legions have defeated. It is just around the corner. For the anniversary, there are Tuchmachermuseum Bramsche the special exhibition "spun and woven: Textiles in Romans and Germans."

The permanent exhibition presents, on the other hand, such as substance was formerly manufactured - with the help of the wolf hybrid to loosen the wool, for example with the spinning and carding, as the Vorgarn is responsible, from the big spinning machine with 280 spindles make the yarn. Ursula Bart runs through the rooms and all the machines can run once, so that the visitor a better impression of them get, how they work.

Then we continue towards Bersenbrück - but not for long: early in Rieste is an opportunity for a break in a pretty little farm café. It is in a timber-housed, which is already 1627 and was built originally in the wages of people lived, like the agricultural assistants were called.

Today here Gerda Rohde. The 71-year-old, the café in her home 15 years ago set up. Old furniture is there, on the table Spitzendeckchen. Serve nuts, plum and apple pie or strawberry cake - baked everything themselves, the ideal of strengthening them go in the direction Bersenbrück.

Handcar bike instead

At the landscape through which the rabbit runs, including the Artland, often known for its centuries-old farmhouses with impressive half-timbered facade is well known, particularly where high chestnut trees and the spacious gardens are surrounded. The soils here are good, the farmers were once rich and showed the same as in bathroom or Gehrden mountains. Some courts have focused on set and offer tourist apartments.

Who is not the whole time sitting on the bike you can ride in between handcar. In Hasetal there are several routes, for example between Quakenbrück and Nortrup. Riders then climb around, but throw on. Because the trolley, here on the old train tracks in use, with muscle power by moving the pedals. Four cyclists have to do their best, the others sit in the open compartment, and can calmly enjoy the scenery.

"The course record is 25 minutes for ten kilometers," says handcar Zugchef-Jürgen Behrens. But you must not have the ambition to excel. The route leads through fields and woods, the sun shines through the canopy. The rabbit is not visible, but are glider pilots in the air and farmers with the tractor mowing the grass. The throw is not so bad.

After changing from the trolley back on the saddle, it is not far to Quakenbrück. The hare is here divided into several arms, which flow through the city and only later re-unite. Quakenbrück, with its "Artland Dragons" a real size in the basketball league, is more manageable, but it has a huge marketplace and in the middle of it a fountain with a huge bull's head.

Island hopping to gods.

Rugged cliffs, snow-white beaches and a huge colony of seagulls: the Galician Atlantic Islands in the northwest of Spain are among the most spectacular national parks in Europe. Since a newspaper here the most beautiful beach in the world "voted, the burden on the environment size.

 

Vigo - Carefully manages Ramón Guimerans the sailboat by the mussel in the Ría de Vigo. The breeding stations are as far from small battle ships in the fjord-like estuary lie. Fischer attract tons, up to 15 meter-long ropes, in which the shellfish hang with cranes on their boats. After this the way to the Cies Islands free.

Shortly after the Cape Home, the harsh north wind in the sails and the boat shoots in bank through the dark blue of the Atlantic.

Already after a few minutes of the beach Rodas and the underlying headland to see what the two islands Monteagudo and Illa do Faro connect. Ramón fetches the main sail to the speed slows down and goes into the bay at anchor. The turquoise blue waters and white sandy beaches are a stark contrast to the pine and eucalyptus forests behind.

At this sight, you can understand why the British newspaper "The Guardian" the Praia das Rodas, two years ago to the "most beautiful beach in the world" chose. "Since we can hardly questions before visitors even save," says the warden, José Manuel López.

Of course he wants that as many people come to enjoy the natural paradise know. Too many but it should also not be, so that the ecosystem is not too much will be charged: "That is why we have restricted the number of visitors. Maximum allowed 2200 people per day visit the island," explains José Manuel.

Colorful and bustle below the water surface

Cies The group consists of the three islands Monteagudo, Illa do Faro and San Martino. Together with the island groups
Ons, and Cortegada Salvora and some 20 smaller islets, it forms the 2002-founded National Galician Atlantic islands. Which is almost 80 percent under water.

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"Each island group is located in front of a fjord-like flow of arms of the Galician coast, and the exchange between the salty ocean and the freshwater of the Rías Baxias ensures high water quality and nutrient concentration," says the warden. The result is an underwater life with 200 species of algae and an abundance of shellfish, octopus and fish. Even dolphins, turtles and whales cavort in the waters.

The seclusion of the Atlantic Islands to attract water and birds of prey. Especially good are the large colonies of cormorants, guillemots and Basstölpeln from a boat on the island looking to the Atlantic side, with its rugged cliffs to watch.

With around 22,000 pairs nest on the Atlantic islands and one of the largest gull colonies in the world. Who is not with the boat is underway, can also Cies observation from space at the Alto de Campa, the gulls from the nearby spectacular. Here in the vicinity were the remains of settlements dating back to 3500 BC found. The Romans settled in the second century after Christ on Cies and called it the "Island of the Gods". Since 18 Cies century is uninhabited.

Dangerous hunting of valuable shellfish

Passing the lighthouse do Peito to go from the Cies Islands in the direction of north to the Ría de Pontevedra and the upstream Atlantic Ons and Onza Islands. At its open sea cliffs over looking to sail, it could hardly be more exciting. Often the locals here
Collecting dangerous duck and mussels can be observed.

TMN
Small islands in the large estuaries: Several islands form the National Galician Atlantic Islands

The stone crosses on the cliffs recall that many fishermen in the surf their lives. On the island, hiking trails lead to vantage points such as the Mirador de Fedorentos with his outlook on Onza and Cies or Burato do Inferno, the "hell hole", which is steep in depth.

Ons is the largest and only inhabited islands of the Atlantic. Only 20 people live here everyday like 50 years ago. "But we are satisfied. We have made our peace and everything we need: fish, octopus, goat, chicken and vegetables," says Victoria and driving their goats in the barn. In a so-called stone Horreo keep onions, tomatoes and corn for the typical Galician empanadas on.

Of course, in the filled pasta and fresh octopus. Ons is in Spain as the "Mecca of pulpos," the octopus, known. Lola Vidal prepares it in the restaurant "Casa Checho" with coarse salt, olive oil and paprika too.

Along the beaches north of Ons is Salvora see the island, which Spain's largest colony of Gelbfußmöwen is practically used. Passing hundreds of mussel is by sailboat in the estuary of Arousa. Here are just a few hundred meters away from the mainland also belong to the national park islands and Malveiras Cortegada with her laurel forest.