Friday, May 29, 2009

Speeches, fight, sing serenades.

What should we do in Naples? "Speeches", recommends the best-selling author Luciano de Crescenzo, the world could learn from the Neapolitans. blogs ONLINE editor Annette Langer can be explained by the chaotic metropolis drive palavert - and listen out.

 


"You have 24 hours for Naples? What a fool!" Meckert my old friend Agostino, shortly Schtino - and thus as always right. On a single day the most exciting, most difficult and chaotic metropolis of southern Italy to try to discover is not only bold but measured. But nothing good, because I'm nearby and curious.

To me the flash to get started, I am looking for an expert on, so to speak, a specialist in matters Napule ", born in Santa Lucia, connoisseurs of the matter and the Neapolitan women, creator of the show everyday philosophers Bella Vista - Luciano de Crescenzo.

The world-famous bestselling author receives me in bed. "Ah, my dear, come inside," says the 80-year-old jokingly and suggests the sheet back. His first memory of the home town? The Vesuvius, of course! "I had the great good fortune, in Santa Lucia to the world came to be. The first thing I as a child from the balcony of our apartment saw was the volcano, the smoke ausstieß" he recalls.

De Crescenzo lives in Rome - and this is significant. One can love Naples, but to live, we must also be a little crazy. "Nevertheless, I am always NEAPOLITAN remained," he says. His apartment in the heart of the Eternal City is filled with knick-knacks. Everywhere are little tin soldiers, Harlequin and the famous Neapolitan crèche figures. The work room has a huge jukebox wide made of plush seating, there is a frightening view of the Piazza Venezia.

What I am not to be missed in the "Nea Polis", the "new city" as Napoli was called in Greek? The cornflower blue eyes begin to glow Luciano: "You have to be the church in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore visit," he implores me. "There is a sculpture by Giuseppe Sanmartino, the" hidden Christ "- just fantastic!" As for the thin cloth meant Jesus so elegantly hide, let me know. "It shows us that he is very close, but is separated from us."

I am reporting from my Zeitnot. "What should I do just in one day, in beautiful Naples, but also the waste, corruption and Camorra stronghold is?" "Speech!", We recommend the expert. "If there is something about the world of the Neapolitan can learn, then it's just that" Nobody could be a single day in the city without having to be approached by someone who has close friendship with him wanted. "And if two people are entertained, there's De Crescenzo sure," then they may be someday. "


Verkehrte Traffic


De Crescenzos Alter Ego, the wise teacher Bella Vista, says: "In Naples, a red light no prohibition, but a recommendation." Oh yes, still. I was just at the Via Duomo with three other small cars to a sort of cloverleaf plate verkantet. Nobody moves, all grumble, croak hundreds behind us honking at all pitch.

A policeman pushes annoyed his motorbike to a car passing the ball and looks at me with contempt. While all the other upset with delight, running the sweat of my forehead down. Suddenly, nobody knows how or why, the jam dissolves completely and all alone on the road as if nothing had.

I'm waiting for Raffaele, an architect, not far from the cathedral in the historic center of a Bed & Breakfast operates. "Ciao, bella", I hear more, and then suddenly a kind of stretches of modern D'Artagnan put his head through the window - instead of a Federhuts, the journeyman spitzbärtige a soldier helmet from World War II, his faithful horse is an olive motocross machine with a golden rims. "Follow me", says the musketeer and rast ever happening.


"Give me your camera!"


In Vico Giganti, the small alley of giants ", governs the cliché: washing lines through the narrow streets, the cries of mothers for their children bounce on crumbling plaster from walls of houses. A big boy of about seven years, crashes on me and asks: "Give me your camera!" I refuse and catch me an evil look to his mother, which in pajamas sitting by the window and blows tribulation.


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At one house passes the altar are many wrong geschlurfte stairs, Raffaele then opens the door to his kingdom - and this is from another world: bright, clean, uncluttered and very tastefully decorated, the five rooms. Whether handmade carpets, designer lamps or washstands from Vesuvgestein - everything here is perfectly designed and beautifully combined. A big, seductive blumenumrankte rooftop for breakfast and reading - that's it, my urban oasis!

I open a window, look into the depths and listen to the noise. A little dark and Gothic, the yard to my feet. Pigeons nest in decaying brickwork, compared to a canary sings against the bars on. A plump blonde in tight skirt calls her lover from the balcony to Frotzeleien. The laughter of the two mixed with the rattle of Motorini and a sea of voices.

Still undecided if I can just drive or the city should tap touristically, I schlendre through the streets to the entrance of "Napoli Sotterranea" a fantastic, 80 kilometers long and up to 40 meters deep cave labyrinth, in which since the 4th Century BC, people lived, to celebrate rites themselves from bombs or covert persecution. The lady at the box office blow two hair from the face and makes my decision easy: "The last tour was a 16 clock, we have closed."


Expensive Selbstdarstellung underground


Nevertheless, a little background should be, so I decide to send me the metro stations of line 1 a.m. to 6 p.m., just the part of a major urban metro-art concept are. At the Piazza Dante, the Greek artist Jannis Kounellis shoes wedged behind the railway tracks, his Italian colleague, Nicola de Maria a floral mosaic in a universe without bombs "contributed. Michelangelo Pistoletto designed a decorative wall installation, the traveler is on the escalator of its mirror image can adopt.

The subway art is colorful, modern, and irritating, does what art should do in public spaces, create new contexts, confused and perhaps cheer up. However, there are also critical voices: "The modernization of Naples takes place after Bourbon patterns, it is bursting with desire and self-application", outraged the renowned journalist Giorgio Bocca, in his book "We are Naples'. Projects like the Metro-kind cost a lot of money, but had no social relevance, produced no progress, and could certainly not between rich and poor mediate.

I run the time of the waste of government funds, anarchy and corruption have to wait, I have Bella Vista promised me the Homo Neapolitanus up close view.

On the Spaccanapoli, a like with an ax through the city streets beaten, I discover him: Because he is about 70, has a hat on, as it formerly was. He smiles, stutzt and meckert, stretches his arms in the air and lets his fingers to tell stories. And of course he speaks, talks a lot and friendly, relaxed and unloading, he had nothing, absolutely nothing better to do.

A view over the Piazza shows: He is not alone. At each corner, on benches, fountains and mopeds will chat, and getratscht flirted like mad. Between Old and philosophizing excited teenagers romping children, beautiful, wild and exuberant Racker, which the street belongs to - that they no doubt. They fool the adults, laugh it off and be royally entertained, if these reminding the finger lift.


Napule è ...


Architect Raffaele waiting on the evening in a bar on me. Tired, I plop into a basket chair and run tourist Total denial. Basta, I will no longer see or hear, "I lament - but Raffaele knows no mercy. Already we fly on a motorbike with a golden rim around the city without a helmet, through streets so narrow that they make pedestrians fear. With 90 km / h chasing D'Artagnan to the corners, while I am determined to claw him and my children in the orphanage Think.

Sometime I may get off, it goes back stairs to the roof, a great roof, from which you look at the whole city looks. This is peculiar reason in blood red light and has a chic coat overturned. On the Vomero illuminates the Fort Sant Elmo, while Raffale for guitar picks and such an excellent version of Pino Daniele "Napule è" shakes off-the-cuff that I almost come to tears.

Naples, which are a thousand colors and a thousand fears, says the song. A city like a dirty piece of paper, so everyone does not matter. But even a place where you can speak beautifully and can hear even better.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Hotel at the end of the world.

The food is poor, the barren landscape: Who is a tourist after Barentsburg in Svalbard comes, must be suffering. But the Russian branch in the high Arctic offers unique experiences.

 


The landscape is barren and fantastically beautiful, deep below the ice-cold sparkling water of the fjord Green, on the surrounding hills are remnants of snow. But two noises disturb the Arctic idyll: there is first of all the cries of the gulls, which are on the window ledges of a green wooden house have domesticated. Constantly, they must loudly Turf battles fight out. And then the constant hum of the nearby coal-fired power plant. He prefers a smoke gray-black flag over the fjord and verpestet so the fresh air.

Barentsburg, the Russian outpost on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, is a wondrous place. Only 300 people live here, 250 men and 50 women. To better times were almost ten times as much on the payroll of the coal company "Arktikugol". In those times was in Moscow the money for the Arctic Dependance something loose, and coal from Barentsburg was estimated on the world. But all this is gone, although the fierce looking bust of Lenin in the city center, the memory of the past alive attempts.


Book Review

Christoph Seidler:

Arctic Monopoly

The battle for the raw materials of the polar region. A mirror-book.


German Verlags-Anstalt, 288 pages.

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For about 90 years, encouraging Russians on Spitsbergen coal, an international treaty of 1920 gives them the right to do so. But several villages have been abandoned some time ago and are now ghost towns in the arctic cold. Only in Barentsburg keep the coal miners are still equipped with a capacity for suffering and hope. Russia has to make a tremendously important strategic outpost in the North Pole area.

Only 120,000 tons of coal per year scraped the Russian and Ukrainian residents of Barentsburg last out of the mountain. That was only four percent of what their Norwegian counterparts in situated 100 kilometers southeast Mine "Svea Nord reduce annually since 2001. There can be the next 25 to 30 years of energy-rich coal promoted. By contrast, the Russian stocks nearly exhausted. And after a fire in April 2008 is the mining of Barentsburg anyway meanwhile dense.

For tourists there are in Barentsburg little to do. In the Palace of Culture, you can take a look at the preparations for the new cultural program throw. A Russian flag is in the stage decoration suspended, under the instructions of a director repeatedly moved back and forth - and finally left. A laborer carries a huge balalaika in a storeroom.


Jehovah's Witnesses advertise on the main


Photo: blogs ONLINE
Video: blogs ONLINE


By far the most representative building in Barentsburg, the Russian Consulate, which is behind a monstrous gray metal fence on the outskirts rises. But the doors are locked, the consul has little Sprechzeiten. A few steps further reminds a little homemade wooden chapel on the 141 miners and family members who in August 1996 in a plane crash were killed. Its Tu-154M was due to problems with the landing on a mountain near the island's capital, Longyearbyen gekracht.

The main road with its concrete and green bins in penguin form, you quickly ran up and down. Apart from a few filthy Kohlekumpeln which any cleanup and repair work will come here - surprise! - Four Jehovah's Witnesses. You are a total of four tenth to come here, they say. A considerable number, if the entire population of the village remember. On the main faith advertisers distribute their writings in Russian - and the baffled coal miners, they are still not back. Are you brave the papers to them hingehalten, and go their own way.


PERSONAL


Sabine Sauer / DER blogs


Christoph Seidler, 29, has international relationships in Dresden, Lausanne, Berlin and Oslo studied. After a working visit to the United Nations in Geneva, he reports today as a science editor for blogs ONLINE Others on developments in the Arctic. 2007 he was awarded the Friedrich-Bird Junior Research Award for Business Journalism. His book "Arctic Monopoly: The Struggle for the raw materials of the polar region in May 2009, DVA published.

The advertisers have faith tents on the edge - and a gun in case a polar bear should attack. Those who are staying a little more comfortable, you can stay in a hotel accommodation on the outskirts, just before the somewhat battered-looking of Russian polar stations researchers. Tourist Guide Oleg Kostenko advertises in broken English for the hospitality in the brick building - and then praises once arrived in his souvenir shop and Matrjoschkas from Russian fur cap production.

When you checked into the hostel at the end of the world there will be Russian service mentality. The key to come is a marathon. From the bar you will be sent to the reception, then head into the office, then back into the bar on the floor expressed a sullen blonde then a key word in the hand. That the room with the number 18 in the second floor on the left side, you have to find out.


Bed linen is clean, possibly even washed


The house has the grace of a holiday home FDGB: pitched brown linoleum floor in the rooms and corridors of the smell of the old days. The fact that guests rarely get lost here, the brown slug, when the turn comes from the tap. But still: the light goes, the bed linen is clean, perhaps even freshly washed. The TV receives an indoor antenna with four Russian noisy channels. They are used by a television station end, on the mountain above the village stands.

For dinner there is a Russian family in holzvertäfelten dining room, with reindeer antlers, plastic flowers and pictures decorated Arctic. On television there is a war documentary. The operation brings a speisüßes braunes drink, which further composition with the best will not be to decipher. Then there's one after the other with a plate of salami, cheese and bread, a cabbage salad and mayonaisestrotzenden finally goulash with rice. A few hours later, the stew serves then as a breakfast, this time with swollen grains and pancakes.

The food supply in Barentsburg is not without its problems: Just 90 pigs are still in the stables. The Kuhställe and greenhouses, which it formerly existed, are now filled with garbage. Provide the location by boat from Murmansk. The wheel loader, the bucket on his big meat in the canteen of the company delivering coal, used only a short time later to transport garbage.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

"You're crazy !".|| The village of Corleone was not only home of the Mafia in Sicily, it is mainly through the adaptation of Mario Puzos novel "The Godfather" has become famous. Four friends from Germany to the fiction into reality - their role play, however, rarely acknowledged.   Nicolo, our Sicilian friend, is the whole thing very embarrassing. Somewhat reluctantly, he wrestles a smile, in which we do not know whether it expresses despair or resignation. Then he closes our Nissan Micra and said simultaneously: "Moritz, you're crazy.", Where he is "ü" as a "u" pronounce. Well, we dressed in the legendary Sicilian village of Corleone mafia daring. Julia, Christian, Till, I - Nicolo, and of course, our Italian friend and driver. Christian is clearly Don Christo, Julia just a princess, Till, our soldier, an absolute killer machine, and I probably will remain nothing more than the role of Consigliere, the adviser of the familia. And Nicolo?! Well, he is apparently the only sensible. But he is also native. For it must be our role playing about as effective as an Italian tour group that disguises itself as a miner in the Ruhr in Gelsenkirchen "four Currywurst with French red and white" ordered. When we decided to fly to Sicily, Corleone was the only goal to which we may determine in advance. And shortly before our departure in Bremen, I had a humiliating defeat plug - as a Christian and I have two elderly ladies in the pedestrian street Bremer Christian responded and asked "Do you understand me?", Both replied in unison: "No, you, we would not have mentioned, You're so like a bro! " Before me, they had no fear. Mom and pasta for the Sicilians Sure, to Palermo, we first made a detour and photographed us in front of the opera, particularly in "The Godfather III" Mary Corleone is shot and Don Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, his dying daughter in the hands desperately holds. But neither the scene n! or the third part of the filming are among our favorites, cons! equently

Monday, May 25, 2009

And every day whistling marmot.

Hundreds of meters in altitude away from everyday life: On a mountain hike in the eastern Alps hikers can the vastness and tranquility of nature without having to forgo a little comfort to have - Kraxel after two exhausting days, the "castle in the mountains" unaccustomed luxury.

 


Virgen - By car, it only takes a few minutes to get from upper walls after Hinterbichl to come. The two small towns in Virgental are connected by a road, and there are traffic jams in this corner of Osttirol only when harvest times vehicles blocking the route. Vacationers can choose the path of the upper walls after Hinterbichl but take two and a half days - with a tour from hut to hut on the offshoot of the Osttiroler
Eagle Way, which takes its name primarily because of its shape contributes to the Tyrol map.

The line in the Hohe Tauern National Park leads to heights of almost 2800 meters, offers excellent views of the three thousand Lasörling and Großvenediger - and also many marmots can meet there.


Day 1: From top to Bonn-walled hut Matreier


For Walter, the Eagle Zörer a light training route. More than 60 times was the 38-year-old mountain guide already on top of the Grossglockner, three peaks in Asia and the Aconcagua in the Andes, he has defeated. There are almost 1350 meters of altitude on this day not a big challenge - it looks quite different for "Tyrolean lowlands", which even the heavy backpack is not used to.

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The route leads first through a thick larch forest, lots of moss growing on the trees - and it goes right off steeply. But Zörer has enough air to move from the Tyrolean Eagle to tell the tourists in two different variants can run: close to the bottom of the valley on a "trail" - or with the metallurgical nights - on the "mountaineers route." At a leader they can then usually abandon - all without alpine experience is not.

The offshoot of the long-distance Osttiroler have compared to "big brother" to the north of the Alps an advantage that the guide says: "In northern Tyrol is often in stark limestone underway. Here, the landscape is lovely." This is also the stops after the first steep piece: At the Chapel of All Saints is it worth to a big rock to climb and the view over the green slopes of Virgental to enjoy.

250 m altitude difference further in the Gottschaunalm, where the tree line is already in sight, the Kuhweiden spread in all directions. In the fountain in front of the hut running cold water, which cools the milk Senner - just the right reinforcement before the next rise.


Obstler pot and swirl


In the serpentine is now climbing again and again sounds the whistle of the marmots in the air, which is now noticeably thinner. Or is the only way the walker before? The steps are slower in any case, the difficult terrain - big boulders and slabs come in place of the narrow Erdpfades.


TMN
On the southern edge of the Alps: The Virgental extends between the three-Grovenediger and Lasörling


Five hours walk is called the electronic guidebook as a guide for the ascent to the Bonn-Matreier hut in about 2750 meters altitude. But that is probably too optimistic estimate, the clock on your wrist is far more.

In the thirties built-Bonn Matreier Refuge is the only one with a German and an Austrian alpine section jointly. In the cellar bullert the stove. Wolfgang Heinz Hüttenwirt gives a Obstler, for pot strudel with whipped cream served a hot chocolate. "If at least 15 guests to stay over night, there is a buffet dinner," he announces. Schade, today there are not many: The selection of the 18 beds and 50 mattresses camps remains high.

Clouds are raised, a view of the valley is no longer possible. Outside it is quiet, only the wind roars around the hut. The feeling of being alone with them and to be more to life than just a few hundred meters in altitude distance to have won, comes on rapidly. At the end of the world to think that this is not just a lonely island in the Pacific or in the vastness of Siberia, but also between the bunk beds with fitted sheets and checkered pillows.

Canyon in the basement.

Piazza is the top, bottom Tost a glittering waterfall of the Rio Sass canyon runs directly beneath the Italian village of Fondo. Until a few years ago, the residents knew little of the natural spectacle in their homes.

 


It is in the mild spring term in Trentino. The sun shines from the azure sky. The numerous apple orchards and vegetable fields in the Val di Non provides the already warm climate for the first cracks in dry soil. Even the pretty village of Fondo Lenz gives a picture of the weather. Amidst this scene Well stapft a dozen tourists. Wrapped in yellow rain jackets, the head covered with helmets - although it does not really look after rainfall. Let alone after rockfall.

In geese, the group marching on the Segantini, past historic buildings, farm gardens and two ancient mill wheels that seem decades ago in a stone wall have been rectified. Allen Giulia marches forward. After about a hundred meters zückt them a key and gives the group access through a gate. A medieval-style Brücklein, which today is no longer used, rises above the heads. It connects the western and eastern part of the Fondo. The city is passing through Canyon Rio Sass.

After just a few meters, it becomes clear why the inlet into the gorge with leaders such as Giulia and advance booking is allowed: the steel pier visitors doing a raging torrent on. With the thundering roar of the river roars through the valley Sass sometimes very narrow gorge, gushes over rounded rocks and splashing in some places specially meter wide by narrow passages. The water reaches a speed of up to 40 km / h. It flows through several detours end up in the river Adige.


Impressive and scary


The landscape in the Val di Non is partially strongly furrowed. Streams and rivers have long, arduous process, the erosion of the cliff effect, which in addition to the Canyon Rio Sass further emerged. Some are on their own walkable. But the Canyon Rio Sass is undoubtedly the most spectacular.


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It offers an impressive and at the same moment eerie backdrop. The forces of nature are at the same time to hear, see and feel. Especially at the beginning of the small hike. After a few meters, namely verdüstert the canyon abruptly. Looking upwards it becomes clear why no daylight between the damp walls arrives: The valley is overbuilt at this point, it is located below the Piazza Dante. Approximately 15 meters above the heads of visitors makes Signore Zanoni, the local jeweler, his business. Next cue family sells women's and men's clothing.

The old foundations of houses are partly equipped with steel cables and carriers secured against slipping. The whole thing inevitably gives the appearance of an intermediate solution. But in improvisation, the Italians know, master, and some apparent Bauprovisorium holds for centuries.

The Canyon Rio Sass is only seven years for everyone. Previously, researchers could only Bautrupps and specialized in the depths - of course only with climbing gear. 2002, a nearly one kilometer long pier for the public is created. Moreover, in order to allay concerns, a very stable and look anything but improvised works.

Round trip, about one and a half hours walk is required. For the first few visits after the opening were the inhabitants of Fondo deeply impressed - because they have been roaring through this pharyngeal gehaust had. "Moved but nobody is," says Giulia. The participants listen through headphones. In some places, it is because of the water noise is too loud for a live speech.


Bottlenecks and gaps


Shortly after Piazza Dante sunbeams fall again into the gorge. It is early afternoon, the best time for light and shadow. Because the gaps between the rocks vary widely, there are fascinating light effects in all colors. At the narrowest point of the canyon is barely 40 centimeters wide at the widest 30 meters. Sometimes visitors have to squeeze past Felsbeulen slippery, while among them up to 50 meters in depth.

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Giulia indicates a colony of small, heart-holes in the rock. "Here were formerly petrified shells in it," she explains, "but the water has, over time, ripped out." Shortly thereafter, it reverently, and he shows once again on the rock. Here, the freak of nature a pattern in the stone behind which a human figure to remember.

A few meters away, the visitor the baptism Canyon: groundwater gushes as from a watering can on the bridge, everyone is happy now, the rain jacket anzuhaben. But no, the water's murky mood, especially as the sun's rays again a magical light on the rock throwing. In the rear part of the way to red rocks have a color on it. The intense red comes from algae, which in turn striking tinge of strong iron-water.


Windfall for the tourism industry


"The opening of the canyon is a godsend for the Val di Non," says Giulia. Tourist highlights are otherwise scarce. Most, thus promoting the tourism industry is supported by the wildly romantic mountain and valley provided. For mountain bikers, the hype around the lake to escape, the region is a good tip. In addition, for mountain hikers who are aiming high. Because the Non Valley is a good base for excursions into Ortler massif and the Brenta.

At the foot of the massive mountain range lies the idyllic Tovelsee. Gamekeeper want already brown from the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park have been sighted, as they have a bath gegönnt. Worth a visit is the Monastery of San Romedio above the town Sanzeno. The plant, one might take the Walt Disney fairy tales have served to present. Verwunschen it flashes between the forest and rocks.

It is no longer just a flash of its rays, the sun the visitors towards the end of the canyon tour treat. The gorge is wide and always runs in a lovely meadow from. Birds overpowers the Rio Sass, the only harmless dahinplätschert as if nothing had. No comparison to the deafening roar just a few steps before.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Abseiling for beginners.

Playground for adrenaline junkies: In Ireland, Active vacationers spectacular scenery before climbing, kayaking and surfing to learn. In some sports disciplines of the green island is still an insider tip - this is hardly crowded places.

 


Bell Harbor / Killaloe - feverishly looking for the eyes after the next gap in the cliff, nearly vertical towers. Now not only see to the bottom, although the prospect would be so tempting: On the waves glistens the sun, the sea spray splashing high cliffs, the sea extends to the horizon. This environment has the climbing teacher Michael Crawley for beginners hours selected. There is only one of many spectacular training places, the active holiday in the Shannon region in Ireland to find.

"Climbing, surfing, canoeing, mountain biking, hiking: Ireland offers ideal conditions for outdoor sports of all kinds," says Roisin Finlay of "outsiders" in Dublin. Ireland's only magazine, which deals with these issues, came five years ago on the market. Since then, the number of people who are for the active lives of "Green Island" enthusiasm, has steadily increased: "Regardless of whether locals or tourists, the demand is enormous," says Finlay.

Rivers, hills and mountains dominate the landscape of the Shannon region. In addition, the Irish Climate: impermanent, but mild. The area is perfect for outdoor activities. "Nevertheless, the individual locations are not yet overcrowded," says Joanna McInerney from Burren Outdoor Education Center in Bell Harbor. The Center on the outskirts of the bizarre karst landscape in the vicinity of the Cliffs of Moher offers courses in various sports.

For the climbing hours, the team usually uses the steep limestone cliffs of the Burren area. The units are not only physically exhausting, "they also strengthen the self-confidence," says McInerney. Surrender is not in it for a short time everything else is unimportant. It counts only the next touch, a few inches higher brings. After a good fifteen minutes is the end of the eight meter high wall reached. Fairly exhausted, but proud to infinity, it is the rope slowly back to the ground.

"Abseiling" is the English term for another form of climbing - here is the cliff top vanquished. With helmet and waist belt secured, it is backwards on to the abyss. Over the cliff to sit in the depth hinabzulassen, requires courage and overcoming, adrenaline shoots through the body. From below, there climbing leader Michael calm his instructions. A little later, even these "Mutprobe" existed. Now it finally time to enjoy the view. "This is no job that is fun," says the Irishman, while the next equipment Kletterin explained.


For after surfing Lahinch


Who the water sports on the beach of Fanore at the Galway Bay watch, knowing what Michael says. On this day finds there a body-boarding time. As with surfing, it is important to make the best waves to catch, to enable fast turns and small jumps out. With their clothing can easily surf in the cold Atlantic waters probation. Lahinch, a little farther south on the coast, is in terms of surfing as one of the best places in the whole of Ireland.

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From saltwater to freshwater: At Killaloe, some 30 kilometers northeast of Limerick, has the river Shannon, to a large lake geweitet - the third of the island. Lough Derg offers ideal conditions for water sports enthusiasts. On its shores is twelve years since the Activity Center of the University of Limerick hosts. A large part of the sports will take place on or in water.

First, it is one of the big red canoes. The boats can be in different places of the lake also be rented. Trainer Matt szlachta paddles with force. Can be relaxed so the landscape of the "red hole" enjoy. The kayaking is more strenuous. "Grooving, slightly rotate rausnehmen the next page, there szlachta of instructions from his boat. With momentum durchpflügen students the smooth surface of Lough Derg and become quite a sweat.

With the learned technique may also interested in the Shannon south traffic. Where the river leaves the lake, it will be wild - perfect for beginners who are into whitewater kayaking want to introduce. Water also sprays the "Powerboating" in all directions. By speedboat flies just over the surface of the lake, raindrops sting like tiny needles into his face.

The mountains that encircle the lake, forming an imposing backdrop. They also serve as training grounds for orienteering. With a compass and a map, participants need to pave the way to find checkpoints - on time and without restriction, as it suits them. The Kilfinane Outdoor Education Center, 50 miles south of Limerick, offers courses. Here you can find mountain biking, hiking through canyons and climbing - also shows Ireland as a great playground for active vacationers.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Children at the cannons!.

Messer-Jocke cannon and Karla are on board: In July, two sailboats crossing under the skull-flag over the Baltic Sea. Twelve ports away from the "Jachara" and the "north" children and their parents in the world of the privateer - quite legally.

 


Eckernförde / Kiel - Pirate? When the keyword think many people currently in Somalia hijacked and container vessels. Such pirates like nobody wants to face. At the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, on the other hand, many are delighted locals and tourists on the arrival of freebooters - albeit with a different type: In the summer of Glücksburg Scharbeutz to set sail on two ships, the flag with the skull on the tail are underway.

Twelve ports are participating in the "Pirate Week" in July, the Baltic Sea-Holstein Tourism Society organized. And Eckernförde in August to celebrate the 13th Time pirate spectacle. "


Messer-Jocke has been three weeks not shaved. "Especially for the children", he is the dark beard grow, admits the young man who, together with cannon and Karla "Capitano Muerte" taking care of the young pirate on the "Jachara" has taken over. All children receive from them a scarf and a black eye patch, a make-pin ensures nasty stubble and scars on the cheeks. Ruck zuck transform delicate six-year-olds in dark characters, the Captain loose Armdrücken in defeat.

Wide black belt, in which ancient pistols stuck, plus many gold chains, under the far-shirts dangle aufgeknöpften: Messer-Jocke and his colleagues themselves into powerful tools to create an atmosphere like in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" to "Jachara" to conjure. In the interplay with the "North" sails the 29 meter long fishing boat in the summer along the Baltic Sea coast, to as many children as possible into the world of the privateer to kidnap.


"We are already stinkreich"


On deck are then pulled up the sails, to accordion music funny songs sung and stories told - even if not all guests geheuer is. "Your Überfallt also ships?" Wants a Steppke know - perhaps from the concern, even to Enter hooks to draw them. "Nee," Cannon replied Karla, "we are already stinkreich."

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Children in motion - is what the "Pirate Week", which in July 2009 for the third time. It should motor skills and dexterity, and coordination should be encouraged, says "Capitano Muerte" in the civic life and Jorge Olivares says sports is. While he and his team with the schooner, the shallow Baltic Sea waves abreiten, take on other pirates on the beach of the Baltic Sea town just visited the command and organize treasure hunts as well as a big tug of war, in which after returning to the port also Messer Jocke & Co. mitmachen.

In the summer of 2008 was also the Eckernförde stations of the "Pirate Week" - this year, the Baltic Sea are not on the route plan. In the style of Captain Hook is still celebrated as the "pirate spectacle" has long been a good tradition in Eckernförde become. For three days - this time from 14 to 16 August - the place falls into the hands of freebooters. "The pirates attacked the town, take the Town Hall, set the mayor in chains and adopt on Sunday with a large torch moving again," says Borgmann Stefan of the Eckernförde tourism festival history.


Plush parrot on the shoulder


Many residents prefer to divide the pirates and accompany the program, which focuses on the harbor. Many food booths, a Ferris wheel and games stalls to ensure there Kirmes mood. Even the waiters in Eiscafé play with, painting is dead heads on the arms and attach small plush parrot on the shoulder.

"On the three days we have here estimated 100,000 visitors. This is our biggest festival and the highlight of the summer season," says Borgmann. Many tourists booked their holidays in and around Eckernförde so that they in any case, the "pirate spectacle" in the city.

This is reminiscent of a pirate tradition, Eckernförde certainly has: "In the 15th century, from here on real pirates Beutezug gone," says Borgmann. Unlike today, the 'Pirate Week "were the inhabitants of the coastal towns, however, anything but cheerful, when one of the ships direct course they took - because as nice as Messer-Jocke cannon and Karla were not pirates then.


PIRATES ACTIONS IN ONE SCHLESWIG-HOLST

Schedule Tickets Information Internet

Twelve objectives are at the "Pirate Week" in July on the program of sailing ships "North" and "Jachara". Be controlled: Scharbeutz (July 12), Neustadt / Holstein (13 July), Grömitz (14
July), Kelle Husen (July 15), Dahme (July 16) Fehmarn (17 July), Port St. (July 18), Hohwacht (July 19), Laboe / Probstei (20
July), Damp (July 21), Maasholm (July 22) and Glücksburg (23
July).


The trips with the ship "North" and "Jachara" last approximately two hours. Tickets cost 12 euros for adults and for children 7 euro.


Ostsee-Holstein Tourism
Beach Allee 75a
23669 Timmendorfer beach
Tel: 01805/70 07 08 for 14 cents per minute
Touristik Eckernförde
24340 Eckernförde
Tel: 04351/717 90


www.piratenwoche.de
www.ostseebad-eckernfoerde.de


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