Steinlöwe meets Mermaid.

Three miles from Key Biscayne is America's most unusual underwater attraction: the cemetery Neptune Memorial Reef. Photographer Todd Essick uses mystical mood between sculptures and tombs for his models to pose - as mermaids.

 

"Come on, Honey, let's go!" Todd Essick driving his Model Elaine to hurry. The photographer with the eternal Ray-Ban sunglasses on his nose that goes with the hand erratic by the brown hair and looks to the wristwatch: The time is pressing, Essick want the images in the box, before the sun is too low.

The aim of the boat trips is the end of 2007 opened Neptune Memorial Reef before Key Biscayne. There is the beauty of semi-submerged between sculptures and tombs in Pose throw. Tasteless find the one for Essick as one of the best photographers in the world, it is art, and that he did not want to discuss. What he wants, or photos for a calendar and a book, he has not time to give away.

In twelve feet deep, in between the stone lions and almost to the water surface emerging pillars, lies down to Elaine stuff. It hovers over sculptures, winds around the gates and tries, despite the absence of air really relaxed. Every 30 seconds, a helper and lets them out of the lung machine to breathe, she appeared in between, in order to move the boat.

Under water model is not an easy job? the salt burns in the eyes, the skin is different, and constantly attracts one of the buoyancy of the body to the surface. Even the photographer has been difficult: Sometimes the light does not fit, then suspended particles in water, fish, or a push in the worst moment between the object and photo lens.

Space for 100,000 graves

The underwater cemetery in Florida is the brainchild of Gary Levine and Kim Brendall, an artist and a designer, and he could have for the two to develop printing money. Over 50 tombs in the depths have already been sold, at prices up to $ 6700. The first customer was Bert Kilbridge, a diver, in March 2008 at the age of 93 years died. His son said his father would feel honored, because it is life with the sea felt.

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At nearly six hectares of land will be space for a total of over 100,000 deaths arise. Sometimes they are buried in urns, sometimes on their ashes with the concrete mixed for new sculptures. According to the operators "Neptune Society" is not only a place of remembrance arise, but also the largest artificial reef in the world? the dead as part of a new ecosystem.

Levine and Brendall had initially not easy to have a permit for their project to get. Meanwhile, however, is the recreation Atlantis underwater cemetery as attractive to the different target groups: biologists can create an artificial reef to document what ideal coral reef fish living conditions and offers protection from fishermen.

Environmentalists support the Neptune Memorial Park, tourism agencies and diving schools are pleased with the new attractions. Even the sport divers are thrilled: Hardly any other diving spot exudes such a mystique and tranquility. Over 30 species have already located, the first colorful parrot fish chewing on the vegetation of the sculptures, while silver shiny barracuda between the pillars of prey lurking.

Lobster and fish suitcase on artificial reef

Under the water the diver floats by two brass gates, which are flanked bronze lions. A aufgeschreckter boxfish studied with frantic movements of his little flippers the width. The road leads to pillars and vaults over to the central square of the area, from the out in the final stages of construction as eight spokes in a wheel to the outer circle of the Memorial lead.

Even now the area attracts many, mostly small fish, under the stones the first stretch Hummer up their probe. Their capture is not allowed, the entire area is declared protected in the fishing, hunting and fishing is banned.

Jerry Normann, President of the "Neptune Society, said: The Reef" will be a beneficiary living in the sea to create. With the help of nature and time, this underwater memorial site a reef with colorful marine life and coral growth, which provides the security, the memory of the deceased for all time to preserve. "

The last dive of the photographer

Todd Essick meanwhile, has very different problems. Again and again pushes a cloud before the sun, the light rays do not penetrate into the sea and let it not transparent enough. But ultimately, the pro lucky: One hour of good vision him to the pictures in the box to get.

There are dreamy, surreal images full of mysticism, where the model "like a mermaid on the deceased monitored." Essick said that on their return is significantly more relaxed and also can imagine, once even to be buried. "As a diver, photographer and environmentalist I like the idea that there is now a further opportunity to dive the last election. The special atmosphere of this place is just fascinating."

Just over a year after the opening of the underwater cemetery is already the most popular diving spot off the coast of Key Biscayne. But not only sport divers and biologists will benefit from the project, even for members of a funeral in the Neptune Memorial Reef very practical benefits: The grave is, and during visits must also be brought no flowers? only a diving license, they should already possess.

Dreams of Timbuktu.

Mali is the land of the Dogon, the Lehmstädte and spectacular music festivals - and suffering in the north under criminal gangs. The region, which is now in a German was abducted, German tour operators offer only isolated to.

 

Who says Mali, dreams of Timbuktu: The very name sparked the Africa-fever, the yearning for adventure on the black continent. Their wedding experienced Lehmstadt while already on the Niger in the 15th and 16 Century, when slaves, salt and gold caravans the then largest metropolis in the region ourselves, and the center of Muslim scholarship here in the desert was.

But their legendary aura Africa seduced researchers still in the 19th Century expeditions to life in the west of the continent - and now attracts many tourists. What they are in about 1000 years old town to find, is a carefully restored houses Ensemble, the protected UNESCO World Heritage stands in the hinterland of the bitterly poor Mali showed.

But Mali tourists has more to offer than the famous desert city. Cultural highlights during the year are the magnificent and spectacular music festivals like the world-famous "Festival au Desert in Essakane, about 70 kilometers west of Timbuktu which takes place annually in January. Thousands of nomads in traditional dress, including those from neighboring West African countries, flows into the oasis. For days is drumming, dancing and celebrating. Or the "Festival sur le Niger in February, which only a few years ago as the counterpart of the successful Festival au Desert in Ségou was launched.

Less well known is the Feast "Tamadacht" in Andéramboukane in remote north-east of Mali on the border to Niger. There was a German tour group organizers on Thursday attacked a 75-year-old German, a Swiss couple and a Briton were kidnapped. At the biennial festival celebrating the Tuareg tribes of the border region, their culture, wear athletic competitions and regulate disputes - Tourists are rare here.

Und das hat seinen Grund, denn vor dem Besuch dieser Gegend nördlich des Nigers warnt auch das deutsche Auswärtige Amt (AA) ausdrücklich wegen erhöhter Kriminalität und möglicher Entführungen und nimmt nur die Städte Timbuktu und Gao aus: "Die Sicherheitslage im Norden Malis wird durch bewaffnete cross-border groups operating at considerable risk, "writes the AA has long been in his travel warning.

Mali-Africa attracts connoisseurs

The major German tour operators, the study or hiking trips to Mali in the program, such as Viking or Studiosus, a visit to this Tuareg festivals not offered. "We go to customers in regions facing the Foreign Office warns," says Xenia Kuhn excursions by Hauser in Munich, the trekking tours worldwide.

Most German tour operators are focused on goals, on or near the Niger lie. These include the UNESCO World Heritage city of Djenné, which every Monday one of the largest markets in Africa's largest Lehmgebäude the world, the 100-year-old Grand Mosque, is experiencing. The programs are also Mopti, known as Venice of the Sudan at the confluence of Bani and Niger, Ségou, the Sudanese-French colonial architecture up all time, the capital Bamako, a visit to the Dogon tribes and often also a Pinassenfahrt on the Niger.

Mali, like other West African countries, particularly Africa reizen-Kenner, Xenia Kuhn says, so customers, the continent have already been several times. "Mali is still original. The trips are not luxurious, there are no nice hotels, often in the tent overnight." What the expert Hauser and their customers fascinated Mali, are the special African light, especially the enthusiastic photographers, the colors of the country and the happiness of the people.

The next trip from Hauser will likely take place as planned, said Kuhn. If the warnings of the AA, however, extend the company could still very short notice.

"A race like a chess game."

The toughest dog sled race in the world is once again before: When Iditarod race man and dog go to the limits of their power. Included is the Wuppertal Sebastian Schnülle - in the vastness of Canada and Alaska is the most successful German musher a star.

 

Sebastian Schnülle would be the first to cast a "Robinson Crusoe" movie. His long brown hair is confused in all directions, his beard was allowed to grow for years. Only the snow crystals and icicles, like climbing in his hair hanging to disturb the picture. So more of the role of John Thornton from Jack London's novel "Call of the Wild" - because Sebastian is Schnülle musher, a dog sled driver.

Throughout the year, trained Schnülle his total of 80 Alaskan huskies, to winter in the North American races to participate. As the Iditarod, the toughest sled dog race in the World: 1150 miles rush by the mushers icy and snowy landscape of Alaska, from Anchorage to Nome. Through dense jungle and abandoned goldmining settlements on barren plateaus and the ice of the Bering Sea. 1150 miles, where the men and few women on their own, and on 7 March want to be defeated again.

In the past year and crossed Schnülle his huskies on 12 March at 13:14 clock the finish line, as sensationell Tenth. He won the best placement, a German ever achieved. Almost ten days earlier stated: "Let's go." The long-drawn-out call is formally swallowed by the wind. But the 16 dog sled race Schnülles before going on? with twelve km / h, though, the team on the snow. On board are an ax, snowshoes, sleeping bag, a headlamp for night driving and cooking and food.

"Sleigh driver, cook and masseuse equally"

"Culinary is not a highlight," says Schnülle and laughs. Precooked pasta and pizza, all vacuum-packed, and lots of chocolate bars are on the menu, but takes Schnülle during the race about six kilograms from. Much more important are the things for his dogs: blankets and straw as a mattress, dog trainers, massage and foot care creams and feed en masse. "I'm sled driver, cook and masseuse alike," says Schnülle.

After about six hours' drive the dogs must be six hours to recover. Time for Schnülle to heat the food, the dogs and shoes to change the dogs shoulders and massage joints. "For me, remains a maximum of one hours sleep before we break up again. On the lack of sleep you have to be mentally set on the third day of physical intrusion." The secret of success lies in the strategy: "As a race is like a big chess game: Which dog is right for me, at what times I go and how do I go gentle? Because the hardest part comes at the end." He selects especially older and more experienced dogs.

"Gee!" The command allows the dogs unerringly to the right. There is an Indian village, one of 22 checkpoints. At 18 of them before the race Schnülle Proviant shoes and other dogs landfilled. From where he needs a total 1200th Change of clothes for himself, he is missing: "Meanwhile, I have on the line so much self-confidence that I shall not. After two days of smelling my dog and I always like."

Born and raised in Wuppertal in Ostfriesland, Schnülle worked up in the nineties as an industrial mechanic at Mercedes and studied in parallel environment. But his semester in Ontario and a first dogsled trip changed him. "My next few years, I took leave in the winter and went back into the cold." Back in Germany, he dropped his studies in the penultimate semesters and moved to the Yukon from. Since he raises sled and offers excursions for tourists.

"A kind of long-term meditation"

97 participants last year at the start of the Iditarod has gone. Along the route remained especially beginners, the so-called Rookies. Like Schnülle in his debut. 1999, he was the first time in the Yukon Quest, it is also a race of several thousand miles. "But I failed miserably," admits the 38-year-olds. Only five years later, he undertook the next start? and was Tenth. "Then I could not leave. It's like a virus. An addiction." What makes the attraction of these tough races to go? "For me, this is a kind of long meditation. You forget everything and live on only in the here and now, with your dogs."

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Yukon Quest and Iditarod in Alaska and Canada right big events. Schnülle is especially known because he was one of the few drivers in the year equal to two thousand mile race participates. Iditarod 2008 were for around 50,000 spectators at the starting line in Anchorage. The goal in Nome, there were still around 1000, although it only goes by plane. There are autograph sessions, and many of the participants have their own Mushing cards, similar to the American baseball cards. All sleds have a GPS in the process so that the fans on the Internet can pursue their favorites. These are mushers filmed from helicopters.

Dive into the light!.

Color noise in the concrete bunker on the Japanese island of Naoshima star architect has a unique museum for avant-garde art was built. Even the most spectacular beaches decorate sculptures - and in the village, there is the smallest James Bond exhibition in the world.

 

On socks shuffle six museum visitors the black stairs, at about five meters wide neonblaue rectangle. First up, they recognize that no Neonobjekt mural, but a walk in space. First, no one dares to enter, but dressed all in white Intervener means them to go - and they run on the fluorescent light.

The optical confusion by the peculiar blue is so perfect, that one would hardly be surprised if next singing angel-in Gothic Lolita costumes Petrus or a Japanese samurai-blending with cowl and the sky would appear keys. Instead, there are only a few meters a warning on the ground - do not go, crash risk. You can see the abyss because of the dark soil, but nobody dares to take the chance to leave.

Modern art to life and to make tangible - this is one of the stated goals of Japanese art Naoshima island south of Honshu region. The museum Chichu with walk-neon installation "Open Space" by James Turrell is just one of many exhibition sites. Even the shore is lined with metal sculptures, head-high reflective glass and steel structures schiffbugförmigen, which from afar could suspect that it was real wrecks.

So rich in art objects, the island is that during the tour in angeschwemmten plastic bottles and brightly painted bollards Artworks to recognize believes. And through the bushes on the roadside giant spiders lurking not too colorful to be true? At its meter large networks will be for the purpose of proof of authenticity can not be shaken.

From Yves Klein to Jasper Johns

Even if the port, where after 20 minutes ferry ride from the mainland arrives, a walk-orange gourd with black points, welcomed the visitors, it is clear that Naoshima, the "gentle island", is different than the nearby industrial and fishery landing of the Seto Maritime.

At the beginning of the nineties, the publishing house decided Benesse Corporation, Naoshima from an island of art making. Under the open sky numerous sculptures and installations, to the two art museums and Chichu Benesse Art House. The latter has a high-level collection of works by David Hockney, Jackson Pollock, Yves Klein and Jasper Johns.

"I wanted to find a direct link with the art in order to understand them individually," said Soichiro Fukutake, one of the founders of the art museums, according to website of the publisher. "Art should allow about the importance of a pleasant, beautiful life."

ARE YOU A NINJA-KNIGGE?

[M] DDP / DPA / blogs ONLINE

Rain damaged famous Nazca lines.

Three fingers were buried a figure: Heavy rains have UNESCO-protected Nazca lines in Peru damaged. Even those parts of the Panamericana highway were washed away by the floods.

 

Lima - Heavy rain is part of the famous Nazca lines in Peru attacked, like an archaeologist reported on Monday. The huge, and only from the air quite discerning Scharr pictures are one of the main tourist attractions in Peru. They have been around 2000 years in the desert soil dug.

AFP / Yamagata UNIVERSITY
Nazca lines: Since 1994 UNESCO World Heritage Site

The area for the dry sand had unusual rain to parts of a figure also rinsed and nearby parts of the Panamericana highway washed away, said Mario Olaechea by the National Institute of Culture. The damage to the Scharr pictures were not serious, the sand will be removed.

The formations in the desert landscape between südperuanischen Nazca and Palpa in 1994 was the list of UNESCO World Heritage site recorded. They consist of land and up to ten kilometers of lines and present, up to 300 meters long depictions of plants and animals.

Archaeologists had already warned that rain could threaten the lines. It was but the first time, said Olaechea that this happened.

Ghost dance in the night sky.

In winter pilgrimage amateur astronomers north: in green, red and white blaze spectacular northern lights over the night sky. In Canada, the fans gathered in the tent city of Aurora Village - klirrendkaltem when the weather is not entirely harmless.

 

Yellowknife - Miyu the whole evening comes not from the amazement out. It has been many hours in the dark northern Canada, and it is freezing cold in this winter's night - at minus 40 degrees Celsius in the thermometer shows. But the cold discourages the petite woman from Tokyo not. What they see in the sky, is compensation for freezing everything on their journey. Because slowly go straight through the Northwest Territories at the Northern Lights: green veil, which is in good conditions compounded by red stripes. If the air is loaded, the conditions for these lights best - then they dance.

Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights are called, throughout the winter months in the sky can be seen - the best in the middle of the night. "You can never say when they come from and how strong they are lit," says "Buffalo Mike". He is one of the few locals among the Asian Himmelsguckern which are on this evening at the Aurora Village, a tent city outside of Yellowknife, have assembled.

Especially for Japanese have the lights set up by the impact of solar wind of charged particles in the atmosphere at the poles of a special fascination. "We grow up with stories about the northern lights," says Miyu. Therefore it is the dream of almost every Japanese, these lights at once sky experience.

Frostbite within minutes

In the Northwest Territories - a part of Canada, on the edge of the Arctic is - are the natural conditions particularly well. The temperatures but can be quite uncomfortable, to the wind often blows strongly. Chill The values for more then ten degrees - that's enough to keep up with the nose of the camera festzukleben or frostbite within minutes of bare skin to get.

But the Canadians are prepared for their winter, which lasts at least until April. "Good clothing is the most important thing," said Carlos Gonzales, even in the winter is nothing in his house holds. Warm clothes and trousers, heavy Filzstiefel with Kautschukfuß and down coats with hoods fellbesetzten - the clothes, the man on the roads most often sees. And the cold is dry. "This will be immediately re-warm, if you are in a heated house." The downside of the drought: The skin often eingecremt, and creams with fat, because water-freeze immediately.

Carlos' greatest pleasure is to tourists on a snowmobile and to bring with them over the frozen Great Slave Lake to drive. This well 27,000 square-kilometer lake has a depth of up to 614 meters, the deepest in North America. In winter, he is largely frozen. "The ice can be up to two meters thick," says Carlos.

Photo: DDP
Video: JKR

In doing so, the lake is not only the drivers, with the 125 horsepower engine on the snow and ice fly. The ice is also an important lifeline for those who are in the diamond mines operate. In the winter on the lake roads roads, the highways are as wide. The traffic is brisk, especially truck convoys, there are many. "They are bringing supplies for the whole year in the mines," says Carlos. So that the water below the ice is not too many waves and cracks in the icy surface causes, the truck, however, only 10 km / h on the ice creep - so they need for their tour half an eternity.

Diamonds instead of gold

Yellowknife came some 50 years ago to fame and wealth, as adventurers in the mines looking for gold. "Here, there were significantly more gold than the Klondike," said city spokesman Jon Bass. Inventories were soon exhausted - but since there was a geologist who was convinced that there are diamonds in the region must pass. He searched for many years, was finally found - and told no one for three years from its billion dollar fund. Meanwhile, three diamond mines in operation and promote the gemstones.

 

Who in the Northwest Territories is on for hours often takes no people. In the flat pine woods along the roads, however, lurking dangers - at least for tourists from the city. Wild buffalo, moose, caribou, lynx, snow foxes, wolves, bears are for the locals on the other hand, part of everyday life. Moose Burger, caribou meatloaf, soup and bison dried flesh of the arctic fish belong to the diet, because many people here to hunt and process meat and skins.

"Buffalo Mike" has been in matters of life and some of the Indians abgeschaut: He wears a cap with a leather coat and gloves, which are as large as shopping bags. These gloves are in the Northern watching the highlight of the night: All the Japanese want to deal with Mike and his outfit photographed. Even more interesting, but they find what he has to tell. His gloves were from the skin of a wolf, which he had shot himself, and a seamstress had made it soft gloves. "They keep for many years and I have never had cold hands in it."

Car rental company asks money from survivors.

Even the prime minister is outraged: A New Zealand Car of the parents has killed tourists money for a lost car keys required. The two sons were at the Fox glacier ice has been slain.

 

Wellington - The car key is in the pocket of the corpse buried - and the rental car company wants to replace: 1000 Euro calls from the family of the last week in New Zealand injured man. The young Australian tourist was with his brother on Fox Glacier tonnenschwerem under glaciers have been buried. Finally, the car is towed away and the electronic key to be replaced, the landlord argued.

DPA
Fox Glacier: The father of the two Australians killed in the accident

New Zealand Prime Minister John Keys criticized the company, and in the Australian home of the young man was the New Zealanders as a hard-hearted insults. An Unknown paid the bill on Wednesday to help the family and the debate to an end.

Akshay, 22, and Ashish, 24, Miranda was in the past week, climbed over a fence to be closer
at the Fox Glacier on the South Island of New Zealand to come. Suddenly disbanded by the glacier a huge chunks of ice and killed the brothers. The corpse of Akshay - with the car keys in his pocket - was among the giant ice sheets have not been salvaged.

On the web page of the newspaper "New Zealand Herald readers also expressed some understanding for the rental car company. The brothers were to blame for the tragedy itself, because they were climbing the fence, it was said.

Rush to Traumjob can crash site.

A Swiss Olympic champion wants to do the job just like hundreds of other candidates: The interest in the Australian Haushälterstelle to Hamilton Island is the site of the tourism office on a permanent break - the campaign has proved successful.

 

Hamburg - The advertising coup has been achieved: On Tuesday, the Australian state of Queensland world ads, in which a part time job as a janitor at the Hamilton Island is offered. Who is fit and can use a laptop, is automatically qualified. 800,000 have already been interested in two days, the
Site visits - before they collapsed.

The accessibility of the site was "up and down like a Jojo," said a spokesman for the state tourism office Queensland Australian newspaper The Age. " Approximately 40 requests per second were registered in the server. Its capacity had to be massively expanded, when the news of the dream job in the world and many of its widespread application upload videos wanted. The viral marketing, with the Office of the beauty of the region wants to do work.

So far, it's 200 Jobinteressenten managed to deal with videos to apply. These include, inter alia, a Swiss rider, who won Olympic gold, and snow and bad weather genervter teenagers from Britain. Most candidates come from Britain, the United States, Italy and Australia.

Surfing, snorkeling, bloggen

AUSTRALIA-QUIZ

AP; Australian Tourist Commission; DPA

What happens if a Bikie with a Barbie Stubbie to attract? Or, if a tourist on Table Mountain Uluru stapft? Each year, more Germans are flying to the other end of the world. Are you prepared for the Australia-adventure? Test your knowledge in Reisequiz!

Wanted a
Island residents in the territory of the Australian Great Barrier Reef. Therefore, the State Tourism Queensland interested in a salary of 150,000 Australian dollars (approximately 76,000 euros).

In addition, free accommodation in a beautiful villa on the beach, pool and of course with the arrival on the island of Hamilton, part of the chain of the Whitsunday Islands, is accepted.

The islanders must be paid for just one task: He must be really good and go regularly to a blog, photos online and casual island life swarm. "The winner must love the sea, the sun and nature," said Anthony Hayes from the Office of Tourism Queensland. "And he must from time to time to speak with journalists, so he must not be shy."

With this advertising does the state of Queensland tourism in the region. "Locally, there is year-round pleasant climate and the interplay of blue sky, clear water and white sand is the perfect backdrop for an ideal island life," as stated in the vacancy on the island off the coast of Queensland.

"That will be huge," said the head of the Association of Tourism Whitsundays, Peter O'Reilly. He constructed with thousands of applications from all over the world. To 22 February can try his luck. Eleven candidates will be presented in May on the final round at the Hamilton Island invited. On 1 July, the successful candidate then his hard task as "Iceland Caretaker" applies.

Tourists rescued by helicopters.

Costa Rica was the worst earthquake since 150 years shocked. Officially, 50 feared dead. Are still about a thousand people around the volcano Poas cut off from aid, tourists, however, with helicopters could be brought to safety.
  Poasito / Vara Blanca - After the worst earthquake in Costa Rica for 150 years, the rescue teams only gradually to the victims vorgekämpft. The National Crisis Cell CNE said on Friday from 15 salvaged dead and 42 missing, feared there were more than 50 deaths. President Oscar Arias said after a lightning visit to the disaster area at the Poas Volcano: "The effects are worse than I had imagined."

Around 150 foreign tourists were from the worst-affected area around Poas rescued, many had to be flown out by helicopter. Aerial photographs revealed that many were Erdhänge slipped off.
Desperate residents of the disaster area searched under rubble and earth after nationals - as Gisella Mora Padilla from San Rafael de Vara, whose son Jean Carlos in a collapsed dairy suspected.
The Poas Volcano is located about 40 kilometers from the capital, San Jose center. In the vicinity of the volcano was the epicenter of the earthquake of magnitude 6.2, which is on Thursday at 13:21 clock time (20.21 GMT clock) occurred. According to an estimate of the Red Cross on Friday evening were still about a thousand people in remote areas cut off from any help.
The tourists, with the helicopters were brought to safety, came from the United States, France, Canada and Spain. Many of them had become the La Paz-up waterfalls, one of the main tourist attractions of the Central American country. The landslides were the connections to numerous villages cut off. Dozens of houses collapsed, burying cars earth below.
Both the neighboring countries as well as the U.S. and China provided assistance. Two Blackhawk helicopters of the U.S. armed forces were from Honduras to the area were mobilized to participate in the rescue operations to participate. Among the fatalities was a twelve-year-old girl by a falling wall buried. In the earthquake zone live 2.5 million of a total of four million inhabitants of Costa Rica.

Crater rim and coconut beach.

Reggae, rum and white sand: Nicaragua's Atlantic coast has a real Caribbean feel to offer. Before Corn Iceland revels in many of the sea of blue and green tones, on the beach to weigh coconut palms. The former civil war country is once again visited by tourists.
  Managua - tourists stroll through the Parque Central to the colonial city of Granada. You drive the car directly to the crater of the Masaya volcano, swim and surf in the Pacific: Nearly 20 years after the civil war, tourism is again life in Nicaragua. Many tourists like to come back and want new experiences - even the "Caribbean feeling" of the country in its peaceful Atlantic coast.

The aircraft were green swabs to see - before landing in Bluefields turn themselves as the jungle areas. The yellow-green area is used for pasture land, the black and white and brown points that are proving to be cattle and the dark blue band on the horizon as the Caribbean Sea. Bluefields, Dutch pirates in front of around 400 years ago, counts nearly 50,000 inhabitants.
Otherwise, it is in the sparsely populated region of Atlántico Sur lonely. Here live a few thousand of the Miskito indigenous people, some of which even the wild boar with a spear you. An hour flight from here is up to 380 kilometers away Managua. Most people, however, ten to twelve hours, first by boat, then by bus.
Reggae mood Corn Iceland
The landing of the propeller machine in the small town by the sea takes ten minutes. Marina Rodriguez goes to their plane around. The only pilot in the country is pleased to "have more tourists and a better image of Nicaragua in the World." Almost all the 35 passengers in the full machine are foreigners and want to continue. They are "ripe for the island" - and is only 20 minutes flight away.
Corn Iceland islanders with 6000 and the sister island of Little Corn Iceland, with its nearly 1,000 inhabitants offer Caribbean atmosphere with lots of reggae, salsa and merengue. In addition, rum, grilled fish, rice and beans and powder sand, coconut palms and sea in many blue and green tones. The islanders speak Spanish, English and creole dialect.
In Iceland Corn drives a bus around the island. There are mopeds and taxis Córdoba for 15 per line - less than one euro. The prices are moderate. They range from 8 to 65 euros for the night - the family connection is often included.
On Little Corn Iceland no noise disturbs or exhaust. A few children cycling on the narrow road of cement on the beach, an elderly man pushing a cart. Everyone greets everyone here, an islander repaired his fishing boat. "Four churches, a school and twelve small restaurant there, says Arnold Archibald, under one of the almond tree on a stool at the" Sweet Oasis bar sits.
An ideal world for tourists, however, Nicaragua is not: The Foreign Office advises due to increased crime and the risk of politically motivated clashes with caution in the country, including Corn and Little Corn Iceland Iceland. Tourists should be careful: in sparsely populated regions of the army and police were "not always able to guarantee the safety", says the security alert.
Grummelnde Volcanoes
On the mainland, it attracts many travelers always return to Granada. At the Parque Central doze rider and horse to nap in the shade. Business is better today than a decade ago. The 1524 by the Spaniards founded the city lies directly on Nicaragua. Trips lure of the nearby islets and the big island of Ometepe. About 40 active and dormant volcanoes, the country has - two on Ometepe greet the guests from afar: The more than 1600 meters high Concepción "grumbled in the past several decades. The Maderas attaches nearly 1400 meters and is quieter.
ON TO blogs ONLINENicaragua: The chocolate Shaman (03.12.2008) Nicaragua: relaxation between volcanoes and lagoons (19.01.2003) Honduras: The Sleeping Beauty of the Caribbean (13.01.2007) Costa Rica: Land of the Ticos and toucans (02.12.2008) Small, But on the other hand, is lively 635-meter high Masaya near the same colonial city. There is parking next to the crater. But beware: If the wind turns, ensure the constant outlet gas for heat and penetrating odor. Black lava stone in Masaya National Park is evidence of previous eruptions.
Several farmers in Nicaragua are also on ecotourism. "This works only if it continued peace in the country," said coffee farmer and horse breeder Alvaro Reyes Portocarrero. Not without pride, the Senor his hacienda in the highlands north of Matagalpa. This is so organic that two women almost constantly with the earthworm humus for the breeding of the coffee plants are employed.
Worries some travelers, however, the violence between the rival political camps in the country. After the municipal elections in November 2008 led to riots in Managua and Leon. These have now calmed down, but may flare up again at any time, "the Foreign Office warns tourists to be careful.

In the shadow of the volcano.

Quite on the fringes of Europe, on the Azores island of Faial, more cows than people. The heavenly peace only disturb the activities of the volcanoes, which also change the landscape - even eruptions created new neighbor islands.
  Horta - Faial is like a piece of paradise. The waves of the Atlantic break with splashing white foam on the black volcanic rocks, gulls circling over the Lavabrocken. Only 13 small communities are on the Azores Islands, twelve of them right on the coast. The blue of the ocean and the green pastures are the dominant colors. With luck, you can from the coast even see whales. Hydrangea bushes are along the roads and between fields.
A piece behind the island's capital, Horta, a farmer in three cows calmly on the street, large black gutgenährte Bunte. On Faial, more cows than people. That sounds idyllic, but it is not: volcanic eruptions, the landscape of the island at the edge of Europe dominated. And periodically the earth trembles.
"There are earthquakes every 20 years. The last ten years ago," says Sandra Dart, on Faial was born and whose family has been living there for centuries. "A major volcanic eruption, there were 1672," she says. "He has the first wave of emigration to Brazil triggered." Lava and craters are everywhere on the island to see. In the southeast at Monte da Guia, there are two large water-filled crater - one 123, the other 26 meters deep. The volcanic landscape design is protected.
HOLIDAY ISLAND-RANKING Find your dream island: Click on the picture to the assessments of 111 islands lesenDie recent disaster is just a good 50 years ago: The volcanic activities with constantly new quakes and eruptions retreated in the years 1957-58 a total of 13 months out. After the disaster that decimated the island's population: For the 30,000 people lived before on Faial, today there are still about 15,000. Many of the emigrants took it back in the U.S. - New York is exactly in the direction of the west.
This is also the reason why every year, so many visitors arriving from North America - many of them were born on the island. They all go to the lighthouse island in the west, there is where the outbreak at the center of the disaster was. For months, ash rained down on the tower, and soon he was half-covered them. The basement is still under the rubble masses hidden.
A tower as a symbol
But the lighthouse is also a symbol for the staying of the people on Faial - that the natural disaster was not the end. Today the tower is even one of the main attractions. Since August 2008, he hosts a museum dedicated to the history of Volcanology and dedicated to the outbreak.
A multimedia show explains why he was so unique: It began with a wave of earthquakes, which is about 15 days you buy a new. Just over a kilometer from the coast was on 27 September 1957 by the eruptions of the volcano Capelinhos suddenly an island, the end of October again in the sea disappeared.
Underground volcanic activity could soon emerge a new island and sink. A third, much larger, it eventually merged with Faial. "Faial is then increased by 2.4 square kilometers has grown," says Sandra Dart. In December 1957, there were the first outbreak, in which lava überirdisch ausströmte. This was followed again and again earthquakes and volcanic activity under the sea, then explosions, in which tons of ash into the air were. Only on 24 October 1958, the volcano quiet - west of the island after a new face had received.
Nobody was killed, but many houses were destroyed. From ash and lava-covered fields and pastures have been lost for ever. The area around the lighthouse is still looks like a black desert on an alien planet - unreal beautiful.

Please do not disturb parrots.

Bamboo tear harass and parrots is banned, also waste away, cars and motorcycles anyway. Who cares that in Latin America? All! At least in Puerto Nariño in the Amazon wilderness of Colombia.
  In the village with a flourishing garden, clean roads and people are constantly grüßenden like those rules are followed. And why? Even a 13-year-old students can do in a sentence together. "We love our homeland and our nature and protect them," says Dario. "So many tourists come to us, even from very far."

Globetrotter from all over the world, the mighty Amazon entlangschippern, but also families of some of the flight and boat hours away capital Bogota are fascinated by Puerto Nariño, which the Amazon is Loretoyacu arm. Dario from the people of Ticuna shows the river course on the large map near the mayor office.
Here in the main municipality of 2000 people live well, together with the neighboring villages are 7000th The ancestors of most residents have lived here before navigators and explorers from Europe came to the region. The nearest town, Leticia on the border with Brazil, nearly 70 kilometers away, depending on the boat two to five hours.
Heal the World in seclusion
Dario proudly displays the many blue bins, the football field, the municipal authority, the small library, a museum of local history, his school. Dario surprised when he hears that some children in Germany do not like going to school. "It is a pity, I like my class, my friends and teachers."
LATIN AMERICAN QUIZAP Ay, Caramba! From Carnival in Rio, have you heard? They know that sooner Maradona successful football played? Then it almost a Latin American expert - is not it? Test your knowledge in blogs ONLINE quiz! An old man wearing a bag with bananas on the shoulder, another prefers a barrow. A wooden boat joints smeared with tar. A number of children waving from the entrance of the most simple, but well-kept houses. Almost everyone can be photographed when he kindly be addressed in Spanish. And nobody keeps their hands on.
Everywhere sprout in pink oleanders and red, yellow Allamanda, bougainvillea in purple and white, sometimes even mango and lime. Most residents are poor, but they have a roof over their head. Starvation has none. River, garden, a bit of agriculture and tourism provide for the necessities.
Garbage car and ambulances are the only two vehicles on the narrow cement and sand roads allowed. Where should one with his car, when he could afford one. Even an SUV would not be far away. A few miles away is dense jungle.
On a giant bamboo green light next to a stone house with green shutters hang a sign: "It is prohibited to pull out of bamboo and parrots to harass." The extraction is expected to be impossible, not the performance. Parrots, the larger macaws, monkeys, and there are plenty, especially outside of the village. Well-paved roads lead through lush green hills in the waveform to a viewpoint. From there you can see hochgereckte palm trees, roofs of wattle, bricks and zinc on the tributary of the Amazon. Wooden small boats crossing to the other shore. A little disturbing in the idyll does the new building made of cement, a wharf for cargo ships.
Sophisticated menu for four euros
Back to the village: A Lady from Medellín is thrilled when they are in the restaurant "Las Margaritas" return to husband and children continues. "It espectáculo!" She says, two-, three loud and clear. The family nods. The husband thinks the good combination of his mobile phone that he has the ear. Which was spectacular. "I can here from the jungle to reach my secretary." Daughter and son praise the delicious food, fish in Gemüsesud, wrapped in a banana leaf. Your mom says, but the toilet. Seat lids, rinse - all intact and clean, to soap, fresh towels, toilet paper.
The menu of the restaurant is the winner, it costs converted four EUR: fish soup, real fresh-squeezed lemonade from lemon, grilled fish with rice, salad and cooking banana, coffee and homemade pastries. In the property cackle chickens, Helikonien and hibiscus flower. In the kitchen schmurgelt and brutzelt over charcoal.
ON TO ONLINEDreiländereck blogs on Amazon: Fiesta at the border (14.11.2008) Panama: The Weekend Indians (07.11.2008) Andean Adventure: On the trails of the Incas (21.01.2008) Francisca Beloza boss comes to the table, thanks for the praise. "Such good restaurant toilets there are not many," adds the proud 44-year-old added. "In Berlin-Neukölln and Istanbul will not," says a German Recognizing the neighboring table. The word Neukölln understands, however, not here. Today Señora Beloza sold 40 meals. "On good days, 60, in poor 6" she says. The mom from Medellín nods admiringly. But that, in the lonely, isolated village for a number of competing restaurants, there are a lot of guests.
Also good is served elsewhere, such as Ten-room Hotel Casa Selva ", a pale stone building with a courtyard and truss. Full board is converted from 40 euros. The restaurant also offers typical cuisine, "Comida typica", as Maria Victoria Garcia stressed. As she explains the success of the village? The 42-year-old hotel manager said: "We love the village. Mayor and council want to give a signal against environmental pollution, crime and indifference. And we all draw with." This was Puerto Nariño even "a small attraction in the country has become."
Do not be afraid of robberies
Tourists can also safely at night in the dark by the community walk, which in Colombia is not anywhere else to be recommended. Thieves steal a maximum of times a pair of pants from the clothesline, "or a chicken," says Dario laughing. Yes, the villagers are using clothesline and pegs, not like elsewhere in the region, fence or bushes.
Most visitors are Großstädter from Colombia in the Amazon with kids leave and make a detour into the picturesque village do. The National Amacayacu is only an hour away by boat. In some near-poor side of the Amazon are often the otherwise rare pink dolphins can be observed.
I am now five hours together with Dario, unobtrusive me on the pier with a "Bienvenido" welcomed. He has really holidays, schwänzt not the school, like so many children from Mexico and Brazil as "travel guide" to get to the big family to earn. And so far he has yet to be no me "Amigo" led with souvenir shop, the "good friends" a very good price makes. Even lemonade and Yucadito - pastry chef from banana flour and coconut - the accepted students in the "Las Margaritas" only after some hesitation. "I've never eaten here," he whispers. His family could not afford.
His father is a carpenter, his mother, Maria will take care of house and children. She understands everything in the language of their Ticuna people. Your but lacked the vocabulary to talk, she says. Dario can only be a few lumps. Similarly, his English skills. Then he proudly displays on the sign at the door. Everyone in the village knows who lives here. But as a pretty wooden sign reading "6-87, Carrera 5, Fam Ahue Lopez" is good for self-esteem.
So much cleanliness, friendliness and willingness to help without ulterior motives will slow me terribly. Other newcomers are similar. A young couple from Vancouver, which has been here four days is reassured me: "It is really so nice. You are not dreaming." Fortunately accepted Dario farewell at the jetty at the tip for himself and his family. He pushes the form, without him, just in his pocket. Here, he looks a little embarrassed to. Then he says: "That was my mother. Gracias. Adios."

Journey to Scarlett O'Hara.

History lessons to touch: The Antebellum Trail kidnapped tourists in the world from "Gone With the Wind." Here you can see a lot about the U.S. Civil War to learn - and learn why women are the magnificent windows Cottages scratched.
  Madison / Athens - Since the U.S. Civil War, more than 140 years ago. However, the bloody conflict between the Union and Confederate troops from 1861 to 1865 in the minds of many Americans are still very present. They have contributed not only the novel and film classic "Gone With the Wind" and "Reenactment" in which amateur actors with a lot of cannon thunder key battles again beat.
Your contribution also attractions such as the Antebellum Trail in Georgia. Anyone who follows this tourist route, quickly discovered that the wind in the southern states is not everything I want, which is before the Civil War there buildings arose. In 2009, the Trail 25 years old.
The window panes of the Heritage Hall in Madison, a number of small scratches. The effect at first glance disturbing, but it also tells a little story: "In this way, the daughters of the house once tried to find out whether the diamonds in their engagement rings were real," says Betty MAXEY, in the 1811 showpiece built villa Guest's work. As the scratches to prove the men had fiancées in the years 1830 to 1870 not only serious intentions, but maybe even money in the bag: "Only genuine diamond cut glass," Betty explains to its visitors.
The Heritage Hall in Madison is one of many jewels along the roughly 150-kilometer Antebellum Trail. In 1977, the building that has been at the hands of ten owners went to a museum.
This task is the Historical Society of Morgan County highly successful: In the living room, guests do not need much imagination to her mind's eye before the dignitaries of the slave-owners in the company of fine porcelain decorated dining table to sit. And although a young woman in a frilled dress like Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind" to the door hereinkäme would be hardly surprising.
On the real estate market would be the Heritage Hall probably two to three million dollars (1.4 to 2.1 million euros) will - if they would be up for sale. "There are old houses that would cost double that," said Andy Williams of the local Chamber of Commerce.
Much history per square meter
The 3500-population town of Madison is located approximately in the middle of the Antebellum Trail and offers visitors a huge compression of buildings from the time "before the war," as the Latin word Antebellum compiling. Solo at the Main Street and Academy Street is lined with nearly 40 buildings from the 19th Century together. Tourists get a map in hand pressed, moving from house to house and be amazed again and again.
ON TO ONLINE blogs Georgias coast: Hideaway on Jekyll Iceland (28.06.2008) Florida Keys: State cake sweet and sour (26/11/2008) Monument Valley: The Mars on Earth (21.10.2008) Boston's North End: My wonderful hairdresser (03.11.2008) Shenandoah Valley: The Park of Hope (21.10.2008) The fact that Madison so much on architectural history offers so little space, the place due to the fact that the Union General William T. Sherman did not burn as others did, as his 1864 soldiers on the march from Atlanta to the Atlantic were.
To the fact that Sherman was spared Madison, entwine some stories - for example, that the place was so beautiful, or that his mistress lived. "All nonsense," says Williams. "From Madison then came Senator Joshua Hill, violates the separation of the Union of Georgia had been" - and the Sherman had done a favor. Also tombs from that period are still visible: In the cemetery, for example, 52 of the Confederate soldiers were buried, in hospitals in the surrounding area had died.
Day trip to Madison
If you only have one day to the Antebellum Trail to explore - for example, because he is on the way from Atlanta to the ocean is - who is good in Madison. Free of Swap, the place is not as strong as the equally disturbing truck traffic proves the midst roars through the center. But Madison gives a good impression of how it at the time of Scarlett O'Hara and Abraham Lincoln looked like this could. "The fact that old houses were simply abandoned, it has not been here," says Williams.
This is further north in Athens, one of the two starting points of the Antebellum Trail, not always been the case. Again, there are at least two dozen buildings dating from before the 1861st "But after the Second World War was just everything new well. The old woman was weggemacht," says the city's Janet McNair-Clark. "In the sixties, then people began to notice what they are losing."
The demolition of entire neighborhoods were still further - and is still continuing. "Many people here in Athens today to think that most visitors in the American football season in the autumn in the city," says Amy Clark of Tourism. "But in fact, most because of the heritage of history and architecture."