Friesentee under palm trees.

A dream comes true: Two Ostfriesen sell their contractors and open a bakery on Koh Lanta, a Thai group of islands in the Andaman Sea. There, they lubricate liverwurst sandwiches, cook tea and wonder - the strange idea goes back to business.

 

Would we like to begin a little bit rude, and look forward to this February once the weather for the town of Leer in Ostfriesland little closer to four degrees morning, noon six, perceived two degrees. Light Rain, Ice Pellets are not excluded. Tost Hinterm dyke choppy sea under thick clouds mountains.

Ina Drechsel from Leer laughs. She wears a light, salmon-colored top and a beach trousers. Her husband, Horst has not much longer, and he laughs too. The two are doing well, and you guess what: They are not empty - the two are at 30 degrees and sunny on Koh Lanta, an island in the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand.

And what is the best part: If the good life with them, says they must not go back. Ina and hot as he is now called - its the Thais can not pronounce the German name - have emigrated. Up and away. After Thailand. Add to paradise. Or what some people think that.

Ina and Horst, both 48 years old, are not lottery winners and no tax refugees. Ina and Horst are earth and bourgeois. They have only their own private dream of constant sunshine and smiling people.

Many friends had initially kept crazy. Ironically, in Thailand wanted the two contractors from Leer unstop a German bakery, a cafe with Ostfriesen Ostfriesentee occupied and rye breads. And they had a logo out that of the Jever Brewery ( "Frisian-herb") is similar. Some times only ordered a shot, when she learned of the plan. InAs mother wept. The two were probably mad! Where was it at all, this Koh Lanta?

Beach hut and Diving with Mantas

The Empty looked at their guide. The fact that Koh Lanta consists of two islands, namely Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi, and is home to 20,000 inhabitants, stood there. That the people are predominantly Muslim and most of them on the shrimp farms and coconut plantations to work.

And that parts of Ko Lanta Yai, and several smaller islands National Marine Park in 1990 had been declared. Against the plans of the Thai government to the islands to declare a nature reserve, had the Islanders, however, successfully defended. The business with the tourists, they wanted to be a couple of environmentalists from outside can not spoil.

15 years and came Horst Ina regularly here. In the island of Hin Daeng could be so wonderful with the manta dive, Ina enthuses: "And anyway, the water is clear and full of seafood." Often Ina Horst and remained two or three months on the piece continued. On Koh Lanta, they had a small beach hut rented by the sea, and occasionally they also explored other dive areas - in the Philippines or in Indonesia.

If they were empty again, they were homesick for Thailand, sometimes for weeks. But watt mutt, mutt datt, they thought. There was, finally, the construction companies. And now and then but it was also seen by the right. But the times have been harder for the construction industry in East Friesland. As more and more competitors came from the East and more and more clandestine. That business was barely profitable. When the Ökoregierung in Berlin came to power, increased thermal insulation in order to Drechsel. But it was no longer as before.

When Ina and Horst in the spring of 2007 by friends learned that on Koh Lanta Santos, the bakery had closed and her verhökerte inventory, the time was ripe. The two Ostfriesen did not hesitate long. The company was sold in Leer, after 18 years, and 80,000 to 100,000 euros seed money to loose.

Ostfriesentee under palms

With 170 kilograms of luggage and Ina Horst came to Koh Lanta and rented a Suzuki. Moreover, they had so the hut by the sea. But how will a contractor baker? Ina once dominated just a few cakes. Fortunately acquaintances knew right from Lake baker: Günther and Beata, who had lust and three months' time. But when the baker Lake arrived in October 2007, was the work permit for Ina Horst and yet not there. The company however was purchased - all officially - and "Nang Sabai" baptized.

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The time ran. As the document was finally here, the ambitious pair stayed just four weeks, the pretzel bread baking and learning. But everything went well. Soon was the first in the Black Forest gateaux Regal, liverwurst and rye breads. The company sign with the slogan "Ostfriesische-herb 'dangles on the road. The tea steamed under the palms, the first guests arrived.

Koh Lanta is booming so, since a few years ago, a car ferry was put into operation. Since settling here, more and more sun-starved Europeans, which marks its spot on the street are: "Hammarby Bar, Café Brits," "Cafe Francais". Even 50 to 60 Germans living on the islands. The course came first in the "German Bakery". And then came the tourists.

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The hotels on Koh Lanta is very nice and the beaches are gorgeous, but the breakfast! "Usually there's only schrumpelige sausages and cold fried eggs," says Ina. Quick presented the Neubäcker on the situation. Every morning is the cafe for breakfast for guests is now open. On the wall hang the flag and the Ostfriesland by the City of Leer.

We offer eleven hot coffees and six cold. A rye bread with liverwurst there for 90 baht (about two euros) and Toast Hawaii for 80 baht, and you can get a "Mr. Toast with pork and asparagus order. The ingredients come almost exclusively from Germany - via an importer in Bangkok.

Quick Drechsel had to recruit staff. Nine Thais now working for them. The workday begins at 4 clock morning. Have they presented the so? "We knew however that there is nothing for nothing," says Horst, "But back? No we do not want back."

Now the two left-outs can only hope that Bangkok is not already crazy plays. When in December the international airport demonstrators frozen, broke even on Koh Lanta of tourism.

The dancers and the Beast.

Samba, Samba, olé: The 4000 members of the school Salgueiro have the price of the Champions Carnival in Rio de Janeiro won. Their victory strategy: Monster, cave men and scantily clad dancers.

 

Rio de Janeiro - The samba school Salgueiro has the carnival of Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday won the first prize. The school from the infamous for its violent slums Tijuca in the north of the city received 399 of 400 possible points and won the title in order for the ninth time - most recently 1993 could be celebrated. A total of twelve samba schools had in the nights of Sunday and Monday before 70,000 spectators present, on Ash Wednesday, the winners were announced.

Salgueiro convinced the jury with his opulent parade with 4100 participants, the history of the drum and its importance in the music of different cultures illustrated. The dancers marched with floats behind her, where giant prehistoric monsters, garnished by cave people were transported. In recent years, winning samba school Beija-Flor came in scoring with 398 points, only very slightly behind in second place.

"It is a great profit," said school President Regina Celia Duran, "Salgueiro really needed this victory." Several months earlier, in front of the headquarters of the school three people in a gunfight killed. 2007 was the vice president shot dead. With deadly violence has also rival Beija-Flor fighting: In the past year, three people at the victory celebration in front of the school violated.

Rio's samba schools give up to 2.5 million U.S. dollars from around the lush 80-minute parades on the footing. The victory brings a lot of fame, a trophy and possible sponsorship contracts, but no money. Often the schools are suspected by illegal lotteries to finance.

With the victory announcement on Ash Wednesday ended the carnival in Rio officially, some major celebrations are still going until the weekend. On Saturday, the best six samba schools again in a Champions Parade at the spectators vorbeidefilieren.

The three from the beach.

Nepp, tugs, tourist trap: In order to rip off passengers in front on the road to protect, is in Varanasi, India, the Aliens Police in action. Their Autoriät, however, is limited.

 

Varanasi - Mr. Pandeys day begins with work. The 47-year-old officer, slender, gray mustache, removes the shirt in navy blue trousers of his uniform way, then it rises toward the stairs down the Ganges. Before him, a celebration. Hundreds of people crowded in the holy river, wash their sins. Morning at six, there is religious rush-hour in Varanasi.

Knee deep, the men and women in the ongoing water that are so brown is like a stale puddle site. Cans with brass scoop it over their heads, say prayers in the process of dive. Bell sound, smell incense. Yonder, on the other side the river, the sun slowly goes on - even two hours, then again sultry 38 degrees.

Before the Hindus have every morning as dozens of boats positioned. On board are backpacking and flat-travelers from the West, the digital cameras around the neck. Varanasi, the ancient city on the banks of the holy "Mother Ganga", is a pilgrimage for Hindu pilgrims and tourists. 3.6 million visitors, mostly Indians, but also many Europeans who came in 2007.

Such a crowd enjoys not only the hotel and restaurant operators, but has also led to a thriving street vendors and customers tug scene led. In travel guides will be aggressive "ripoff" and false "Guides" warned the new visitors have been told that the reserved hotel was burned down, but thank God would know better. As in most mass-tourist destinations promised in Varanasi, especially money and are therefore under siege - and that means working for Mr Pandey.

Am Ghat siege

Pandey is an official at the tourist police, a kind of alien workers in uniform. With two colleagues, he is here on the rocky shore promenade, the so-called Ghats, stationed. Your guard, a metal with lattice windows, is at the most accessed swimming pool, the Dashaswamedh Ghat, foreigners simply called Main Ghat. Mr Pandey is now doing his daily patrol.

A group of young Indians have a pair in Khakihosen surrounding the design of their backpacks in front of the abdomen geschnallt have. The Indians want either postcards, boat rides, haircuts, or Ohrreinigungen sell Pandey flushed them away. "The dealers are a major problem," he says, "they beset the foreign tourists. We are here to help."

Take as many tourists in their help? "No, rather not, most do not know that we exist." Pandey and his colleagues have their own cases, most are looking for. Their most exciting application yet? "Last year, a Frenchwoman in photography fell into the water," says Pandey.

Cremation as a tourist magnet

The smoke of burnt wood sticks in the nose, eyes tearful: On Burning Ghat, the dead publicly feuerbestattet - for Europeans, mostly in the deaths funeral firms have outsourced, an unfamiliar sight. If you burn leaves in Varanasi, according to Hindu belief breaks the cycle of rebirth. During the hot summer months, when many old people die, are up to 300 deaths a day buried.

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Eight pyre today are built near the river. On some you can in orange scarves encased suspect dead, others are up to the burnt soil. The ash is then in the Ganges geschüttet. On the stone steps above the crematorium sitting members, among them tourists.

Photography is not allowed here, but a self "Guide" offers a guide to make at the end of which is a balcony of a photo shoot is expected. Heilig, Pandey says, many here had only the money and runs forward in the direction of Old Town.

In the narrow streets, many people insist. Right and left in the open dealer stores sell vegetables, souvenirs, and in wound chewing leaves. A motorcyclist honks at the door, a cow kotet, it smells sour after foul garbage. Varanasi is not only a sacred center, but also a true mud hole - and with its hundreds of ways a maze.

"We need more power"

Then - finally - a new case. A blonde passenger, mid-20s, trekking sandals, is busy from a jewelry dealer prosecuted. Pandey intervenes. The jewelry dealer looks briefly puzzled, then he continued his sales pitch.

"We need more power," says Pandey at go. The tourist police in Varanasi has about as much to say as a private security guard in Germany: namely, nothing. Pandey and his colleagues, all retired soldiers, are not the police, but the tourism authorities of their subordinates. Pronounce sentences, they may not. The total of 23 employees, who since 2002 in Varanasi on patrol, have neither cars nor radios. "Together, we can only talk about our private phones," says Pandey.

At the entrance of the Golden Vishwanath temple sit a dozen policemen, their guns to the wall. Since a series of bomb in 2006 in which more than 20 people died, were the security arrangements in Varanasi reinforced, since the
Mumbai terror attacks on the case. "We tend to lost backpacks or help foreign tourists during the orientation," says Pandey. With the police only if they had something to do when tourists had stolen something. "We then teach. Most Indian police do not speak English."

After half an hour in the streets of chaos is the old town back to the Main Ghat. That's it - Pandey saunters back to his two colleagues who were on plastic chairs in the shade of a silohohen water tanks have taken place. What they are now the rest of the day will make? "Here, wait. If we leave, but no one finds us."

But who should they find it if nobody knows? Yes, that was probably a problem, says Pandey.

35,000 candidates want Trauminsel job.

In the final sprint gave up the ghost server: The application deadline for the job of a custodian island in the Australian Great Barrier Reef has expired. Now we start the hot phase of the selection. Whether it's Dean Martin's son is? Or the Obama-Double?

 

Sydney - The prospect of "the best job in the world" with good pay in a dream Australian beach has attracted tens of thousands of applicants. Just before the application deadline in the night on Monday sent 34,684 applicants from around the world their video application for the job as an "island-janitor" at Iceland in Hamilton Great Barrier Reef, as the organizers announced.

In the last 24 hours before the final 7500 meeting applications. Those who waited to the last minute had to be Requested video on the Internet site islandreefjob.com upload was disappointed: The server broke because of the high operation shortly before the deadline expires on Sunday together.

One third of the candidates come from the U.S., reported the Minister of Tourism Queensland, Desley Boyle, on Monday, followed by Canada (around 2800), Britain (2300) and Australia (2000). Among the candidates was the son of U.S. movie stars and Schmachtsängers Dean Martin, Ricci, and a Barack Obama-double on the lookout for career change.

Washing clothes for the whole of Australia

Candidates shy, according to the Tourism Association of Queensland no cost or effort: A candidate turned in his video in six different languages, a Russian family was on the job for four and one half of the money to a candidate wanted to the laundry of all Australian residents worry about, it should be selected.

On the field of half a year on temporary agency includes such tempting activities like bathing, snorkeling and in-the-sun-loungers. The only real work is the driving power of an Internet blog about the virtues of the island demanded.

The lucky winner of the competition gets for the six months' work "converted 80,000 euros as well as the directions from the home country at the Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef paid. There may be "Iceland Caretaker" then nothing millionenteuren in a villa on the coast of wohnen. The campaign wants the Australian state of Queensland as a tourism region advertise.

On the 2nd March is a list of 50 candidates are, in the short-coming. On 3 May be the last eleven candidates for job interviews to fly to the island, on 6 May is the winner announced on 1 July applies his job may be.

Samba gives you wings.

Dancers with angels wings, plush tiger in record size and hot rhythms: the Brazilian carnival has reached its climax. In Rio de Janeiro samba schools twelve fight for the title of Champions - Two long nights takes the colorful spectacle.

 

Rio de Janeiro - Brazilian Street Carnival is the largest increases samba party in the world: millions of fools on Sunday went far into the night with hot rhythms of samba in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife and Salvador through the streets and into the "Sambódromos ", where the best dance groups to see. Possible lack of money because of the global financial crisis has been easy with creativity and enthusiasm compensated.

In Rio de Janeiro fieberten which fools the big showdown of the twelve best samba schools in the night to prevent Rosenmontag. In the by star architect Oscar Niemeyer designed Sambódromo flocked on Sunday over 70,000 people, the two nights long wanted to experience colorful spectacle, which this year from the Imperio Serrano samba school was opened.

Under the theme "Secrets of the Sea" are a total of twelve schools for Samba atmostphere: On Sunday, there were already six, the other six will be on Monday evening Rios Marques avenue de Sapucai along parade.

Presentation ceremony on Ash Wednesday

The mostly from poor neighborhoods coming compete with huge schools motif cars, lavish costumes, rhythmic drum sounds and barbus dancers compete for the title of "Champions of the carnival." Each samba school has up to 5000 dancers. Favorite is back Beija-Flor, five of the last six titles won. Their appearance, however, until the night of Tuesday on the program.

The points distribution on Ash Wednesday will be broadcast live on television and is not only in the city at Sugarloaf almost as important as the national football championship. Even Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has the march on Sunday viewed - as the first Brazilian head of state in 15 years.

"It's like a football game, only with naked ladies," said the Russian Alexandr Tourist Kuguschew on the show in Sambódromo. His wife, Daria took the drama a little more romantic: "It's great, like a fairy tale." With pounds of jewelry and feather Strassheim and multi figures on the floats are the parades for the samba schools, however, an expensive fun. Each floats cost around 1.6 to 2.4 million. Traditionally, the samba schools in the months-long preparations of sponsors, but because of the global economic crisis does the money currently sparse.

In the streets celebrated stars with slum-dwellers. "They said that this year the carnival was in a crisis, but the party in us has no price," said the seamstress Miqueas Cherry, the costumes for the Grande Rio samba school has mitgestaltet. In Rio itself, there are hundreds of informal celebrations, where half a million people celebrate Carnival - including many tourists from all over the world.

Photo: REUTERS
Video: Reuters

In the capital, São Paulo, the samba school "Imperio de Casa Verde on Sunday with her car motif on a record: The group defiled predator with a gigantic pile of cardboard and through the carnival stadium. The "belligerent Tiger" was 55 meters long and 14 meters high. "We are the largest sculpture in the history of the carnival entries", was a member of the board securely.

In Recife in northeastern Brazil went to the traditional parade "Galo da Madrugada (Rooster of the Early Morning) on one million dancing fools when sweaty temperatures exceeding 30 degrees a gigantic carnival Gockel behind. The street carnival in Recife is one of the largest worldwide.

For security reasons, after São Paulo

The joy is clouded, however, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Almost 10,000 security forces guarding the parade this year, following on the eve of the carnival celebrations
almost a hundred tourists victims of robberies were. The head of the tourism police assured Fernando Veloso, Rio was "very well prepared."

Most foreign visitors could be increased by the dangers of non-stop celebrations. Many danced with the residents left out on the streets of Rio. "I just do not go into the dangerous neighborhood," said the 35-year-old Italian Thomas Spagnolatti. Some tourists prefer, however, the carnival in Sao Paulo before. "Carnival in Sao Paulo is very well organized," says a 42-year old Swiss tourist's choice. "Even if the carnival in Rio a little bit better, I would it for safety reasons, not against the São Paulo exchange."

Khmer Temple in the Warhol style.

In an extinct volcano in the east of Thailand topped by the magnificent Phanom Rung. The mountain temple from Khmer times was once a jungle road with Angkor Wat connected - and acts like a miniature edition of the Cambodian national symbol.

 

In the gallery "Mu Mu" by Berlin filmmaker and author Detlev Neufert in Bangkok hangs a large, colorful mosaic. For many small shards of glass in vivid colors, the artist Tree My life in his native Isaan shown that part of Thailand, Cambodia to the border with Laos and the mighty Mekong divides. You can see farmers at work, water buffalo, the typical Isaan houses on stilts with walls and roofs made of braided straw Palm, monks, temples, rice fields, lakes and pastures.

The mosaic is dominated by the colors red, blue and green. Going but in these days by the Isaan, in the fourth well of the 60 million population lives Thailans, brown-yellow dominates the wide, flat landscape. It is dry season, and the hot sun, the fields, pastures and harvested rice fields parched. Only the tapioca plantations set green color in the barren landscape.

So very colorful colors on you but in Isaan even in the hot period October to April do not. Everywhere in the villages blooming in front of the houses in the gardens and flowers in red, yellow and purple, the viewer can speculate that nature had in Isaan, the colors are first invented. The flowers in the village of Ban Prasat, with its dark brown Teakhäusern almost distracts from the main attraction of the village near the metropolis Isaan Nakon Ratchasima from: the prehistoric excavations which show that it is in good Isaan since 4000 years crops were developed long before the Thais about 1500 years after Siam migrated.

"Very old"

On the village square in front of the small museum wait two adolescent boys in blue shirts to visitors. They earn pocket money as a tourist guide. "Come, I'll show 'you our excavations," says one and leads its customers to mine 1st The leaves deep in the story look Isaan. The bottom layer with the broken pots is more than 3000 years, the skeletons in the second and third layer from 2500 to 1000 years old. "Very old," says one of the guys with awesome views, which also has the treasure of the English language guide has been exhausted.

The only places in Nakon Ratchasima, better known under its old name Khmer Korat, are the remains of the old city wall and the statue of Thao Suranari, as Jeanne d'Arc Thailand 1826, an invasion of the Laotian troops under King Anuwong zurückschlug. Korat also has a number of good hotels such as the Dusit Princess, which is a base camp for visits to the ancient Khmer temple in the southern Isaan suitable.

In only 40 minutes by car is about Prasat Phimai achieved, and in Buriram shortly before the border with Cambodia is situated on an extinct volcano, built Prasat Phanom Rung. Those who are in their sight at the temples of Angkor recalls feels, is on the right track. In the first centuries of the last millennium, which governed the Khmer kings of Angkor in Cambodia from a huge empire that today's Thailand and consisted almost entirely in the west to the border of Burma handed.

A Thai-Cambodian team of scientists has by using the latest technology such as geographic information systems discovered a road to the palaces of the gods in Isaan with sanctuaries in Angkor connected. The ancient highway, which is a powerful Heerstraße, religious pilgrimage and picturesque tourist route previously was lined hotels, hospitals and rest areas.

How tedious and expensive it must have been, this temple to build the cosmos, is clearly Phanom Rung, the most dramatic staircase access to all Khmer temple has. 800 years ago, the rectangular stone for the construction of the temple complex from a quarry 30 kilometers away and fetch with man's sheer force the 400-meter-high mountain hinaufgeschleppt, which we can now comfortably on a nice paved road in air-conditioned car can achieve.

Farangs not stop after it rarely Phimai

Once the Hindu gods Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu temples are consecrated today popular pilgrimage sites as tourist religious nature. There are almost only Thais, Prasat Phimai after the pilgrimage, or the steep stairs to the ancient chapels, libraries, and sanctuaries of the Phanom Rung temple mountain climb. Farangs, as Europeans in Thailand is called, is not lost so many in Isaan. In the temples, Buddha is revered today, but it brings some even Shiva & Co. dar. victims safe than sorry. Pong, a Thai officer, says: "Buddhism is the national religion of Thailand, but Hinduism is still very influenced our traditional culture."

How much more of Hinduism from the Khmer-alive time, it might be best for the last weekend of every month in Prasat Phimai experience. Then that will be on the lawn in front of huge blocks of sand built temple wall scenes from the Hindu Gods and Heldenepos Ramayana listed. The two hour spectacle is free. A must buy ticket but who is also the subsequent sound and light show, including a Thaibuffetdinners inside the temple want to experience, in the 11th Century one of the intellectual centers of the Khmerreiches was.

This is an impressive type, like a small version of Angkor Wat Phimai looking to do. Alternately, the towers of the main sanctuary in red, yellow or green light. Time to act before the Dome illuminated star-night sky like a Popgemälde by Andy Warhol, then again as the filigree of a Gothic cathedral tower.

In the region around Phanom Rung, near the Cambodian border, the people by the Khmer culture, while the northern Isaan by the ethnic and cultural heritage of the Lao influenced. This manifests itself in the language that is similar to the Lao, but also the food and the arts. Much of what is considered "typical Thai ', as Klebreis, spicy food and Thai boxing has its origin in Isaan, which also has been the center of the ancient silk production.

This heritage is also in My Trees Isaan mosaic visible. My Tree says: "My art is from the Lao temple painting influenced."

A whore house as a spirit.

Copper mines, deserts and cemeteries in the south of the U.S. state of Arizona see the sights from the hard life of pioneers. Visitors should not fear haunting in the hotel room - and the unique "Blöde-motorist law" know.

 

Tucson / Bisbee - Sunny is a wiry man of 75 years. More than 30 years, he worked in the copper mines of Bisbee small mountain village in southern Arizona to work, and he still almost every day with the little train, his helmet, which Steiger lamp skin and the rain in the mountain. But today, he needs no more and no hammer chisel, its metallic Butterbrotdose remain at home. Because Sunny leads visitors through the old Copper Queen Mine, in the years 1881 to 1975 tonnes of gold, silver, copper and zinc from the rock were beaten. She is one of many attractions in the desert south of Arizona to tourists wait.

Copper Queen Mine was not, in which it went down into the earth. The tunnel led horizontally into the rock inside. More than 200 kilometers, there are ways in this mine alone - most were created by hand and piece by piece in laborious detail work beaten and blown up. For the worker was an arduous and dangerous work. And yet it was one, after many people were looking for, because it permitted a good living.

The Copper Queen Mine was just one of 34 mines in Bisbee best times to young men found work. At around 25,000 inhabitants, the town needed it then, and it was during the period around 1900 as the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco, so in the vast expanse between the Mississippi and the Pacific.

Beautiful shadows of the past

Today is Bisbee, a good ten miles from the Mexican border, only a shadow of its time - but a nice shade. Center of the village, which is surrounded by bright red mountains, is the Copper Queen Hotel. It is one of those buildings that we had built, when the inhabitants were more and more regularly, and hence important guests came to the city.

At the huge construction saved the Phelps Dodge Mining Company no cents. In order for the hotel is a flat piece of land to be found, even at first a huge Felsklotz from the mountain to be broken down.

Italian was the theme at the beginning of the 20th Century. The tiles were herangeschafft from Europe, the Deckenleuchtern, the name "Tiffany". The walls, said manager Adam Lamb, almost two feet thick, more than half a meter. "So you have done it, even in the hot summer to cool rooms." Bisbee, however, has a rather atypical for Arizona climate - it is pretty cool, sometimes in the winter snow falls. Because Bisbee is located on a plateau at 1600 meters - just as most of southern Arizona.

What was once luxurious, is different today, more and more of a wild-west romanticism. And there are unexplained phenomena in the old box: "The hotel has three ghost house, there's something for everyone," says Adam Lamb. The first, as he was an elderly gentleman, tall, with long hair and a beard. He usually wearing a black cloak and a hat. "Some say, before he comes, you already smell the smoke a good cigar."

The spirit of the Whore

Acquaintance, but as the old man, usually in the "Teddy Roosevelt Room" on the fourth floor up, was a young woman in early 30th Julia Lowell, as its name, was a purchasable lady in the hotel with men met. In one of them, it is said, they fell unhappy. Julia took in the hotel's life - and still is their presence in the second and third floor of the main house to feel his. The irreverent spirit haunted in the same place: The steps and the giggling of a little boy in the San Pedro River is drowned, were still to hear, tell guests.

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But not only in Bisbee is haunted. Even in neighboring Tombstone exciting stories about people who have disappeared from the wilds of the desert or by the severe climatic conditions then were is accelerated. Tombstone got its name is no coincidence: "Tombstone" is the place which today consists of many old facades there. Also throw in a lot of people happy, and often in their Wild West costumes and shoot cartridges with space around him.

The city inhabited easy girls and hard guys - men who looked after and silver were found. Fearless were these guys who are on the way into the hot desert summer inhospitably made. Even before the Apaches, they had no fear. The Indians lurking once Silbersuchern and not infrequently put an end to their life - even before the first claim was made.

One of the most interesting destinations in Tombstone is logical for the cemetery of the city - in the Ödnis on the edge of the colorful wooden houses. Cairns lie between cacti and thorny bushes. And with simple wooden crosses krakeliger font announce who is buried there and what he died terrible deaths.

"Across Cuba, the devil again.

Gut 1100 Cuba kilometers from west to east, many people only see the beaches and the chic Varaderos pages Havana. Roland Schulz wanted more - and went on a discovery trip to fishermen, farmers and the rocker-youth of Camagüey.

 

They sat in the rocking chair, looking up into the mountains addressed. It was the hour of the midday sun, just a movement, and the people passed in welding. It was wearing a flimsy shirt, which their poor air was arid as well as a headscarf. Your mouth angle welkten already on their hands Old wound cores, but their eyes had the stabbing of a young blue sky.

Regardless of age, received a untamed force of her from. She heard all the questions: why, why, why, who is the first time comes to Cuba, before flowing on issues. What brings her the tobacco, Doña Adelaida? How much you earned with the leaves as pawns in a socialist state? What is left in memory, what do you think about the future, as it lives in this country? She spoke not a word.

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They sat there silent. An indulgent smile on her lips, she saw the sun, like all life that inexorably led to a halt. The dog dragged itself hechelnd below the bread fruit trees, chickens examined under the wooden planks of the shadows, from the fields around were ridden brothers and sons in order to cool their horses into the river to rise. Then finally she said.

"These are but a lot of questions," she said. Her voice had notched the sound of a man, a lifetime of smoking has. Then they put themselves one question: "Y cómo viniste?" She asked in what way did you come, stranger, you are so inquisitive stand before my door? By train, by plane, bus, Doña Adelaida, from Germany to here, into the deep valley of the tobacco in the west of Cuba, where the journey begin: once across Cuba.

They immediately lifted from her rocking chair, in the face smile, and called across to the other: "Hey, come time ago, the guy here wants to ride across Cuba!" To do this she laughed loudly. It sounded like a rattle. All were gone now, children, parents, grandparents, when Adelaida Nuñez calls, it promises to be funny. Time of her life she has these hamlets with their songs, entertain, with décimas spontaneously sealed satire songs, until her fingers when she no longer could bend, she gave the guitar to. "Germany, eh?" She said. "Find me a man there. But he should be nice! Ugly am myself" She laughed.

They pushed now chairs on the veranda, ranged in small cups of coffee and brought tobacco, leathery leaves, fresh from the dry house, Adelaida on the back of her rocking chair to loose rolled cigars. Then they told. As Doña Adelaida beguiled everyone when she was young. As the river was once the flood and the fields fortspülte: The tobacco was destroyed, the Yucca, the corn. Or how Miguel is one Sunday in his bed and put away. So it is lived in this valley: "Here we come to the world, we die here," said Adelaida. It has dawned, when the parting came. Adelaida asked: "And how can I find?" With everything that goes Doña Adelaida, somehow all the time. That's the plan. "Across Cuba," she giggled, "the devil again."

On the street there was silence, no car, no motorcycle, nothing. Only the night. Ten, maybe twelve kilometers were up Viñales, accompanied solely by unruly mosquitoes, the sound of their steps - and questions. Who many questions to Cuba has, it does well, even on the questions to hear in this country are. "Cómo viniste?" How did you come? To catch a lot of talks - a prelude, the speeches made easy. Who here is taking a trip, never know when, how, what and whether it will ever arrive. The trips are plenty of substance to any conversation going to bring.

Pig feed - lost and found

Shortly before Viñales penetrated suddenly a roar from the darkness. It sounded like a vehicle, but was approached, was a mythical creature: a roaring monster machine. A Mas 500th An old Soviet-designed trucks, big as a tank. The driver pushed the door and shouted one word: "Where?" His truck was a Hörenswürdigkeit. Everything knatterte crash and a thunder of noise, the engine choked any human voice.

blogs ONLINE
Cuba: By bus or taxi from Baracoa to Vinales

Therefore, the driver in character to understand, he must very briefly ... Since he already is boosting the steering wheel around and turned his machine sharply to the left. He drove to a friend. The worked in a fattening farm. The friend would today night Four lost pig feed sacks, and he himself would today night Four sacks pig feed can be found. So it happened. Ten minutes later he was back on the road and drove to Viñales.

On the horizon stood out the table mountains of a valley dark sky, like animals crouching to leap. Advance shone the lights of the city. Viñales was sleeping, long streets, lined by pine trees, lit by bare bulbs. The houses were small, single buildings from mud bricks, but always with a stately veranda provide. On two or three people were sitting still, sucking on cigarettes, which ends in the darkness of the night like fireflies glommen.

The next morning, the bus in the East. On his flanks he wore the symbol of a blue highway: Viazul. The FX line. Tickets must be paid with pesos convertibles are hard currency, so mainly use this service foreigners and Cubans with foreign funds.

The air conditioner blew cold air clanking in the bus. The windows were like a fine mist over, mist the glass. Cuba was nothing more than faded green and past Husch the shadows. When the vehicle the mountain Viñales had left behind, he turned it on the Carretera Central, Cuba's main interurban road that once across the island runs. On the roadside there were dozens of Cubans who wagged with money when a vehicle approached. They also wanted to east, by car stop.

Sand syringe for Long Beach.

In the northwest, the Dominican Republic originally - but long adhered to the region around Puerto Plata and Sosua a bad image to investments failed to materialize, hotels and beaches ruin. Now the trend is done.

 

Puerto Plata - more sand on the beach, more green, new and modernized hotels, less waste on the roadside and an increased environmental awareness: The northwest of the Dominican Republic to Puerto Plata and Sosua has again gained in attractiveness. Just over ten years was the region with cheap prices in the headlines. Then, lacking the money for investment, and many hotels and beach sections schmuddelten before him. But the region has become moulted.

Unlike the more expensive holiday centers in Punta Cana and Cap Cana in the east of the country, which have attractive beaches and on the drawing board were planned, pulsates in the north nor the original Dominican life. Fischer hit krachend their dominoes on wobbly bar, in most dance clubs more locals than tourists. Minibuses and collective taxis stop outside the villages to hand signals.

The region offers something for all tastes and budgets: besides all-inclusive facilities - noble or even cheap - there are guest houses, where rooms from 16 euros per night cost. For the suite in a luxurious boutique hotel with private bath on the porch, however, $ 1000 due.

Strong sand syringe for Cabarete

Ten years ago was a stroll on the seafront in Puerto Plata, but still a disappointment: a little sand on the beach, dirty water in the sea, cans and plastic waste at the roadside. Today is the "Long Beach" clean and wider.

Some 100,000 cubic meters of sand were sand banks further east through large pipes pumped here. Whoever wants to can several miles from the town beach to the center of Playa Dorada holiday stroll. In the oldest resort in the country with 14 hotels and more than 4000 rooms, golf courses, nightclubs and shops were also a lot invested. Also this beach got a strong "sand injection", as the surfer town of Cabarete on. Sosua should follow.

Especially on a Sunday afternoon is the "Long Beach" lively. Teenagers make music Merengue Dancing, large families picnicking under gnarled Seetraubenbäumen. Pavillons load with cold beer, rum, and grilled fish to eat.

Prior to the restored fort of San Felipe at the western end of the promenade flirt young people. Through slits, the view of the harbor of the city and the vast Caribbean Sea. "Our Malecón is really beautiful. All Puerto Plata has changed," said Jose Camacho, the owner of a restaurant, the most satisfied sips of red wine.

Hope for good future

In a cheap hotel in Playa Dorada closes at midnight, one of the bars. Some offense Englishman ensure trouble. The three bartenders remain friendly. Later, one says: "We have no guests verprellen."

Only five minutes walk away at the same time relax in a pair of champagne by the pool. The lowered end of the pool gives the impression that the water and the bright glow of moon went seamlessly into the sea. "Many of us had three years ago declared insane, because we are such a noble hotel built," said general manager Roberto Casoni. But the region, and tourism have a good future, estimates Casoni, in the Regional Hotel Association cooperates.

ON TO ONLINE blogs

Reguetón in Cuba: attitude is everything (10.02.2009)

Dream Destinations: An island for every taste (05.09.2008)

Cayman Islands: How a schnapps idea was to export (08.07.2008)

Ecovillage Puerto Nariño: Please do not disturb parrots (02.01.2009)

Sosua "in-club" is currently "El Flew." The nightlife of the city, however, is quieter than formerly residents complained that some "Senorita" bars have been forced to close. Long before midnight in nearby Cabarete folded up the sidewalks, "surfers go to bed early to the morning to be fit," says Claudia Black. The Düsseldorferin has been living here 20 years and now manages a small hotel.

Spectacular is an evening in Cabarete walk across the wide, sandy beach: the moon and the stars shine there with candles, lamps and lanterns of the "restaurant mile" to the bet.

Still, the international airport of Puerto Plata to Punta Cana tourist arrivals, most of the "DR". That could change, however, if the new Airport of Samana in the northeast of the country's better to do business - there is also invested heavily.

Breakfast in the favela hotel.

Samba, sweat and sexy dancers: the end of February is the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro back thousands attract tourists. blogs TV reported from the city of contrasts - from pickpockets, the first favela hotel and survival on the beach.

 

Bruno is an institution at the Copacabana. Every day, attracts the 54-year-old with more than 70 kilograms of heavy beverage containers on the beach and is already the second generation of bathers with cold Matetee and lemonade.

VIDEOS TO RIO DE JANEIRO

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Video: blogs TV

Metropolis Rio (1): Teeverkäufer and sand wonders
Metropolis Rio (2): Fight crime at the beach
Metropolis Rio (3): Survival in the favelas

Bruno is a survival artist: In Rio de Janeiro, in a city with tremendous poverty, he has his livelihood found. Similarly, the Sandskulpteur at the Promenade, which for its provocative mermaids a few euros a day to be donated.

The Brazilian Twelve million Metropolis is a city of contrasts. Every year, attracts the colorful, noisy carnival locals and tourists in their spell. At the same time raging in the favelas, the poor neighborhoods on the slopes of the city, a war between police and drug lords.

Only the beginning of February died in a five-raid ten people in the ball hail, two of them still minors. Alone in this favela came in the last one and a half years, 32 people in police operations were killed.

The Englishman Bob Nadkarni has dared, in the favela Tavaros Bastos a first hotel to open. From the breakfast table of "The Maze" will open the view of Rio's distinctive feature, the Sugarloaf, the eight rooms have a refrigerator and fan. Contrary to all expectations is Nadkarnis guests so far nothing happened.

blogs TV reports about people and their fates in Rio de Janeiro: from survival Artist Bruno and the hotelier Bob Nadkarni and the petty crime, before the tourists at the Copacabana in eight have to take.

World cuisine in the rice field.

Mexican, Indian or German: In "Sawah" on Java World cuisine - the recipes brought designer Phillip Iswardono from his travels with. In the restaurant of the particular species is only two days a week served, but in a very special atmosphere.

 

High above the stars shine in the bush crickets chirp from a farmhouse in the neighborhood across schallt music, soft light falls on the meadow next to the pergola. The turkeys and guinea fowl in the aviary in the tropical garden, however, have, like the giant Iguana in his cage, the long night's sleep abandoned.

It is Friday evening. And so one of the two days on which the home of Phillip Iswardono Indonesia and its Dutch partner Wim van Kuijken of "The Sawah is. At a restaurant, which actually is not: "The Sawah is no restaurant but a place to eat. ... It is as if you have a nice dinner at the home of friends? The Sawah is above all: our home our sweet home, "write the two on their website.

The restaurant of a different kind can be found at the edge of the famous for its pottery artist village Kasongan in the Sultanate of Yogyakarta on Java - the times in which the pottery from Kasongan for their erotic motives were known, are, however, long ago. Except I was still a Dutch biomedical artist with his French girlfriend, the three-course menu for 120,000 Indonesian Rupees (8.20 Euro) booked. Instead of the elegant dining room, we have the table in the pergola in the garden elected.

World cuisine in the rice field

The designer and the journalist Phil Wim love her airy, with a mixture of Dutch coziness and javanerischer tradition built and furnished house that they are two years ago in the midst of rice fields, small farms, banana trees, palms, bamboo and frangipani trees built. And they love their house, the largest Indonesian island of Java so that others in their small paradise can participate. In the meadow will be Phil and Wim soon a pool and guest cottages built.

The culinary concept of Sawah - translated "rice field" - Phil describes as "World Cuisine". The recipes, the 42-year-old descendant of Javanese Muslim-Christian family of his travels through Asia, Europe and America brought. There are at each Sawah-day only a permanent court, which on the homepage has been announced. Mexican time is on the card, sometimes Thai or German. Today is Indian cuisine announced.

The Sawah as Phils hometown Yogyakarta: cosmopolitan, modern, lively, but also firmly rooted in the traditions such as the Javanese gamelan music, shadow theater games with elaborate figures from buffalo skin, and the art of batik. Yogya, as the people there just call her home town, with its many secular, Catholic and Islamic universities, the academic center of Indonesia's largest Muslim nation in the world.

World Heritage Site near

The city has a special place in the hearts of all Indonesians. As of Batavia, now Jakarta, nor from the Dutch occupied was served Yogya in the independence struggle against Dutch colonial rule (1945-49) as the capital of Indonesia. To reward the sultanate of Yogyakarta was the status of a special semi-autonomous zone and is the only region of the Republic of Indonesia still governed by a sultan.

TRAVEL FOOD

Travel and food are two sides of a coin, new countries and experiences always go through the stomach. In the series devoted to food travel blogs ONLINE the culinary aspect of travel: Exceptional restaurants, gifted star chefs, bartenders ready finger or bizarre Garköche - the wide world schmeckt anywhere else. But all the recipes are nachkochbar.

Yogya is a popular tourist destination. Historical Kraton, palace of Sultan, is next to the castle and the bird market, the main attraction in the city. In the vicinity are the famous and UNESCO-protected temples from the 8th Borobodur century (Buddhist) and Prambanan (Hindu) the target of daily tours. Quite daredevils book but trekking up to the still very active volcano Merapi, one during the day and in clear view of the Sawah can see.

Phil is creative when cooking. True to its motto: "We do not have a restaurant? But we love cooking. To experiment. To improvise. We and others to surprise." Cooking is done only with products in the markets have fresh Yogyas are. Is there a vegetable or herb the other not, it will just be replaced by something else. Phil served us as a main dish an authentic Roganjosh with beef. The classic Indian sweet Gulab Jamun for dessert philippinisiert but came to the table: the traditional, in palm sugar syrup cooked Teigbällchen Phillip was summarily replaced by bananas.

Attitude is everything.

Salsa and "Buena Vista" from yesterday: Cuba's youth listens Reguetón. A musical import, the extremely rude and naughty - and in the thick gold chains, tattoos and slightly wild women held a large role.

 

Cuba without music for a moment, it is as if the heart suspended. Eben still sparkled neongrün the block of flats, from all windows penetrated laughter and music, fun, loud, kakofonisch. Then suddenly the electricity, all the lights are extinguished, and the gray block is motionless in the evening light. Silence. Alamar, Havana suburb concrete, mid-life seems to be frozen.

Inside the apartment block Yasser Vera sits in his bedroom and leaves cursing after the power returned, the computer again. It is already the third power outage on that day, and at every turn must Vera fear that sudden surges in the computer verschmoren. For the music scene in the suburbs would be a disaster.

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Cuba

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On a narrow chair squats bedroom Yasser Veras Angel Luis Aguiar, 20 years old, singer and student of English, blessed with the gentle eyes of Enrique Iglesias. He has a pink Schulheft on his knees and chews on a pen.

From bittersweet broken heart, he writes the text for a background chorus, perhaps not entirely honest with himself: "I saw you last night / another / but it did not hurt me." At the microphone next to the bed suggests Yoandri Hodelin, 26, auto mechanic, a lanky black muscle shirt, on an imaginary drum On. Aguiar and Hodelin called "Stiki & showy"; on their self-produced CD with sunglasses posing in front of the photo of an American sports car.

When the computer is doing, pushing Yasser Vera music blocks back and forth, fast as a Hütchen players. Here in the suburbs no one mentions him in his Christian in Alamar is awesome Vera Yasser El Alacrán "called" the Scorpion ", a tattoo on the left shoulder. His bedroom acts as a recording studio for bands from Alamar, his black computer program copied from Germany as a mixer. For 15 euros converted Alacrán El produced songs that become hits are. They are all the same genre: Reguetón.

"Buena Vista" ballads only in hotels

Ganz hears Reguetón Cuba: one half voluntarily and deafening loud, the other involuntary. Just over ten years, appeared the first plates in Santiago de Cuba, and since then the music distributed on Cuba as the Marabu-shrub, an invasive plant that is already half the island overgrown. When Cuba's youth has long been Reguetón salsa and timba as Leitmusik replaced. "Buena Vista" ballads are anyway only to hear in hotels.

Reguetón comes from Panama, in the 1970s, there emerged, as descendants of immigrants from Jamaica its reggae music with indigenous Latin rhythms melded. Since then, the "Reggaeton", as he in the English speaking world is called, pretty much all styles of music absorbed what it is on the American continent to double hear: relaxed basic beat of the Caribbean dancehall music, spoken vocals from U.S. hip-hop, winds melodic lines from the salsa of South America. This versaute gutter prose from the slums of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In Cuba, the musical seeds fell on fertile ground. "Reguetón is danceable and has a simple rhythm and derbe texts," says ANIEL Abreu, producer of Reguetón-Stars "acento latino." The band presented their repertoire six years ago to completely Reguetón order, "because it was only what the audience wanted to hear." Salsa, dominated for two decades on the island, had totgelaufen believes Abreu: "Over the years salsa was always fine, always lyrical. Until a large portion of the audience, the lower classes, it is no longer again. Precisely because the Reguetón line. "

The democratization of the means of production is another reason for its success. It does not take much to make a hit record Reguetón: a computer, a few hours of electricity a day? and a willingness to adapt to something new venture. "Of course we are in Cuba, proud of our musical tradition," says Yasser Vera, the Scorpion, but he sounds annoyed. "Sometime it is also good times with the roots. The youth want something new. The youth wants to change." Change is a rude word in Cuba. Music has always had the potential to corrupt the young.

Reguetón needs underclass-Protzmann

The basement of the Gran Teatro in Havana Old Town: This picture is so not like the meeting of the Socialist Youth. The women in "Cabaret Nacional wear glittering tops, stilettos and Röckchen as short, as if there were only substance on clothes rationing card. Young men in white lightning t-shirts can generously call for beer and cola.

The club is the acid test for "Stiki & showy", which reguetoneros from Alamar. Who here, has the chance to play bigger stages. For this appearance, they have long saved, the hardest part is the clothes. Reguetón needs underclass-Protzmann: false gold chains and T-shirts with big logos, brand sneakers are required, and "showy" hopes that no one noticed that his phone is just a dummy.

But the two are not far: After two songs beckons they bored the audience from the stage. In Havana Club include big names, "Eddy K" or "Gente d 'Zona', for whose concerts converted up to 20 euro entrance fee. "Farándula" is the name of the itinerant caste of party-goers, with the money blessed young people who have relatives from abroad feeds are Fidel Castro and a good man can be: holidays from socialism, the middle of Cuba. The Reguetón in which it is usually only about sex, money and party, there is a perfect vehicle for escapism from private.

At home in Alamar seems to be for "Stiki & showy" nor an opportunity to offer. On a large unnamed resort is built in someone slip a lonely street lamp on a music facility. "Siberia" will be called the suburbs here. Population: more than 100,000. Cultural program: a cinema.

When dirty, the songs flow away

Once a month to organize the younger residents of Alamar therefore Reguetón Festival under the open sky. Until last is unclear whether the concert can take place. About the power to decide the delegate of the Revolutionary Committee, and he wants him only turn when the singer to undertake not to sing dirty songs. The texts are on Reguetón the hardest, says "showy". Just the reality of life to describe? as young Cuban authors for years fool? can bring trouble. "If you're too soft, you laugh from the audience. And if you're too direct, they switch you from the stream."

When the music but then begins to beat in a heartbeat to Wumm, and the syncopated snare drum to scheppert, fills up the space in minutes with children and young people from the apartment buildings. Half a dozen groups, is celebrated in the evening, but for "Stiki & showy" bursts, the hope, at least here in the district to create a breakthrough: The disc jockey is required from each group four EUR as a contribution for the financing of private music system. Too much for "Stiki & showy."

The mood at the neon-Arena in Alamar does not detract from this: Even after the first dance all the songs, and around midnight, the songs on the stage then dirty enough that the police anrückt. The party canceling the policemen but dare not. Celebrations in Cuba simply belongs to the inalienable fundamental rights.

Dancing with the Federboa.

Dull drumbeat, spectacular costumes, a lot of naked skin: The Carnival in Montevideo is almost as colorful and spirited as to be in Rio. An important role of the African influences - the most famous move is reminiscent of slavery.

 

Montevideo - The Carnival celebrations are smaller than the famous parades in Rio de Janeiro, but no less passionate in Montevideo in Uruguay extend the festivities each year, more than 45 days after Ash Wednesday is the next big party.

Las Llamadas highlight is a parade with strong African influences. In the 18th Century was the port of Montevideo destination for African slaves, later in other countries of South America were transported. Consequently, it was already the beginning of the 19th Third century of the Black urban population.

They brought the candombe to Uruguay, a very rhythmic music, the African and European influences blended - this sound is an essential part of the processions in the old neighborhoods Sur and Palermo.

At the carnival, the inhabitants of the birthplace of the tango every year anew, that they know how to properly celebrate. In the few weeks will be more tickets for events sold as a carnival for all cultural and sporting events of the year together - and that in a soccer-crazy country like Uruguay.

A kiosk for life.

"Previously, they were small boys, now millionaires" Joan and Marta Cruellas seen for three decades, as young players to be world stars. At their kiosk in the arena of FC Barcelona, they were all - Messi, Xavi, hundreds of players, dozens of coaches. Visit the stadium with two insiders.

 

Lionel Messi is sold out. But Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry are still there. And even some Ronaldinho still laugh out of the red cardboard box on the counter made of gray concrete. The Brazilians have been playing in the summer are no longer necessary for the Association and now in Milan, but the expiration date of the lollipops with his face has not yet been reached. "Actually, we need to replace Lollis," says Marta Cruellas, "but the taste is even more." Her husband Joan nods, turns a Ronaldinho between the forefinger and thumb. He says: "In football it's all so fast? Sometimes a bit too fast for me and my wife."

Maybe it also works the other way around: There is no resistance to the football. Joan and Marta Cruellas are something like the personalized reliability with one of the most popular football clubs of our time, the FC Barcelona. They have hundreds of players come and go. Dozens of coaches have been dismissed, some presidents voted. But they are still there. Since 31 years, the couple behind the counter of her small kiosks in the largest stadium in Europe, the mighty Nou Camp.

Nearly 100,000 people have is the place. Any sightseeing tour will also eventually to Camp Nou, in addition to the Sagrada Família, Parc Güell and the Picasso Museum, the most visited attraction in the city. Because the stadium is not just a football arena, it is his own museum.

Even on days without a game is formed in the morning before the main entrance to a long snake, until the evening stays in motion. Around 1.5 million visitors a year can be for eleven euro by the leading sports site. Together they marvel at the Museum of trophies in display cases at designer lamps are presented as if they were works by Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró.

Chip bags in the Barca-Design

Receipt number 242, second floor? there is a small state, where Joan and Marta Cruellas drinks at home, sausage and bread, and sweet-potato chips Barça sale. The chip bags carry the famous coat of arms and the colors of FC Barcelona: Blue and Garnet. There are strong, proud colors. We are proud of potato chips.

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On this evening to play the Catalans against Valladolid. Inside, at the bottom of the lawn, makes Barcas Striker Samuel Eto'o just one of the most incredible games of his career, shooting four gates in a mid-term. Outside, behind the counter, shaking his head Cruellas Joan says: "This has already been done any more."

Joan is a man Cruellas end 50, the scrubby mustache, gray hair on his head and lighting has become in recent years. During the week he works as a graphic artist. On weekends, he is owner of the kiosk? and above all: a aficionado, supporters of FC Barcelona, in the current season with a big advantage dominated the Spanish league.

For nearly 40 years, a period Cruellas card. But his seat during the game remains mostly empty. "Too much to do," he says scarce. Some gates to the enemy, get the two only when the stadium speakers it durchsagt? the jubilation of most fans is a few guests at their kiosk can not be heard.

Although Joan Cruellas rare in the last three decades have seen quite a game, he is a great connoisseur of football. "He knows everything," says his wife and winking. With important games sends her husband purely on the podium when she realizes that he is restless. If he starts, the plastic cups on the counter baseless from left to right and back left to push. And every second customer asked how Player X or Y so it is on this day. "Then I see how he suffers," she says. "The FC Barcelona is the largest in our lives," says Joan Cruellas, "and I think the whole club, including the second and third team."

Admiration for superstar Messi

In the Mini Estadi, the small stadium of the club next to the Camp Nou, the couple has another small kiosk, the last remaining. There Cruellas entertain the fans of the second eleven. Regularly, if the professionals in the Mini Estadi train, meet the residents on balconies of nearby buildings, to Messi, Eto'o & Co. at work. Logenplatz free. The World Stars of their own living room.

ON TO ONLINE blogs

Film City Barcelona: Woody Allen's love letter (04.12.2008)

Valencia: Fortunately the country (07.07.2008)

Bistronomiques Barcelona: Tribute to the Classics (19.06.2008)

Photo Series: Metropolitan in soccer

Today, nobody on the balconies. Barça B plays in the third Spanish league against Badalona. The 15,000 spectators making round lost just 500 interested. But the middle of the second half, the game is suddenly a side issue. The audience rose reverently. Young and old like watching, and whisper. Lionel Messi is here. He, who four years ago, even played for the reserve, is to match his old colleagues came.

Kids call his name and want autographs. Young women shriek and announce that a child from wanting to Messi. The superstar patiently met every autograph request, smiling bravely in every camera phone, takes kids into the arm. Most miss, as the Barça B 1:0 achieved. After 30 minutes, Messi refuge under the protection of security people from the stadium.

The kiosk as a player hiding

There are people who would give that much, just a word with the Messis this world to be allowed to speak. There are people who are the stories that they have seen the stars, unasked would tell? including those which they have not wanted to hear. Joan and Marta are Cruellas differently. They could be many stories from the acclaimed professionals tell about, as a Barça player behind her desk before fans and journalists hidden, or that they have frequently from Andres Iniesta and Xavi, the midfield strategist, have been invited to dinner.

But they do not tell anyone. You can use the hysteria around the football and its stars is made, do not understand. They have too many come and go. Players like Messi, Iniesta and Xavi, once in the junior teams played, when the Cruellas already as a teenager or a candy cola fetched. "You could barely see over the counter," says Marta Cruellas "sooner they came as a small boy, now a millionaire."

Far different is the behavior some younger players from the B or C team. At a time when the boundaries between sports heroes, pop stars and sex symbol more and more blurred, it is for many not simply on the ground to stay. Even for those who have no reason to be off. Young talents, to get a three-day beard leave gel in the black hair grease, gold chains around his neck and false diamonds to wear the ears. Some of them throw at the kiosk Cruellas the money on the counter and go, without being grateful.

The Cruellas but act in their composure as between parents aufgepeppten wannabe pros. They are one of the few constants at FC Barcelona, a quiet pole in the often hysterical world of football. "We are here behind the bar, so long as we live," says Marta Cruellas, "that's our job." Her husband nods again. Then he spent two sold Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry.

Oh my God - oh my Buddha!.

Tea cups made of bamboo and future interpretations of animal bones in the vicinity of the city of Chiang Mai, northern Thailand to experience a world of visitors who have little to mass tourism in the south has to do. Spectacular is the centuries-old Buddhist temple.

 

Chiang Mai - there must be an elephant with vision have been the site of the Doi Suthep temple-specific. The legend goes like this: The Thai King Kuna wanted a new temple for a relic of the Buddha build. He grabbed the precious piece in a white handkerchief, tied it to a rare white elephant and let the animal run. Where the elephant stopped, the temple should arise. But the pachyderm ran and ran the Suthep mountain in Chiang Mai up and finally rested until 1022 meters altitude.

There was 1388, the Doi Suthep temple. Sun helped the elephant of the royal city in the north of Thailand at a Temple in a unique location with impressive views.

Thailand's south, attracts visitors especially with the sun and beaches. The north is mountainous, cooler and requires more use to the treasures to discover - for example, the 300 stairs to Doi Suthep temple-. The use but worth it. The temple complex is next to an impressive view Kupferstupa with a golden umbrella over fünflagigen and lots of elephant sculptures. Who is not in Doi Suthep, was not in Chiang Mai ", say the residents.

Crash Course in Buddhist temples and Client

Chiang Mai is Thailand's second largest city, with around 200,000 inhabitants and a catchment area with more than three million inhabitants. The city itself was in 1296 by King Mungrai created. He had a city wall, and put 50,000 men, to a ditch about auszuschaufeln. The ditch is still there, but the walls are only the remains of five gates left. Chiang invaded Burma in May 1556, and his troops haute many short and small.

A tour of the 1.5 by 1.5 kilometer Old Town is ideal for a quick course in Buddhism and temple. Wat Suan Dok is the main temple. The facility is located adjacent to the university with lively student life. In the great hall two monks sitting behind laptops, sold a third forward baskets victims with rice, water and fruit. The offerings are subject to a prayerful monk performed the gifts later distributed to the needy.

"When I dreamed of my deceased aunt did, I also grab the needle and thread in the victim basket," says Akom, a tourist guide. "If it was his uncle, candles and matches - so that the spirits in the beyond mending their clothing and can illuminate their way." Thais go at least once in your life to the monastery, usually before marriage. "The merits that will be earned, go entirely to the parents. After marriage, they go to the account of his wife and his own family," Akom said. The passage into the monastery before marriage tribute of respect to parents.

In the garden of the temple is a huge poplar fig, recognizable by the aerial roots and heart-leaves. According to the Buddha experienced his enlightenment under a fig poplar. There is the oldest temple Wat Chiang Man from the year 1296 and the highest temple Wat Chedi Luang, which in any travel guide can be found. There is usually also as an attraction of the night market is described, where the evening everything from souvenirs to about Nippes counterfeit brand handbags, T-shirts and DVDs there.

Retirement havens in the vicinity

A more authentic Thailand but rather provides the surroundings of Chiang Mai. One, two hours drive away are the villages of the 13 Thai hill tribes with a total of one million members. In the lush green landscape is simple, but elegant guest houses as the starting point for discovery tours. The Lisu Lodge is an idyllic quiet oasis away a three-quarter at the foot of the mountains. The road there leads through small villages with the typical garage shops and passing Drachenfruchthainen.

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The facility is located adjacent Dton Loong, a village of the Lisu minority. One of the shots here, is the shaman Alehpa. He heals all kinds of problems in his shed. Alehpa visitors, for example, explains how the future of chicken bones reads. The Lodge is on the morning of the village headman to hear over the loudspeaker announcing the day's program: when the doctor comes in and what house is celebrated.

The guest house has neither Abendbar still Animierprogramm. Instead, there are crickets, Froschquaken and a large lawn with taunassem grass. Here are the days of fun, for example, from mountain biking, followed by a rafting tour for beginners. The captain of the rubber boat is on the gentle river sure that his sheep at the three or four small rapids properly wet - perfect cooling after welding driving a bike tour.

"Oh my God!" tourists scream when a load of water coming - "Oh my Buddha!" replied the Captain and laughs.

Not far from Dton Loong is the village Tonlung in which the Akha tribe is at home. The 70-year-old MGU invites visitors to tea like that in bamboo cups served. She shows her small two-room hut, and the big straw walls that are now in the summer for fresh air make. In winter it can be icy whistle - and shows MGU averse to the stone house next door, her son built. There she lives when she gets cold feet.

Galapagos in the clouds.

Where the violets bloom: The rain forests of the Usambara are among the most valuable areas of biodiversity in the world. The mountains in northeastern Tanzania salvage an incredible animal and plant diversity - and German settlers once offered refuge.

 

Lushoto - The famous Serengeti, the snow-covered peaks of Kilimandscharos or Zanzibar, the island from 1001 night in the Indian Ocean: Many tourist highlights of East Africa is in Tanzania. It gets at least by scientists almost revered region of the country almost into oblivion - the mountain rain forests of the Usambara.

For most Germans is no more than the Usambara violets from the domestic Blumenkasten known from this coastal mountain region. Perhaps Francis Mshami also holds so close to Lushoto in the minibus and leaves the visitor from Germany stop. The 73-year-old tourist guide shows the hill to the provincial capital, and says "Welcome to Wilhelmstal".

First look puzzled some vacationers to Francis, which is equal dranmacht, the confusion in an eye-opening experience to transform: "Today was one area of Tanzania from 1885 to 1919 to the German colony of German East Africa and the Usambara Mountains were for the German settlers because of the pleasant mountain climate means a popular place of residence, "said the former village school teacher.

From the heat of the African savannah plagued it attracted even the church in the cool, and above all, malaria free Wilhelmstal. They erected near their base to Christian proselytizing. The numerous monasteries in the surrounding valleys are still active. Quick evolved Wilhelmstal to the former district capital of the imperial government. Some years they are even considered, Wilhelmstal the capital of German East Africa to make. But then the First World War broke out, and Germany lost the colony to England.

Lodges in former farms

On the way through Francis Lushoto shows the visitors repeatedly old stone houses with red roof tiles. Even the post office is in a building in the style of old Reichsbahn building, and the distinctive-looking former German district building will still reigns. It is located on the outskirts towards Jägertal ", where old farmhouses German settlers, the green mountains adorn. Many of them are now as lodges for the slowly emerging tourism use. The former farmsteads are often good starting points for hikes into the surrounding mountain forests.

TMN
In northeastern Tanzania, the Usambara Mountains harbor many endemic species

Almost all three-meter keeps guides Francis and brings hikers to the variety of plants closer to his home. The mountains seem a single open-chemist to be. Francis tribe, the mountain people of the Shambaa, uses the plant for centuries to couriers of disease. Again and again he bends from leaves and twigs and declares its healing effects.

How fascinating the flora of the Usambara Mountains in fact, it is only since a few decades explored. Meanwhile, one of the mountain region of the Eastern Arcs, which includes the mountain rain forests of the Usambara belong to one of the 25 most important biodiversity areas in the world. More than 2800 different plant species are in the mountains Usamabara home. A quarter of them grow only here.

Also the number of native species is impressive: 130 butterflies, 25 reptiles and a dozen small mammals and bird species exist only here in the world. For this reason, the region is among the experts "African Galapagos in the clouds" mentioned.

Relaxation after the safari

Like the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, has also left the Usambara Mountains long time unknown to Europeans. The Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama 1498 was the first person she was on her way to India from the coast saw. It should be almost 400 years before the first Europeans approached the mountain massif. 1848 crossed the German Africa-adventurers and missionaries Johannes Rebmann and Johann Ludwig Krapf on the way to the Kilimanjaro mountain.

From the huge forests that time but today is not much left. Only 30 percent of the original forest remain. Above all, the population growth in recent decades has led to the felling of large forest areas led to maize, bananas, tea, ginger or apricots fitted.

In the West Usambaras invite yet large forest protected areas such as the Shagayu, the Baga Bumbuli or the Magamba Forest Mkuzu hikes. Especially beautiful trekking routes lead to Irente lookout point from where the view far into the dry savannah of the Masai sweeps. Even more spectacular is the view only from the World Viewpoint, which is more than 1500 vertical meters in depth. In the east, the dense Magoroto Forest in Amani Nature Reserve be admired.

So far, the natural paradise Usambara not yet discovered by mass tourism has been. But it is from year to year to attract tourists who are here after exhausting safari in the Serengeti a little relaxation.