Land of shining water.

Here are beavers and moose good night: In Ontario, enjoy nature, the remoteness of the Canadian wilderness. Some locals, however, for the strange behavior of Großstädter leave little understanding.

 

Wabatongushi / French River - only now and then breaks into the distant past surrender motorboat silence. The small wooden boat for a while still fluctuates, but otherwise it is quiet on the Wabatongushi Lake. Adam Madahbee stares focused on the lake in the north of Canada's Ontario province wasserreichster. "Sooner or later must be a fish to bite," he says - even if the two hours waiting Mitangler its no longer like to believe.

But actually, in one fishing rod wobbles. The 25-year-old hechtet across the boat, zückt a network hievt and the next moment a greenish-silvery fish on board: a zappelnden, about 25 centimeters long Walley, the lunch will be enrich.

Like sturgeon, catfish and other animals shed, this North American Zanderart in the Ontario waters of countless frequent. Nevertheless, Adam is disappointed when it goes to the bank - more than one Walley has not angebissen. Also his grandfather Ivan in checkered lumberjack shirt and blue vest has today no luck.

The 75-year-old Angel holds even into the glistening water, as his grandson, the boat ashore already firmly made. The old man acknowledged his failure with a toothless smile and shake of the head.

On a small island in the lake conjure Adam and Ivan instantly a richly covered table with brought fish, crispy potato columns and Bannock Indian bread made of corn - everything fresh for over a crackling wood fire. Also, the only catch of the day landed in hot fat, after Adam quickly than it has. Can be sold the fish caught here not only for their own consumption are the fishing allowed.

The largest game reserve in the world

The narrow Wabatongushi lake stretches about 30 kilometers from north to south and is located in the secluded "Chapleau Crown Game Preserve. The largest game reserve in the world is not far from the shores of Lake Superior, the largest inland waters of Canada and with 82,103 square kilometers, nearly 144-times as large as the Lake.

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Here, the parents of Al Errington, head of Ivan and Adam, in the mid-seventies, started in the wilderness to build a lodge. Meanwhile provide Al and his wife Doris five months a year, a haven for stress-ridden Großstädter the absolute solitude on the water looking for.

Canada has about ten percent of the global freshwater deposits, most of them in Ontario. The Iroquois name meaning "land of shining waters". In the south, the province borders the Great Lakes and on the north by Hudson Bay. One sixth of the country's area consists of lakes and rivers - more than 400,000 water should there be, of which some 250,000 sparkling lakes and 100,000 kilometers rushing rivers.

Accordingly, many remote regions: The resort is approximately the Erringtons only by seaplane or by Bummelzug the Algoma Central Railway Company to reach.

The guests of Al and Doris live either in apartments adjacent to the main house or in a wooden hut on the neighboring island, which has a curved wooden bridge to reach. Who does not want to walk through the undergrowth for food in the main house to beat, travels with his own boat before - each cabin has a private jetty with its own barge. Not only are anglers, many nature lovers. You relax on the terrace, paddling in the sea or look out for elk, beavers, otters and black bears, or hummingbirds, ice diving and white-head sea eagles.

Destruction by motorboats

The bird watchers are Adam and Ivan, however, rather suspicious. "The stay a whole week and do nothing else, the fish do not even" outraged that Ivan and then grins. Ivan is very early with his grandson Adam to fish, to gather blueberries and elk gone. Both live by and with the nature and see it with a shake of the head, therefore, if a city dweller with a motorboat into a tributary of the lake heats. "The waves are too many low-lying and bird nests in the reeds wegschwemmen," says Adam.

The two men belong to the tribe of Anniishnabek. He is part of the Ojibway, one of the larger so-called "first nations" - the Canadian aboriginal. They come from a region, the Chapleau Game Reserve is very similar: Manitoulin Iceland. The roughly two-hour flight from Lake Wabatongushi remote island in Lake Huron and has approximately 2800 square kilometers and a coastline of more than 1600 kilometers of the world's largest island in an inland sea. Of the approximately 15,000 residents is about one third of Indian descent.

The island lies off the Georgian Bay at the former Pelzhandelsroute. Their path was preparing the first of the French explorer Samuel de Champlain. In the first third of the 17th Century, it arrived from the Canadian east over the Ottawa River, Lake Nipissing to the Georgian Bay to Lake Huron. Even today, the people in the region to the historic route.

White spots on the map

Eileen and David Quinn about stress like that of the channel between the small village of Killarney and its upstream George Island has the fur good protection from the storms in the Bay offered.

The couple is twelve years sailed through the Caribbean. Whole country wanted to return to the former musician and former journalist not. Therefore, controlling the two for nearly three years since the sailing yacht "Stormy Night" by the bay and the waters around Iceland Manitoulin. The boat glides past ankernden motor individual rowers and canoeists in the sunset. The sky over the gentle green hills, dark and a white lighthouse, the shape of a pepper mill, is in intense pink-blue dipped.

Three times a week, the Quinns tourists hidden corners of the island world. An insider's tip for a day trip from Killarney was from Fox, for example Iceland, says David. "This is only to sail the locals, because the bay is a white spot on the map." The Cartographic Society of Canada had not yet taken into account. For example, few know the way to the Frazer Bay to "Indian Head", a rock formation from quartzite in the form of an Indian face, which from afar looks like the profile of a Native American.

The sailor's paradise has its pitfalls. Not only the weather is changeable, and the fairway. "It looks very wide, but actually it is very narrow to navigate," says Eileen, the hand is almost always firmly on the steering wheel. She holds out for barely visible rocks that are in the boat the way could. "We know not every stone in the bay, but it helps if you know where the majority of stones are," she says.

Hardly a sailor's paradise, but even more suitable for white water rafting, canoeing, fishing and swimming, the nearby French River Provincial Park, the Lake Nipissing with Georgian Bay connects. Times more, sometimes close, the 105 kilometers long river between cliffs of gray-white granite and tree-lined hills round. He was the French discoverer of the last stage before the Georgian Bay and still live here many Franco-Canadians.

The area is not quite as lonely as outlined in the north around the Chapleau Game Reserve. Replace wish Madahbee Adam still can not - even if it sometimes bothers him that he will never eat in fast food restaurant around the corner and friends can get only in the winter at home on Manitoulin Iceland meets. "But if you think this is great area to see here, then you lack nothing," he says and looks lost on the glittering water.

Prone to the world.

He drove through 41 countries - and once around the Earth: The Berlin Tom Richter was the first German with a recumbent circles the world. More than 42,000 kilometers of roads and gravel roads, an adventure very close to the people: Sometimes he attracted more attention than he was loved.

 

It is a steep uphill, the air is thin at 4500 meters, and two recumbent bikes are heavy as ever. On the lagoon road in Bolivia is experiencing Tom Richter perhaps grueling section of his total 42,160 kilometers long bike ride. In the pockets on his vehicle, he has food for ten days and water for three days, a total of 70 kilograms, it shall send a strong wind with the help of his girlfriend up the mountain slide. Then walk back and the same procedure with her bike

Richter was the first German on a recumbent circles the world. In 803 days, he traveled through 41 countries, lived in the Andes Eisstürme and heat waves in India. In Tibet, he crossed 5013-meter-high pass and drove in the Red Sea in Jordan to 418 meters below sea level along the embankment.

In between, he in Nepal a few weeks of leave, to a dozen five-thousand and climb to the Everest base camp to be. Two and a half years he was en route to sections in the company, a total of one third of the distance he managed alone.

"The motivation was, countries and people and with my own eyes to see the world," says Richter. In addition to circumnavigate the globe, it is already the target, but not the most important thing was. "You see a cross section of countries, controls not only the tourist highlights," he says about the thrill of traveling in the bicycle speed.

As he looks out but is not: "I am with my life before was clear and it will continue to enjoy once again to be settled." During the trip, he usually slept in a tent, now and in cheap guesthouses. "With all the transfers, the approximately 13,000 euros."

In comfortable supine position, with their feet ahead, he fought to his high-tech recumbent progressing. "This is much more comfortable than a normal bicycle," says the 31-year-old engineer, in an outdoor shop in Berlin is working. "The seat is large and comfortable, you have the landscape in the view without constantly to dislocate the neck. The seating position is much more pleasant." Only in urban traffic is the recumbent riders at a disadvantage, because it sits lower and thereby more easily overlooked. And because he is with the feet in advance crossings and thus leaves a worse point of view.

Guest of honor in the village

For the world was the unusual mode of transport but an invaluable advantage: Wherever people met at Judge, Ethiopia and Bolivia, in China or Tanzania - the attention of the locals was certainly him. "No sooner had I risen from the wheel, have any people on it is set," he remembers little about the cautious Chinese.

ONLINE blogs, Google Earth
Around the world in 803 days: The route from Thomas Richter

Even in India, he was permanently in the cities surrounded by people. "Privacy is not an issue," says Judge, whose rampant red hair in some regions of Asia for much the same stir as likely to have his vehicle.

7000-In the Indian village residents experienced judges Varshi veritable celebrity worship. When Krishna festival, he was guest of honor on the stage, asked a priest to a flower wreath umzuhängen. Apparently breached his interpretation of the religious ritual of the Protocol. Hundreds of spectators laughed when the priest finally grabbed the crown and even umhängte.

The faux pas on stage, however, gave the village superiors not refrain from the whole day to compete about who is next to him as the tea was allowed to invite. For the farewell ceremony was recumbent on a pedestal in front of the temple by a priest wrapped judge an orange turban around and painted a red dot on his forehead. Only after a few laps of honor in the village square, the people let him go. Of course, only after he had promised return.

"India was for me perhaps the most exciting country - it is colorful, loud and full of constantly different cultures," says Richter. At the same time, however, it was not easy to navigate because of many bad roads, "it stinks, there is much poverty, and I had in me up to 44 degree heat fighting ahead." As the perfect destination for cyclists, it recommends, therefore, South America: "The land is relatively cheap. You can choose the difficulty, because it is basically a good road network exists." It does not equal the lagoon stressful road to Bolivia.

The speeder-delusion of the valley

If one listens to judge how it objectively and without any fuss for information about his trip there, you might think he is talking about a Sunday outing to the river Spree. And actually ran the world tour, without really dangerous margins. For a couple of falls won judges abrasions, but of serious health problems, he remained spared.

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On the first 11,000 kilometers, he had no plates. He spent a total of only two front and two rear tires, and had never advanced specialty parts replaced. "Several wheels are already broken, and when the porter kaputtging, I had to improvise, to be appeared." In China and South America fell in some regions of the hose several times a day is broken, again and again, the repair kit is used.

In Nepal, judges had to abandon his plan, each country-kilometers on the bike deal. Because the route to Lhasa is taboo for individual travelers, with a Chinese-guided tour was in jeeps in the Tibetan capital. Also another record was denied him on an almost countless twisty mountain descent in Bolivia grabbed him the athletic ambition in the speeder-Wahn mad he reached 97 km / h, but the magic 100 he does not.

But a trip around the world by recumbent, which is before him only one Austrians succeeded: Joachim Hager was from 2001 to 2006 almost nonstop route, judges met in the beginning of his own journey into Mitterlaab in Austria.

At the end of April 2009, after two and a half years on tour, he received friends at the Berlin Alexanderplatz, right under the huge Weltzeituhr with toponyms also major cities. A champagne baptism did not exist. "First, I have eaten an ice cream," says Richter.

Last refuge of the forest people.

It is fighting an almost hopeless struggle: Ulrike Clear Mengden rescues woman for more than 50 years in Indonesia, orang-utans. Despite the passionate use of Prussian is the survival of great apes under threat - "it is a disgrace."

 

Actually, probably the old lady did not understand - for the noise. The monsoon rain crackles like a barrage on the roof, the monkeys scream like spit, and the almost federlose Kakadu zetert again loudly around. That Ulrike baroness of Mengden still noisy against the competition, which in addition to romp 19 orang-utans still at least three dogs and eight cats socialize, can enforce, is located on the casino and Prussian Kommandoton and their holy wrath.

For once, it can really upset about the "corrupt Bagasche Janze" animal hater, the bureaucrats, politicians, unscrupulous bonze. It's about orang-utans, which urged ausgewildert be, but for once no one is interested, the neglect of the zoo, to the destruction of the Indonesian rainforest. "This country does not love animals," complains the Prussian petite lady, "it is a disgrace."

Ulrike von Mengden, Ibu Ulla called, lives in a small bungalow in the middle of the "Ragunan Zoo" of Jakarta, their refuge. She sits on the covered patio and fruit juice can be served. Behind her stick a poster of an orangutan displays, along with the admonition: "I'm not a monkey, I am your great-great-great-great-grandfather." The screaming monkey is calm again. Ulla not. She is a fighter. She is an officer's daughter from Labiau. The not so quickly capitulated. "The moral of the weaker defender shows so boldly must be the attacker." Did Clausewitz said. Ulla, Prussian, Protestant, keeps it. "I know no mercy."

Largest Regenwaldvernichter the world

Their use is the unique fauna of Indonesia, currently almost quickly as nowhere else will be decimated. Especially since Europe approaches of Ökowahn shows go on with the Orang-utans, the "forest people," rapidly downhill. Because the European Union as the target output has nearly ten percent of its fuel needs from biofuel also cover to try to shoot in Borneo Palm oil plantations out of the ground. Hourly rain forest in Indonesia is in an area which corresponds to 300 soccer fields, cleared.

LAST EXIT ...

In the South Seas, the Caribbean or the Pacific? Reaching the Cape of Good Hope or to Koh Lanta? In the Moloch of Bangkok or Beijing? German emigrants to make their dream of a new life true.

What drives them? What do they want in the distance? Issues facing blogs correspondent Thilo Thielke in his column "Last Exit ..." after it.

As the largest Regenwaldvernichter the earth brought it to the government in Jakarta, even in the "Guinness Book of World Records." Indonesia, one of more than 17,000 islands existing paradise, is being systematically plundered. "These bastards" complains the free woman, "especially the ones who suffer great apes: Still to be about 50,000 Borneo orangutans live, but if the forest is not curbed, it will soon just type in zoos can survive."

In the Zoo of Jakarta Ulla lives of Mengden now since 1968. At that time, the zoo moved from downtown to the south in order. She has to live here for life and built a station here, the orang-utan orphans absorbs aufpäppelt and then helps them auszuwildern. This work is her life's work. Ulrike free woman of Mengden was curator of the zoos. She wants to stay here. Despite all the problems with Zoodirektoren ignorant, corrupt bureaucrats and rapacious killers rainforest. Meanwhile, Indonesia is their mother country, while Germany is always their homeland still, she says. True is hardly surprising. Finally, she lives here already since 57 years.

"A paradise on earth"

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At that time, the early fifties, she came with her husband, Hans Mengden Mary of Clovis, after Indonesia. In Java, the family had owned a cattle farm. Why not? The two were young, they had nothing to lose, Europe lay in ruins. Still fresh were the memories of the great war. Ulla was a nurse is always just behind the front was in Dunkirk, in Norway in the U-boat hospital, where she got scarlet fever, which is why she still sounds bad. Then in Russia on the Eastern Front. Near the Romanian border, she was away with the troops of the Red Army was eingekesselt, Hungary, they had rescued. "I was Halbverhungert finally arrived in Germany."

The future, of a part of the war years in captivity was spent in the Himalayas, they had while studying in Bonn met. He was in Indonesia more than in Germany. The family already existed since 1896, even as Indonesia was Dutch colony. Lang hesitated not both, as they call the wilderness seized. Ulla and fell instantly in the exotic country. "It was a paradise here, and this zoo is the largest and most beautiful in the whole earth," says the mother monkeys.

But then it slowly went downhill. In particular, under the dictator Suharto of Indonesia from 1966 to 1998 reign, the country fell under the robbers. "Anyone who is honest, is your own fault, and who is not corrupt, it is done - that's been the motto," says Ms. von Mengden Free.

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Way they still do not wants. Where too? Her husband died a long time ago, now it is an "old widow," she says. And the animals need them of course, more than ever. Between 300 and 500 orang-utans are now gone through their station. And it is increasingly difficult for newcomers to find any seats. Almost impossible, it is still what auszuwildern. The rainforest areas, the redheaded apes to survive in the wild need to shrink ever faster.

"Right raving" could they be when they hear something complains Ulrike free woman of Mengden. And to their words to be emphasized, it proposes the robust bony fist on the table. But then she says still something conciliation. That they love this country indefinitely, because it is so rich, so complex and so alien that "a real wonderland."

In the brain of Lady Liberty.

Then, the masses of tourists in New York waiting for: On U.S. Independence Day is the interior of the Statue of Liberty re-opened - including access to the tiny crown. blogs ONLINE correspondent Marc Pitzke got by the authorities have been granted a preview.

 

New York - The Lady of the brain is hollow. A low, crooked, humid room. 22 floors above the water, held together by a narrow steel beam skeleton, riveted and clad with ultra-thin copper skin. The visitors reached via a steep spiral staircase, 354 narrow steps.

The 25 windows that highlight the crown, open to the harbor, and who is inclined to the vertical wall courageous vorlehnt may even left a piece of skyline view. Down below is a tiny keeper, like a toy soldier.

At least the windows are now glazed. Previously, they were not. As the first and only crawls 1929 Mr. Ralph Gleason called through to to commit suicide. Then he changed it, tried to reverse, but slipped out, "shot down and crashed it on the chest of the statue from", as the New York Times reported. He landed 90 meters deep in the dead grass.

As two helicopters low vorbeiknattern vibrates the claustrophobic enclosures, in which ten people just fit. The sloping ground is buzzing under our feet. The stuffy room in the crown is not for people with fear of heights.

The bend head for a look at the crown

Man hangs diagonally on the port, whose toot and sail through the muffled clatter only 2.4 millimeters thin copper layer penetrates. The fragile veins of the right Statuenarms are up close to see, even the handle of the torch, and when the head bends, one of the seven-pointed crown of the seven continents and the seven seas represent - depending on whom you believe .

"If you were a terrorist want to put a sign," ponders Darren Boch hosted by the National Park Service, "the Statue of Liberty would be certainly a good goal." Purely hypothetical of course.

Almost eight years, it was closed, the interior of the mythical statue of Liberty - that "the most important landmarks of our nation," as Boch says, a brawny man, himself something of the rise pants. After the attacks of 11 September 2001 it was simply considered too risky, especially since the only access to the head and crown - two small, interlocking intricate iron stairs - no longer fire demands. Here comes in the case of emergency as soon not go.

On 4 July, the National Day, this highest vantage point in the middle of the New York Harbor is now reopened. A date so symbolically as the monument itself: The statue was a gift from France on the centenary of the independence declaration of the 1876th The podium is already since 2004, reopened after a 20-million-dollar renovation. The alcove in the crown remained closed until now. The National Park Service had blogs online, but now rise up the stairs.

In 214 cases in New York

A Coast Guard boat named "Lady Liberty III" promoted early in the morning a handful of workers and employees of the Park Service, National Park of the competent official, from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan across. First stopover is Ellis Iceland, until 1954 the main focal point for immigrants, now a museum island. From there it's only a few minutes to Liberty Iceland, where the Statue of Liberty greets incoming ships.

This island, then still called Iceland's Bedloe and location of a fort, the French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi 1871 at the first visit as the home of his mammoth statue chosen. After some back and forth and some Fehlentwürfen - a version of the statue held the torch in his left hand - the project was finally underway.

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Legend Editor Joseph Pulitzer gathered a large part of the funds for the US-funded, 50-meter-high sandstone plinth. The rest came through, inter alia, lotteries, and a poetry competition. When the pedestal was completed in 1886, the masons threw silver coins into the still wet mortar.

The statue itself - 46 meters high, 204 tons, "shoe size 876" (Boch) - was assembled in Paris, then again in 350 parts disassembled and in 214 crates shipped to New York. The right arm with a torch was already on the 1876 American Century celebration came to Philadelphia. U.S. President Grover Cleveland - who as governor of the financing had resisted - the monument was opened on 28 October 1886.

"Take breaks if you do not get more air"

"This place has for me a very personal significance," said Darren Boch. "My grandparents came to Ellis to Iceland, from Sicily and from Germany. The statue was the first thing they saw their new home." Four out of ten Americans, they say here, its pedigree can be physically connected to Ellis Iceland and "Lady Liberty" sign over.

These memories can be found today in a museum at the base of the statue immortalized. From there it's steep upward, step by step. A park medic gives a brief introduction. "Watch your head on," he says. "Look where you are. Take breaks if you do not get more air."

Initially, the staircase is still wide, it soon narrows, finally it is used for narrow, steep, dizzying spiral. Slowly it climbs through the scaffold high, between the deeply anchored in the foundation, curved, winding, kreuzvernieteten steel makers through which the bronze outer wear like an oversized cake baking.

Previously it took two hours until it had reached the top, as hundreds of visitors while in the narrow ascent ballten. Who had even started, could not go back. "That," recalls Boch, "were not all always overwhelming."

Controversy over the steep victory

On the contrary. The reopening of the crown met with fierce resistance of the Park Service. At a 2007 hearing Congress said its Deputy Director Daniel Wenk, Bartholdi's statue had "never intended as something that you could climb." When the statue in 1933 in the custody of the Park Service went Liberty Iceland had fewer than 200,000 visitors a year. 2006 was more than 2.5 million - even though the spiral staircase to the statue, so Wenk, only to maintenance personnel thought was, "not for ongoing, everyday ascent.

The only way to climb safely to the disaster, would be considered by the Park Service, a new, 22-storey tower next to the statue, with a gangway at the top. This keeps the office of course for "unacceptable". But Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner - the next year, perhaps for the New York mayoralty candidate will - drummed relentlessly for a public access to the steep staircase.

So now, a compromise was found: From 4 July is the crown only in groups of ten can be climbed, the participants are using the online reservation selected. "This is a very intimate, safe experience," Boch hopes. "Random group of people, when climbing on the freedom to talk."

Interior, U.S. Ken Salazar announced the reopening of the crown in early May for a visit in person at Liberty Iceland. Previously, he had even completed the 354 levels. His breathless, enthusiastic Conclusion: "Fantastic!"

Good times for bargain hunters.

Falling Rates in New York, Seven-day cruises for 300 Euro: A holiday in the U.S. is as cheap as ever. With many discounts and free extras to the industry at home and entice foreigners to relax - you need only track the bargain.

 

Miami - An acclaimed new president, an overall improved image, and a further weak U.S. Dollar: In other years would be the best conditions for an influx of international tourists to the United States. But the worldwide recession provides the opposite: 2009 expect the United States eight percent fewer visitors from abroad, said the new trade minister Gary Locke now at the Pow Wow travel trade show in Miami.

In the crisis is for many tourists but also an opportunity: To flights, hotels, cruise ships and amusement parks to fill, offers the travel industry in the U.S. so many special than ever before.

The price-performance ratio in the U.S. by German holidaymakers will present "as an incredibly good" perceived, is the observation of Tilo Krause-Dünow, chief organizer of the CANUSA and board member of the German Visit USA Committee (Vusa). "Increasingly, there are extras such as breakfast, dinner or spa applications in the field now for free, especially in the high-quality hotels," said the head of California Tourism, Caroline Beteta, in Miami.

And the cruise lines currently reflected great discounts: Seven nights on board with all meals are now available for 350 to 400 dollars (converted from 260 to 300 euros) to have. Since it was "for many people even cheaper to make a cruise than to stay at home".

New York's room rates have fallen

A year with great savings potential "is 2009 for George Fertitta, the CEO of Tourism New York City. The "Big Apple" had in recent years attendance record after another record, which led to sharply rising hotel prices. Now that the room for some 20 to 30 percent better position, "even though the utilization of the hotels is expected to remain high." The average room rate is now at 220 instead of $ 280 per night.

Much encouragement is hoping that New York in the saving action of "The Real Deal", in which more than 90 hotels, museums, theaters and tour operators participate: Who tourist services for two people online on the portal www.nycgo.com book gets a 50 percent ticket discount.

Miami, on the other hand is a summer action under the slogan "Four nights stay pay only three" start Sponde Suzie announced from regional tourist office while at the Pow Wow - "almost all of our members are involved." The city in Florida this summer, has a particularly large number of beds to fill, following by new openings and expansions of approximately 10,000 hotel rooms to come.

Similarly, the challenge for the Orlando theme park stronghold, where, according to the regional tourism association currently attractions and hotels for 2.2 billion U.S. dollars (1.65 billion euros) are under construction.

Foreign visitors to play on the U.S. travel market a rather small role - most tourists come from their own country. According to a forecast of U.S. travel, the American Association this summer, but 7.2 million domestic business trips less than 2008: Instead of 329.1 were 321.9 million trips are expected. In this situation, international guests are more important.

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One positive is likely that many visitors to the gasoline in the U.S. feel in the summer of 2008 at about $ 4 per gallon (about 3.78 liters) were. In Minnesota, for example, they are now back at $ 2.40 arrived, said Cheryl Offerman from the Tourism Office of the State. Car Hire-Tours were made to the German organizers are also in great demand, said Krause-Dünow. In contrast, the motorhome bookings somewhat restrained, it says: Here are the petrol prices from 2008, when many tourists with their travel plans for 2009 have started to appear after.

Fewer business travelers from Germany

In the major German broadcasters are the bookings for 2009 over the Plus has Vusa Board Krause-Dünow determined. That according to the U.S. Department of Commerce in January and February but a decrease in the number of entry from Germany by 12.1 per cent were either with the lower business travel to explain, said the German president Vusa Rita Hille.

In the main holiday period May to October these statistics will be different again: the holiday minus the figures compared with the business traveler then. Help, that shopping in the U.S. remains a strong theme was travel, "and also the 'Obama Effect' will help us still."

Whether the interest of the Germans on holiday in USA even 2010 will remain stable, but it is difficult to estimate. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke sees the number of international guests in total then again with three per cent plus. The German organizers on the other hand, pushes the question of whether the "Obama effect" nor even 2010 can be perceived and how the rising impact of unemployment in Germany.

Relatively cheap to stay, many transatlantic trips, however: At the Pow Wow, the vendor now spoken with hotel chains, their prices for 2010 reduced by at least ten percent, and in addition, there are offerings such as "Free breakfast" on top, "said Krause-Dünow . "Things that have never been possible, one sees everywhere now - from Hawaii to Miami."

Blue Grotto against Blautopf.

Magical Blue: On Capri and in Blaubeuren exude sparkle and mysterious waters. In the Grotta Azzurra Italian to Farbspektakel there is an "O sole mio" leader of the boat - at the Swabian Blautopf be a laughing fairy live.

 

DDP; Capri Tourist Board

Blue Grotto
Blautopf

What?

Farbwunder under rocks and German romantics yearning goal.

What?

Colorful pools and gigantic cave entrance to worlds.

Where?

On the crowd-Capri in Italy.

Where?

In Blaubeuren in Baden-Württemberg.

Attracts tourists, because ...

... still applies, what the writer Kopisch in August 1826 about this natural wonder, wrote: "You will find odd surprise, the water blue fire like the cave to see fulfilled. Each wave seems to be a flame."

Attracts tourists, because ...

... still applies, what the poet Eduard Mörike about this natural wonder, wrote: "This pond is inward like a funnel, the water color from very blue, very beautiful, probably not with words to describe."

Wen you here?

Lots of boat guide, which deals with the intonation of Italian opera arias, a contest in the disciplines of "volume" and "Echo intensity" deliver.

Wen you here?

Lots of geologists in the diving suit - they explore the Blue Cave in 21 meters water depth, which is miles beneath the earth extends. And enter the premises of funny names like "Palace of Winds," "Cloud Castle", "Valhalla" or "apocalypse".

Risks and side effects?

At the entrance to the cave by rowing boat, when a slight swell a lot at the head of the rock encountered.

Risks and side effects?

Again and again died in the exploration of the caves divers who overestimated their abilities.

Why go now?

Well, better would be a visit 100 years ago have been - in the season are now waiting for an hour before the Grotta Azzurra not uncommon.

Why go now?

Because in the summer at the shore with a stage built for jazz concerts and theatrical performances.

Stay at home only if ...

... August Kopisch you believe less than Bertolt Brecht - the Capri was already in the twenties to touristically cursed the "damned blue lemonade."

Stay at home only if ...

... You have fear of mermaids: Ms Lau, Möriken "water woman with long flowing hair and webbed between the fingers to be here today to haunt him - that at least maintains the tourism information of the city.

THE DUELL

Under the heading "The Duel" compares blogs regularly ONLINE German and an internationally renowned tourist attraction. Applies in the future, among other things: Babelsberg to Hollywood, surfing in Munich against surfing in Hawaii and the Berlin Wall against the Chinese Wall. Click here to view all past articles to read!

"A bit like suicide."

52 days were long Jürgen Kantner and his wife in the hands of Somali blackmailer. Now they are back on the Gulf of Aden. The German sailors want to try with their boat "Rockall" the pirate waters to pass through - in spite of traumatic experiences.

 

Berbera - For people in the Somali port city of Berbera Jürgen Kantner of the "crazy German sailors." "They think that I was crazy," says the 62-year-old with the wild white mane. "They just do not understand what my boat for me means."

AFP
Kantner Jürgen and Sabine Merz in Berbera, the "crazy German sailors"

Just under a year, Kantner and his wife Sabine Merz ever been in Somalia - involuntarily, as hostages of brutal pirates. 52 days long kept the pirates, the Germans in the mountainous hinterland in its violence and did so repeatedly, as they wanted to kill the two. "That was the worst experience of my life, they are constantly intimidated us," says Kantner on the abduction.

Allegedly received $ 600,000 (445,000 euros) ransom before the couple in August 2008 released. However, Kantner and Merz now Somaliland, the internationally unrecognized Republic of Somalia in the north, returned. They want their yacht, the "Rockall" retrieve.

"My boat is my life and I do not want to lose. Pirates, and governments do not take care of me," says the passionate sailor, while he was at the port of the repairs to his yacht recovered. The stocky man sip sweet tea, sit at the table with his wife and a Somali friend who speaks German.

"Sailing - I would live and die"

Kantner does not have many words. "The German officials are angry that I am here," he says, then he has blasphemed the "clumsy-Somali mechanic." The only thing that interested Kantner, his wife and the sea.

"At home I have no more friends, after 32 years on my boat, I lost contact with them. So why should I return to Germany, where I have no one to help me?" Justifies the German. "Everything I own is on my boat. Sailing - I would live and die," says Kantner, reading from his notes and looks over the sea, the Gulf of Aden. Through this strait he must if his "Rockall" is shot again.

The sailors are aware that the Gulf of Aden is currently the world's most dangerous area for seafarers is. Since he and his wife were abducted at sea, pirates kaperten approximately 50 additional vessels. "It's a bit like suicide," he says dryly. "But I pray to God that I was not the pirates grab." Kantner about to buy a gun, "but a decision I have not met".

From the international attempt to warships through the Gulf of Aden to ensure he is not much. It would be very different deal with the pirates: "If you have a catch, then hack his hand. If he tries abzuhauen, then shoot him. Islamic law is the only punishment they understand."

Kantner climbs on the deck of his yacht, on the greasy engine parts and fishing nets scattered. Nor is the "Rockall" unseaworthy, but the sailors already knows exactly what he will do if his next destination, Malaysia, certainly has achieved: a week's holiday.

Kantner himself has doubts whether it will ever come: "I really hope that the pirates do not get me, because this time no one will pay for me and all the pirates are saying: 'Keep him!"

Ãkosünden in the diving paradise.

Treacherousness reefs as a souvenir, kicks against corals on Panglao, one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world, environmental sins are not uncommon. Illegal fishing also disrupt the ecosystem of the Philippines island before - but environmentalists deal with sometimes ruthless methods of defense.

 

Soft outweigh the palm trees in the slight breeze. On the narrow white sand eels are a couple of sun-hungry tourists. Blue Pacific sparkles in the sun.

Alona Beach, on the Philippine island of Panglao is a tropical dream beach. On the horizon are high volcanoes on other islands of the Visayas to see. Small cafes and restaurants invite you to linger, with colorful umbrellas to protect against the hot sun.

Diving schools offer excursions to the coral reefs around Panglao, which
to the best dive sites in the world. The island and its on a small bridge to reach larger sister Bohol are the hottest newcomer in the Philippines-Tourism - after the mass influx of the former dream destinations and Cebu Bocaray their magic has taken.

Alone in the waters around Panglao is the species diversity is greater than in the whole Mediterranean Sea, which has four years ago an international team of scientists under the Panglao Marine Biodiversity Project "found out. The area is part of the "coral triangle" between Malaysia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Indonesia and the Philippines also. The area is about half as big as the size of the United States - and is home to 75 percent of all coral species riffbauenden the world.

But the diversity of coral reefs in the Triangle is under threat. Overfishing and pollution of the marine environment by waste and toxins harmful to marine flora and fauna. Plastic bags and cans are careless in the rivers of the islands and then disposed of into the sea rinsed.

Then there is the creeping, almost invisible threat of climate change. "We still have no coral bleaching, but we provide a number of years since weather changes," says Kurt Biebelmann whose diving school Atlantis Dive Center, "one of the many German companies in Alona Beach.

We have "bad manners Diving a bigger problem," says Biebelmann. In particular hobby divers from Asian countries like South Korea was gruff with the coral reefs around. "The breaking pieces as a souvenir or present themselves to coral, with its more expensive underwater cameras to photograph the fish can."

By speed boat against illegal fishing

Even some of the 17 dive schools in Alona Beach, a year more than 10,000 divers on the reefs send in the criticism. "Especially the bases run by locals have no sense of sustainability, but want a quick profit," complains Holger Horn of Bohol Fundivers ". "That goes at the expense of the environment and often the safety of customers." Many entrepreneurs from abroad but was not much better: "The saying is, I am perhaps a maximum of ten years here, and in time I will as much as possible to get - after me the deluge."

Horn has no understanding of the careless handling of the reefs. Already interest from business entrepreneurs need to be interested in their preservation, he says: "Without the reefs, there would be no tourism here." A square meter of coral was intact for the coastal tourism per year worth $ 40,000, he estimates.

Entrepreneurs like Biebelmann and horn set for years with local politicians and businessmen for the protection of the waters and reefs On - sometimes ruthless methods: "We have speed boats through the nets of illegal fishermen and have driven it so torn apart," says Horn.

In general, the Endvierziger conviction but rather through education. As a lecturer at the Department of Tourism of the Catholic University of Holy word on Bohol clarifies his students about the importance of the environment as a source of life and income. Moreover, the ex-officer as commander of a unit of the Philippine Coast Guard to patrol regularly rides and sees' first signs of success, for example, the containment of dynamite fishing. "

At least on paper, there are laws in the Philippines, the destruction of the environment to counteract. Only problem is their enforcement. Time is no money for projects there. Or it is there, but bureaucracy delayed the payment. A major problem is corruption, the marine, the commercial fishermen and large short-term tourism entrepreneurs in the way.

Dive with police officers

Biebelmann had a weekend in April a group of senior police officers from Manila to host in his Kalipayan Beach Resort. With them he went to dive and snorkel tour: "So they were able to satisfy themselves as to the beauty of the reefs and the diversity of its inhabitants make a picture. Anyone who has once experienced, will understand why a seahorse or a coral animal is worth protecting," says Biebelmann.

A major problem is wrangling skills. After the overthrow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, the political power in the Philippines decentralization - local government may own laws and rules. "We have had four or five years, a number of protected areas," says Horn. But on Panglao were "three administrative units, and can not on common standards and some rules."

These problems also have the other countries in the Coral Triangle. Two years ago, the countries bordering with environmental organizations and international institutions for the "Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) together. This week, meet the leaders of the six states CTI on the first "World Ocean Conference in Manado on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. They want it in a "Declaration of Manado" a roadmap for the protection of the coral triangle set - both for the benefit of the environment as well as the millions of people in the region under the sea and fishing livelihoods are.

Gossip from the sin Pfuhl.

As Elfi Seitz came to Thailand, Pattaya was little more than a fishing village with operating a brothel. Today is the ex-chief editor of the Munich "Pattaya sheet" and carries a reporter living in the border area between charity evenings, seniors homes and clever Barmädchen.

 

This travel guide! Writes but actually the Baedeker: Cultural offers in Pattaya are rather sparse, most likely this gap will be two internationally renowned Transvestitenshows filled. " Have never heard because of the six Rotary Clubs, which houses the spa? Nothing from the "Power Jam" in the Moon River Pub - the dashing slogan "Let's Fetz?

The authors do not know the German Gourmet Club, the musician George Hilbert, the last Saturday of every month at the German House "popular hits and hit" play? Not to mention salsa classes, the "Pattaya International Music Festival" or the "German Plauderstunde". If the culture is not!

The author of this quote should perhaps once with Elfi Seitz, 63, taken before they write such Schmarrn. This would tell them what. Elfi Seitz is editor in chief of the weekly
"Pattaya sheet", edition of about 5000 pieces. She lives for 32 years in the city. And why? But not because of the many bars and brothel Transvestitenshows, but "because so much else going on, even culturally." Elfi Seitz says at least. And that is why it had to be said.

Your bad reputation, the city is still not happening so quickly. He is stubborn as an untreated gonorrhea. "Good guys come in to heaven, bad to Pattaya" is not random on the T-shirts, which they sell over here.

Before Elfi Seitz lands here, the city was little more than a fishing village with operating a brothel. The Vietnam War GIs enjoyed stressed in Pattaya, one and a half hours' drive south of Bangkok. U Tapao, very close, was her Thai Air Force base and Pattaya somehow the stage, before it is back in the jungle war went. The city was one sin Pfuhl.

Replenishment from Germany

Elfi from Munich on their arrival had no glimmer of the shady goings. Zivilisationsmüde - "stupid and naive" - she moved together with a friend into the adventure. Of course, the two quickly lost their illusions. That there is in the restaurants of young single women swarmed the only way, had nothing directly to do with the emancipation from the home, the feminists raved. The girls here waiting rather that "Bumsbomber" escalated their human cargo. It was the time when Neckermann, TUI, and the gap filled by the American friends left behind. And they succeeded quite well.

LAST EXIT ...

In the South Seas, the Caribbean or the Pacific? Reaching the Cape of Good Hope or to Koh Lanta? In the Moloch of Bangkok or Beijing? German emigrants to make their dream of a new life true.

What drives them? What do they want in the distance? Issues facing blogs correspondent Thilo Thielke in his column "Last Exit ..." after it.

In the city fell Elfi Seitz, despite the wild goings. "It was so beautiful" - here she wanted to stay a while. They first opened a restaurant, then a tailor, had finally next accounting also learned design. Elfi Seitz remained, even as the year was over, the stay they had made.

The town grew up with, incessantly. Where once a small fishing harbor, was the "Walking Street, Pattaya" geile mile "with all the Gogo bars and sex shows. Pubs and grills chicken suppressed the jewelers and tailors, for which the town was once famous. After the fall of the Iron Curtain brought even the Russian mafia, and tons of vodka karrte approached. "Today," says Elfi Seitz, "are officially 100,000 people live in the city, but there are many more, certainly more than half a million."

Many Europeans, retired as backpackers, overwinter here without a residence permit to have. Many girls earn here and are still in their home province registered. In Pattaya meet so Iserlohn and Isaan, and everywhere sprout delicate buds of love. The American author Jon Dennis, who was a phenomenon in a self-experiment approached him, gives them in his travel novel "The Butterfly Trap" eloquent Client: "How you mean? Where you come from and how long you stay ... you handsome man, Mr . Jon. ... I like you darling, we have fun. "

"There are many decent and good people here, including Europeans," says Elfi Reitz, "and many charity events insane." If more want to know, you have only the "Pattaya Blatt" impact. "One and a half million baht to change the owner" is the thick balken headline on page one. It is about a donation of just under 32,000 euros to the German and the Swiss Ambassador to the Child Protection and Development Center in Pattaya presents have.

From gossip to crime news

Other Top stories deal with the accidental death of Peter Alexander's daughter Susanne on Koh Samui, the sinking of a tourist boat, with 30 people on board prior to Phuket and a python, which is nestled in a beer bar has. In the "Mailbox" complained a German readers have been caused by the activities of its erotic Thaifrau after he had supplied them financially: "At night went to the beauty while he slept but an instant."

ON TO ONLINE blogs

Last Exit Congo: Weltverbesserer the Toll House (16.04.2009)

Last Exit Ko Lanta: Friesentee under palm trees (27.02.2009)

Last Exit Bangkok: Siam Heino on Radio (21.03.2009)

Last Exit Hong Kong: Eisbein instead of sweet and sour duck (10.03.2009)

Since 2002, Elfi Seitz, chief editor of the German newspaper, 1993, she had the English-speaking mother sheet "Pattaya Mail" started. By making it even more when publishing their own TV station "Pattaya Mail on Television" with.

With a shortage of topics they can not really complain. Regularly check Reiner Calmund past, pedophiles are arrested, give Schlager Stars honor. Integral part of the sheet are crime news and the football coverage, due to the Bundesliga was even the issue of the weekly newspaper published on Tuesday. Three-time German reporter and two freelancers reify is now at the newspaper.

YOUR OPINION IS ASKED

Discuss about this article

You can learn a lot in Pattaya, there Elfi Seitz, especially how easily manipulated men sometimes. "If they say 'Hello Darling, handsome man', melt it formally." Particularly offensive finds the bustle yet. Many girls were just "very clever" and understand it, "a good life to secure." On the palm brings them only if 70-year-old seniors still masse children in the world, which a little later to be the mother.

Elfi Seitz must now continue. "Dates," she groans, charity events, music festival, will still represent somewhere. The reporter living in Pattaya can be quite tiring.

Hong Kong Hotel guests are free.

A case of swine flu in their hotel they made a dash through the travel plans: approximately 280 guests were in Hong Kong for seven days under compulsory quarantine. On Friday evening, left the Applause Included in the house.

 

Hong Kong - and jubilantly into the hands klatschend they left on Friday evening, the Metro Park Hotel: After one week compulsory quarantine because of the pig flu has Hong Kong on Friday about 300 hotel guests and employees in the released. They had seven days in a hotel endure after a Mexican guest of the hotel on 1 May be the first Southeast Asian pig flu patient had been confirmed. Among the other guests were at the quarantine of any other cases.

"I'm out there," said Kevin Ireland, an Indian businessman, and reckte his fist in the air. "I was absolutely not like, but now I am relieved." Nevertheless, he was satisfied with how the authorities had treated him. A group of about 50 Hong Kong residents waved flags and cried with the guests who made the coaches streamed: "Welcome home!"

Included were several tourists from Germany, including the couple Eingrüber from Dresden. "For us, a world collapsed," Kathrin Eingrüber had on Monday told the AP by telephone. The 41-year-old and her husband Chris originally wanted in Hong Kong only a three-stop.

The time in the hotel the couple had already become long on Monday: "It has no pool and no gym, where you once could move," said Eingrüber. Also, the Spaniard Francisco Javier Boada said about his time in quarantine simply: "It was very boring." On Thursday evening, however, was already widely celebrated: The Included threw their own masks, danced, drank beer and wine and toasts to the front of the hotel waiting journalists.

As reparation, all hotel guests in advance various gifts of Hong Kong City Hall will receive - including a voucher for two free nights in another hotel in the city. Some guests from overseas wanted to make use of them because they are on Friday evening travel may not in the home were more.

Hawaii to Munich.

Up to 15 meter-high monster waves, surfer death: the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii is probably the most famous surf spot in the world. Of course, acts on the other hand Eisbach in Munich comparatively puny - but here come the professionals from equilibrium.

 

REUTERS; DPA

Banzai Pipeline
Eisbach

What?

Tube notorious that even the world's best surfers all demands.

What?

A water-meter roll, even professionals brings to stumble - because the standing wave unusual Balance Act requires.

Where?

On Oahu, Hawaii.

Where?

On the Eisbach in the kingdom of heaven bridge in downtown Munich.

Attracts tourists, because ...

... in winter at the World Championship hell rides from stars such as Kelly Slater or Andy Irons can admire. These are the viewers up close and personal at the events, because there are hardly any surf spot where the giant waves on the beach so close break.

Attracts tourists, because ...

... the surfers in their wet suits in the middle of the city, a unique sight, and the banks of the brook for lunch invite.

Risks and side effects?

Already some have overestimated his abilities here. On average, calls the "Pipe" (nickname: cement mixer, meat mincer or ogre) each year, a death toll - also because just below the water surface conceals razor sharp lava stone.

Risks and side effects?

In some cases only 40 centimeters deep water lurking several rows of stone blocks, which falls on bruises and bone fractures may result.

Wen you here?

Lots durchtrainierte Short-makers, with the surfboard on the beach beproud and say things like: "Very nice, but yesterday the waves were bigger."

Wen you here?

For example, the German youth surfing champion Paul Guenther, who frequently trains.

Why go now?

Because even in the summer of surfing enthusiasts have a chance of survival - only in November and December, the waves reach heights of more than ten meters.

Why go now?

Because the future of the wave fun in Munich is still not resolved - the Bavarian Finance Ministry wants to impose fines for surfers, because swimming in the Eisbach is officially banned.

Did you know?

In the case of a serious accident in the pipeline lost Jack Johnson in 1992, several front teeth and had to be sewn with 150 stitches to be - he decided to point out, with the stop and was surfing popstar.

Did you know?

Per second shooting, on average, 22,000 liters of water under the bridge out of heaven - the equivalent of the mass of 22 cars.

Stay at home only if ...

... If the term "surfing" on browser and wireless, not to think of the adrenalin kicks in the water.

Stay at home only if ...

... years of fidelity to the TV show "Baywatch" has led to the sight of surfers in Press sausage wetsuit can not endure.

THE DUELL

Under the heading "The Duel" compares blogs regularly ONLINE German and an internationally renowned tourist attraction. Applies in the future, among other things: Babelsberg to Hollywood, surfing in Munich against surfing in Hawaii and the Berlin Wall against the Chinese Wall. Click here to view all past articles to read!

Briton secures "best job in the world".

His hobbies are bungee-jumping and diving in the world finals of the castings for a Ranger Island in Australia was the Englishman Ben Southall enforce - more than 34,000 fans island had applied for the job.

 

Sydney - A British social worker has been awarded the "best job in the world" get. The 34-year-old Ben Southall sat against more than 34,000 competitors from all over the world and is now half a year on an Australian island living.

He is in a villa on Hamilton Iceland live on his work order includes activities such as walking on the beach, snorkel and relax in the sun. In return he must an advertising blog to write about the island and from time to time the swimming pool scrub. But he is 150,000 Australian dollars (80,000 euros) fee received.

Southall include bungee jumping and scuba diving to his hobbies, used in Africa as a tourist guide and most recently in a charitable organization worked. In his application video are pictures in which he kisses a giraffe, an ostrich rides to and participates in a marathon. Now he stood on the last round of finals with 16 participants who are on the ground were examined. His job, he joins on 1 July.

"I hope I can fulfill the high expectations," Southall said after his victory. "My swimming skills are hopefully good enough, and I look forward to the duties and responsibilities that the job entails." He announced that he together with his Canadian girlfriend in the luxury villa on Hamilton Iceland will recover.

"Ben has a passion for real competitions Queensland demonstrated," said Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor. His ideas for the Ranger job and his ability to challenge, would have impressed the judges and secured him the victory.

AUSTRALIA-QUIZ

AP; Australian Tourist Commission; DPA

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

The online betting PinnacleSports had the last Dolmetscherin Clare Wang from Taiwan as a favorite run. It was not by the organizers from the pool of 34,684 applicants have been selected, but from Internet users, their short video presentation was the best. Also, the two Australian competitors stood by the book makers in demand.

The best 16 candidates were allowed to camp in one of several islands off the Queensland experience. There, they had to swim in competitions and while snorkeling, and demonstrate daily in their own blog about their experiences. Even their sovereignty in dealing with the numerous media representatives on the spot by the jury was closely monitored.

As a German candidate, was until last
Mirjam Novak from Erlangen in the race. Among its competitors were, inter alia, a Dutch photographer, a Japanese and an Indian receptionist radio DJ.

Hope for more bookings

The tourism authority had the action as an advertising campaign invented. The response exceeded all their expectations. "Every night we are there for two minutes on the news, two minutes is good news," said tourism director Anthony Hayes. "We strongly believe that we are after this campaign in the next twelve months, get more bookings." He can now well imagine from the Ranger-Casting ", an annual event to make."

The successful campaign has already emulated on the plan set. This was also Taiwan announced soon
A similar selection process to start around the country as a tourist destination known to do.

 

They had it in the course of numerous Australian tender, where margins. First broke the internet for several days together because of the onslaught was too great, which frustrated many potential candidates. Then the organizers had to admit that it is using the popular video of a woman who is a Great Barrier Reef tattoo can sting, even had invented.

For vortices caused a Russian participant, previously illegal porn mitgespielt had and therefore was disqualified. And on YouTube, a joker dressed as Osama bin Laden and turned out to be perfect candidates for the Inseljob dar.

Spa bath in wine.

Tasting with saber String, Erotikbad in red wine: In South Africa's Cape Peninsula are especially creative wine growers to visit their property unforgettable. For 350 years, fine wines grown here - some of the finest goods are now Germans.

 

Jean-Vincent Ridon has a character set: In its 1500 square meters is just great vineyard in the heart of Cape Town, he has the French flag with the Gallic cock, and his slogan "Vive la différence" leafy. Blue-white-red as the blue sky with white clouds above Table Mountain and the red African soil, on which he can grow great wines. "This all started," says the self-confident young Frenchman, "in the middle of Cape Town, not in Stellenbosch and Groot Constantia."

Ridon is globetrotters. He studied political science, was investment banker, a DJ, a gallery owner in Paris and has worked in Belgium, Turkey and the United States lived. "But wine has always been my passion," he says. 1996, Jean-Vincent Ridon to Cape Town, fell into the city with a Mediterranean flair - and sat in a big goal: He wants the tradition of winemaking in South Africa's "mother city" re-awaken.

Exactly 350 years it is since then in the small Dutch supply station, the first crop was introduced. On 2 February 1659 quoted the founder of Cape Town, Jan van Riebeeck in his diary: "Today - God be praised - was the first wine from grapes from the Cape pressed."

From Germany, France and Spain, the Dutch settlers in mid-17th Century in the belly of its merchant ships in the vines Kapkolonie brought, carefully wrapped in linen with earth-filled bags. On the slopes of Table Mountain, at the Signal Hill, but also in the midst of today's city center tried it, wine unit. Even where in Greenpoint today, the new stadium for the 2010 World Cup emporwächst, planted the settlers - but unsuccessfully - Vine. And in Oranjezicht, now a noble residential area below the Table Mountain.

They raised eight years ago Ridon its flag on an old, forgotten Weinfeld. In 2005 he brought under the label of "Signal Hill", the first harvest: 600 bottles of Clos d'Oranje, a Shiraz, the South African wine Pope John Platter in 2006 gave five stars, the highest award. "I have a lot of experimenting," says Ridon to, "because much of the old tradition has been lost."

National Shrine of the wine

Many lives, however, even today - to sound the full name of the ancient vineyards of 'Lost All "to" Vergelegen ". "All the Lost" at the Swartland wine is in its fifth generation of family ownership. Vergelegen, with its five-star wines are from 1700. "Groot Constantia" before the gates of Cape Town has become a sort of national shrine has become: 1685 by Governor Simon van der Stel was founded, the carefully restored property as a "mother" of the wineries in South Africa - and is the center of the 350-year celebrations of South Africa viticulture.

The Germans were beginning: The abgewirtschaftete Weinfarm the Frankish couple Elke entrepreneurs and Friedrich-Wilhelm Dauphin purchased 1999, was already 1690 by Governor van der Stel granted a German settlers were. The Dauphins christened the historic Good after nearly one kilometer long avenue of century-old eucalyptus trees "Allée Bleue. Then they left it by the artist couple Gundel and Emil Sogor a Gesamtkunstwerk durchstylen and won for the basement of their Pinotage Champion Gerda Willers at the first harvest of the Veritas Double Gold, the highest award for South African wines.

Even the Hamburg shipowner Roland Seidel is one of the old pieces of jewelry, the van der Stel was once a German handed over to a new life. He bought wine in 1997 "De Leuven Jagt on Paarl Mountain with magnificent view to Table Mountain. The old name had lost much of its luster. Seidel built under the new name, "Seidel Mountain" became one of the top wineries from South Africa, a Erlebnisgut bronze foundry, glass blowing and an art gallery.

ON TO ONLINE blogs

South Africa: Cup of Good Hope (30.03.2009)

Walschreier at the Cape: Because he blows! (05.11.2008)

Romania Wines: Pinot yellow gold, ruby red Kadarka (12.12.2008)

Château globally: How Globalization helps German vintners (20.12.2008)

Montepulciano wine region: the small death of the Vino Nobile (29.09.2008)

At worst, the decay of traditional South African wine industry the 250-year-old "Buitenverwachting" taken in Constantia. 1980 should be parceled and as an investment property sold. The Hamburg entrepreneur Richard Mueller acquired the historic property, without having seen it. Originally it was thought of as a real estate investment. But the family fell in love with the piece of earth, the son of Lars Maack it carefully rehabilitated and expanded it to Mustergut from, which includes a Nobel restaurant that has for years on the Cape gourmet temples counts.

The first great boom experienced German winegrower tradition at the Cape after the Second World War. "In the fifties and sixties was the whole of German wine in South Africa dominated," says Hildegard von Arnim. That was also the time when her husband, Achim von Arnim, his heart was discovered in the wine. Actually wanted to shoot the old Prussian officer family brewers are.

But it was different: He learned the wine from scratch, he studied at Geisenheim and built 1982 the wine and Sektgut "Cabrières" on high above Franschhoek. On Saturdays, visitors can see him on a tour of the cellar in his element Experience: Then the Baron köpft the champagne bottles with a saber. From visitors, the 64-year-old karate enthusiast and makers of the black belt to be happy with a kiss reward.

Stones against tourists from the capital.

Two meals for the price of one, souvenirs for a Dollar: In Cancun restaurants and hotels are fighting desperately to tourists. The fear of pig influenza has fatal consequences for Mexico's tourism industry - and even hostility towards day-trippers from the capital.

 

Acapulco - It's anything and drüber in the Mexican tourism industry: While in Acapulco stones at cars from major cities to fly to the supposed virus makers distribute, begging the hotel manager of Cancun just to accommodate guests for their empty houses. The excitement shows how the country dependent on tourism - and how dramatic the consequences of influenza are pigs.

Just over a week, the country has an outbreak of epidemic acknowledged. Since the tourism industry is experiencing a devastating collapse, as Finance Minister Agustín Carstens admitted. Nevertheless shifted Tourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo a planned PR campaign for the time being - it is now after the end of the crisis started. It was now time is not the best time to for Mexico as a holiday destination to advertise.

The Mexican resorts are experiencing the crisis very differently: Buffeted is particularly true Topziel Cancun, which is otherwise mainly foreigners respond. But now stay away in droves. Around 40 percent utilization is already below what was usual, accused the president of the Hoteliers Association, Rodrigo de la Pena. Estimated 2.4 million U.S. dollars (1.8 million euros), the city alone during the first weeks Flu lost.

Cancun: 70 percent of the reservation is canceled

They do all the businessmen to tourists courtship of restaurants offer two meals for the price of one, with shops selling handmade art dolls or chains suddenly for a dollar. "It is absolutely necessary that our hotels have guests," says de la Pena. It was "in a serious financial crisis".

And it should get worse: In the past few days were about 70 percent of reservations have been canceled for Cancun, says the Tourism Ministry. Already this week, the utilization is at 45 per cent fall.

A 46-percent drop reported the Pacific coastal town of Huatulco. Probably the heaviest blow but journeys Mexico City, where an estimated 85 percent of vacant hotel rooms.

In addition, at least 64 cruise ships less than planned in Mexican ports, 134,000 additional tourists will be missing. Even airlines such as Continental Airlines, the country does not control anymore.

Quite different from the situation in Acapulco: While breaking even here the number of visitors, but the city appears to be not so unhappy to be. The reason is obvious: Acapulco is just five hours by car from Mexico City away, and the main cities you can see now much better go than come.

Gasoline boycotts against major cities

Finally, it is Mexico City, where the majority of flu cases have occurred. "Anyone who has symptoms should not think: 'If I go to Acapulco, where the weather is so beautiful, it is even better.'" Fresh Air, tequila and disco visits were not the right therapy, said Mayor Anorve Manual. "We ask these people, therefore, responsible to be aware and wegzubleiben." Already bars and restaurants were closed and boat tours canceled, only the hotel had opened.

When warnings have it, some residents of Acapulco, however, not stop: At least four cars with the flag of Mexico City had been with stones as they had reached Acapulco, said the highway police.

Petrol station workers reported that gasoline boycotts against major cities. "We can be contagious and should stay away," says Miriam Tankwartin around Arizmendi. "The city should impose a quarantine and no more rauslassen." Who is still up to Acapulco creates, must be based on a frosty reception lie in wait. Employees of a beach restaurant they would have ridiculed as they are compatible with Bikini on the respirator and was accused Martha Rubio, vacationers and assured: "I do not let the mockery of me."

And with the tourists beat back cynicism: Borrowing from the famous T-shirt slogan: "A friend of mine was in Mexico, and all I got is this lousy T-shirt", it says now: ". .. and all I got is the flu pig! "