tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-431493576953338312024-03-05T15:30:12.080+01:00Avocado DiariesDie Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-72614516315893465292013-07-23T12:47:00.001+02:002013-08-25T19:59:11.223+02:00Berlin re-visited: the e.n.d.Hey folks, as you can see Berlin has so many options for visitors so that it's really hard to decide on what to do. Though you don't even have to enter a museum for various impressions, there is one museum I would warmly recommend you, if you are interested in the history of games and especially computer games: Das <b>Computer Museum</b> (What a surprise! <b>;)</b>)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_rQdQA-sMMdaaeUwRaqwoz1SXvGG1ppNrR9ghlvV53f2Jpd3GDg9SpyOQzDifovh0aRJPtt7Hpr7AbaToegvVWXzw8Id6revbNI6WajIWYqFCPHX-ONGluDqbawl4BYruGjo6GjS148/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_rQdQA-sMMdaaeUwRaqwoz1SXvGG1ppNrR9ghlvV53f2Jpd3GDg9SpyOQzDifovh0aRJPtt7Hpr7AbaToegvVWXzw8Id6revbNI6WajIWYqFCPHX-ONGluDqbawl4BYruGjo6GjS148/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
The location is not that big, but there's a pleasant amount of hands-on stuff like this fitness device for overweight people. Of course, the game is only functionable if you use physical power... Well, who would have thought this concept would fail? *sarcasm*<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtPhyphenhyphenETdHCt30LgESmVFXaCwhZcoXClrPREg2oJNfrm40cPeJi5QyvV5Ep70iiKLwr-Z30S6RAgSgSxWe-Nw3l7VjLjU7ZgSeQqgTx_iKswHdsqcxXwbjgwA0m9GuMhj6b8u3iMWOel4/s1600/Fit_for_fun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtPhyphenhyphenETdHCt30LgESmVFXaCwhZcoXClrPREg2oJNfrm40cPeJi5QyvV5Ep70iiKLwr-Z30S6RAgSgSxWe-Nw3l7VjLjU7ZgSeQqgTx_iKswHdsqcxXwbjgwA0m9GuMhj6b8u3iMWOel4/s1600/Fit_for_fun.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You can meet a few old friends here, too, and see how they changed in the course of time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBs9b1vG7p4_1U5L-Ck3PRd0H1sH55TPzvwu7JVyz1RTHlnnWJJges31rRLG3URLWKzWObrGrwdalIkoPeyAnzb3yHUCRKGfF-nO3i-gbc9BSA5ax-FqEKvSCroh6oeLRK1lMjzutBHIw/s1600/Mario_damals_u_heute.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBs9b1vG7p4_1U5L-Ck3PRd0H1sH55TPzvwu7JVyz1RTHlnnWJJges31rRLG3URLWKzWObrGrwdalIkoPeyAnzb3yHUCRKGfF-nO3i-gbc9BSA5ax-FqEKvSCroh6oeLRK1lMjzutBHIw/s1600/Mario_damals_u_heute.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And -wait a minute- there was a time where you weren't able to just download a game via wi-fi or so onto your cell phone or play online?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEZ4lgAI3hYtakvcceTja5tqOOXJflRqZNwMPbrW7ka3ZopbgLz9zmZO6n3BOkb55UfytMJ7ZVX2YJJFjJivlJYuJrhmVB5V8QW98tgGhP83qdG1fboL7ayLa1D4RqZz3SCgevFKJoYM/s1600/geliebte_Datentr%C3%A4ger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEZ4lgAI3hYtakvcceTja5tqOOXJflRqZNwMPbrW7ka3ZopbgLz9zmZO6n3BOkb55UfytMJ7ZVX2YJJFjJivlJYuJrhmVB5V8QW98tgGhP83qdG1fboL7ayLa1D4RqZz3SCgevFKJoYM/s1600/geliebte_Datentr%C3%A4ger.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
WHY on earth would I want to play a game called "water-mains burst" (Wasserrohrbruch)?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWU02b7qpcZ-7cXU8prGk7jCc9RvOSeq1xhao73qodclv9-drIUVfmp-lVvS8AsmEukToclIsgnZzcpYqvsjuaO_uYAMcQTUDXTINlzDdGvNMTwmWyM8KbT1JrPJ1pbCunK4IY_S7MmY/s1600/Spiel_Wasserrohrbruch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWU02b7qpcZ-7cXU8prGk7jCc9RvOSeq1xhao73qodclv9-drIUVfmp-lVvS8AsmEukToclIsgnZzcpYqvsjuaO_uYAMcQTUDXTINlzDdGvNMTwmWyM8KbT1JrPJ1pbCunK4IY_S7MmY/s1600/Spiel_Wasserrohrbruch.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And this is pre-historic. Horrible graphics don't even exist here and I would have to think as if I were playing chess!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFZI97JTWqtgRk0QS0fQ_dsAsINWnSvHKh_xI1Jwnry4EFYomMrBKaAMuhozTETj7ojvhtC9_SDdvOcWcrmo9yw4GhXi94EUw1sBrzTK-kD3uSKSVnI1tWkg9DNsgXJMZemcKaBdK8Mg/s1600/Denk_mit-Spiel_Eishockey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiFZI97JTWqtgRk0QS0fQ_dsAsINWnSvHKh_xI1Jwnry4EFYomMrBKaAMuhozTETj7ojvhtC9_SDdvOcWcrmo9yw4GhXi94EUw1sBrzTK-kD3uSKSVnI1tWkg9DNsgXJMZemcKaBdK8Mg/s1600/Denk_mit-Spiel_Eishockey.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDTQ-tBv2dKVnu82R581JUIsvXAAZ_OVzGved5LYjBbEkhbF8ESSJyYd6xuOw9Ct9YF5no33WlhkPkFN_1ivlDrS1d0mpIgVNLi1jbfbhj1wFeCr5H5m_Jk5SgF3mYLh049EADZuQk4k/s1600/Denk_mit-Spiel_TEXT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDTQ-tBv2dKVnu82R581JUIsvXAAZ_OVzGved5LYjBbEkhbF8ESSJyYd6xuOw9Ct9YF5no33WlhkPkFN_1ivlDrS1d0mpIgVNLi1jbfbhj1wFeCr5H5m_Jk5SgF3mYLh049EADZuQk4k/s1600/Denk_mit-Spiel_TEXT.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
(Unbelievably striking, the German "Democratic" Republic (DDR) wanted their kids to learn "the important basics of computer engineering"!)<br />
<br />
Aw, it gets even worse: this is like playing a board game! *shocked cry*<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4K5irf_AmfpVlm65LCQnFFQB5QJZsxcD6JxAnoP4JmS0fHkpJZad1kV13885Jkgnpaq0T8zXkf2TkvOmR3UNSVr8ibHU_4wAQOd2-XZXfpCqJKPoSwAsiZdROI9mmQdOYLa-o1rwFMM/s1600/Kriegsspiel_1.0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4K5irf_AmfpVlm65LCQnFFQB5QJZsxcD6JxAnoP4JmS0fHkpJZad1kV13885Jkgnpaq0T8zXkf2TkvOmR3UNSVr8ibHU_4wAQOd2-XZXfpCqJKPoSwAsiZdROI9mmQdOYLa-o1rwFMM/s1600/Kriegsspiel_1.0.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGpPdalQtRKCrAG5WkXjhrV5psxlgdP3XNMNOUjqd-gcLH_zPZXFR0C2roNZS61in2RBCB80f1Xeud34SVtJAp60aLzPSL2VRNUoGTeEY0kRPGluf1wFDah1X97cc7JRfXmiuDzm69d4/s1600/Kriegsspiel_1.0_TEXT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGpPdalQtRKCrAG5WkXjhrV5psxlgdP3XNMNOUjqd-gcLH_zPZXFR0C2roNZS61in2RBCB80f1Xeud34SVtJAp60aLzPSL2VRNUoGTeEY0kRPGluf1wFDah1X97cc7JRfXmiuDzm69d4/s1600/Kriegsspiel_1.0_TEXT.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Well, after or before such puzzling input one can simply stroll through the streets thinking about a good souvenir to purchase when suddently weird or funny things happen...</b><br />
<br />
Lets start with the nice encouters:<br />
You can find all sorts of colourful bears in different poses, which are <b>sisters and brothers of the city's logo </b>and owned by hotels or companies (I call it the Teddyparade though they are scattered all over the place). Unfortunately, the one belonging to our Best Western is hidden behind a building-site fence, but this one here even tells you where you are.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEfwGfnf7BGM7dRtd3mHlh7YQi8xBawtvhlOKmumu-CzoSwejmiDdsnv5NGg3GHWYmgZ3Vy5NrtirUNdhb6OkArjUAvuJVXYObxugMMSv4vSB1mND49N0MFlbfjXd_xUaMRj55lr_g9g/s1600/Teddyparade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEfwGfnf7BGM7dRtd3mHlh7YQi8xBawtvhlOKmumu-CzoSwejmiDdsnv5NGg3GHWYmgZ3Vy5NrtirUNdhb6OkArjUAvuJVXYObxugMMSv4vSB1mND49N0MFlbfjXd_xUaMRj55lr_g9g/s1600/Teddyparade.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
<br />
You can eat at food stalls with funny names. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEy6gbi-4ZZ_AJmugYPPcF0eH9NPR-W0lopDwq6lrvyOlk-MHn9H3qoTx4XToKTbQlfUh9Z5GF8cvzo6QjBWGzkeSa6NiupjuoKufQNkpMnLdFpW3SV1FbJX3ejH2HOt5FSQ8KTEmB2s/s1600/WURST-Bude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAEy6gbi-4ZZ_AJmugYPPcF0eH9NPR-W0lopDwq6lrvyOlk-MHn9H3qoTx4XToKTbQlfUh9Z5GF8cvzo6QjBWGzkeSa6NiupjuoKufQNkpMnLdFpW3SV1FbJX3ejH2HOt5FSQ8KTEmB2s/s1600/WURST-Bude.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You can discover very fancy <b>shopping malls</b>...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQWWxLOYlot_oKF5-FWfrbyTMVwnxGn1pI3lwuEl8O7SbV9tt4uymBuF5enLzsicTNSPtEoaASy6Ch_iYJbs3V5BwSzyK2r9rkP0Z1khI6ER-EOibDAafEssGt4U6ZiFeldF_uCCx3RE/s1600/Einkaufscenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQWWxLOYlot_oKF5-FWfrbyTMVwnxGn1pI3lwuEl8O7SbV9tt4uymBuF5enLzsicTNSPtEoaASy6Ch_iYJbs3V5BwSzyK2r9rkP0Z1khI6ER-EOibDAafEssGt4U6ZiFeldF_uCCx3RE/s1600/Einkaufscenter.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
with pieces of art (I think there are special guided tours you can book...)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2DRaMy0zJRCmQm-4Co7zTU5ABLG0Xz06kfUyB1WGtINnOXcotIxPs3RTdU0kC-fLm2-CjHy9Q4JtYsnCbewolnQsS6ijSOytWiwqod9NUb8So0WjsPc0lJlFTF7NXbxOQLvlTHhgu-8/s1600/Einkaufscenter_bunter_Schrottturm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2DRaMy0zJRCmQm-4Co7zTU5ABLG0Xz06kfUyB1WGtINnOXcotIxPs3RTdU0kC-fLm2-CjHy9Q4JtYsnCbewolnQsS6ijSOytWiwqod9NUb8So0WjsPc0lJlFTF7NXbxOQLvlTHhgu-8/s1600/Einkaufscenter_bunter_Schrottturm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
...and fantastic shops for families (toys, etc.).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhUaWvw4Flw5v5dTLXNrjIjC_rBPyUThtZW_ftPR8Nu4TVWm-JxKinW4XAXUBTLZLFDLcCqVIEENsZYcpGdh9LRSAHMAE_WOxI_CvG858x1jSUSqvX7V1qW4bHqdkud8E-VxwzJAvjMg/s1600/Einkaufscenter-Spielegeschaeft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhUaWvw4Flw5v5dTLXNrjIjC_rBPyUThtZW_ftPR8Nu4TVWm-JxKinW4XAXUBTLZLFDLcCqVIEENsZYcpGdh9LRSAHMAE_WOxI_CvG858x1jSUSqvX7V1qW4bHqdkud8E-VxwzJAvjMg/s1600/Einkaufscenter-Spielegeschaeft.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>OR</b> you have a look into the impressive <b>lobbies of famous hotels</b> where many important people from the past and today stayed while visiting, like the Adlon and the Westin Grand hotel (photo).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIeLbR3oSooQWQvTXQpHeENdXHP3p32OkePAgglXYueTYiBUbJvtn0PZKsaIqj7MMvGVwbqfJ7oS5pINUvgF_-qKd83rDt1tsCFp0-YVzj0WTqh1EvVf6LZdOrhwCA1q9ZQPOaOnERwY/s1600/Westin+Grand+Hotel_Lobby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIeLbR3oSooQWQvTXQpHeENdXHP3p32OkePAgglXYueTYiBUbJvtn0PZKsaIqj7MMvGVwbqfJ7oS5pINUvgF_-qKd83rDt1tsCFp0-YVzj0WTqh1EvVf6LZdOrhwCA1q9ZQPOaOnERwY/s1600/Westin+Grand+Hotel_Lobby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>In contrast to this</b>, Berlin, like every big city, has less appealing and even dirty parts and the huge pigeon population, for example, doesn't help to keep the buildings, monuments and bridges clean either. Furthermore, you meet all types of crazy and plain weird people or sometimes items they've left behind...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LQQnJ5h2Ak2RtjPWphSU55LsTVgv_0VnHcwKUbsWalqJK2cvtFK3vbICmoUlt3z07mbTIfgrhz5D1p34LZ8BbRUy3nXpKKo7dvR5gu8Kt4upCbaS_dIull8HfCRs5OsXXAHQF87kKU4/s1600/Skurril_dreckige_Unterhose_vor_Briefmarkengeschaeft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LQQnJ5h2Ak2RtjPWphSU55LsTVgv_0VnHcwKUbsWalqJK2cvtFK3vbICmoUlt3z07mbTIfgrhz5D1p34LZ8BbRUy3nXpKKo7dvR5gu8Kt4upCbaS_dIull8HfCRs5OsXXAHQF87kKU4/s1600/Skurril_dreckige_Unterhose_vor_Briefmarkengeschaeft.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
This is a dirty panty laying infront of a shop which sells stamps to collectors and this scenery matches the suggestive German pick-up line: "May I show you my stamp collection?" <b>-ew D:</b><br />
<br />
Well, I guess this could have happened almost everywhere and if you aren't an European tourist there are obviously many other <b>peculiarities which require a specific level of open-mindedness</b>, for example, naked statues with lifelike genitals and lascivious ads in public. So, what I want to say is that if you really want to extend your perspective, make new experiences and see something different Berlin is definitely the place to go to, because the nice stuff predominates <b>-just believe me :)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Bye-bye, goddess Victoria (Siegessäule)!</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuds8q4Bv03UJMwGFJGmzHXd40soIOkxbWerovzO5IhgmT6w5kQSqlMPZq5AO0ylAY8-ADIEeCPdEX_Wz6kIiQXjIKze2RM9DkpYfkhIgK5U620igyWvrR3PxBXLI2geN5GvGadTECJjQ/s1600/Aussicht_Siegessaeule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuds8q4Bv03UJMwGFJGmzHXd40soIOkxbWerovzO5IhgmT6w5kQSqlMPZq5AO0ylAY8-ADIEeCPdEX_Wz6kIiQXjIKze2RM9DkpYfkhIgK5U620igyWvrR3PxBXLI2geN5GvGadTECJjQ/s1600/Aussicht_Siegessaeule.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>(P.S.:</b> Black Eyed Peas music album "the e.n.d." -the energy never dies<b>)</b>Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-64316462391813425882013-07-04T13:58:00.002+02:002013-07-15T09:46:10.373+02:00Berlin-revisited: Palace Sans Souci and Gardens and the Reichstag (parliament building)<br />
Maybe you haven't been convinced yet to risk a trip to Germany's capital, though Berlin isn't only for people who want to experience this vibrant city. Despite my hay fever we jumped onto a subway, rode <b>20 minutes out of town</b> heading south and *bang* arrived in <b>Potsdam</b>, where we rented bikes (nextbike.de). It's just a 5 minute bicycle tour to the huge <b>royal gardens and palaises of San Souci!</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZ475tXl-i1GhtH9v0w4Hhwh2AUNVbw2HdOm0o-aAshjkKYWTxMhK-1AEOznCwJ3Fm6GZJ38JSrVdeekyFqf2a8Q53-8LTbbYELdHX2hV0Oj4PtZIxEoIdovGaBtyVS8gIinmf_oCBcQ/s1600/Fahrt_durchs_Gruene_ICH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZ475tXl-i1GhtH9v0w4Hhwh2AUNVbw2HdOm0o-aAshjkKYWTxMhK-1AEOznCwJ3Fm6GZJ38JSrVdeekyFqf2a8Q53-8LTbbYELdHX2hV0Oj4PtZIxEoIdovGaBtyVS8gIinmf_oCBcQ/s400/Fahrt_durchs_Gruene_ICH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl4XAjFf09X080VYZbyZDIbYIElw8tqtNDRXVfVYsxf-huh9ByIom0Uprc1UjJsmcyTzw4RgLeTuKCJ3Oo8WRs4xCBKOGHqTQM4eS7tX5gYKkgNQRctxp95QDLzwYtWes3kDWqaGA5IM/s1600/Garten_vor_Schloss_Sans+Souci.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl4XAjFf09X080VYZbyZDIbYIElw8tqtNDRXVfVYsxf-huh9ByIom0Uprc1UjJsmcyTzw4RgLeTuKCJ3Oo8WRs4xCBKOGHqTQM4eS7tX5gYKkgNQRctxp95QDLzwYtWes3kDWqaGA5IM/s400/Garten_vor_Schloss_Sans+Souci.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i3_odo6nVjLjJFI1peinqj4oLgf1gottnznyhHB4OiFsePdUZQZBcxFCWFYXoDa4IxUaHy62jRDrG0VGJWTal5cq4AJpeWLEl0cz-CwAdvQB32Uno54zwrhReW_zpCzvVSSTQhloqj0/s1600/Neues+Palais_II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8i3_odo6nVjLjJFI1peinqj4oLgf1gottnznyhHB4OiFsePdUZQZBcxFCWFYXoDa4IxUaHy62jRDrG0VGJWTal5cq4AJpeWLEl0cz-CwAdvQB32Uno54zwrhReW_zpCzvVSSTQhloqj0/s400/Neues+Palais_II.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Neuer Palast </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeiw4d6_hmfOuEGMl95mdKOkwqkARzBx5xheJpSOvOq9Y7DI5NxQDRe1hxVbiWJBVykcsoZUNEty6CrFfE_Hg74RXkIinhQz7vGR8wXRQ6W-DOWKPrYkjVeXNIyMHRz4GlVsps4XmzAU/s1600/Normannischer_Turm_LIVE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeiw4d6_hmfOuEGMl95mdKOkwqkARzBx5xheJpSOvOq9Y7DI5NxQDRe1hxVbiWJBVykcsoZUNEty6CrFfE_Hg74RXkIinhQz7vGR8wXRQ6W-DOWKPrYkjVeXNIyMHRz4GlVsps4XmzAU/s400/Normannischer_Turm_LIVE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Normannischer Turm</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I guess you have noticed by now that this former royal property is a very big area, so I highly recommend to go by bike and not just per pedes (by foot), if you're no fit hiker. (Several spread public toilets and one restaurant are provided)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
And don't forget to order the <b>local speciality</b> Berliner Weisse (beer brand) mit Waldmeister oder Himbeersirup (with sweet woodruff or raspberry sirup).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtrGxWyA2Oi4eccw4hstNU6H6XCmZ-hcI_Uq7mkLhcKHA-bmFFwn1E7C6OW4AimoS1sAWR5SGPJqZDCshGlyJuVa1uEDx8HPde0UCTVu9cVSZTLpO32KCtvJZoCWPRFfDwrhWpwp8Om8/s410/Berliner_Weisse_rot_u_gruen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtrGxWyA2Oi4eccw4hstNU6H6XCmZ-hcI_Uq7mkLhcKHA-bmFFwn1E7C6OW4AimoS1sAWR5SGPJqZDCshGlyJuVa1uEDx8HPde0UCTVu9cVSZTLpO32KCtvJZoCWPRFfDwrhWpwp8Om8/s400/Berliner_Weisse_rot_u_gruen.jpg" width="378" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course the quite <b>new and walk-on-able cupola or dome of the Reichstag</b> is a very well worth seeing sight, though it needs a bit planning. The access is only provided if you register for a visit (at least 3days ahead, online) and there are security checks like the ones at airports, but you get a beautiful <b>360° view</b> apon the city and much information via <b>self-guided audio tour</b> if you like (Other guided tours can be booked in addition).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluTUUZ_a9LJdd3_eE8OZoFUIMINJyx2vb_K7YuzquPZYWHx9VdTiZuCq8aVx5Ules0kBI4y2R6NNKvEPeZc533xNgsbJ5Itpq7jadUq1Wz_JYec11YKKhyXu032GYa8hQxwxntmdeydU/s1600/Grillen_verboten_Reichstag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluTUUZ_a9LJdd3_eE8OZoFUIMINJyx2vb_K7YuzquPZYWHx9VdTiZuCq8aVx5Ules0kBI4y2R6NNKvEPeZc533xNgsbJ5Itpq7jadUq1Wz_JYec11YKKhyXu032GYa8hQxwxntmdeydU/s400/Grillen_verboten_Reichstag.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXfXI_sL8rXRIidoH5vhDNqDUY1HqVKR0K0S5cmhkW_e6NzCiP8QjFalPhC2Qhho35QZhp242zSIz25M9owzXj0UN5i9iXHnHT-aqpBnsAaqBjuLhf36QYC5LGvMcscqBm1uhPNWFJrc/s1600/Reichstagkuppel_von_innen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXfXI_sL8rXRIidoH5vhDNqDUY1HqVKR0K0S5cmhkW_e6NzCiP8QjFalPhC2Qhho35QZhp242zSIz25M9owzXj0UN5i9iXHnHT-aqpBnsAaqBjuLhf36QYC5LGvMcscqBm1uhPNWFJrc/s400/Reichstagkuppel_von_innen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF-3cqCxl5pNISXBR8X8ZPlBzzjZFKYoDkyUr9DiYOlA1LTMURZjFxqzjsnzl4_HYUqkMq9UOxoXf-h0b6jKbeW43KVCqb6yYndcEFf34Hs43PfnBrsp1wAGASiaIPkrHTFb2b7rD5LM/s1600/Reichstag_mit_Armin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF-3cqCxl5pNISXBR8X8ZPlBzzjZFKYoDkyUr9DiYOlA1LTMURZjFxqzjsnzl4_HYUqkMq9UOxoXf-h0b6jKbeW43KVCqb6yYndcEFf34Hs43PfnBrsp1wAGASiaIPkrHTFb2b7rD5LM/s400/Reichstag_mit_Armin.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qfVVSca4B9D5z0bxEIOM9JXwvSkYdC9ysdVky0O239BG7dOddUXrp2PyOUticI5NQi1cQcO460GMBDWeRMTk7dh3A_KQO9WZD4LEea4OqCYBs0y4WZKEdax0OZuIqlNwURuyQHL8WBs/s1600/Reichstagkuppel_oben.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qfVVSca4B9D5z0bxEIOM9JXwvSkYdC9ysdVky0O239BG7dOddUXrp2PyOUticI5NQi1cQcO460GMBDWeRMTk7dh3A_KQO9WZD4LEea4OqCYBs0y4WZKEdax0OZuIqlNwURuyQHL8WBs/s400/Reichstagkuppel_oben.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hg6r1i5583ezoV8CnhSmxqXdnu6EtSjYTTsMzHoxzju79q42ocUpjFLWpVotFxijrALKus89xkhhItM1DsmB5DyTnj2ijuO2uVN8do4UXSmlcRzwdktb7tLGstM1EXHNS35wJ8tGZsg/s1600/Reichstagkuppel_komplett_oben.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hg6r1i5583ezoV8CnhSmxqXdnu6EtSjYTTsMzHoxzju79q42ocUpjFLWpVotFxijrALKus89xkhhItM1DsmB5DyTnj2ijuO2uVN8do4UXSmlcRzwdktb7tLGstM1EXHNS35wJ8tGZsg/s400/Reichstagkuppel_komplett_oben.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Reichstag is only a few foot steps away from this famous archway: das <b>Brandenburger Tor</b>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSII7CDXrnJV7ehciIUpJ-AuKJn38KMm7ZuovbjYWbg_ztZE2B58raOcukAJ1NK-iHXAFYluUN907oXqJKg48Zjj8vJwjTtb6HIfiwJstbN6Tdt6N4MJSmCYGYc0rSxRMeH-7zCINZCQ/s1600/BrandenburgerTor_mit_mir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSII7CDXrnJV7ehciIUpJ-AuKJn38KMm7ZuovbjYWbg_ztZE2B58raOcukAJ1NK-iHXAFYluUN907oXqJKg48Zjj8vJwjTtb6HIfiwJstbN6Tdt6N4MJSmCYGYc0rSxRMeH-7zCINZCQ/s400/BrandenburgerTor_mit_mir.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
And believe it or not: It was even famous before <b>Barack Obahma</b> (finally) visited us in June 2013<b> ;)</b><br />
<br />
If you're hungry simply eat at this food stall directly located between these two sights and order: WURST (sausage)!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiWEwvuwfoQL7fUui15o5crnreXdK7qjd_IPHC3-j4F5IkAec7yHm7zooCq5ySsRlF64TjDYGAdme4ZsF6yB2U9JU5Zaah-fxPLrHRwYswIFQjBAnDdrb_2XT1bKUaa_j9UZeFDXGUbY/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiWEwvuwfoQL7fUui15o5crnreXdK7qjd_IPHC3-j4F5IkAec7yHm7zooCq5ySsRlF64TjDYGAdme4ZsF6yB2U9JU5Zaah-fxPLrHRwYswIFQjBAnDdrb_2XT1bKUaa_j9UZeFDXGUbY/s400/DSC_0060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>NEXT Posting:</b> Popular culture and funny occurences (spotting bears, computer museum, fund items)</div>
Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-13355077416250320912013-05-09T13:08:00.001+02:002013-05-16T22:58:17.306+02:00Berlin: revisited -2-One of the modern sights to see is the <b>SONY Centre</b> which was built at the beginning of the millenium, with its astonishing roof construction.View from the atrium (interal courtyard):<br />
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zz-6THArueEU4GBhQc7BAk1uAIKsilebTqP_gHJDAASWD_3dlYDPKs44ox3DomjmyIW4Vh4tstpj7eVZQ3qhFTKzEzjuinTYvDcTQ4ZN77tK1KKrOgvk-5ubdRXBvc3nNzXVMVhywg/s320/Sony_Center_DACH.jpg" width="240" /><br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXaygmfCMp5RtpG2q70oHKKfKBabU9RzcwLZTnS6s5-0aBtXoQOohV87X0J57H1yRA_68kmos8HYUHbQDM0kXfM9dJxzfVIlQAocXaUQmBJf1n8Rz5mgAg87OB4UuT1cN_WLu7Rmk0g/s320/Sony_Center_Innenhof.jpg" width="320" /> <br />
The location is quite similar to a mall with its own movie theater/ cinema.<br />
<br />
And the view from a neighbouring building which attracts tourist with its <b>beautiful panoramic view</b> apon some sights:<br />
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHI9wLUib3iu4yt63HUA38mQaY-wVqp1njecAsFCMKSw84hJ5kgDKzkYF18YG-NO22WCHwYgJcrictmrALoVvJLKzh5wtePbx6Vj_8K3rx6v1ryy6TBgxabtUTGiZQy6nmy5JoSHfbA/s320/Aussicht_Sony-C_Tiergarten_schwangere-Auster.jpg" width="320" /><br />
Zooming in one can see <b>das Haus der Kulturen</b> (House of cultures) on 1 o'clock. It's also called 'pregnant oyster' for its outer appereance <b>:)</b><br />
All that green around it belongs to the <b>Tiergarten</b>, which only partly is a zoo. The rest is a conventional park.<br />
<br />
<br />
The next sight did not even exist when we first visited Berlin: das <b>Holocaust Mahnmal</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust_Memorial,_Berlin" target="_blank">the Holocaust Memorial</a>).<br />
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddgAmu0aVi_RoD37jGeGOQnUExdCudxYUXPAWd5A745QC_9TqawJPP7N3Yw0DqLjsJbX6pf5sgc_Ldm6KayY6onIS_2bVZayZUlUborzRqEeJnTfyJKVvwf-hi37Tvet3H1181i35pA/s320/Ged%C3%A4chnis_Denkmal.jpg" width="320" /><br />
Build in 2005, it consists of 2700 concrete stele which vary in their hights and lenghts and form some kind of grid. You can walk through but guards prefent youngsters (visiting school classes, for example) from climbing on top of these...<br />
<br />
<br />
Not so far from this sight one can get an impression of <b>Die Mauer</b> (the great Berlin wall) which divided the city and the whole country for almost 30 years!<br />
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7IO9rn0wm0mfQPxRCaYE2U9rCzzw2UUp2-JXrFSjxsCbqKWR3Z9HzNTzbAjmhW4txit0jeBY-MKHhnKfz6pp3DskQJzcm4oHIJIMM5U_aMn3bhvpw4vNIQPdFb_kgRrjNsZLEn4wVg/s320/MAUER.jpg" width="320" /> <br />
It was not that thick but by its height (3 meters plus barbed wire) it was a very impressive barrier and GDR (German Democratic(!) Republic) sentinels had the order to shoot people who wanted to flee to West Germany.<br />
<br />
<br />
On our way to the next subway station we past the <b>Trabi Museum</b>. Unfortunately, it had already been closed for that Sunday afternoon. It was the standard car in the GDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) and some people had to wait over ten years until their car was delivered (communism).<br />
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVuYhSPYitOUYIrcL_BO4AYAOEG_OXpJhlEMgDFPCZQ7JkStXmBYz0zRPiYpR118pIuHZdlKBFVv-hwnGznCyGYezC0M6pGCR7DYVhNeFdawh1WhxiCA9ygwZMe67iN9pJtE9z4M20A/s320/Trabi_Museum.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<br />
Heading back to the hotel, we bought some greeting cards to send home and entered the subway next to <b>Checkpoint Charlie</b>, the best-known legal crossing point between the GDR (Soviet Union) and West Germany (Western Allies). As you can see there's still some spectacle for the tourists. I bet the Mauermuseum directly beside it, has something to do with it <b>:)</b><br />
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31Ky47xhm6QJ1uwM66-y30Hs6153LtJs9xymNn-hDBqhIV2ZTEmv1YgEiY3YIyt89TprJxbZOOhFQPejjE4L9zYfuqyc2ptnEejGwBzhkOprwT27yZz9YVNYtW7Fz_xkPlKBuJCTjcw/s320/Checkpoint_Charlie_zensiert.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<b>Next posting:</b> <i><span style="color: blue;">Schloss Sans Souci by bike and the parliament building (Reichstag)</span></i>Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-46877099497069125302013-05-05T22:06:00.000+02:002013-05-05T22:09:51.858+02:00Berlin: revisited<span style="color: blue;">Berlin is not only the 'new' <b>capital</b> of Germany, it's also our <b>international Hollywood</b>. Famous actors and musicians visit or work regularly in Berlin. I recently read that our well-known director Wim Wenders has shot an ice-cream commercial with Liv Taylor (The Lord Of The Ring) here! Though the city has much more to offer than the possibility of meeting music or movie idols. That's why I was so excited to go there for three days after not visiting for 8 years, and this trip started really different than the last one aswell.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYJzrNovD8sdtoNtjH5o7LrEXXWEhGSgg672Q_TOWrK7PUISaUvP9Pz1gxU98Nz13wBXCszrGDfLqzg-a7Hl1ti9rsstqpYSg5Vt9jRdseyDGt53K6cHYTP8Z_ikIznmQ2bgNPW_APA/s1600/Reisef%C3%BChrer.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYJzrNovD8sdtoNtjH5o7LrEXXWEhGSgg672Q_TOWrK7PUISaUvP9Pz1gxU98Nz13wBXCszrGDfLqzg-a7Hl1ti9rsstqpYSg5Vt9jRdseyDGt53K6cHYTP8Z_ikIznmQ2bgNPW_APA/s320/Reisef%C3%BChrer.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;">Back then we had travelled the <b>600 Km</b> by car, which of course took about 7 hours, making only 1-2 short breaks. We must have been lucky with no traffic jams caused by road works on the Autobahn (highway), too. However, this time we went by the fastest train we have, the <b>ICE</b>, which depending on the track section reaches up to a speed of 300 km/h(our). Okay, our internet connection wasn't the best but I think that it's generally a more relaxing way to travel longer distances. You don't have to concentrate on traffic, you can just lean back to read or to take a nap and the direct ICE connection took us there in only 4 hours! Despite of that, you don't need a car in the city, just take a taxi ride, go by bus or use the <b>subway</b> (U-Bahn).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKs6XMI3FVywPF6ET7JtQ382Zk0yTFjJbgsh8iNMBxynOPsmLRZTinA66iLY-uubLwd2SakPkFOEZAVNdx5TxmYWztQU0_XhXO8j9GFwmuyEza4yfZYAhZ1KtcU-YbytF1xay04H8qhA/s1600/Wittenbergplatz.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKs6XMI3FVywPF6ET7JtQ382Zk0yTFjJbgsh8iNMBxynOPsmLRZTinA66iLY-uubLwd2SakPkFOEZAVNdx5TxmYWztQU0_XhXO8j9GFwmuyEza4yfZYAhZ1KtcU-YbytF1xay04H8qhA/s320/Wittenbergplatz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;">We walked approximately 200 meters from the station to our residence, a Best Western Hotel near the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens), which is a maintainable distance in my opinion, and if you want to see all the monuments, museums and parks your going to be on your feet the whole day anyway.<b> :)</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>NEXT posting:</b> On our way through the city: <b>architectur, monuments and curiosities</b> like fancy Trabbis (standard car of the DDR, Deutsch Demokratische Republik, 1949 until 1990)</span><br />
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmTvSZbYbmbRuyAoU17H_F6acFJezabFLYg6dg69kbSAJPeRs7tn6R0QdfVJy6dhGWilvQ7A6C4Xz2sYHFJj5oOBnDrzOrPVWnyNm4zNz8pCR6d0MsPBAn1P2Qx5CA5RRTNHxuqXvYw/s320/Teddyparade.jpg" width="258" />Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-84787995515340218802013-04-27T17:25:00.000+02:002013-05-04T14:58:43.746+02:00FLORIDA - See you later, Alligator! (The Everglades)Okay, so what have we learned so far? -The state Florida has got lovely beaches some with a Caribbean flair and others with a Springbreak atmosphere and we have been introduced to a few very special animals (manatee) and unique vegitation (mangroves).<br />
Today's posting deals with an interesting ecosystem and one of its most dangerous creatures. Most of you will know them from horrormovies: the Everglades and the American Alligator. The first are two huge national park-like areas called Wildlife Management Area and Water Conservation Area. If you zoom in on these parts in the lowest/last third of the state you can get an impression of the brown-green marbled landscape. To explore the territory beside the scattered roads one needs some kind of boat and as a tourist going on an airboat tour seems to be a good idea, so we did it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t6Lg0M-V7uIS_fA86mHpW3o1XzRxi3tuJ3a6vWlL4J7QCMATCggNE_UCdyu-ecBQJeyZa3bLKT2lOfmA9MX_KHRdvWvINO1dOpFvPszYxpR8qL73wmCmQolCmXLqEtsFfcec4x6_3Zs/s1600/Everglades-Mosquitos-Skala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t6Lg0M-V7uIS_fA86mHpW3o1XzRxi3tuJ3a6vWlL4J7QCMATCggNE_UCdyu-ecBQJeyZa3bLKT2lOfmA9MX_KHRdvWvINO1dOpFvPszYxpR8qL73wmCmQolCmXLqEtsFfcec4x6_3Zs/s400/Everglades-Mosquitos-Skala.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
In the company's office and shop which offers such tours, we see this funny mosquito scale. Luckily today's expected collective attack by these blood sucking insects is rather low. Though one can buy anti-mosquito-spray here and apply before entering the wilderness, if advisable (>4).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0iBLmPOCRuWLUonpyx4mf97uy1XFTi0W7WvLkZHxZ_6p_SebNwql8XPmf6EO1CSIKRMQytQfq87gMNUIgzlO-E04Z5gejDGRcHXghjx9xcmuNJizei0RrGMMw78sWfNQHZBTmB8gkbg/s1600/Everglades-Airboats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0iBLmPOCRuWLUonpyx4mf97uy1XFTi0W7WvLkZHxZ_6p_SebNwql8XPmf6EO1CSIKRMQytQfq87gMNUIgzlO-E04Z5gejDGRcHXghjx9xcmuNJizei0RrGMMw78sWfNQHZBTmB8gkbg/s400/Everglades-Airboats.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Being placed in these airboates and equiped with hearing protection a driver who knows the area as good as his own vest pocket, maneuvers us safely through the water labyrinth. His slides over muddy parts of the shallow water entertains quite well, when the alligators hid themselves. We only see one small sized reptile in some distance, escaping from us. But if you think about it, it's very plausible, because the ear-deafening engine of the airboat is just too loud... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZKaPyAuugM6khOibKFs5opcPkzfYnS-iDdDXZumHDRu7iMiNKE51lEqaWzMOC4uN8qLyWNH8-i6ESMSlJY_cyTs24cMHezxBzbBMvQsBCf8uT36NA15TRqXlDkrFF7LG_Xe6EtfRS1w/s1600/Everglades-Aligators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZKaPyAuugM6khOibKFs5opcPkzfYnS-iDdDXZumHDRu7iMiNKE51lEqaWzMOC4uN8qLyWNH8-i6ESMSlJY_cyTs24cMHezxBzbBMvQsBCf8uT36NA15TRqXlDkrFF7LG_Xe6EtfRS1w/s400/Everglades-Aligators.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
On our way back home we don't take the highway and detect a large amount of alligators along the roads with irrigation channels for the fields next to them. It's dry season and the water level here is higher than in the open Everglades. <br />
<br />
So, if you really want to make sure to see some alligators you can also visit this miniature golf court near Fort Myers which attracks with its own baby allgators in cat size. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_be7pIib2wsJjVnmrV7be8ZMZB5DJFQrVyQzbmzupStmkMeZ0U4fn42tP7i4gwCzuvyy76d2EKY9M_D-ea9Kl8Q-Mg5RC60gE0eHYECIN_KtEPmsJzEbHjPbqbWgtXSqLWg_hw8KR3Y/s1600/Mini-Golf_Mini-Aligators.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_be7pIib2wsJjVnmrV7be8ZMZB5DJFQrVyQzbmzupStmkMeZ0U4fn42tP7i4gwCzuvyy76d2EKY9M_D-ea9Kl8Q-Mg5RC60gE0eHYECIN_KtEPmsJzEbHjPbqbWgtXSqLWg_hw8KR3Y/s400/Mini-Golf_Mini-Aligators.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Though the complex and visionary composition of the court was breath-taking enough for us as foreign tourists. None of us had seen such a splendid miniture golf court before.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkKMsUMNYKwwEoQ9qENB3iXUI4yRgk8Qq1frsrkzAjD-v_ubOH7GsfnCLJCpspg0Q_IA6-MILBDBKCye836nC3KuohUWW9BYn3xBz1vjc92BHZQ7Xp1AANCGD8BVQ9GV0uDgm5DMIc68/s1600/Mini-Golf_Gel%C3%A4nde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggkKMsUMNYKwwEoQ9qENB3iXUI4yRgk8Qq1frsrkzAjD-v_ubOH7GsfnCLJCpspg0Q_IA6-MILBDBKCye836nC3KuohUWW9BYn3xBz1vjc92BHZQ7Xp1AANCGD8BVQ9GV0uDgm5DMIc68/s400/Mini-Golf_Gel%C3%A4nde.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE2ocgp6-Ph8CPVGWTz7t20nrd_pGfhinr4cIjsZMweFuTTT2Ygeb533sId8yJNIT6j9M2fAhAhML-NuFj0-MGixf-wz3a4D8hdLCmiUyZZq20XQQioNy-AyglX6g50Y97GpxdXrlsz0/s1600/Mini-Golf_Ship+Canon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdE2ocgp6-Ph8CPVGWTz7t20nrd_pGfhinr4cIjsZMweFuTTT2Ygeb533sId8yJNIT6j9M2fAhAhML-NuFj0-MGixf-wz3a4D8hdLCmiUyZZq20XQQioNy-AyglX6g50Y97GpxdXrlsz0/s400/Mini-Golf_Ship+Canon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_UWtYQWbhf_KEATnPhyphenhyphenWENJMaKSfjLyhZiJXmt_HuYKteuzKv5mHuCvFiAgHgEV4weLI6umRWisQeo-FsWx3iIUyGFuy2STK2UbG6yRn3O07dtoLSdFObhquTHBrjYMUX3NzQbXESSo/s1600/Mini-Golf_Ship-sideview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_UWtYQWbhf_KEATnPhyphenhyphenWENJMaKSfjLyhZiJXmt_HuYKteuzKv5mHuCvFiAgHgEV4weLI6umRWisQeo-FsWx3iIUyGFuy2STK2UbG6yRn3O07dtoLSdFObhquTHBrjYMUX3NzQbXESSo/s400/Mini-Golf_Ship-sideview.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs1bxWHJtyrm0zNHdshCRAxAFf1yNW0TMEGeXMRgnLU10vQW-sfN_oK_XPkBBKkCa-UmJkDAa4zFUuvn7V85h8CP70nMKyFvFkLhByTloDxIFsmalinlD4CZVQF7-u8N0dhDVBb4Hqwo/s1600/Mini-Golf_Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTs1bxWHJtyrm0zNHdshCRAxAFf1yNW0TMEGeXMRgnLU10vQW-sfN_oK_XPkBBKkCa-UmJkDAa4zFUuvn7V85h8CP70nMKyFvFkLhByTloDxIFsmalinlD4CZVQF7-u8N0dhDVBb4Hqwo/s400/Mini-Golf_Sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GFFaJRMn_PdceFyBHAQdN3ge2_K9tUHyM25rwXh7vFKCv1M5j5lhAB1cooGiU4BZYgBIHizgmBrRuEMjKNiCaz-4-g85YLY06yIoWQEDFA60w8ZCsnfG-Lw6b6zvbNb-QhA_Z-0Pr4g/s1600/Mini-Golf_Cove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GFFaJRMn_PdceFyBHAQdN3ge2_K9tUHyM25rwXh7vFKCv1M5j5lhAB1cooGiU4BZYgBIHizgmBrRuEMjKNiCaz-4-g85YLY06yIoWQEDFA60w8ZCsnfG-Lw6b6zvbNb-QhA_Z-0Pr4g/s400/Mini-Golf_Cove.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl47_PgDS6xJ0IKSZe9j3a_zglTmb4wO2Mh_hilw2hCwaXIcnNbb6V5GEVJ3DGLanYXxFjWRFE_nd6A3rffPRzjq9ZHMm0IicgK3JPN2IfzIFk-pV6n6UIf9xXP9WWTS52NWkuKehO5_c/s1600/Mini-Golf_Wasserfall-Nah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl47_PgDS6xJ0IKSZe9j3a_zglTmb4wO2Mh_hilw2hCwaXIcnNbb6V5GEVJ3DGLanYXxFjWRFE_nd6A3rffPRzjq9ZHMm0IicgK3JPN2IfzIFk-pV6n6UIf9xXP9WWTS52NWkuKehO5_c/s400/Mini-Golf_Wasserfall-Nah.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGS-RkKTq6r9FiekHlIbz2Nea6-LwmEQALzsHM8LEHMFPV_Fxon2IMr8yVDkA0DIBFCicjPrjAIUCpn9cr2jWUivI-sljr4r9p0LLpngIvEdKXPBYaOlda_EvzpdZnJQ5cDlgGOPddPM/s1600/Mini-Golf_Wasserfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGS-RkKTq6r9FiekHlIbz2Nea6-LwmEQALzsHM8LEHMFPV_Fxon2IMr8yVDkA0DIBFCicjPrjAIUCpn9cr2jWUivI-sljr4r9p0LLpngIvEdKXPBYaOlda_EvzpdZnJQ5cDlgGOPddPM/s400/Mini-Golf_Wasserfall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmTckou3SGkT4EEfibHtoizZo0IOX0vgyH_c3D8hoShavc7Gmo_NJUPcW1CXK7v4XYTHvyFuqLQCrn7X2qlfj1qlMvzCpIviqflpcFJ9_bZGbKdLNEo9tvNhgQz1h0-PRJGvlHOLHO-A/s1600/Mini-Golf_Wasser+H%C3%BCtte-von-oben.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmTckou3SGkT4EEfibHtoizZo0IOX0vgyH_c3D8hoShavc7Gmo_NJUPcW1CXK7v4XYTHvyFuqLQCrn7X2qlfj1qlMvzCpIviqflpcFJ9_bZGbKdLNEo9tvNhgQz1h0-PRJGvlHOLHO-A/s400/Mini-Golf_Wasser+H%C3%BCtte-von-oben.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, as you know every journey comes to an end one day and so there's nothing left to say but:<br />
<b>"See you later Alligator!" - "In a while, Crocodile!" ;)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt3WEdneELqPPEaWfnRcXfmqjzBbr_UUfOtagygz0dzF1KcaWC0eUAu9bIOaD2AZjCONbg4dTG8LMc8BkyETwAKfeqZWDW2vtP1wnG3Cm7zK9FIDNGOGYn4OK8RMD7VYi2pdlOCZtd9k/s1600/Everglades-Aligator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXt3WEdneELqPPEaWfnRcXfmqjzBbr_UUfOtagygz0dzF1KcaWC0eUAu9bIOaD2AZjCONbg4dTG8LMc8BkyETwAKfeqZWDW2vtP1wnG3Cm7zK9FIDNGOGYn4OK8RMD7VYi2pdlOCZtd9k/s640/Everglades-Aligator.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
THE END</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(of the Florida Tour 2011)</div>
Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-5734465274832885162013-04-15T19:57:00.001+02:002013-04-27T15:37:25.761+02:00FLORIDA: Key West or 'the most southern point'If you take a look at a map you will notice that <b>Florida</b> is mostly shaped like a rectangle reaching down to the Caribbean and South America. Because of this unique shape it's also called 'the panhandle'-state. The United States of America end here with a line of small islands, the Keys, connected by the Oversea Highway and a few of them are so tiny that you can always see the waterfront. After we drove there by car we decided to change plans on the way and only made it to <b>Key Largo</b>, the first of the isles. Here are some impressions:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzHeGoVNcKOaF85pJCxUXbimyr2WXiS0ZUI0RehyDE6oijECcuRtH9f8dnyVyOtCWU_d9ezqficAgfY2DqKw_XnOCxEtkwK0En1Hc8cz_GVZcuJrs8zfOTrUzW0nZ6e-2NHni-wftRTA/s1600/Streetview_II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzHeGoVNcKOaF85pJCxUXbimyr2WXiS0ZUI0RehyDE6oijECcuRtH9f8dnyVyOtCWU_d9ezqficAgfY2DqKw_XnOCxEtkwK0En1Hc8cz_GVZcuJrs8zfOTrUzW0nZ6e-2NHni-wftRTA/s400/Streetview_II.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9bYZKc5wVc2pGQZozb7d0AAzizBqUGf6z-WpYGIal_x2qAtgyLdyZ7YYCeLtk-j_cwpECF6xGmfCTLfD8nOlKPY6xG9fezLnv6NE7sgJxHrMNUVUmLK1Iz5rJwUmvvzeOTFSsLgKigw/s1600/Streetview_Nice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9bYZKc5wVc2pGQZozb7d0AAzizBqUGf6z-WpYGIal_x2qAtgyLdyZ7YYCeLtk-j_cwpECF6xGmfCTLfD8nOlKPY6xG9fezLnv6NE7sgJxHrMNUVUmLK1Iz5rJwUmvvzeOTFSsLgKigw/s400/Streetview_Nice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_o7KOcuQKwaRyGY520u8iIcMltvtn3N4yLgEPte64uxDwp4_9g9BkH6zEiBOLQyb8sukGcjT7II3Yz14rjp_GpBsTSBqq95Om_tEyeSnTyyavjcv9JjqjY-BvE_oamjcIt1_VQkmFTY/s1600/VisitorCenter-KeyLargo-Route1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_o7KOcuQKwaRyGY520u8iIcMltvtn3N4yLgEPte64uxDwp4_9g9BkH6zEiBOLQyb8sukGcjT7II3Yz14rjp_GpBsTSBqq95Om_tEyeSnTyyavjcv9JjqjY-BvE_oamjcIt1_VQkmFTY/s400/VisitorCenter-KeyLargo-Route1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As we stopped at Key Largo's visitor center we discovered that there would have been 100 Miles more to go, which would have taken 2 hours. Though on our way to Miami and further north that day, we clinched to book a tour and <b>go by ferry</b> a couple of days later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_54xfpIEANyasT6EF0Do_jDM5u2-kcOLtiC41r0hhXU_xgdVoMbJaYXBGnabKMhJUX-dW6-t3Wfr4O1R_SsnEI-KoVPJwmMqSUZQJ8K4pKlr_-1_fSjJr3npBpY_hWPQiQNv_2rROAc/s1600/KeyWest-F%C3%A4hre-komplett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_54xfpIEANyasT6EF0Do_jDM5u2-kcOLtiC41r0hhXU_xgdVoMbJaYXBGnabKMhJUX-dW6-t3Wfr4O1R_SsnEI-KoVPJwmMqSUZQJ8K4pKlr_-1_fSjJr3npBpY_hWPQiQNv_2rROAc/s400/KeyWest-F%C3%A4hre-komplett.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The ferry needs 3 hours to get from Fort Myers, where we had our main residence, <b>to Key West</b>.<br />
It has some suites and tv screens on the inside, but you can sit or stand outside, too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_NkaOaPKIbKOhRjUlrMSvlrttJVPgW5Rmp5nsgliS2DThWnkyVW_mATwQzimLoNAqn9XjpDy2SN9LPqM9pZeWp_3HfWla_ge-sgw3zJSJcNOVys9Nijo2tCJQLpepqfAzWBSW0AGYn4/s1600/KeyWest-F%C3%A4hre-Blick-aufs-Wasser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_NkaOaPKIbKOhRjUlrMSvlrttJVPgW5Rmp5nsgliS2DThWnkyVW_mATwQzimLoNAqn9XjpDy2SN9LPqM9pZeWp_3HfWla_ge-sgw3zJSJcNOVys9Nijo2tCJQLpepqfAzWBSW0AGYn4/s400/KeyWest-F%C3%A4hre-Blick-aufs-Wasser.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT3JkcjS5qs41AD1DHZCdFemAToTcPbAV9DUHPdc_kDpbcSzTPCvO9vZqbysMcrbDROJOtv1JVKoAOtfzsh86CAa4w11ls2F8uc6C87jkxvlMMv5G9TRUIGMfmNvB1dJzscAM6fu73o0/s1600/KeyWest-F%C3%A4hre-Blick-aufs-Fahrwasser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJT3JkcjS5qs41AD1DHZCdFemAToTcPbAV9DUHPdc_kDpbcSzTPCvO9vZqbysMcrbDROJOtv1JVKoAOtfzsh86CAa4w11ls2F8uc6C87jkxvlMMv5G9TRUIGMfmNvB1dJzscAM6fu73o0/s400/KeyWest-F%C3%A4hre-Blick-aufs-Fahrwasser.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There is alot to see in the harbour...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYznmPb7IjMgD_gCMAF3iVz6exG20ORP8Mi2nTum2Lv55R8dqeLdMprwb7_zg32X01CUzxNmu6TymFDbOIoZIed-yGYrWvgFPcT7s80DDbpr6fqyI6CvmP3JGONAVf3WBrjHSlkQh-S0/s1600/KeyWest-Segelyacht.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYznmPb7IjMgD_gCMAF3iVz6exG20ORP8Mi2nTum2Lv55R8dqeLdMprwb7_zg32X01CUzxNmu6TymFDbOIoZIed-yGYrWvgFPcT7s80DDbpr6fqyI6CvmP3JGONAVf3WBrjHSlkQh-S0/s400/KeyWest-Segelyacht.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgwM-4iUHOa69SjSknimV2PDH_EjpL99FZpPY4H5JfELZZCHS0BPpGICpvW4pQgJoZRC0bpo6YvZYujz3H-pyIDGBPu8zSRgn_7EoO6qYSlIQdu0O2zqtG157J7cdAn2ty94w2qc1uIs/s1600/KeyWest-Katamaran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgwM-4iUHOa69SjSknimV2PDH_EjpL99FZpPY4H5JfELZZCHS0BPpGICpvW4pQgJoZRC0bpo6YvZYujz3H-pyIDGBPu8zSRgn_7EoO6qYSlIQdu0O2zqtG157J7cdAn2ty94w2qc1uIs/s400/KeyWest-Katamaran.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
<br />
and it's only one kilometer to the <b>city centre</b> and another one til 'the most southern point'.<br />
Though you can also take a ride on one of the fancy vehicles like a trishaw, for example.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbgoMJ1B_dUBSRLcXx-dYMStnR-5ezrSlxv7AxveXZyLAvg5BBredKB-Kn1pgy6vYFuoQ5MX9T0EEdV-wLdEUwSxqyb7hqCNF0ZlXf83Yr2GVAcALtEB_Ab_UfI6Oa9-XD-5hBykUr3A/s1600/KeyWest-Promenade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbgoMJ1B_dUBSRLcXx-dYMStnR-5ezrSlxv7AxveXZyLAvg5BBredKB-Kn1pgy6vYFuoQ5MX9T0EEdV-wLdEUwSxqyb7hqCNF0ZlXf83Yr2GVAcALtEB_Ab_UfI6Oa9-XD-5hBykUr3A/s400/KeyWest-Promenade.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ubEui7z3u7tYQNu8KJAYc2fPE5x2RXkPCl8bfU2xdaC_d65Nm1Xo4c0AG3DEZmrCWSorFsf1jqT-y9VNJPMaOoFjxJWyv1XP0ghvQikRgAnQhXwyJGo41CqL_LTqx3GTjuYzLR00uF0/s1600/KeyWest-Fortbewegungsmittel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ubEui7z3u7tYQNu8KJAYc2fPE5x2RXkPCl8bfU2xdaC_d65Nm1Xo4c0AG3DEZmrCWSorFsf1jqT-y9VNJPMaOoFjxJWyv1XP0ghvQikRgAnQhXwyJGo41CqL_LTqx3GTjuYzLR00uF0/s400/KeyWest-Fortbewegungsmittel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
To make this trip more relaxing one can also check into one of the hotels for a night or two...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4bmVn6tNx3g6WQYFXpB99V3nobM1CJoi3ZxMFSeXeuPnLn9l_rsgwpQjAFt8bntt5vKDGgf5T95uuMzDedhml2c-UFK3mLNCKVxbF9Gv9AoNkBtTUHKFLmRaMm84885aTtguoCCWf4M/s1600/KeyWest-Hotel-am-Wasser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4bmVn6tNx3g6WQYFXpB99V3nobM1CJoi3ZxMFSeXeuPnLn9l_rsgwpQjAFt8bntt5vKDGgf5T95uuMzDedhml2c-UFK3mLNCKVxbF9Gv9AoNkBtTUHKFLmRaMm84885aTtguoCCWf4M/s400/KeyWest-Hotel-am-Wasser.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
though unfortunately there is <b>no beach</b> <b>I could recommend</b>.<br />
<br />
All around the harbour the water is very clear and you can see the fish swimming around. Here it's a rather different picture: there are tons of grass or hay or something like that which even builds big piles and fills the air with a strange odour <b>:(</b> As friends come back here the following year they still can't find a better beach.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQN_Ee7FyE9N0u24LtTlUCO34pFJ3bVvnNnsdNuvF0ZaoBIDJWxsWkX0rV8Inb_PxSMEz2Rb0RgBpJum_TTin4NbxtXaMsrNKNzvwmEUPwjP8FS0GpUIfEFSlPN4vH92jUG7M-Q0eDvi4/s1600/KeyWest-Wasserqualit%C3%A4t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQN_Ee7FyE9N0u24LtTlUCO34pFJ3bVvnNnsdNuvF0ZaoBIDJWxsWkX0rV8Inb_PxSMEz2Rb0RgBpJum_TTin4NbxtXaMsrNKNzvwmEUPwjP8FS0GpUIfEFSlPN4vH92jUG7M-Q0eDvi4/s400/KeyWest-Wasserqualit%C3%A4t.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCqNbbKrQ8sP_CF5aFk6A46Yx7ThUUL9eMJZ2sZ7j1vRaEuf4nG5Bq6tYC5cabhJ9_OAvoueAW3GsuMHK_pvscLfTYGZQ7GG_iP5dy8AwGjXoJS195dLxw1KpHN913nFFCcrW3vEr-2s/s1600/KeyWest-Teint-to-go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCqNbbKrQ8sP_CF5aFk6A46Yx7ThUUL9eMJZ2sZ7j1vRaEuf4nG5Bq6tYC5cabhJ9_OAvoueAW3GsuMHK_pvscLfTYGZQ7GG_iP5dy8AwGjXoJS195dLxw1KpHN913nFFCcrW3vEr-2s/s400/KeyWest-Teint-to-go.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
Some young folk, maybe springbreakers, didn't care and just placed themselves on a concrete base.<br />
<br />
On our way to the lighthouse we passed the best house in town <b>;)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQq7p9qONN-kUfOgfCVt0bZJdkUTryMC07I9xqx76CFPqbYXrlsG4MjoPXbF0VAaUg02I8qjRXZ0JUg8WGoTq4kpoD8JoQh2c6swYRXOYxm3ixWmLCgFn57UIVpUdhRdDMVLa-8wZgKU/s1600/KeyWest-best-house-in-town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQq7p9qONN-kUfOgfCVt0bZJdkUTryMC07I9xqx76CFPqbYXrlsG4MjoPXbF0VAaUg02I8qjRXZ0JUg8WGoTq4kpoD8JoQh2c6swYRXOYxm3ixWmLCgFn57UIVpUdhRdDMVLa-8wZgKU/s400/KeyWest-best-house-in-town.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNZzlQmtx2skc16DjVEWlr48ZBWmVYSBiVAJkYtM7W2Oys7gWnwD9Np4D3qw4YtmO7LGIbpq6ajkKabs0yar4kJIbOCARQnx0d-WMDZrmvutlCNMkTjVtIoc8RILZJb2YE1EwlzMXTSE/s1600/KeyWest-Lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNZzlQmtx2skc16DjVEWlr48ZBWmVYSBiVAJkYtM7W2Oys7gWnwD9Np4D3qw4YtmO7LGIbpq6ajkKabs0yar4kJIbOCARQnx0d-WMDZrmvutlCNMkTjVtIoc8RILZJb2YE1EwlzMXTSE/s400/KeyWest-Lighthouse.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
And, everybody who doesn't know who this famous person is/was, has to be punished and forced to enter<b> :)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgwovc3zwcy7DSE38deE8w0A7x-EDc0rMs3ynGRcbOhs1eXaj_fSEMeeoTs9ltpGodsT_5gOZCCBlBuk4qwcq0A0he4DdQOCuK7rJ0HkLGo_4xg0NVBWzG78FW7sR9kib-XmJwrRdW5M/s1600/KeyWest-ErnestHemingway-House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgwovc3zwcy7DSE38deE8w0A7x-EDc0rMs3ynGRcbOhs1eXaj_fSEMeeoTs9ltpGodsT_5gOZCCBlBuk4qwcq0A0he4DdQOCuK7rJ0HkLGo_4xg0NVBWzG78FW7sR9kib-XmJwrRdW5M/s400/KeyWest-ErnestHemingway-House.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, every day comes to an end and we are able to view the sunset on the open sea. So close to the equator it's a quite short but very worthy closure.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpQWe0ZJmHWHXVXqNyeVTQNIsWdOjpjvH1M90jddTodmuMak9Vh0Y-imWs4qvqi2XWZg_dOFbiwKDY4W-dC-LG30lePsk7PgBWuuIdXOFQie0FxcnG-RNyz9Wx5cfj7gFUr74XoxzCzs/s1600/KeyWest-Sonnenuntergang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpQWe0ZJmHWHXVXqNyeVTQNIsWdOjpjvH1M90jddTodmuMak9Vh0Y-imWs4qvqi2XWZg_dOFbiwKDY4W-dC-LG30lePsk7PgBWuuIdXOFQie0FxcnG-RNyz9Wx5cfj7gFUr74XoxzCzs/s400/KeyWest-Sonnenuntergang.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Next posting:</b> See you later, Alligator! or The EvergladesDie Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-4180168490595286582013-03-31T19:19:00.000+02:002013-04-27T15:38:00.197+02:00FLORIDA -Part 3: Miami + Kennedy Space CenterTo get <b>from Fort Myers to Miami</b> we had to drive across the entire state and then further north to reach <b>Cape Canaveral</b> where the Kennedy Space Center is located. This trip takes <b>3 whole days</b> because of the distances though it's worth it, if you're not planning on visiting Florida every year.<br />
My memories of Miami aren't that nice, but I'll explain this in a minute...<br />
<br />
After we had parked the two cars in a parking garage we went over to the boardwalk. A road with many hotels and restaurants runs parallel to it and there's a part famous for<b> the building's Art Deco facades</b>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjp5tnD_IyGPXj63Kd1SuuryR3RLgBk-SDfNSa3JlRr0l4HCrouUws5PcUUIaRpoDQE7nzsqfphlHucFsqDWt1230PpoKKNx3jKPnioB_wuT5dhEv0wxcpcq0UdekA_fH0h2ZZVF-CC4/s1600/MiamiBeach-Lokale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjp5tnD_IyGPXj63Kd1SuuryR3RLgBk-SDfNSa3JlRr0l4HCrouUws5PcUUIaRpoDQE7nzsqfphlHucFsqDWt1230PpoKKNx3jKPnioB_wuT5dhEv0wxcpcq0UdekA_fH0h2ZZVF-CC4/s400/MiamiBeach-Lokale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As you can see there's alot of traffic: besides "average" cars we see a few Ferraris, Mustangs and Oldtimer crusing along the road.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJ2jNjUxd7nzNzjIwkil24LkduaetaAXVnWpkcqATTy-BW3TINQ3ZcOke0m1QhCKuIPNyzPvQr51Ag3TkUtRaaU0hMYHRijXQ4Tum2x3HNBsPnMDzkLG2kBixCRdtaFdyHy_Xiy4FoE4/s1600/MiamiBeach-Promenade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJ2jNjUxd7nzNzjIwkil24LkduaetaAXVnWpkcqATTy-BW3TINQ3ZcOke0m1QhCKuIPNyzPvQr51Ag3TkUtRaaU0hMYHRijXQ4Tum2x3HNBsPnMDzkLG2kBixCRdtaFdyHy_Xiy4FoE4/s400/MiamiBeach-Promenade.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
The display next to the visitors center informs us that we've missed <b>the hottest day this year</b> about 4 days ago, but I'm not sorry for that. In my opinion 35,5 degrees Celsius are a little to hot to be the perfect temperature for a sightseeing tour.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVDshln8LZlgxEdbW0lQC9k4XZWp9X9-01zl7i428Y848v4NsoeZFwfcQMHAlFvt8soImipFi_VETl77eCXzUcyz-tnmrzjIVD1xTDSNVtfeWJhhnzLyPkA-4fTvfi7iVBlVcx1UybX0/s1600/MiamiBeach-ANZEIGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVDshln8LZlgxEdbW0lQC9k4XZWp9X9-01zl7i428Y848v4NsoeZFwfcQMHAlFvt8soImipFi_VETl77eCXzUcyz-tnmrzjIVD1xTDSNVtfeWJhhnzLyPkA-4fTvfi7iVBlVcx1UybX0/s400/MiamiBeach-ANZEIGE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There's also a small <b>fitness area</b> along the boardwalk so that you can show off your amazing body even before reaching the beach <b>;)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y3zpDp5it4VAZAWYP0vbg7xIVnKdTjQCY8Er5IhuYFvDs1m5pn4A4_fGDYmKsLkOjxXA_ElcFTIQ3ulVBzG_UvtNnHJ9mx1mPqrB_32Tmf7Vz0uqGyk8iFbI4WddCd1yUfhyphenhyphen7_Miql4/s1600/MiamiBeach-Trainingsstation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y3zpDp5it4VAZAWYP0vbg7xIVnKdTjQCY8Er5IhuYFvDs1m5pn4A4_fGDYmKsLkOjxXA_ElcFTIQ3ulVBzG_UvtNnHJ9mx1mPqrB_32Tmf7Vz0uqGyk8iFbI4WddCd1yUfhyphenhyphen7_Miql4/s400/MiamiBeach-Trainingsstation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The sandy <b>beach</b> is as beautiful as shown in the movies and really broad. Some workers are building up a framework for a pavilion behind us as I take these pictures.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSme3ezhNSPCikkvsfKhRuzKiyY9Mb_W0hTwdXr9cpOZr9-tbjExpehHcz3DXRdhMARUOEf17MUeYtZpCxWftAf9ReCvh_LNGY8f29XjiAp7bBXpXEQwxayQHggYgtNKKpKmwHBd7U3mU/s1600/MiamiBeach-Strand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSme3ezhNSPCikkvsfKhRuzKiyY9Mb_W0hTwdXr9cpOZr9-tbjExpehHcz3DXRdhMARUOEf17MUeYtZpCxWftAf9ReCvh_LNGY8f29XjiAp7bBXpXEQwxayQHggYgtNKKpKmwHBd7U3mU/s640/MiamiBeach-Strand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It's quite windy that day though this is not the only reason for the quite uncrowded beach...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQ0lfETPcv5IA0-PCJtAzqiUaAfZezszmQePjq73UjFTus1YBxtNBCEtbAKrqCPmi-2uI5IVx4THYnLQq0-ty-nl1GFGqcbmLcFEty7IglDIPQxH9IIbneMVo06g4QBIwFF1OeglXAxI/s1600/MiamiBeach-stormy-sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQ0lfETPcv5IA0-PCJtAzqiUaAfZezszmQePjq73UjFTus1YBxtNBCEtbAKrqCPmi-2uI5IVx4THYnLQq0-ty-nl1GFGqcbmLcFEty7IglDIPQxH9IIbneMVo06g4QBIwFF1OeglXAxI/s400/MiamiBeach-stormy-sea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyJKHctWMAR80_vq0G9NOG9mkznv7Pd_H_uAe4FICGUhemMSKooCzdBhCN5KwIwV1i2hk-G9ZMNZgjCj3_ZAtuhv8_DDjmKMr0oUES1GxkaauEQG6SlvyTKj06O7zJLaWI4qrgqMAR8E/s1600/MiamiBeach-Strand-PortugiesischeGalere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyJKHctWMAR80_vq0G9NOG9mkznv7Pd_H_uAe4FICGUhemMSKooCzdBhCN5KwIwV1i2hk-G9ZMNZgjCj3_ZAtuhv8_DDjmKMr0oUES1GxkaauEQG6SlvyTKj06O7zJLaWI4qrgqMAR8E/s400/MiamiBeach-Strand-PortugiesischeGalere.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
...dozens of dead jelly fish lay around and if I am not forsaken it's<b> the poisonous Portoguese man-of-war </b>or bluebottle.<br />
<br />
In contrast to this visually appealing areas, there are other not so nice spots like the <b>dingy side streets</b> around our parking garage: I wouldn't dare to walk these streets at night. O.o (<-emoticon)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-ZBjLYb3KYh4tGHzahIKU1rH2GJCemVwbOW2kQwJqESm7GMZmI5ojOFIi-M2AU-kQHl05lXNk0V69WekGsoitkXYu9uJbgVG20tdfz7JkVFd6Cb01yahmISmJczGRco7M-RbzTnkUyY/s1600/MiamiBeach-Gasse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-ZBjLYb3KYh4tGHzahIKU1rH2GJCemVwbOW2kQwJqESm7GMZmI5ojOFIi-M2AU-kQHl05lXNk0V69WekGsoitkXYu9uJbgVG20tdfz7JkVFd6Cb01yahmISmJczGRco7M-RbzTnkUyY/s400/MiamiBeach-Gasse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Unfortunately, my bad impression of the city gets worse as we get back to the cars. One has been broken up at the driver's door to pull the trunk's hand gear <b>to steal our navigation system</b> we tried to hid there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip9_m1wH4ZIcSvp3a0HAvLR_qEcJGYvhjG8mxSldMK3blvQHg4uX5EyzQstSsD-bnTZePMOeJbSTfeldO5pMui6v7_b1iJyQ-YTBehKYObAFvukzdXurxrBK4idPEWQs1KoXCRE5NW7s/s1600/MiamiBeach-Schaden-am-Mietwagen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhip9_m1wH4ZIcSvp3a0HAvLR_qEcJGYvhjG8mxSldMK3blvQHg4uX5EyzQstSsD-bnTZePMOeJbSTfeldO5pMui6v7_b1iJyQ-YTBehKYObAFvukzdXurxrBK4idPEWQs1KoXCRE5NW7s/s400/MiamiBeach-Schaden-am-Mietwagen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We must have been observed by the criminal, because our luggage is untouched, but the security guard can't find someone suspicious on the monitoring system which doesn't cover every spot. So we just go to the <b>police station</b> and spend the next <u><b>3 hours</b></u> there to report the crime, so that our car insurance pays the damage.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WyQTcs3JH0auG4W4hSMX5E9G_62QkzTB8vtReiPCkC_JIm40vXsHPhxDMw1fLKL8g2DFAnbp7ildQBXRQq9Ttn1ewwNGjDPY3jqwbIZTUvclpZl2LjJVkDwKdioIHZQlub7_sl6YQbk/s1600/MiamiBeach-police-station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WyQTcs3JH0auG4W4hSMX5E9G_62QkzTB8vtReiPCkC_JIm40vXsHPhxDMw1fLKL8g2DFAnbp7ildQBXRQq9Ttn1ewwNGjDPY3jqwbIZTUvclpZl2LjJVkDwKdioIHZQlub7_sl6YQbk/s400/MiamiBeach-police-station.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Then we have to get a new rental from the airport and it's close to midnight as we can look for a accommodation. We are all very tired and check into a really dirty <b>motel</b> along our route. I cleaned our WC and sink with my private cleaning supplies and stayed totally dressed while sleeping in the bed and of course, I didn't use this shower. (Please click on it to zoom in)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8jFnYzFWh-Z9gxAs1ay-bB7CSnkrNTFmGU_KmuSFE-iEVAuSnNy3fSQmE_3aNEAnIaMBA-44E0xowE2X3e4si_YYg0CTIAYt336n-YqURgRUxPPvIWMusJJuD7SzHmp465o4vbmU_R4/s1600/MOTEL-Bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8jFnYzFWh-Z9gxAs1ay-bB7CSnkrNTFmGU_KmuSFE-iEVAuSnNy3fSQmE_3aNEAnIaMBA-44E0xowE2X3e4si_YYg0CTIAYt336n-YqURgRUxPPvIWMusJJuD7SzHmp465o4vbmU_R4/s400/MOTEL-Bath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>My tip:</b> Choose a motel or hotel which belongs to a company like Super 8 or Holiday Inn and view the room before you definitively check-in.<br />
<br />
At least we could count on a delicious breakfast at <b>IHOP</b> (the International House of Pancakes) the following morning. <b>Denny's</b> is also recommendable.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDYOHHyLyVX9qXiSJbs-N50Q-rOarW-JN83pgk8isL7i4zOkvJGtUvUUuT1KMujyNuVHbzqi1JVF_VZrj1wmeY0-TMOKJ1mojP2GXwbgDY45ApCTqxoYQIJQ8Z4Xzg5iH0aal7yWOvO4/s1600/Fr%C3%BChst%C3%BCck-IHOP-Pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDYOHHyLyVX9qXiSJbs-N50Q-rOarW-JN83pgk8isL7i4zOkvJGtUvUUuT1KMujyNuVHbzqi1JVF_VZrj1wmeY0-TMOKJ1mojP2GXwbgDY45ApCTqxoYQIJQ8Z4Xzg5iH0aal7yWOvO4/s400/Fr%C3%BChst%C3%BCck-IHOP-Pancakes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The secound day of our trip was mostly spend on the highway though we made a short stop at Fort Lauderdale, another famous beach especially for Spring Break.<br />
<br />
We spend the next night at Cape Canaveral's <b>Best Western</b> (hotel) which costs about 30 Euros extra per room but is much cleaner and more comfortable. You have your own coffee machine (please use bottled water, otherwise chlor-flavoured drink) and you can skip through the room's bible before going to bed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zAqvwHW5_hcEorQDlfbEhiL48i1oqsg0dmx_ULaRgsEtyo8Dq6l-o74OP8IVM39zxcErEkFjJ5H5oHZrpWUDkc_qhdfYV8Oee_K8sEHlR6rSIHRkb8arNcFBap-mpLKb2GSt-HZcXKw/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Coffeestation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zAqvwHW5_hcEorQDlfbEhiL48i1oqsg0dmx_ULaRgsEtyo8Dq6l-o74OP8IVM39zxcErEkFjJ5H5oHZrpWUDkc_qhdfYV8Oee_K8sEHlR6rSIHRkb8arNcFBap-mpLKb2GSt-HZcXKw/s400/CapeCanaveral-Coffeestation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjG04p4_5FGGHGxKMrAER5bx0wCFqBFDLQ2UDHaTSgyYqlT1Y2AFcooLsu8evy1mylGpEO1GvlNRQiq3gh0Ol527j7Dtuk7A8eSayMMoPLiNimov_xIAIWL4OmLxXmUgdDoh_penExf0/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Bibel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjG04p4_5FGGHGxKMrAER5bx0wCFqBFDLQ2UDHaTSgyYqlT1Y2AFcooLsu8evy1mylGpEO1GvlNRQiq3gh0Ol527j7Dtuk7A8eSayMMoPLiNimov_xIAIWL4OmLxXmUgdDoh_penExf0/s400/CapeCanaveral-Bibel.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
<br />
Our visit at the<b> <a href="http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/shuttle-launch-experience.aspx" target="_blank">Kennedy Space Center</a></b> was very interesting: The focus was not on the scientific aspects of space flights like expected. It entertains with many vids on monitors, exhibitioned objects and a special rollercoaster-like ride called the "Shuttle Launch experience". In addition specials like meeting an astronaut can be booked.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHp4IwHpDcEbu9BKFv_SFl6AEvORBzUZX10BmPjEytPahBCD1yaeivF7L3YxmbalP5B7NZbMDNY9Eu4aSnDlEblDaD6mLJK-QwyntOpp7y5NwP8x2F0MeQzOLu_aTRLZBG1ZBB68Iwi8/s1600/CapeCanaveral-NASA-Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHp4IwHpDcEbu9BKFv_SFl6AEvORBzUZX10BmPjEytPahBCD1yaeivF7L3YxmbalP5B7NZbMDNY9Eu4aSnDlEblDaD6mLJK-QwyntOpp7y5NwP8x2F0MeQzOLu_aTRLZBG1ZBB68Iwi8/s400/CapeCanaveral-NASA-Sign.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR9HCUQC_vfuaubyV3k_kKjisq9KFjvGpNV0V9sPE2viqk7Fczwq0eDCgweSu12YOcg9WQLLyEPvA_oe7WHMoQb208vlvn1VXtHeqotOTBySirlAJ8yKJU65kSPPn8C0hsyaJo-iLILU/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Shuttle-Explorer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfR9HCUQC_vfuaubyV3k_kKjisq9KFjvGpNV0V9sPE2viqk7Fczwq0eDCgweSu12YOcg9WQLLyEPvA_oe7WHMoQb208vlvn1VXtHeqotOTBySirlAJ8yKJU65kSPPn8C0hsyaJo-iLILU/s400/CapeCanaveral-Shuttle-Explorer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
You can have a look inside the real space shuttle <b>Explorer.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfDD6qqaB6u1l5ibtIfRwmyRxfpNuCf0cG3uXKaX-sPZ_7Zm8wsNR0U2IVIPa6hH0VLAMXisIym_mTsXI_0dHWs5mhQixa4CzFN1Uzb8AKH8cneTFFKSxvIRk_anG70HSsoGQK-R5TBo/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Showcenter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfDD6qqaB6u1l5ibtIfRwmyRxfpNuCf0cG3uXKaX-sPZ_7Zm8wsNR0U2IVIPa6hH0VLAMXisIym_mTsXI_0dHWs5mhQixa4CzFN1Uzb8AKH8cneTFFKSxvIRk_anG70HSsoGQK-R5TBo/s400/CapeCanaveral-Showcenter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Here's a retired command center.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRqaw35ZTbM9WV8iM8klDAcxqDnv9Ft64F-HzHnPXKn2v3EFeIaNOyxPE9P09Rz9PxgZE9TBPepy96p-R5eDd0cwk7FJY0zO9w7nH1BX8DHbH-CgTwDUCYA5A2id_so8vKlO6Jhws9Gs/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Rakete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRqaw35ZTbM9WV8iM8klDAcxqDnv9Ft64F-HzHnPXKn2v3EFeIaNOyxPE9P09Rz9PxgZE9TBPepy96p-R5eDd0cwk7FJY0zO9w7nH1BX8DHbH-CgTwDUCYA5A2id_so8vKlO6Jhws9Gs/s400/CapeCanaveral-Rakete.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWiHWaQE3NaM-oI8lUJrkrow7oLgW9edwwDvREcFuHjATCX_m_UgJX5y_Ky0lvImVjU3IfwrrJWEpWX5zf6QSmak1F-5acHp4-M5LRN8DsyY4uY8yD9vwD2htDA6COGYgAdj4rNhil_s/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Rakete-II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWiHWaQE3NaM-oI8lUJrkrow7oLgW9edwwDvREcFuHjATCX_m_UgJX5y_Ky0lvImVjU3IfwrrJWEpWX5zf6QSmak1F-5acHp4-M5LRN8DsyY4uY8yD9vwD2htDA6COGYgAdj4rNhil_s/s400/CapeCanaveral-Rakete-II.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLzvfXcK2jbhpCy4BV8JK3Qyxu7sEOslYyWZaUgikirLVm3lww4rKA4ILsUOQWIFf-HGbQEgwIOeVYBHZMRRAP042DOl0dt6z_QRRIXrLmx6oijm-skmObKMA3c_sGNUBT5YazpNbQT0/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Astronaut-StarlightExpress-or-medival-Knight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLzvfXcK2jbhpCy4BV8JK3Qyxu7sEOslYyWZaUgikirLVm3lww4rKA4ILsUOQWIFf-HGbQEgwIOeVYBHZMRRAP042DOl0dt6z_QRRIXrLmx6oijm-skmObKMA3c_sGNUBT5YazpNbQT0/s400/CapeCanaveral-Astronaut-StarlightExpress-or-medival-Knight.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
This one looks more like a knight's amor with flexible parts at the joints to me...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYcXIVA9hZnhqJFwIxPZDM6Dl_P_NgEE9ihrJpJS9tMnaiStUo_bguYf-U6_Uf2JNQGSKmbQ9j8gc38zpSMJYEWt6LgVL58d8SoiPcx-CLiVLh-fJF-m50hbsJxk1uoXaXHxsJz4YOqI/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Astronaut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYcXIVA9hZnhqJFwIxPZDM6Dl_P_NgEE9ihrJpJS9tMnaiStUo_bguYf-U6_Uf2JNQGSKmbQ9j8gc38zpSMJYEWt6LgVL58d8SoiPcx-CLiVLh-fJF-m50hbsJxk1uoXaXHxsJz4YOqI/s400/CapeCanaveral-Astronaut.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
...than like an astronaut's suite.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVPMvQ6Jp0LTc7IOa40QAjKf-0BgmYR4IMRumWeIOAuotr9U6Y-CexS9OEO6ze-x-eiUcFIe-ge7xvsiZD-tsbTHRAJeDHnfBD4OqrJh1AvsCmLc-Zg81OhIP4OuxqZBYTOTbIGVLzTg/s1600/CapeCanaveral-Kapsel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVPMvQ6Jp0LTc7IOa40QAjKf-0BgmYR4IMRumWeIOAuotr9U6Y-CexS9OEO6ze-x-eiUcFIe-ge7xvsiZD-tsbTHRAJeDHnfBD4OqrJh1AvsCmLc-Zg81OhIP4OuxqZBYTOTbIGVLzTg/s400/CapeCanaveral-Kapsel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
In this capsule or casing the astronauts landed in the ocean after parasuiting from the sky.<br />
<br />
<b>NEXT posting: Key West</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>See you soon! </i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-82987011680989535052013-03-20T12:53:00.000+01:002013-03-21T08:43:52.523+01:00The Forgotten Book: GREEN GRASS, RUNNING WATER<b>Hey Guys,</b><br />
I know, I know, it has been two weeks since I have posted something and you are waiting for the next episode about my first trip to Florida... <b>Well, the bad news is,</b> that editing takes a lot of time. However, I am working on it and it will be posted next week. The good news is that I have come up with a new category for my future blog posts <i><b>'The Forgotten Book'</b></i> wherein I will write a short review on books which have been published decades ago. BUT the here presented books will have one characteristic feature: They seem to be just too valueable and special in certain ways to collectively forget about them, because of some new books hyped by the media. NEW is not synonymous with better...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8JPXZhtc-3r3KFhjWNXfs6Q4V7-1Vq9_U-jrubyOvvpfPBBJo09lN1hszl29RKkYz3i7YBN__AI1DzqdbS697UPyQOMucHDxLNm0-JN0kIvqUoUCCxdx3MkIIkJ3VpvB-eihuW8TnXs/s1600/FourLittleIndiansAndCoyote-bookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8JPXZhtc-3r3KFhjWNXfs6Q4V7-1Vq9_U-jrubyOvvpfPBBJo09lN1hszl29RKkYz3i7YBN__AI1DzqdbS697UPyQOMucHDxLNm0-JN0kIvqUoUCCxdx3MkIIkJ3VpvB-eihuW8TnXs/s400/FourLittleIndiansAndCoyote-bookcover.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So, today I want to (re)introduce you to a piece of <b>Native American fiction</b> which is mostly about contemporary Indian characters who are connected by their origins but whoes lives turned out rather differently. They all return to <b>the Sun Dance</b> of their reservation but they are not the only participants focused on. It all leads up to encountering four Indian elders <b>with their fellow Coyote</b>. The later is rather a special spirit than an animal, he's the Trickster in Blackfoot culture, and therefore many strange and funny incidents and dialogs entertain the open-minded reader.<br />
<br />
Published exactly two decades ago, it deals with <b>topics which have remained strikingly prominent: </b>independant and educated Native American Alberta longs for a Baby but not for a husband; the log cabin Eli inherited, endangers a lucrative dam project and Lionel's career plans didn't work out the way he had expected at younger age... With the chapters on these three and others the book is like a huge puzzle or riddle, especially when storys about Coyote's adventures are told in a kind of comic style (half of the book).<br />
<br />
The authour Thomas King, a Canadian Cherokee, has taken the liberty <b>to play with aspects of white western culture</b> and stops at nothing, not even at important biblical figures. So, perhaps this novel is nothing for very conservative Christians, though I would advise <u><b>everybody</b></u> to read at least the first 100 pages which is about 1/4 before judging and making the decision to put the book away or to read on joyfully <b>:)</b><br />
<br />
Here, one of the comic-like and provocating scenes (excerpt, page 435):<br />
<b>And, says Nasty Bumpo, Whites are particularly good killers. Do you see that deer over there?</b><br />
<b> Oh, dear, says Old Woman. That's not a deer. That's Old Coyote.</b><br />
<b>What's an Old Coyote? says Nasty Bumppo, and that one shoots at Old Coyote.</b><br />
<b> Stop shooting, says Old Coyote. You could kill someone with that really big gun.</b><br />
<b>Stand still, Nasty Bumppo tells Old Coyote, so I can shoot you.</b><br />
<b> Boy, says Old Coyote, I was safer in that other story. And Old Coyote jumps into a hole by a big tree. </b><br />
<b>Phooey, says Nasty Bumpoo. Now I'm going to have to kill something else.</b><br />
<b> Well, says Old Woman, there's no one here but you and me.</b><br />
<b>Well, that sure is a problem, Chingachgook, says </b><b>Nasty Bumpoo. That sure is a problem. [...]</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Grass-Running-Water-Thomas/dp/0553373684/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363780055&sr=1-1&keywords=Green+Grass%2C+Running+Water" target="_blank">BOOK</a> at Amazon.com - few the first 3 pages!<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.de/Green-Grass-Running-Water-Thomas/dp/0553373684/ref=sr_1_1?s=books-intl-de&ie=UTF8&qid=1363778121&sr=1-1" target="_blank">BOOK</a> at Amazon.de - Englische Bücher - die ersten 3 Seiten lesen!<br />
<br />
<b>Attention: All Rights reserved. Copyright 1993 by Thomas King.</b>Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-15048027920527039402013-03-05T13:03:00.000+01:002013-03-05T17:34:41.728+01:00FLORIDA - Part 2: Mote Aquarium + Fort Myers <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Well,
the six travellers often left their residence to explore Florida’s landscape,
wild life and cultural gems. These trips normally took a day with drives up to
3 hours in one direction. Rather fast they discovered the following problems:
Firstly, the characteristic speed limits of the US lead to the fact that you
can’t cover that much of a distance within this time span, and secondly, you
tend to underestimate the distances in general if you used to the metric
system. This means that you plan a route via Google-Maps on your PC and it
doesn’t seem to be a big deal, until you recognize it’s 1000 Miles and not
Kilometres! </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCMpG9dQmShg1XOL6Gne-5DSeSf_u_U-pqCWi2IDzkLlBXGpmE7wTwxM-2OexFbluL94_P_MpHU4PPn2F7dOu2XBDlSepDdSFwySBXFX7s2nb1fJ7HH1tqrwX3q3JpnhtadsaSSm-oGY/s1600/Mote_Delfine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCMpG9dQmShg1XOL6Gne-5DSeSf_u_U-pqCWi2IDzkLlBXGpmE7wTwxM-2OexFbluL94_P_MpHU4PPn2F7dOu2XBDlSepDdSFwySBXFX7s2nb1fJ7HH1tqrwX3q3JpnhtadsaSSm-oGY/s400/Mote_Delfine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit;">However, one day we drove
upwards along the west coast to visit the public part of the Mote Marine
Laboratory, the <a href="http://www.mote.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Aquarium%20Visitor%20Info&category=Aquarium" target="_blank">Mote Aquarium</a> in Sarasota. Depending on the route you choose it’s
83-93 Miles which took us 100 Minutes. Actually we had planned to take a look
at a special art exhibition afterwards, but then we had to realise that
many museums etc. close at 5 p.m.. By the time we arrived there we would have
paid ~ $16 for an hour, so we left the place only touring the gift shop </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6MPTTpPuXJdQVv_2yc8FcvBK96EQZhMNyHxGxcfxv1JGEqeULzG6PjeGc86SwtQzsxqAZDH4ESkcKwxtQ6FxZmjllofE70mVTTIrNAUN7ynzC2fHqGcgjfuGz_GbgM5aqKP4Y_3vBaI/s1600/Mote_Seepferdchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6MPTTpPuXJdQVv_2yc8FcvBK96EQZhMNyHxGxcfxv1JGEqeULzG6PjeGc86SwtQzsxqAZDH4ESkcKwxtQ6FxZmjllofE70mVTTIrNAUN7ynzC2fHqGcgjfuGz_GbgM5aqKP4Y_3vBaI/s400/Mote_Seepferdchen.jpg" width="392" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-size: small;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">But lets get back to the aquarium… [for prices,
etc. click above]</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">This visit really impressed me because several
elderly people –volunteers, I assume (?), offered their guidance and wanted to
give you some information on the creatures which were displayed in the water
tanks. In Germany you have to book and pay for this service in addition to the
regular entrance fee. If you’re otherwise addressed by an attendant you mostly
have done something wrong, like standing to close in front of a painting or a
displayed object.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTbSVQ-9fV1OOulPrBT6v52godwfnUSBoPAXCLC8izNJv9cWveVPMSlsuyGwfasvpUKSOTeRIcqu0_IwQfHJSQR6q8lxJJEUKau5T_vbTPhLbXvDgH8Wfh4qnWDaAyJIS5BPyh66J8MU/s1600/Mote_Seestern-Streichelzoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTbSVQ-9fV1OOulPrBT6v52godwfnUSBoPAXCLC8izNJv9cWveVPMSlsuyGwfasvpUKSOTeRIcqu0_IwQfHJSQR6q8lxJJEUKau5T_vbTPhLbXvDgH8Wfh4qnWDaAyJIS5BPyh66J8MU/s400/Mote_Seestern-Streichelzoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Besides the observing you can do a bite more
here. Of course, there is some short dolphin show twice to three times a day,
but you can also pet starfishes, sea cucumbers and some kind of crabs. There’s
even a funnel-shaped tank with rays you can fondle, and if the beast has had
enough it’s able to escape into the deeper water and is out of reach. By this
the visitor has to accept the animal’s will and needs but from my point of view
this tank could have been built slightly bigger for the ray’s sake….</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EpIz8WHn38oFW3hSTtx0DGoDy-CzPo5Z405DhM8WsSFL6EWLYFlVy8oC41fSJyQlyNCAhS820N0CGtUd74aPLYt5frEqvw1lLPqVCalfIdDjnUg2NfK_zYWSodCUrEgRsYplluMu69Q/s1600/Mote_Rochenstreicheln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EpIz8WHn38oFW3hSTtx0DGoDy-CzPo5Z405DhM8WsSFL6EWLYFlVy8oC41fSJyQlyNCAhS820N0CGtUd74aPLYt5frEqvw1lLPqVCalfIdDjnUg2NfK_zYWSodCUrEgRsYplluMu69Q/s400/Mote_Rochenstreicheln.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgAUwSvOQ8Cw8nHogbX5JtKGnGT4XQflxdB4PVRuKtwniN21Wb0uvm8McDZpRzEJqlI1LF9l4qc8Dy6MDfjTavUT7Gy8sMXU6XkHRsYDt6956B-53tQeqNOV1vN2ePeg61ZzBZDVZFiw/s1600/Mote_Rochen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgAUwSvOQ8Cw8nHogbX5JtKGnGT4XQflxdB4PVRuKtwniN21Wb0uvm8McDZpRzEJqlI1LF9l4qc8Dy6MDfjTavUT7Gy8sMXU6XkHRsYDt6956B-53tQeqNOV1vN2ePeg61ZzBZDVZFiw/s400/Mote_Rochen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Other than this, I have no objections against
the way everything was set up and presented, and there are many cute, colourful
or mysterious, formidable till quite “ugly” looking creatures to watch here.</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO3e3E3yn8SyrQkORL1TceGxLckA_Cx33Z6JnaUniGvtT6-eRDOZ9g-O75eeYd2hB4asPx62GjMvzGa_E8t5TOfLlhgZQtD9xkTAnMlxoi6tLBYR85q16000560DvPAtBnZs6RJb3NF0/s1600/Mote_Fisch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO3e3E3yn8SyrQkORL1TceGxLckA_Cx33Z6JnaUniGvtT6-eRDOZ9g-O75eeYd2hB4asPx62GjMvzGa_E8t5TOfLlhgZQtD9xkTAnMlxoi6tLBYR85q16000560DvPAtBnZs6RJb3NF0/s400/Mote_Fisch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4EqvGpeEoLDhyDNFvliEargzQLtx8q3XMm3BqL8rH2mtlH3i7m0XpTizDfOv_6Xd8UpaWMMhCaFX5zaqtJLYed1M7dLu1rmNWMQ2bjukyykQLjuqCPxAO3gg3tjbqEsVkpbRTuJwe1Q/s1600/Mote_bunterHummer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4EqvGpeEoLDhyDNFvliEargzQLtx8q3XMm3BqL8rH2mtlH3i7m0XpTizDfOv_6Xd8UpaWMMhCaFX5zaqtJLYed1M7dLu1rmNWMQ2bjukyykQLjuqCPxAO3gg3tjbqEsVkpbRTuJwe1Q/s400/Mote_bunterHummer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZdxTGvNUFz9xoQ8VqOq4HgPib9Sm9McEhgB647HJkvywjjZem65jFnX6ahSdMZnY0I0MwGIEnAR0WXKFalqSzPDho-9CV2AyfUGcYbw94ZxOS-dXF2aBRhC3OROPDHbyCh1UomnhsOU/s1600/Mote_Quallen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZdxTGvNUFz9xoQ8VqOq4HgPib9Sm9McEhgB647HJkvywjjZem65jFnX6ahSdMZnY0I0MwGIEnAR0WXKFalqSzPDho-9CV2AyfUGcYbw94ZxOS-dXF2aBRhC3OROPDHbyCh1UomnhsOU/s400/Mote_Quallen.jpg" width="400" /></a></b> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>No, this picture is not upside down...</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYKjHnDyEeS5oJ5KyPFwHQrdBCRrZuIf-6ttBnUNiJ5uGlQyMImOkwMqZw1hSK390sSHUhcyhTvuGc92s83LpZ6Yq6HUeWEqXu1_xjNiS99-A9x9FKc66tl3WJPyq1S2ld4mz-CbJ1Qw/s1600/Mote_Hai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYKjHnDyEeS5oJ5KyPFwHQrdBCRrZuIf-6ttBnUNiJ5uGlQyMImOkwMqZw1hSK390sSHUhcyhTvuGc92s83LpZ6Yq6HUeWEqXu1_xjNiS99-A9x9FKc66tl3WJPyq1S2ld4mz-CbJ1Qw/s400/Mote_Hai.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><b>Do you recognize this fish? </b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Exactly, it’s a small shark. He’s about 1,5
metres long, so don’t fall over the rail into the tank! ;)</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31IpK5JGHjJ3Ra1K60vC794CKGjrFlWgYNmHgn749E8fdE3IX8IYQtueo0HLSdWwVrLo4s1BFyYQ-0gv6aQM7XUDNAhbNLc5fXe2CsKl4H3z7zgmq4eNbvbn71yggwLyMhuqaFrJKhVc/s1600/Mote_Monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31IpK5JGHjJ3Ra1K60vC794CKGjrFlWgYNmHgn749E8fdE3IX8IYQtueo0HLSdWwVrLo4s1BFyYQ-0gv6aQM7XUDNAhbNLc5fXe2CsKl4H3z7zgmq4eNbvbn71yggwLyMhuqaFrJKhVc/s400/Mote_Monster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It’s a
pity that I have forgotten the name of this strange looking guy, but he
strongly reminds me of the Sesame Street character who lives in a trash can :D</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Unfortunately,
the water in the huge Manatee tank was so greenish that we weren’t able to
take a usable photo of these gentle giants. In spite of that I loved this
significant information panel, which tells you what humans and Manatees have in
common (Please click to zoom in and read):</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhvrOKdVsecJHrOZimdQ2iDDnCYbrwk2py07TIhPgszO7kFU4AEdwE4ByYSikBHuUzLZ6WsBjvBnPSFj3qqIeuVLPgbk21eTVGNWim0BjDrqzj3wa6SjT2-VuO-hnbGtF6JdlTet_3Eo/s1600/Mote_Manatee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhvrOKdVsecJHrOZimdQ2iDDnCYbrwk2py07TIhPgszO7kFU4AEdwE4ByYSikBHuUzLZ6WsBjvBnPSFj3qqIeuVLPgbk21eTVGNWim0BjDrqzj3wa6SjT2-VuO-hnbGtF6JdlTet_3Eo/s400/Mote_Manatee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">By the way, there are some animals were it’s very
likely to encounter them in the great outdoors. For example, this sign is
located at <u>Fort Myers Beach</u>:</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCixeXqbIb8cE8eiiUzigfziSgqdFFArfW4HgMc84XDin83lehWRWSE3LM_7ABIGbhIryWhIRIkaicm8F9WVjT3eqQLJiR-Li27N1_uE5gzi5gy_fasuGh6AVIRIFPebxz7nl-7bKc1w/s1600/FortMyers-Strand-Stachelrochentanz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCixeXqbIb8cE8eiiUzigfziSgqdFFArfW4HgMc84XDin83lehWRWSE3LM_7ABIGbhIryWhIRIkaicm8F9WVjT3eqQLJiR-Li27N1_uE5gzi5gy_fasuGh6AVIRIFPebxz7nl-7bKc1w/s400/FortMyers-Strand-Stachelrochentanz.jpg" width="327" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">So, if you don’t want to be dancing in pain because a
sting ray felt threatened by your feet, you should perform a sluggish move
while walking through the water.</span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-nJI4ONLxrc5r1v1fwxocMnN3A7n2uIDCDHLqTfQum5-pAKKyZEpdrEjd5FoJNMFfHwB0bbNvflcfifngVbpwmm6WO067r_HQ26qQyzQBQSGVIwAyv_ynNCvv_2GxtQzojFU5WqtFZQ/s1600/FortMyers-Strand-M%C3%B6venf%C3%BCtterung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-nJI4ONLxrc5r1v1fwxocMnN3A7n2uIDCDHLqTfQum5-pAKKyZEpdrEjd5FoJNMFfHwB0bbNvflcfifngVbpwmm6WO067r_HQ26qQyzQBQSGVIwAyv_ynNCvv_2GxtQzojFU5WqtFZQ/s400/FortMyers-Strand-M%C3%B6venf%C3%BCtterung.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">A young couple thought it would be a good idea to feed
the local seagull population by leaving a track of French fries as they stroll
along the beach. Actually, I would like to know how this story ended. Did it
turn out the way like in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hitchcock’s
‘The Birds’ and they had to look for shelter in their car? What a pity it will
remain an unsolved mystery…</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ib3Pn9uPy3YbXxXKRAY3ZOVYPpF2J1uprZDJ8C4J7jLBxIbAwsKlxT-ZVvu2t81E12g77_fjdftLuQ3uvzEnkOJYaW5Wyh8vxYxmEgVqO9B3RJ7P_gTjKRl5hyiWmXPMhXwo6K28Tus/s1600/FortMyers-Strand-Springbreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ib3Pn9uPy3YbXxXKRAY3ZOVYPpF2J1uprZDJ8C4J7jLBxIbAwsKlxT-ZVvu2t81E12g77_fjdftLuQ3uvzEnkOJYaW5Wyh8vxYxmEgVqO9B3RJ7P_gTjKRl5hyiWmXPMhXwo6K28Tus/s400/FortMyers-Strand-Springbreak.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Accidentally we ran into a <span style="font-size: large;">informal</span> pagean at one of the
beach hotels because it was Springbreak. Dressed in bikinis the graces shook
their hips to loud pop music and afterwards the audience decided who had
preformed best. Of all impressions<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
found one observation kind of striking: every second girl was named Ashley! So,
if you have some logical explanation for this pleeeease contact me via email
(see profile).</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp-a5fvRLv34E7wiCfwWD_tcQJuPe0XWj_FWAJESUs9Je2XFSOopKp9Hf2hZYOkZ-TbaGZ7hhzIoqnQzPc9ETfO1tEqtAIXFXSHcC5Vlu3Sv61v2CaEoIASkRbzpiCB6CyYR9BeE7MUM/s1600/FortMyers-Pier-at-night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSp-a5fvRLv34E7wiCfwWD_tcQJuPe0XWj_FWAJESUs9Je2XFSOopKp9Hf2hZYOkZ-TbaGZ7hhzIoqnQzPc9ETfO1tEqtAIXFXSHcC5Vlu3Sv61v2CaEoIASkRbzpiCB6CyYR9BeE7MUM/s400/FortMyers-Pier-at-night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><b>As you see it’s also fun
to visit the pier at night, though </b></span></b></span><b><span lang="EN-GB"><b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-size: large;">it’s more likely to meet
relaxed Pelicans here during the day. </span></b></b></span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3n3l3R54FEe-NPGLJ7JWxg5_8cGWVMV6vEL2PkMtWWbKYbaERK3DAvoGmJV-MA1_Ru86XfuqkbQSOtcM9X3Jr2t-ABVnhjiPsHMP20r0Y2dpNYRY1pu0vttsV83VAfs3WmgaGWrZhP4/s1600/Pelikan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3n3l3R54FEe-NPGLJ7JWxg5_8cGWVMV6vEL2PkMtWWbKYbaERK3DAvoGmJV-MA1_Ru86XfuqkbQSOtcM9X3Jr2t-ABVnhjiPsHMP20r0Y2dpNYRY1pu0vttsV83VAfs3WmgaGWrZhP4/s400/Pelikan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE;">To be continued </span></b></span></b></u></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE;"> </span></b></span></b></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-49317640341697637582013-02-26T12:44:00.001+01:002013-03-01T14:16:58.679+01:00FLORIDA - A Retrospective (P01)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Well, my favourite
location to spend a holiday is clearly at the beach, though I am aswell
interested in exploring the local culture and countryside. So, lying in the sun
for 7 days or more is just to little exciting for me and exactly two years ago
it happened that I went on my first trip to the USA. To be more precise to <i><u>Fort
Myers, Florida</u></i>. I hadn't started blogging yet, so I will now
catch up on this by devoting the next few postings to this matter and presenting
some photos to you.</span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(Note: If you are
planning a trip to Florida, please take the Hurricane-season into account)</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmaRK9mHyXfP_DiB5w3goawmEpW8feeusaO2bM5Y-RuR0sSXKlFmCEprElSrdprQsiK4_nsm8-U1BrdYTRDKJyg6qNOpREkepd5fvEaYIYCdFSMvypJWDleO9jbFagTHYUg7OwPh97Sw/s1600/Strand-Eingang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmaRK9mHyXfP_DiB5w3goawmEpW8feeusaO2bM5Y-RuR0sSXKlFmCEprElSrdprQsiK4_nsm8-U1BrdYTRDKJyg6qNOpREkepd5fvEaYIYCdFSMvypJWDleO9jbFagTHYUg7OwPh97Sw/s400/Strand-Eingang.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
</span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Once upon a time a
travelling group of six young adults got onto a plan on a cold and grey day in
February and reached their destination just after 11 hours in that tin of
Sardines. More irritating than the jetlag was the questioning done by the state
officers in the arrival area. It’s quite similar to the situation in a job interview
or even at a police department, because you are fingerprinted and the local
authorities have the power to put you on a flight back home without any
justification needed. Though once this obstacle has been mastered and you
behave well during your stay everything else is a piece of cake.</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Wemxu-3NuftX3RiaEJC17fppSVSbAdR1T5TqhAEhq6UQFkqsQ7iZCa_hHh7s7gcCqsQkI11Hfd7FS8dI_blYbOwkYDTAgqo5C1x32tVOUpiFMYGFUS2af9GRtKNV-Ow-qNEC3gG9u44/s1600/Haus-Frontansicht.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Wemxu-3NuftX3RiaEJC17fppSVSbAdR1T5TqhAEhq6UQFkqsQ7iZCa_hHh7s7gcCqsQkI11Hfd7FS8dI_blYbOwkYDTAgqo5C1x32tVOUpiFMYGFUS2af9GRtKNV-Ow-qNEC3gG9u44/s400/Haus-Frontansicht.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> After the six friends
had been allowed to enter the country, they picked up their reserved rentals
(cars) and drove through Fort Myers to their booked residence in a part of <u><i>Cape
Coral</i></u>. It is a kind of suburb where many houses are not permanently occupied by
their owners. They are just vacation homes and most of the time are let to
tourists via an agency which takes care about everything connected with the
house. This location is furthermore rather special because there is a water
channel system which leads you out onto the sea and so almost every house has
its own landing stage for its owner’s motorboat.</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTm2J0VOqR3kD1yZfkwMcl1RfK7Sj-RlkVeUY7ELLFPrM7OfRRrpaCV_WvlvsR3VBYmt09jydOgnI8flzKWb6pZsS-1ay0eWTC2yZ0wQcDcp_6e4ExJpPC1RuRUPnIIMJRPcpi5357j1k/s1600/Ferienhaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTm2J0VOqR3kD1yZfkwMcl1RfK7Sj-RlkVeUY7ELLFPrM7OfRRrpaCV_WvlvsR3VBYmt09jydOgnI8flzKWb6pZsS-1ay0eWTC2yZ0wQcDcp_6e4ExJpPC1RuRUPnIIMJRPcpi5357j1k/s400/Ferienhaus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you visit Florida or
actually the USA in general, you mustn’t be afraid of animals and insects,
because you might have to share your home with them. Nearly everyday we encountered
at least one<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>exponent of a specific prehistoric
species: a cockroach. For the purpose of pest control somebody had obviously
placed lines of a brown paste in the corners of the wall, and most cockroaches
were dead when we saw them. Other cohabitants were more after our fancy like
the small lizards in the pool area and the fishes living under the landing
stage.</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ5dknoILGN6cE7YTQ1gRyeTsNpU6Rh0F2Zr2a31w96qtvLyIeThuNquutUO9XnM9cIzvIfgUsz6pLjj483cXQLEyRAmkEuvTYVrZG-eeRUngjGOtKuXEMzy0QMY7SkcvFJl-eoidBFc/s1600/Haus-Kakerlake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ5dknoILGN6cE7YTQ1gRyeTsNpU6Rh0F2Zr2a31w96qtvLyIeThuNquutUO9XnM9cIzvIfgUsz6pLjj483cXQLEyRAmkEuvTYVrZG-eeRUngjGOtKuXEMzy0QMY7SkcvFJl-eoidBFc/s400/Haus-Kakerlake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA81MC-ZaRJt74BYPpg3QKU_x4j8bhRteAxth4BDUxwQnR8-OTkZ9ShPcab0TEcIUagGRs_nEqh-E4mcwIhplYWvuoAZgMpJTSMR7mpu1Cma5tbtX99R22l5gK-0ZbcofwnCcNEwfHfo/s1600/Eidechse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA81MC-ZaRJt74BYPpg3QKU_x4j8bhRteAxth4BDUxwQnR8-OTkZ9ShPcab0TEcIUagGRs_nEqh-E4mcwIhplYWvuoAZgMpJTSMR7mpu1Cma5tbtX99R22l5gK-0ZbcofwnCcNEwfHfo/s400/Eidechse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHkeA_CgP8heBB4MiBrzzME86tlaC0AD_2lA58eXZ2qEmVmgxaBTmqIzLF0W7VvEXsNIbb5VC1k8wv74Qx7CICPVf3kbzb19ERehRupFUHdwHIprjvM7Y82MWAxBoEW_E5U9nu3Msu9I/s1600/Haus-Fische-am-Bootsteg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHkeA_CgP8heBB4MiBrzzME86tlaC0AD_2lA58eXZ2qEmVmgxaBTmqIzLF0W7VvEXsNIbb5VC1k8wv74Qx7CICPVf3kbzb19ERehRupFUHdwHIprjvM7Y82MWAxBoEW_E5U9nu3Msu9I/s400/Haus-Fische-am-Bootsteg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Of course, there didn’t
happen quite much more on that day of arrival. As self-supporter we had to go
to the supermarket about 7 miles away for some water and other supplies (yes,
you really need a car in most regions of the US). Though this was actually
exciting enough. The supermarkets like Walmart or Publix have huge parking
lots, are gigantic themselves and contain countless variations of one and the
same product. I mean, who needs fifty different types of cookies to choose from?</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
</span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The very next day we
longed for the beach and our tourist guide books recommended a visit to <i><u>Sanibel
Island</u> </i>and <u><i>Captiva</i></u>, two islands offshore Florida’s west coast. One
gets there by a four kilometres long, bridge-like road similar to the famous
Route 1 which connects the Florida Keys in the south. I’ll report on this
later.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlXE_1Fcv9IJWXPXha7gTEUqXT1lW5Q1qqwXbLeapc0ErnTHUUdPtGy2mfSwVd3ZULFhiVsPkiTDg0edaxg2hWrLPrKLswifkm1kt-MYxxgUyv-AlWRODVmSaxXnnIK8fPk2_gN-qWXo/s1600/Stra%C3%9Fenszene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlXE_1Fcv9IJWXPXha7gTEUqXT1lW5Q1qqwXbLeapc0ErnTHUUdPtGy2mfSwVd3ZULFhiVsPkiTDg0edaxg2hWrLPrKLswifkm1kt-MYxxgUyv-AlWRODVmSaxXnnIK8fPk2_gN-qWXo/s400/Stra%C3%9Fenszene.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Surrounded by so many
palms and colourful houses one feels like driving along a Caribbean or tropical
island. After getting used to the scene<span style="color: #444444;">, you can enjoy it, which means </span>when you have stopped thinking: “This is a
scenery in some movie, right?” all the time.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejPUXIGtwm-lParo_oVsfRYvfJGzsfWt9fM4niBHk3GlpzHDmWPkvWjFoAJZDmOaqZbMLPNzdcssTz1uBNHn-t6KNmPn01akuoe5EqzZPQRDl3WLbesY7hHvKOm-qMXqLqNFuDF4Nvok/s1600/Einkaufspassage-Staedtchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejPUXIGtwm-lParo_oVsfRYvfJGzsfWt9fM4niBHk3GlpzHDmWPkvWjFoAJZDmOaqZbMLPNzdcssTz1uBNHn-t6KNmPn01akuoe5EqzZPQRDl3WLbesY7hHvKOm-qMXqLqNFuDF4Nvok/s400/Einkaufspassage-Staedtchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Finally, we’re at the
beach...</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M2lZ_1oaWFx2thJap7-BAx1klFwVCl9XP0vOpxS9lCyg2ejWixrdoNVg1WROqyDf6-z7QD9ZHnTxnAzLY7NPEf4vwBsWSqXmXoRPb0enX-OOC8XLmHdcS7bbRAkxBwBDjxFHrugoJRo/s1600/Strand-Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9M2lZ_1oaWFx2thJap7-BAx1klFwVCl9XP0vOpxS9lCyg2ejWixrdoNVg1WROqyDf6-z7QD9ZHnTxnAzLY7NPEf4vwBsWSqXmXoRPb0enX-OOC8XLmHdcS7bbRAkxBwBDjxFHrugoJRo/s400/Strand-Panorama.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It’s said that experts
have detected 400 different kinds of sea shells here. Unfortunately they build
a quite painful barrier to overcome if one wants to go swimming in the light
blue waves. Though after 3 days at the latest one should have grown enough hard
skin to pass them barefooted without feeling the shell’s prickly edges. </span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZeb0GtK1NHazWJySM9h79tIrrRn1SscytDO7OZElsmLXGB5pqJWhB9vhXCNiCpFEzuR2KcSPlsPHmqyJrabfhK-CukIUeogVgIJETWeqk64Zse8gOmNrTswx9LT2uOccIU0yjW8NkkE/s1600/Strand-Sand_und_Muscheln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZeb0GtK1NHazWJySM9h79tIrrRn1SscytDO7OZElsmLXGB5pqJWhB9vhXCNiCpFEzuR2KcSPlsPHmqyJrabfhK-CukIUeogVgIJETWeqk64Zse8gOmNrTswx9LT2uOccIU0yjW8NkkE/s400/Strand-Sand_und_Muscheln.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Apart from that this beach is a lovely place and there are some activities available.</b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdEsjqhZZSW-qfw-lqUYE49HXRHb3yS6ub_215TE0pON9EWy1yTx3dE54OmvoXQgkwKkETaqkqrIUnDJSRCsas4bDMrI1cyGw63z1JzHbGpxtfFpScNUpcxxsFz0Zvbq-nzTt7rodhWc/s1600/Strand-Sanibel-Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdEsjqhZZSW-qfw-lqUYE49HXRHb3yS6ub_215TE0pON9EWy1yTx3dE54OmvoXQgkwKkETaqkqrIUnDJSRCsas4bDMrI1cyGw63z1JzHbGpxtfFpScNUpcxxsFz0Zvbq-nzTt7rodhWc/s400/Strand-Sanibel-Panorama.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeaP02ElHu3ywjpIKIh7AorXHK1dR1u4wyA3yabmmCN036GjDOgkEJEIj8gDYAiJFDtjTI4eR3IjFonKI3SNp0ln62OghkZwzyfXW1J-tDTxSKJzSPVJdh1Q_QM3fKx_urwgKhIGef3s/s1600/Strand-Jetsky_und_Parasail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeaP02ElHu3ywjpIKIh7AorXHK1dR1u4wyA3yabmmCN036GjDOgkEJEIj8gDYAiJFDtjTI4eR3IjFonKI3SNp0ln62OghkZwzyfXW1J-tDTxSKJzSPVJdh1Q_QM3fKx_urwgKhIGef3s/s400/Strand-Jetsky_und_Parasail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: DE;"><br /></span></b></span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you get hungry, you can have a meal in a cosy restaurant which is located 100 metres off the beach (off-season) near the parking lots. New to us was the fact, that you do not simply enter a restaurant and choose a seat by yourself in the US. You</span></b> <b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">are greeted at the
entrance and seated by a service assistant who is often not the same person as
the waiter who takes your order. The obligatory tip covers 15-20 % of the
invoice total on your receipt. Sometimes the exact sum is enlisted separately.</span></b><br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKxQZebEi51FhgeaBcoj4bXuUWbIKEiqTd-Dm3iaJEkTyZskSAXqJ3J-SnozWkGOVLZEXah71-bdZPVP-3t3k2YZP-N_eLP8fH8eX62Vbid5wOhGjb6JwSSSDZ0L5VPPdwMMKNs8IWDg/s1600/Strand-Lokal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKxQZebEi51FhgeaBcoj4bXuUWbIKEiqTd-Dm3iaJEkTyZskSAXqJ3J-SnozWkGOVLZEXah71-bdZPVP-3t3k2YZP-N_eLP8fH8eX62Vbid5wOhGjb6JwSSSDZ0L5VPPdwMMKNs8IWDg/s400/Strand-Lokal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<br />
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Before we went back home
for that day, we stopped at the <span style="color: #bf9000;"><i>J. N. Darling National Wildlife Refuge</i></span>
which is the island’s green belt (Sanibel). It’s a nature protection area<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>consisting of mangrove woods and is home to
many bird species. There is a museum for information and a drive thru area to
observe the wildlife. If your lucky and they are not hiding themselves you can
even see alligators.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkBOeNkhDUD_h_X5zsrxf8U59Zho3VH3sc5sbEeFI6OcLrQviYiendzmZgIz6jKCW11vZ9bf2_TTImRlEEfXo807WoatUScz_ovY9Y5mMDUP8f_ZzSG0Qfer-i7gCZMOW_8cwpL9JGuE/s1600/Mangroven-besser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkBOeNkhDUD_h_X5zsrxf8U59Zho3VH3sc5sbEeFI6OcLrQviYiendzmZgIz6jKCW11vZ9bf2_TTImRlEEfXo807WoatUScz_ovY9Y5mMDUP8f_ZzSG0Qfer-i7gCZMOW_8cwpL9JGuE/s400/Mangroven-besser.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx6YDG1Kady9ZU2RboC7q8W_Tifi3O47OXdDJLBUNvHpfFnpUzfvS5DfOvvvGPobb589MXieLyfdU7G0fsIEg71q6kg5nVksqodtRla2yRpecF5lvmcHGV4wTkpHXZlSzwQKokSUFA28/s1600/Wildlife-Refugee-Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx6YDG1Kady9ZU2RboC7q8W_Tifi3O47OXdDJLBUNvHpfFnpUzfvS5DfOvvvGPobb589MXieLyfdU7G0fsIEg71q6kg5nVksqodtRla2yRpecF5lvmcHGV4wTkpHXZlSzwQKokSUFA28/s400/Wildlife-Refugee-Panorama.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJyAkNPHm_iCNl0kn5Ps1ByyGgZfZcPzCvnA-WbN7P8F-tKIzcqXvaSLb3eMjrTUOfv7U_n0J7JrARF02BI76pCo0_HKMwL60AXP4t13Dkv3NK40ptiofsaOxj3B4ZcdwPPAl5H4G5QI/s1600/Wildlife-Refugee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJyAkNPHm_iCNl0kn5Ps1ByyGgZfZcPzCvnA-WbN7P8F-tKIzcqXvaSLb3eMjrTUOfv7U_n0J7JrARF02BI76pCo0_HKMwL60AXP4t13Dkv3NK40ptiofsaOxj3B4ZcdwPPAl5H4G5QI/s400/Wildlife-Refugee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ftmHt6DLHAWwskjQQg2cbWMTOKUke5xAEPfPmsxR-fr8muCUxQ4Y2Fp8PouIUJPTh489hXtVJMcTm5TMhvuHl13vxZ3q4-Q85eVO3ZMhDEnZPKcjua5Fixupg2BXZmNQRbvLWu2umrk/s1600/Wildlife-Refugee-Nah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ftmHt6DLHAWwskjQQg2cbWMTOKUke5xAEPfPmsxR-fr8muCUxQ4Y2Fp8PouIUJPTh489hXtVJMcTm5TMhvuHl13vxZ3q4-Q85eVO3ZMhDEnZPKcjua5Fixupg2BXZmNQRbvLWu2umrk/s400/Wildlife-Refugee-Nah.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>To be continued</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i><b><span style="color: #990000;">P.S.: Please comment below by marking the appropriate adjective (no kind of subscription required) or using the comment box (veröffentlichen = publish; vorschau = preview)</span></b></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1h0jHmA0GWX_2TP-lXMAUGJpElLZMY8bif7pb4kU5L2qTPuTQnnqjRON2pUQdp4tx_-NZnt0PtfRTisY7jiAhsihqYiOEzvN2C_8jt6GNfvAlviWNWzAxHRWjeDO18eHHfug9Mbq9w/s1600/Strand-Eingang.jpg"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a></div>
<br />Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43149357695333831.post-5961359625533422002013-02-19T19:03:00.000+01:002013-03-24T21:28:23.905+01:00The Venus' trap<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;"><b><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Dear
reader,</span></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">welcome to
my new and international blog at blogspot.com! </span></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To keep it
simple I just assume you found me via my German blog “<a href="http://www.aufdemweginsnirgendwo.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Auf dem Weg ins Nirgendwo</a>” which means “On the way to nowhere”. Unfortunately this name has
already been assigned by somebody, so that I had to choose a different one.
Nevertheless, this blog will be dealing with the same matters as my German one,
which are every day madness, comments on my world-wide travels (especially to
the US) and stuff I'm currently interested in. Feel free to leave questions or
statements for me and fellow-readers, but please stay polite. Editing will
probably take one day. New posts are released on a weekly basis.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><b>P.S.:<i> Sorry guys, I'm still learning by doing... now everybody is able to leave a comment. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><b><i>Subscribe using your Google-account, if you want to join the party. </i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And now,<span style="color: red;">
enjoy yourself!</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
</div>
<br />
<img alt="Venus fly trap with young frog" src="http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/D8/D89677CF-CDFF-4752-825B-F73B56244713/Presentation.Medium/Venus-fly-trap-with-young-frog.jpg" /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">*So, Valentine’s day has just passed and
everything is back to normal in most relationships, unless he or she didn’t
miss the opportunity to express one’s love to the other. But know it’s time to
deal with one of the most explosive situations between men and women: <b>The
Do-I-look-good-in this-Question!</b> One may or may not believe in the Christian story
about Eve seducing Adam to take a bite from the apple of insight (right term?),
though this daily tragedy between couples is definitively real. Let me describe what I
exactly mean: She and He are getting dressed to leave for some kind of date.
Now, it’s almost a natural rule that She can’t decide herself what to wear and
therefore asks his opinion. <span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">And this is</span></span> were it gets dangerous! What is he
supposed to say? If he rejects her current choice She will most likely, be
offended and won’t talk to him all evening/ day long, though a well-meant
compliment will probably arouse suspicion on her side. How can she be sure that
you’re being honest and not just impatient? After all she has a reputation to
loose…or at least that’s what she thinks.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 35.4pt;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A psychologist </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">questioned on this matter</span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> gives
the following advice:</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Your answer
should be truthful but always contain a positive remark <span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><span style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto auto;">towards</span></span> her body.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To clarify
this statement consider the following example of mine:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Babe, (or
whatever term of endearment you use for your girlfriend or wife) you know I
love your figure, but these pants don’t seem right. You should choose a pair
that puts more emphasize on your already endless and sexy legs.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b>Well, what do <u>you </u>think?</b> Could
this really be an effective strategy for this highly-explosive situation? Have
you developed and explored a different technique? <i><b>Please share your good or bad
experiences with me and your fellow-readers.</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><i><span style="color: #444444;"><b>*</b>This picture shows a plant called a venus flytrap eating a frog.</span><b> </b></i></span></div>
Die Einehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05321504640283124787noreply@blogger.com0