Berlin Day Hike: Lights In The Lake

This Saturday I have been to Tegeler See and had this crazy February light showing off the winter colors of nature. The peacefulness of this hike – there have been quite some people because of the weather, and the forecast which predicted storms and rain starting Sunday – was interrupted, when I walked along the border of a residential area (Konradshöhe) with nearly no traffic. A car approached from behind me and honked. As there was a lot of space for the driver to pass, I shrugged my shoulders in a WTF?-gesture without turning around. He opened his window—a guy in his 60s or 70s—and swore at me in a very disturbing and loud way (cunt, ugly ass, fuck off, bitch). I asked quite calmly what kind of problem he had and he continued insulting me. When he started steering his car in my direction, I turned onto a small path into the forrest.
I was kind of upset for a while walking through the underbrush and even turned around several times to see if he would follow me. And I asked myself what leads people to behave like idiots?

It’s only February and there are already five dead cyclists in Berlin. And I’m guessing this kind of attitude is one the reasons for that.

Berlin Day Hike: Along Tegeler Fließ With Some Sunrays

 

 

And back in the dark:

Odenwald Hike: Sunny Fields And Icy Skies

This is a picture from an event that dates back to the year 1330 in Walldürn: A priest knocked over a chalice of altar wine and the wine formed a picture of Jesus and his disciples on the altar cloth. He hid the cloth and only revealed the event and the picture 50 years later on his death bed.

Odenwald Hike: Through The Forest Along Eiderbach

A short hike through the forest with one of my oldest childhood friends who lives very far away from me.

(The last picture is from the city center of Mosbach, but I had to post it)

Hiking The Azores: The Mystery behind The Mistérios Negros

The hike: wonderful and fascinating hike which is only around 6 kms long with an altitude change of only 100 meters, but heavens, those meters!

We started at Gruta do Natal. From here the hike starts very easily. If there was rain the days before, you should really consider to wear waterproof boots (I don’t say that frequently :)), the entire area is very wet and you won’t be able to not walk through puddles or mud on your way. Gradually the hike gets more complicated and shortly next to the misterios negros you will definitely use both of your hands and be happy about the good shoes, a pole and packing light.

You will be gratified with stunning views over silent lakes, dense and mystic underbrush and a real rainforest atmosphere. About 1,5 km before returning to Gruta do natal you’ll have a wonderful view over the hilly landscape and the misterios negros.

The Misterios Negros are streams of cold lava. People in former times weren’t able to explain what it is and so they called them Mistérios Negros – black mysteries.

If you want you can additionally climb Pico Gaspar (ca. 50m of elevation). Gruta do natal is not open on sundays and opens at 14:30 all the other days. If you are by car, go for the near fumaroles afterwards.

 

The misterios negros

Bye-bye Azores, we had a great time!

Hiking The Azores: Stormy Hike From Aldeia Del Fonte Along The Coast Trail

Just a short hike along dirt roads, because it rained and it was our last day on Pico. But the colors! And the waves! I could stare at the sea forever during this kind of weather.

Our hotel had its own old whale watching tower. I sat there for a while, starred at the sea and tried to imagine how the vigias (the whale watchers) did do their work with only some normal low-tech binoculars. But I came to only this insight: The ocean is fucking big!