„Due to the bad weather conditions, we´re unable to take all your luggage with us. It will come with a later machine“. So far, the narrow-lined announcement by a staff member of Precision Air in the quite dilapidated departure area of the airport of Arusha.
With a somewhat queasy feeling I climb into the propeller machine, reckon with the worst, but land quite gently in a paradise with the magic name Zanzibar.
I am sitting in a camp in Africa, at the foot of the Rongai Hills, my gaze wandering across the wide plain of the Serengeti, the original score of John Barry is running in the background, and I review the last four days.
The first day begins with a panic cry and I know immediately, either my wife has burned on the trickle of shower or we have a visit from the terrarium.
In retrospect, the third day was the most critical of the Kilimanjaro hike. First indications of altitude sickness, which can be noticed by piercing headaches, the eternal search for clothes and equipment in the tent, the lack of hygiene and the fine lava dust, which is like a layer over everything, makes me doubt the project. My face feels as if Apollo Creed had beaten it a whole night so it was hard for me to insert my contact lenses.
„You have to get out of your comfort zone, if you want to experience the perfect moment“. I have the words of entrepreneur Jochen Schweizer, whom I met shortly before in Munich, still well in mind, as our mountain guide Paul inspected all my equipment in our little hotel room in Arusha.
I can hardly believe my luck while I look out of the window. It is the 3rd of September and the majestic Dolomite peaks are covered with tons of snow and already give a taste for the approaching winter season. Thank goodness, the pass road to the Falzarego is easy to drive, otherwise all summer tire fanatics would have gotten bad problems, because the snowfall has even overcooked the fir trees up here.
How does it feel to wake up next to Angela Merkel? Or to sweat with Bono in the Finnish sauna? Or to lead a discussion with Bill Gates about equal opportunities? Closer than in the famous Hotel Seehof you can hardly come to the greats of politics, business and entertainment, because every year in January the „Grande Dame“ of the Davos hotels, is the place to stay to attend the World Economic Forum.
The sky is as blue as if it were a lie. A lonely cloud sticks like an UFO over the imposing triangle of the Piz Roseg and reminds me a little of the Lhotse in the Himalayas. I went up to the middle station of Piz Corvatsch and made my way to a mountain hut called Fuorcla Surlej. From here you get a first feeling for the perfect mountain panorama.
„Welcome to the living room of Pontresina“. Anne-Rose Walther greeted me warmly at the reception and gave me a fruity welcome drink. Suitcase and car disappear as if by magic and I feel directly at home at the newly renovated Tagesbar, the heart of the Hotel Walther or better of the new Hotel Walther.
With horror I stared at today’s calendar. It is already the 7th of july. Half a year has already passed and soon we will discuss how the summer has been like. There is still everything possible between too wet, too short and much too hot. But I´m even more concerned with the progress of time. We live far too fast, consume experiences like snacks and move the private into the virtual. If you do not stop there every now and then, life is quickly over. Not with me, I think and drive my car direction second home.
The four engines are purring like a kitten, as the mighty A380 glides across the dense cloudy sky over Miami. More sovereign than with the king of the air, one can hardly land in this art-crazy city. The sultry air thawes my deep-frozen shirt in seconds and nestles lovingly to my body. For the next two days, I stay at the Lord Balfour, directly in the epicenter of South Beach.
