Seriously, Mr. Nolan? That’s the kind of stuff you have in and create with your mind? Absolutely wonderful

During the last week I decided to go to the cinema and booked tickets for a film I already waited a long time for. Some time last year I have seen the first Trailer of ‘Inception’ and I couldn’t believe my eyes.

The Trailer told everyting and nothing, as the second one. But somehow that made it really interesting. Well, that’ the job of a trailer, right

Because Germany has an adopted film industry, it takes some time until the films are coming out in the cinema. So when I read and heard about the first reviews of friends, I was getting more and more excited!

Thank you, Mr. Christoper Nolan! I was going into these subconsciousnesses and levels of dreams with the Team of Dom Cobb, too. This film pulled me deeply into the story, which is intelligent, clever and amazing. It has it all what an outstanding film does need I just wanted to be and felt I was one part of the team in this film!

If you like films where you have to follow the story all along otherwise you loose it and where you try to figure out what is actually happening, you think you know and in the end the story turns out to be different. If you like puzzle parts, quests, questions and so on… well then you will like this one! 
A comparison to this kind of story line is for instance Sherlock Holmes, The Prestige, Inside Man. But all those three films can’t reach the elegance and genious story line of Inception, in my opinion. Maybe it’s also the emtional overwhelming feeling I have now but this film was phenomenal to watch!

It really blow my mind and I’m still amazed by these pictures, places, ideas and so much more… I won’t tell you more and spoil anything, just go and enjoy! It’s definitley worth it

I can highly recommend ‘Inception’ out of 10 points I’ll give it more  a 100 (as maximum)!

Your film girl, Livia

Trailer :

Update:

Unfortunately, another young girl of 21 years old died tonight in hospital, because of her severe injuries. Now 20 people lost their lives…

As well, I have to correct my statement:
Paul and I had a long talk this evening, we tried to understand what happened and at what time we actually have been in the tunnel/ entrance area.

I don’t know how to say this, but Paul and I, we actually were in that massive crowd. In the beginning of videos  on the news you can see some lines of people going to the right towards the party (main area). The others went left and wanted to get out. People crossed us and climbed up the wall, we didn’t recognise why and just said to each other that climbing up the wall is ridiculous and dangerous.

Somehow, we lost each other several times and found each other again. People were leaving so we thought the crowd will be less in some time, but we didn’t know that behind us the entrance/exit out of the tunnel was closed. Also we figured out that we didn’t went up to the main area along the actual (entrance) ramp. We got to the main area via the second ramp which was opened just before the crowd paniced. It must have all happened behind our backs while we tried to get to the main area, out of the massive crow. We were just happy to breath again and not being pushed  so heavily anymore. That people died, we didn’t know this until we had some seconds of service/network around 11pm.

Why didn’t we figure this out earlier? Well, we both needed time to first answer all the calls, messages etc. of family and friends and needed a day off the media which is ripping everything into little peaces. After we figured out where we actually have been, I felt terrible and shocked again. I´m so grateful and happy that Paul and I made it through the crowd.

Livia

__________________________________________________________________

I was very excited for Saturday – the Loveparade was on again. An event where people meet, celebrate and dance in peace.

For us, we actually had a great time until we had some seconds of connection and read the news. 11pm the Loveparade was abruptly stopped, people got angry sure, because they didn’t say anything about why at the announcement. I just had a strange feeling in my tummy. And my thoughts were right. The organisers stopped the Loveparade, because of a horrible happening. People had died.

 I will try to write down for you what happened while I have been there, because so many of you were asking anxiously.

You may think and question – why didn’t they do this earlier stop the event earlier the day. Well, imagine there was already a huge massive crowd in panic and all the others round about 800.000 people hear the news and start walking to the exit to leave due to more panic or anxiousness. The result of it would have been even worse.

As for me, there were so many police man, special force, and security everywhere, lots of toilets, food and drink spots. At the main area still lots of space during the day. The idea of the path from the main station to the party area was actually good, too. People had to walk two separate 2km long ways till they would reach the entrance. So they crowd would spread along the way. Before you could reach the actual entrance people had to pass a tunnel. There it was narrow for all people and at with this spot the entrance/exit the organisors made a big mistake in my point of view!

When Paul and I had passed the tunnel, we already had a massive crowd to overcome in front of a small entrance. When we reached the beginning of the tunnel we could breathe, but then we went further and so many people were passing us about to leave. There again was such a huge crowd, that even I had an anxious feeling in my tummy and we were happy when we reached the main area. It wasn’t funny at all. But the gates were open. So we thought it will get less crowded, because most people were leaving.

After that bit of way we had an amazing time, dancing on one of the floads and we were standing first row at the main stage, waiting for ATB, David Guetta and Westbam to turn the tables. (I may upload some pictures of our good time, but not soon.) The sun was shining and we meet people from America, Nicaragua and other places. No sign of what was happening some metres away. The network and cellphone connection broke down, but that happens most of the itme at such events.

What started with a nice day ended in a tragedy!

I barely can describe what happened, because so much did happen along the tunnel and the passage up to the main area and we passed it half an hour before the actual happening.

Too many people had to wait, pushed forward, were climbing up the walls to free themselves. As far as I read and saw it on the news they had to close down one spot, because of too many people, but still people wanted to leave and more were about to come. Well, as people started to climb up the walls some fell down and the panic started. Literally people were tramped to death.

The number is horrifying, 16 people died on the spot and 3 more of their severe injuries. More than 300 people still have severe injuries. As soon as we found out the horrible news via Pauls’s iphone, we had seconds of connection, our mood dropped. The event was stopped at 11pm and we walked back along the motorway to the main station. While we had connection I received so many messages and calls of my family and friends.

It was all surreal.

I woke up this morning, had a hard time sleeping last night. During the morning still friends wrote me messages, emails and even my cousin from UK called me. Also, I watched the news and started to understand what actually happened and tears were running down my face… I’m shocked and feel terrible, while I was dancing some metres away people were dying.

The Loveparade always was an event of people coming together celebrating. At the beginning of the press conference they announced to close the Loveparade forever in compassion for all the families, which is the only right thing to do after such tragedy! Unfortunately, people from China, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia are amongst the death as well as people from here. This should have never happened to anyone!

I’m very sorry for your worries. Thank you all for having me in your thoughts, for all of your messages, calls and hopes that everything will be alright. I’m so grateful to have such good friends all over the world!

My compassion and heart goes out to all the families and friends of those people who died! Rest in peace.

Livia

Nach meiner langen Reise am anderen Ende der Welt war ich startklar für die Entdeckung meiner Umgebung, das Ruhrgebiet!

Ihr kennt es sicherlich, die meisten Menschen im Ausland denken wir Deutsche würden den lieben langen Tag Lederhosen tragen, Weißwurst essen und Bier trinken. Nun ja, nicht wirklich. Klar wird dies gern zum Oktoberfest gemacht, aber die Lederhosen sind ein Teil der bayrischen Kultur nicht ganz Deutschlands. Beim Bier sieht das schon etwas anders aus, da ist ganz Deutschland dabei. Insbesondere mit dem hoch gelobten Reinheitsgebot. Dennoch, wir alle wissen es gibt so viel mehr in diesem Land zu sehen und zu entdecken! Geprägt von langer Geschichte, jungen aufstrebenden Metropolen, Natur und Multikulti (unschwer bei der WM 2010 zu erkennen ) Ich weiß es gibt auch noch viele andere Stereotypen, aber gerade diese sind mir immer wieder über den Weg gelaufen!

Deswegen habe ich auf meinem Rückflug entschieden, dass ich Deutschland aus meinem Blickwinkel präsentieren will! Zwar hab auch ich noch nicht alles gesehen, aber schon einiges besucht, viel gelesen und einige meiner Freunde hier in Deutschland haben evtl. Lust über Ihre Stadt oder Heimatort zu berichten!

Besonders dieses Jahr ist klasse, um euch meine Gegend vorzustellen!

Das schöne Gelsenkirchen liegt im Westen von Deutschland. Die wohl bekanntere Stadt in NRW ist Köln. Wenn Ihr euch Richtung Norden entlang des Rheins haltet, werdet Ihr Düsseldorf auf der Landkarte finden. Nun noch ein wenig weiter Nordwest-wärts fahren und Ihr erreicht das Ruhrgebiet, gelegen am Fluss Ruhr.

“In der Gegend hier ist wirklich was los. Der monumentale Strukturwandel von der Montanregion zur kreativen europäischen

Metropole des 21. Jahrhunderts ist in vollem Gange– die Metropole Ruhr!”¹ Für mich bleibt es dennoch immer das Ruhrgebiet

Dieses Jahr wurde Essen zur Kulturhauptstadt Europas ernannt und liegt von der Gelsenkirchen aus mal eben um die Ecke. Aber was bedeutet das Kulturhauptstadt Europas?
“Ziel der Benennung einer “Europäischen Kulturhauptstadt” ist es, “den Reichtum, die Vielfalt und die Gemeinsamkeiten des kulturellen Erbes in Europa herauszustellen und einen Beitrag zu einem besseren Verständnis der Bürger Europas füreinander zu leisten”. In dem entsprechenden Jahr finden in den „Kulturhauptstädten“ zahlreiche kulturelle Veranstaltungen statt. Andere Städte wie Pésc in Ungarn und Istanbul in der Türkei sind ebenfalls von der EU neben Essen und dem Ruhrgebiet ernannt worden.“¹

53 Städte des Ruhrgebites, rund 5.2 Millionen Enwohner, mehr als 250 Projekte und ein ganzes Jahr, um die Veränderung sowie den Wandel durch Kultur der Welt zu präsentieren – RUHR2010!

A40 – eine Autobahn wird für einen Tag geschlossen, einem Sonntag! Das Highlight dieses Jahres

“60 km lang und schlängelt sich von West nach Ost, verlinkt kleine und große Städte miteinander, Vororte und Einwohner des Ruhrgebiets. Sie ist wirklich 35 km länger als die längste Nord-Süd Verkehrsader in Manhatten. 

 

Es ist die Hauptverkehrsader durch die Region, eine der mit höchsten Stauraten in ganz Deutschland. Diesen (letzten) Sonntag am 18. Juli 2010  wird diese Verkehrsader für einen Tag zum Stillstand kommen! Die Straße erhält Fahrverbot von Motorenvekehr und in eine einzigartige Bühne für alltägliche Kultur verwandelt!”¹

“Schulen und Kindergärten, Vereine und Kirchengemeinden, Chöre und Brass bands, Pfadfinder und türkische Ravers warden die Autobahn übernehmen und das hohe Vielfältigkeit des kunterbunten Lebens enthüllen, welche sich sonst hinter den Lärmschutzwänden verbirgt. Ein fast 60km langes Bankett mit nicht weniger als 20.00 Tischen feiert das längste und bunteste Straßenfest in Europa. Und wenn die Einwohner von 170 verschiedenen Nationen mit Essen und Ihren Kulturen an dem internationalen Picknick teilnehmen, wird die A40 alles was dieses Ruhrgebiet ausmacht miteinander verbinden. “Zu uns kommt man als Gast. Und geht als Kumpel.”¹

Für diesen Sonntag hab eich mir meine Inline Skates geschnappt und startete vom Gelsenkirchener Hbf. Ein Shuttle Bus brachte die vielen Spaziergänger und Skater, wie mich, zur Auffahrt der A40. Alle Fahrradfahrer fuhren mit Ihren Rädern direkt zur Autobahn.

Als ich ankam konnte ich meinen eigenen Augen nicht trauen!

Es gab Stau auf der A40, nicht unüblich, aber es war Fahrrad- und Menschenstau!!! Mein Ziel an diesem Tag – von der Auffahrt/ Ausfahrt Gelsenkirchen Süd bis nach Mühlheim via Essen skaten!

Während des 12km skaten habe ich noch nie so viele Menschen auf einer Autobahn gesehen Nun ja, ich habe noch nie so viele Menschen auf einer Autobahn gesehen, außer neben ein paar Baustellenarbeitern die dort gearbeitet… ah entlang spaziert sind ! Das letzte Mal, dass viele Menschen auf einer Autobahn spaziert, mit Rollschuhen oder Fahrrädern befahren habe war in den 70iger Jahren, aufgrund der Ölkrise.

 

Dieses Mal haben sich aber die Menschen zum größten Volksfest dieser Region getroffen!

Und das Ruhrgebiet ließ sich das nicht zweimal sagen – von erwarteten 1 Million Schaulustigen kamen fast 3 Millionen Menschen und erlebten dieses Ereignis! Je weiter ich nach Essen kam umso voller wurde es. Kinder, junge Menschen wie ich, ältere Herrschaften, es kam mir vor als ob wirklich jeder unterwegs war! Zum Teil musste sogar die Polizei Auffahrten sperren, da einfach viel zu viele Menschen auf der A40 waren! *haha* Überlegt euch das Mal, nicht Autos, nein Menschen selbst waren der Stau! Toll so was zu sehen!

Nach 12km kam ich in Mühlheim an und traf meine Freundin Jasmin. Ich muss dazu sagen, dass die Schließung der A40 Menschen und alte Freunde wieder zusammengebracht hat – so wie Jasmin und mich! Wir haben uns seit einer langen Zeit nicht mehr gesehen, aber Jasmin hat meine Posts über diesen Blog bei Facebook entdeckt und gleich eine Nachricht geschrieben. Den Rest des Tages haben wir mit leckerem Eis und klasse Jazz Musik am großen Kunstrasenteppich vor dem Essener Hbf verbracht!

Was für ein unglaublicher Tag! Ein genialer Sonntag! A40 rockt!

Cheers euer Skater girl, Livia

P.S. In der Gallery git es ganz viele Impressionen des A40 Still-Leben-Ruhrschnellweg Events!

 

Danke an die Bilder und Reportagen der RUHR2010 – Ich hätte die diesjährige Feier und Ihre Higlights nicht besser beschreiben können!
¹: http://www.metropoleruhr.de/kultur/kulturhauptstadt/still-leben.html;  http://www.essen-fuer-das-ruhrgebiet.ruhr2010.de/home.html

After exploring parts of the world I was ready to start exploring the “Ruhrgebiet”, the area I´m living at.

Most people abroad just know Germany as the country of beer and the October feast. Well, I have to disappoint you. Our country has a lot more than just white sausage, leather pants (both very typical for Bavaria) and beer (all of Germany). There is more to see and to explore here in this country! Ancient history, young metropolitan style cities, nature and multicultural people (if you haven´t recognised our soccer team during the world cup ). Sure, there do exist many more stereotypes, but these were the ones people were talking about mostly during my trip.

I decided on my flight back that I will present you Germany from my point of view! Sure, I haven´t seen everything yet but I know a lot and I have friends living all over Germany who might like the idea of telling you out there what is going on in their hometown! 

Especially this year is great for doing that with the area I´m living!  

Gelsenkirchen, situated in the west of Germany. The biggest  known city around here in NRW (Nordrhine Westfalia) for people from abroad is Cologne. Ok, if you drive north along the river Rhine you will notice Düsseldorf! If you drive a bit further North West you will reach the Ruhrgebiet – an area of many cities situated along the river Ruhr.

“The area around here is truly on its way. An immense structural change from a mining district to a creative, 21st century metropolis is in full swing – the Ruhr Metropolis!”¹

This year the city Essen was named to be one of the ‘European capital of culture’, which is just around the corner of my hometown. But what does that actually mean?
“The aim of selecting a “European Capital of Culture” is to emphasise the cultural riches, the variety and the common cultural heritage in Europe, and to make a contribution towards mutual understanding amongst the citizens of Europe. The chosen “Capital of Culture” presents numerous cultural events throughout its respective year. Other cities like the Hungarian city of Pécs and the Turkish city of Istanbul have been selected of the EU to be “European Capitals of Culture” alongside the city of Essen and the Ruhr metropolitan area.”¹
53 towns of the Ruhr region, round about 5.2 million residents, more than 250 projects and one year to show this transformation through culture to the world– RUHR2010!

A40 – a motorway gets closed down for one day, Sunday. The Highlight of this year!

“It is 60 km long and stretches from west to east linking the towns and cities, the suburbs and the inhabitants of the Ruhr Metropolis. Indeed it is 35 km longer than the longest north-south traffic artery in Manhattan. It is the main traffic artery throughout the region, has one of the highest rates of traffic in Germany. This Sunday on the 18th July 2010 this traffic artery will come to a halt for a day! The road will be banned to motor traffic and turned into a unique stage for everyday culture.”¹

“Schools and kindergartens, clubs and church communities, choirs and brass bands, Boy Scouts and Turkish ravers will take over the motorway to reveal the huge range of colourful life that otherwise remains hidden behind the noise protection walls. An almost 60 kilometre long banqueting area consisting of no less than 20.000 tables to celebrate the largest and most colourful street festival in Europe. And when the inhabitants from 170 different nations arrive with their food and their cultures to take part in the international picnic, the A40 will be linking everything which goes to make up life in the Ruhr Metropolis.  As the locals say: “Zu uns kommt man als Gast. Und geht als Kumpel. – Arrive as a guest and leave as a friend” ( The local German word “Kumpel” means both a miner as well as a pal, a mate, a buddy)!¹

I took my inline skates and started from the Gelsenkirchen main station. A shuttle bus took all the walkers and skaters like me to the motorway. All bicycle drivers had to cycle to the motorway.

I arrived and couldn’t believe my eyes!

There was traffic on the motorway – bicycle and people traffic!!! My target for the day was to skate from the exit of Gelsenkirchen to Mühlheim via the epic centre Essen which is also the ‘European capitel of culture’.

While 12km skating I have never seen so many people before on a motorway Well, I have never seen people besides counstruction sight workers who where working I mean walking on a motorway at all!  The last time so many people walked, cycled and rollerskated on a motorway like that was in the 70ties, because of the oil crisis.

This time people met for the biggest folk festival ever in this region.

And the Ruhr region or now called ‘Metropolis Ruhr’ didn’t need to be told twice - of the expected 1 million actual round about 3 million people came to enjoy this exciting event! The further I got to Essen the more crowded it was. Children, people my age, older people it seemed as somehow everyone was there! The police had to close several exits, ’cause there were too many people on the motorway *haha* Think about it, not cars, people themselves were doing this traffic! Amazing to watch!

After the 12km’s I arrived in Mühlheim to meet my friend Jasmin! I have to admit the closing of the A40 brought people together and brought old friends together again, too - like Jasmin and me. We haven’t seen each other for a long time, but Jasmin discovered my blog, my posts on facebook and contacted me! The last bit of the day we had some yummi ice cream and relaxed while listening to some good jazz music on the big artificial grass carpet at the main station in Essen!

What a incredible day! An awesome Sunday! A40 motorway rocks!

Cheers your skater girl, Livia

P.S. Check out my pictures of the A40 Still-Leben-Ruhrschnellweg event and this link of BBC news!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10676728

 

Thanks for the pictures and reports of the RUHR2010 and Metropole Ruhr – I couldn´t describe this year of celebration and highlights any better!
¹: http://www.metropoleruhr.de/index.php?id=6826; http://www.essen-fuer-das-ruhrgebiet.ruhr2010.de/home.html

First the little Finale of Germany for you!

Both teams Germany and Uruguay did fight very hard, but Germany showed again what terrific team they are and how great our young players can play soccer!!! They won 3:2!!! Marcel Jansen, Thomas Müller and Semi Khedira are the goal scorers!!!
What a great team -- multicultural, strong and ambitious!!! They presented Germany the world with amazing games!!!

Germany is 3rd of this world cup 2010!!!

Enjoy the last RAPORTAGE, for the non-german readers – I did attached a translation for you!!

Blumentopf:

So that’s it with the finale -- close, but no cigar. It wasn’t meant to be! The shock runs deep! The dream burst No title No.4!
It’s winter in South Africa and Germany is freezing! The young eleven would have deserved to move to the finale!
Man, but they were snookered against the Spanish team! And would have, would, could, wanted, is no use!
We had too much respect and less possession of the ball! The competitor was way too superior and exactly this was the problem! And instead of sweet title dreams there are salty tears! This does hurt so much!

Yeah, we can understand, but Mr. Captain don’t let the flag fly at half-mast! Because 2010 you have rocked and the whole world has seen it! Man, what kind of scenes were these! Ey man, the counterattacks so accurate and the midfield so creative and the defence so solid!
What kind of team is this! What kind of big games were these ones! What kind of goose flesh moments and what kind of deserved victories! And it´s not the end! Now it is time to wake up, clean the shoes and go on!
Yet it´s not the time to pack your soccer shoes! Two goals Klose – that would be big and great sport! Come on get the crown and crack the record! (Unfortunately, Miroslav Klose was/ is injured with his back, so he couldn’t play)!
Guys, we are proud of you! Work flat out again! Enchant us again and show us real dream soccer!

One, two, three – We say Thank you for this tournament!
Three, two, one – it was really a great time
One, two, three – You electrified the world!
Three, two, one – that’s why you come back home as winners!
So come on show Uruguay who the boss is on the field!
We have the soccer fever and are excited for the national league! (End)

Award for the German team

For this outstanding tournament our national trainer will receive the Federal Cross of Merit for his great work, effort and ambition to get this young so far! His first time as national trainer at a world cup tournament! As well our president of Germany Christian Wulff will award our team with the silver bay leaf, because they played not just together they played for each other and showed us a great dynamic and tense world cup and last game!

What a tense finale! Spain vs. Netherlands!

Too many awful fouls, no goals during the main time and overtime!!! I think the whole team of the Netherlands had yellow cards and one of them has yellow+yellow= red! But Spain wasn’t better, well the didn’t receive that many cards!
And then goal – assist of Fernando Torres and Andrés Iniesta made it!!! And what kind of goal!!!
Straight and with so much power into the goal!!!
However the game wasn’t great of both teams, not a nice and good Finale to watch!
In the end the best team won -- Spain is the world cup winner – 1:0!!!

Oh before I forget – our player Thomas Müller is the top scorer!!! He shot 5 goals and made 3 assists during the tournament in South Africa! After this finale game it is decided, because Villa and Sneijder didn´t score! Therefore Müller, 20 years old and youngest player of the German team, is going to receive the cup for top scorer of this world cup tournament!!! Congratulations, Thomas Müller!!!

Short Resume

The world cup 2010 is finished! 50 days – 5 weeks – full of soccer! Definitely a different tournament to the previous ones! Vuvuzelas instead of fan songs, strange decisions of the referees and so many yellow cards also less well played games!

What do you think? What kind of tournament did you see?

We will see us in 2014 when the world is going to meet again in Brazil!

Cheers, Livia

Quarterfinals!!! Germany vs. Argentina!!! We played again, after such a long break!

Argentina was stated to be the favourite and win this game!!! Well, we proved you wrong!!! Totally wrong!!!

An alle meine deutschen Leser: Ich brauch euch nicht viel zu diesem Spiel erzählen -- genießt die Videos, da diese auf Deutsch sind!!! Wir haben die Gauchos wirklich in einem absolut genialem Spiel verdient geschlagen!!! Vorwärts Deutschland!!!

Check out this pre- RAPORTAGE about the last 5 games Germany vs. Argentina at former World Cup´s and supporting our TEAM on Cape Town for this game:

Let´s begin with the third minute of the game -- you got Müller(ed) -- Gooooaaaaal for Germany!!! And this yellow card for the handball of Müller was unnecessary, because he didn´t touch the ball with his hand at all, he did it with his chest and somehow it looked like as if but it wasn´t… grrrr… now he is blocked for the next game, but don´t even start to underestimate us If you have seen the second half of the game you know what I mean!!!

Argentina just had one really good chance, but it was an offside goal and guess what the referee did see it
And even if Argentina came close we had Manuel Neuer, our goalkeeper, who saved sooooo many goals!!!
With the begin of the second half of the game people at the public viewing spot were just hoping that Germany is keeping the  score, but something way better came up!!! Two times Klose and one time Friedrich made terrific goals!!! The whole crowd was cheering and celebrating!!!

Check out the highlights on this video!!!

The lady with the red jacket she is our Chancellor Angela Merkel and you better check out Miroslav Klose turning his Salto at 3:05!!!

But not just any cheering!!!! During the beginning of the second half it started to rain… first a little bit and then, gosh , as if someone would empty buckets above your head!!! The whole week the degrees were climbing… till 38 degrees today!!! All the days and today sunshine -- it was so hot all day!!! Suddenly rain and thunderstorm came up -- so refreshing!!! But check out the pictures -- we got wet, really wet *hahah* and our soccer team didn´t left us standing in the rain for nothing We won 4:0!!!! Freaking awesome!!! What an oustanding, dynamic, fast, incredible…..can go on like this, but…. GAME!!!

 Spain, we want revenge for the European Cup Final 2008!!! SEMI-FINALS HERE WE COME!!!

Your soccer fan, Livia

P.S. check out the gallery World Cup 2010 South Africa for more pictures!!!
P.P.S. because of all this cheering my voice is kinda gone

Here it is -- Blumentopf RAPORTAGE No.9 Germany vs. Argentina World Cup 2010 !! Enjoy the video! For all people who don´t understand German I tried my very best with the a translation!

Translation

Blumentopf: “Welcome! I don´t know what to say!”

Thomas Müller: “We are just celebrating now!”

Jogi Löw: “That was great!”

Blumentopf: “Primary 4:1 they slap out England and then 4:0 Argentina!”

Bastian Schweinsteiger: “Yeah, that´s goose flesh!”

Blumentopf: “ Ey man, what we expected was a close duell, but what we have got was sensational!”
Everything went so fast, the fastest goal of the world cup! Schweinsteiger with the free kick and with a header he buried the ball in the net!
And Argentina is shocked, man, it takes off their shoes! Not anyone has put this past our young team!
Now step it up one more time and get round thing in the square thing!

Müller plays back to Klose that is a 100% score! (Klose didn´t made it, as you can see in the video)
Hopefully this is not avenging oneself, man they are not so bad!
We can´t count on that Messi is not scoring!
There is tunneled and pressed and in all kind of ways fired! (which kind of means scoring)
But all scores end up in Manuel Neuer´s hands!

And suddenly the Argentine raising their arms upward, but what says the line referee?
Oh, he has raised the flag!
But on the defensive, really everyone must give it all!
Our Team holds against it and shows taker quality!
They have Messi dribbling and a Heinze, who blusters!
We have Müller who is sitting and Klose who is scoring and what Schweinsteiger is doing is in a class of his own!

And Diego how is it going? Oh, better don´t ask! 
Ey, that is counterattack soccer as you should play it!
Was that a somersault of Klose or favourite role?
What a game! Ey, have you seen it?
They have swept the Albiceleste 4:0 off the court!”

Thomas Müller: “ This is crazy what happened here!”

Blumentopf: “Everything was perfect!”

Jogie Löw: “Now we are in the semi finals and that´s where the team belongs to!”

Blumentopf: “And someone who plays like you can win everything!
Just two more such victories and then you have it!

One, two, three We! want title No. four!
Three, two, one come one get the ball in the goal!
One, two, three We! want title No. four!
Three, two, one make this dream come true!

What was going on there, please?
Klose has scored now more goals than Pele!
And now comes the revenge against Spain and then off to the finals!”

Kia ora – Hello everyone!

The day has come I’m going to fly to the end of the world today!!! Well, I already did, but let’s go back to the beginning of this long journey!

Before Departure

Excited? Nervous? No sign of it, maybe a little bit. The last days were filled with goodbye feasts, finishing my work student job, celebrating Christmas and New Year! There wasn´t really a little moment to actually think about the big journey!

But then on Monday 04. January 2010 my journey should finally start! I put this huge backpack on my (petite) back and without falling backwards I went to the airport in Frankfurt am Main.

The time schedule

Monday 04.01.2010 – the plane is leaving Frankfurt am Main International Airport with one hour delay!

First stop in Dubai – round about 6 ½ hours to fly! I said goodbye to my family and the next step was going to take me further than I ever thought I may go.

Tuesday 05.01.2010 – Arrival Dubai International Airport.

Now I have to wait 5 hrs till the next flight. Unfortunately there was no chance to take a look at the newest highest building of the world ‘Burj Dubai’, because the Terminal had no viewing platform. Therefore I created a Plan B – having a nice walk in the Terminal and observing the hustle and bustle around me.

Later a large group of Asians, who were able to talk faster and a lot more than the fastest and most talkative women on the planet so that they held me awake and I was very sleepy.

At long last my flight trip went on – Auckland was the last stop! It’s going to take 16hrs till I get there. Mmmh, more films and TV series and sleeping and hopefully better food during this flight.

Wednesday, 06.01.2010 – Stopover at Melbourne Airport 1hr long

I remember we landed at 6am and I called my parents that I’m ok. I have been already on the way for 2 days, well it felt like it!

After an 1 ½ hr the plane was ready for the last bit. Additional 3 hrs to Auckland!

I´m so close :-)  At least Breakfast was nice!

After what seemed like an eternity – 18.000 km, many time zones, round about 30hrs flying (not including the check-in, check-out and waiting time), many films and tv series (I think I have seen 8 films and a couple of TV series, can’t remember exactly I just watched all those awesome films ) and not to forget the rather less tasteful flight meals, oh and not to forget the time I slept- I arrived 2pm on Wednesday 06.01.2010 in Auckland, New Zealand!!!

At long last I’m there! The sun is smiling at me, 18 degrees and it’s so warm! When I left Germany we had snow storms and ice cold winds. First thing I was on my way to the hostel – Bamber House – had a refreshing shower after checking in and enjoyed that I could put on summer cloth! Yep, ¾ pants and a t-shirt, well I didn’t want to overdo this after -10 degrees and snow back home!

While having a comfy walk to the supermarket (open 24hrs and 7 days a week, very americanish) and exploring the neighbourhood at the same time I slowly realised: You are really in New Zealand! *jiipiiieee* All the additional work next to my studies and saving money paid off!  Honestly, I will have to sleep on it still haven’t internalised it (back then)!

My intention (note- this part was written a long time ago. I thought I could keep like it is!)

Within the next months I will tell you about my journey at the end of the world and my return flights to Australia and Singapore towards Germany, adventures, troubles and beautiful places and so much more! First problem already emerged – my cell phone charger didn’t work. The connector didn’t want to fit in the adapter. Mmmh, after a short and clever analysis I figured out I had to buy an appropriate adapter within the next days. But hey, I took it as easy as the kiwis!

During the first days I met some very nice backpackers at the hostel. Our hostel ‘The Bamber House’ is situated in a very nice suburb called Mt. Eden in Auckland. Mt. Eden is a extinct volcano of many ones in Auckland! The walk up to the Mountain was steep but nice, because with each step you can see more of Auckland’s city! Guilhem, Tereza and I made for this place and wanted to see the beautiful view with our own eyes and also to test our cameras. You can find the result in the gallery!

Helpful tips for long flights! 

If you have to fly for a long time, every one of us knows that you are going to be exhausted when you arrive! So to at least enjoy your first day a little bit I will give you some tips, which helped me a lot!  

If you are going to fly through many time zones it’s good to change the time on your watch to the local time of your target country! Change your rhythm to this time and eat, sleep and everything else along it! Either you have to stay awake or you have to sleep to get into this certain rhythm. If you made it then the jetlag won’t knock you out that much!

Move and drink lots of water! Prevent dehydration and thrombosis! All airlines have information for little workouts while sitting, but also short walks to get some water are helpful! The sweet folks of you shall enjoy a Coke or something else! Nevertheless the important thing is – drink lots of water! The walks to toilet help as a workout

If you have a very long flight with many stopovers, like me on my way to New Zealand, its good to have some toiletries (toot paste and brush, shampoo etc.) in your hand luggage with you! Don´t forget maximum 100ml per bottle! But you will be very happy for a refreshing shower! Check on the websites of the airports if they provide certain facilities like bathrooms with showers!

All those tips are helpful for short flights, too!

Cheers your stewardess, Livia

Kia ora – Hallo Ihr alle!
 
Auf geht es ans andere Ende der Welt! Nun ja, bin ich schon dort gewesen, aber lasst uns zurück zum Anfang dieser langen Reise gehen! :)
 
Vor dem Abflug

Aufregung? Nervosität? Keine Spur, naja vielleicht ein bisschen. Waren doch die letzten Tage mit den vielen Feicherlichkeiten und einigen Erledigungen gut gefüllt, so dass ich kaum dazu kam nervös oder aufgeregt zu sein! 

Aber dann am Montag den 04.01.2010 ging es mit Sack und Pack los! Den überdimensional großen Rucksack (im Vergleich zum meinem doch kleineren Rücken) habe ich mir auf den Rücken geschnallt – keine Sorge, ich bin mit meinem Rucksack nicht rücklings umgefallen – und dann ging es auch schon los!
 
Der Zeitplan

Montag 04.10.2010 – mit 1 Stunde Verspätung verlässt das Flugzeug mit mir Frankfurt am Main! Erster Stopp der internationale Flughafen Dubai – Flugzeit ca. 6 ½ Stunden. Ich verabschiedete mich von meinen Eltern und der nächste Schritt sollte mich weiter führen, weiter als ich es mir vorstellen konnte.

Dienstag 05.01.2010 - Ankunft Dubai International Airport
Wartezeit beträgt 5 Std. und meine Haare liegen schon lange nicht mehr perfekt wie bei 3Wetter Taft Leider gibt es keine Möglichkeit (Aussichtsplattform), um sich mal das höchste Gebäude der Welt den ‚Burj Dubai’ anzusehen. Na gut, Plan B - im Terminal spazieren gehen und das geschäftige Treiben beobachten. 
Später hielt mich in große Gruppe von Asiaten, die mehr und schneller miteinander kommuniziert konnte als manche Damen auf der Welt(mich eingeschlossen), vom schlafen ab!
Nach einiger Zeit ging es aber auch schon endlich weiter – letzter Stopp Auckland! Die Flugzeit beträgt ca. 16 Stunden. Für diesen Flug bedeutet das unter anderem mehr Filme, Fernsehserien, schlafen und hoffentlich leckerere Flugzeugmahlzeiten!

Mittwoch 06.01.2010 Zwischenstopp – 1 Stunde in Melbourne, Australien
Ich kann mich noch entsinnen, dass wir um 6 Uhr morgends ankamen und ich meine Eltern angerufen habe. Fast zwei Tage war ich nun schon unterwegs, naja jedenfalls fühlte es sich so an.
Nach ca. 1 ½ Stunden war der Flieger für die Weiterreise startklar. Noch 3 weitere Stunden Richtung Auckland, Neuseeland! Ich bin soo nah! Das Frühstück während des letzten Fluges war auch ganz lecker
 
Nach einer gefüllten Ewigkeit – 18.000 km, mehrere Zeitzonen, ca. 30 Stunden unterwegs (die Check-In und Check-Out sowie die Wartezeit ausgeschlossen), viele Filme und Fernsehserien (kann mich nicht entsinnen wie viele, so um die 8 Filme aber es waren eine Menge ), nicht zu vergessen die weniger leckeren Flugzeugmahlzeiten sowie weniger schmackhafteren Flugzeugmahlzeiten, oh und natürlich die Zeit in der ich geschlafen habe – lande ich 14 Uhr mittags am Mittwoch 06.01.2010 in Auckland, Neuseeland!!!
 
Endlich, bin ich da!!! Die Sonne lächelt mir entgegen! Es sind 18 Grad und mir ist warm! In Deutschland hatten wir Schneestürme und eiskalte Winde. Als Erstes ab ins Hostel und nach dem Check-In eine erfrischende Dusche genießen und die Sommerkleidung anziehen! Ja, 3/4 Hose und T-Shirt. – wir wollen es ja nicht gleich übertrieben nach -10 Grad und Schnee in Deutschland!
 
Bei einem gemütlichen Spaziergang zum Supermarkt (24 Std. und 7 Tage die Woche geöffnet, sehr amerikanisch) und bei der gleichzeitigen Erkundung der Nachbarschaft wird mir langsam klar: Du bist wirklich in Neuseeland!!! *juhuuuu* Ehrlich gesagt, so ganz habe ich das noch nicht verinnerlicht! Ich werd erstmal eine Nacht drüber schlafen!
 
Mein Vorhaben

In den nächsten Monaten werde ich euch nachträglich von meiner Reise am anderen Ende der Welt und meinen Rückflugstops Australien und Singapur berichten!
Abenteuer, Schwierigkeiten und vieles mehr! Die erste Schwierigkeit ist damals auch gleich schon aufgetaucht. Das Ladegerät für mein Handy funktioniert nicht. Der Stecker wollte partout nicht in den Adapter passen. Mmmh, schlau analysiert – da wird wohl ein passender Adapter gekauft werden müssen in den nächsten Tagen! Immer nu(h)r mit der Ruhe!

In den ersten Tagen hatte ich im Hostel schon einige nette Backpacker kennengelernt. Unser Hostel ‚The Bamber House’ liegt im schönen Stadtteil Mt. Eden in Auckland. Mt. Eden ist ein erloschener Vulkan und wirklich ein Spaziergang wert! Guilhem, Tereza und ich haben uns aufgemacht mal diese wunderschöne Aussicht selbst zu sehen und unsere Kameras auszuprobieren. Das Ergebnis seht ihr in der Gallery :)

Hier noch ein paare hilfreiche Tipps für lange Flugstrecken! 

Wenn Ihr lange Strecken mit dem Flugzeug zurücklegt kennt es jeder von uns – meist ist jeder von uns sehr erschöpft bei der Ankunft! Damit ihr aber wenigstens etwas vom ersten Tag genießen könnt gibt es hier ein paar Tipps von mir, die mir sehr geholfen haben!

>  Fliegt Ihr zu einer anderen Zeitzone, dann stellt gleich eure Uhr auf die Ortszeit eures Ziellandes ein! Nach dieser Zeit richtet ihr euren ganzen Rythmus, essen, schlafen etc.! Entweder werdet Ihr für den Anfang länger wach bleiben müssen oder euch schlafen legen, um in diesem neuen Rhythmus reinzukommen! Habt ihr dies aber geschafft wird euch der Jetlag hinterher nicht allzu sehr fertig machen!

>  Bewegung und viel Wasser! Beugt der Dehydration und der Thrombose vor! Alle Fluggesellschaften haben ein paar Infos für Bewegungen im Sitzen, aber auch ein paar kleine Spaziergänge zum Wasser zu holen helfen ebenfalls! Die Süßen unter euch gönnen sich eine Coke oder anderes! Dennoch am wichtigsten ist – viel Wasser trinken! Der Toilettengang zählt ebenfalls als Bewegung

>  Habt Ihr einen wirklich langen Flug vor euch mit mehreren Stationen, ähnlich wie ich nach Neuseeland, nehmt euch einen kleinen Kulturbeutel mit Zahnbürste, Zahnpasta, Duschcreme etc. ins Handgepäck mit. Nicht vergessen - nur max. 100ml je Döschen! Aber es wird euch ungemein erfrischen wenn ihr auf einen der Flughäfen die Duschen nutzen könnt (sehr sauber!)! Überprüft vor eurer Reise ob der Flughafen beim Zwischenstopp solche Duscheinrichtungen hat!

Natürlich helfen diese Tipps auch bei Kurzflügen!

Bis dann, eure (Flugbegleiterin/ Stewardess) Livia  

It’s a round ball – no rugy ball   A game takes 90 minutes! The team composed of eleven people – strong, ready to fight and compete at the soccer world cup in South Africa! It´s summer 2010 and the world is watching the best teams, which qualified for the world soccer championship!!!

This report is especially for my international friends! The folks in Germany do know what’s going on the world cup, because so many people are eager to watch and cheer for our team! GO GERMANY!!!

But check out the video -- Raportage of Blumentopf!!! Awesome rap messages (in German) about our Team!!

World Cup 2010 Raportage -- Germany let´s start this!

The round of sixteen just finished and the world cup is already full of surprises! My favourite one – sure New Zealand!

The underdog New Zealand of this contest was fighting and loosed neither the first nor the second game of the preliminary round -1:1 against Slovakia and 1:1 against Italy, the former world cup winner! What a terrific performance!

As a mater of course I supported the Kiwis as well as Germany since the beginning of this world cup! My friends and work colleagues were less convinced about the kiwis, but the team proved them and the world to be wrong

Unfortunately I couldn’t watch the first game, but crossed fingers during the first day of my internship. For the second game against Italy the living room was decorated with a Flag of New Zealand and Germany and a blow-up Kiwi! My parents joined me in cheering for the Kiwis and I had a chance to wear my self-made New Zealand soccer jersey  (check out the gallery!)

Here the short news about the game: Within the first 10 minutes NZ scored a goal and the living room of our apartment was trembling!!! During this game were able to recognise that most of the kiwi boys starting with rugby at school not soccer.  Somehow the kiwi team seem to be retrained to soccer although I have to admit that almost half of the NZ team is playing abroad in England or the U.S., so they have a certain experience in soccer! Sure, the `pull a jersey in the goal field` foul of Smith wasn’t necessary at all and consecutively a yellow card plus penalty followed, because the referee did see this foul!  The game finished with 1:1! !!!

However goalkeeper Paston did a great job keeping many strong and good almost scores during the second half of the game. In addition to Mr. Paston the defence blocked and closed the back pretty well, too, so that finally this game – David against Goliath – ended in a tie!

What badass underdog!!! At the moment Italy and NZ are both number 2 on the group list F! Accordingly the third game will be very interesting and thrilling at the same time! GO KIWIS!

Unfortunately the third game was a tragedy! NZ didn´t shoot a goal against Paraguay and they only needed one to get to the next round. Wood had a very good chance during the last 20 minutes; unfortunately the ball missed the goal just a bit. In the meantime Slovakia played an incredible game against Italy. In the end Slovakia made it to the round of sixteen with a score of 3:2 against Italy and Paraguay was already set for the next round.

However, Kiwi team don’t be sad!!! You played amazing for your second time at a world cup! yYu didn’t lose any of the three games and finally you finished the preliminary round with spot No.3 in your list, so you are definitely better than Italy! You showed the world that even an underdog like you can make it so far! Everything is possible and can happen at a world cup!!!!

I’m so excited to see you guys in 2014 when the world is meeting again in Brazil! Better keep your eyes open for these badass underdogs! Go Kiwis!

Let’s have a look at Germany in Group D!

The first game against Australia was incredible – 4:0 – an amazing start!!! Sorry kangaroos! At least Australia did fight against Ghana in their second game and it ended in a draw 1:1! Again the defence of the kangaroos was strong which the Australian soccer team is known for!

So far so good, Germany played very well the first time! It was kind of the same vibe we had during 2006, when Germany welcomed the world and our team played an outstanding tournament – our summer tale! Though the second game against Serbia would be a difficult one and the German team didn’t underestimate this match, but Germany lost 0:1!  The whole country was shocked! The third and last game against Ghana would be a test for this young team!!!
Can the team deal with this high pressure, are they strong enough to make it and Jogi Löw our trainer, what will he do without Miroslav Klose?! The result wasn’t great, but in the end we made it! Germany had many opportunities but was grim and somehow the standard situations didn’t work out well. But then Mesut Özil, 22 years old, scored the 1:0 with a great shot!!! The country breathed a sigh of relief!!! At the same time Australia did fight against Serbia and surprisingly scored  2:1!!!  Good on ya, Australia!!!  In the end Germany and Australia won, although Ghana (No.1) and Germany (No.2) made it to the next round. Everyone was celebrating!!! As you can see on th epictures in the gallery

The next game was  against England! A classic one! Who is going to win? I know just one thing it´s going to be a very interesting game! An old vendetta does exist between the teams!
Ok, it’s Thursday – one day before quarterfinals – and guess what! Germany did win against England 4:1!!!  An outstanding and incredible game! A revenge for 1966 and two hard fighting teams! Klose, Podolski and two times Müller made a goal!!! That was sooo wicked and my friends and I we couldn’t stop cheering as you can see in the gallery

For now enjoy the impressions of the people, friends and me cheering and celebrating our German soccer team!

While having a look I do suggest to listen to the song ‘Wavin’ Flag of Knaan’

Preliminary round:

Australia – the first minutes of the game was surprising, but the german team concentrated and started a goal fire!!! Germany won 4:0!!! *woohoo*

Serbia -- a nut which we couldn´t crack! Germany lost 0:1! *oh, ooooohh!*

Ghana -- a game we had to survive to get to the round of sixteen! Germany scarcely won 1:0! *puh, just made it *

Round of sixteen:

England – a long and old vendetta between both teams! Do not underestimate England, but we also knew we are strong to beat them! And so Germany did fight and started a goal fire again!!!

Germany won 4:1!!! *yeeeaaaaah*

Quarterfinals:

Argentina – They have Lionel Messi, one of the world´s best player and Maradona the team trainer! We have a complete team not just one alter ego! We already did beat Argentina while penalty 2006! We can do it again! So turn on your TV on Saturday and enjoy an (hopefully) outstanding, fast and dynamic game!!!

Cheers,

Livia

Basically you can create any (soccer) jersey you like!  

Just find a picture of the original (soccer) jersey and then start to create stencils! Or create something totally new, your own style! I did the same 2008 during the european world cup. I forgot to take my german soccer jersey to Spain, so I decided to create one on my own, looked pretty good in the end and I was perfectly dressed to cheer for Germany!

For the official New Zealand jersey I decided to choose the black one! On the right part of the front should be the fern and ‘NEW ZEALAND’! For the back of the jersey I decided to create something else than just a big number and a player´s name or my name!!!

The tools
Scissors big one and small one, colour spray (I chose the stuff you spray on your hair) and hair spray, paper, cardboards, these one time use gloves, heavy things and needles to fix the stencils and patience :-) oh and before I forget it you need a jersey, well I bought a cheap T-Shirt at the h&m store!

   

After spraying the pictures on the jersey I waited till everything was dry and used the hair spray to fix all of it! These steps can take a while sometimes one day or two, because everything has to dry first!

Follow the pictures and you can see how I did it! With lots of fantasy and love you can create your own (soccer) jersey for any occasion!

Cheers,
Livia

 P.S. Check out the result in the gallery!