Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Sailing–It’s an Amazing Life


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The 70-foot Belevari cat beside Pangaea.

Anyone who sails knows that while it may be the the wind, waves, and sunsets that get you started, it’s being part of the diverse sailing community that turns you into a “sailor.” You make connections and meet interesting people from all over the world. Some of them are downright amazing.

But I’m getting ahead of the story.

Three weeks ago, I went on a Belevari Cat Cruise from Abu Dhabi with 49 other women from the American Women’s Network. I knew that since we would be out from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. there wasn’t much chance for any wind, but I figured it would be fun anyway. The boat sails, or in our case motored, out a few miles to Belevari Island, which is a sandy shoal off another island, stopped for an hour of beach time, and then motored back. Terry and I brought our inflatable SUP’s, there was music and a little bubbly beverage, and everyone had a great time, as you can see from the photos.


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Berend enjoys interacting with guests.

While we were underway, I introduced myself to the Captain Berend Lens van Rijn, the CEO and founder of Belevari Marine. Berend has extended a standing invitation to our sailing club (ADCA) members to join the Thursday night Abu Dhabi Corniche sunset cruises. I knew that Berend sold the Pacer 27 Unwind to Emiliano, and I mentioned it and told him how much fun we are having.


We got into a bit of conversation, and Berend told me he’s been trying to find a way get school kids out on the catamaran to learn about sailing around Abu Dhabi. Have you looked into the American Community School? “I would like to,” he said, “I just need a contact.”

Well. I am now on the Belevari Marine team, working part-time to develop an education program for school kids. Can you believe it.

But there's more to the story.

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Unwind's new home beside arch-rival Idefix.
In the background, a floating villa
with four 300-HP outboard engines!

As regular Wildcardtravels readers know, we’ve been racing Unwind with Emiliano Boccalletti, and we have a full racing schedule with ADCA races every third Saturday as well as occasional special event regattas, like the one this past weekend, the Abu Dhabi Cup (a story on that is coming up.) The night before the regatta, we moved Unwind to the spectacular Emirates Palace Marina which is Unwind’s new home (yay.)






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Exploration sailing vessel Pangaea

There was a recently arrived boat in the marina next to the Belevari catamaran. This boat would stand out in any marina in any place, but it is especially conspicuous in Abu Dhabi.

Mike Horn’s Pangaea is an exploration sailing vessel and Mike is a modern-day explorer who has traversed the globe, literally. He’s been around the equator, to the poles, across the contents, and to the highest peaks. You name it. Pangaea’s “Young Explorer’s Program” takes young people on expeditions all over the world, instilling in them an appreciation for our planet and charging them with a mission to work with others to spread the message and take action.

I learned all this from the website, http://mikehorn.com In the Belevari office on Sunday, Berend and Piers, his captain, said that Mike was going to be in town this week, and maybe we could meet him and see the boat. Really? I’ll leave my schedule flexible!


And so it was that at 3:25 p.m., just as I got out of the pool after a workout swim, I got a call. Can you make it to the boat by 4:00? Close enough! I rinsed off, jumped into the car, and made the 30-minute drive arriving at the Emirates Palace Marina at 4:05.

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I have to admit, I feel like I met a living legend.

It turned out that I beat Berend, who was delayed, by about 15 minutes. So I had the opportunity to chat one-on-one with Mike Horn. What a treat.

He was just what I expected, and then again he wasn’t. I’ve decided that he is the most amazing person I have ever met, and I don’t say that lightly. I also don’t say it because of all of the amazing, extreme things he has done.





What’s amazing is his unrelenting and uncompromising focus on his belief that “We must begin to take real steps towards ensuring that our planet can be respected and appreciated by all future generations.” And how he runs his program.
I was really excited to be there and meet Mike and his crew, but soon Mike’s soft-spoken style, and the crew’s smiles, quieted me down. I can just picture Mike working with teens and young adults, inspiring them to do and be their best. He explained to me how the program works, already answering my questions as I was thinking of them.
  • Two kids are chosen from each of eight different regions
  • There is a selection process that includes a team of doctors and psychologists from the Mayo clinic
  • They work on board during the voyage, producing blogs and movies of their activities
  • There is an expedition workbook with background information and data record sheets
  • They continue working in their own countries to build the network of Young Explorers
But there is so much more. Living on Pangaea itself is a lesson in sustainability. It has all the best energy-producing and energy-efficient systems.
  • Each person on board has a 12-liter per day budget for water. They can barter with it, so it becomes a currency.
  • Each person has a similar budget for energy. Once it’s spent, lights out.
  • Every bite of food on your plate should be eaten, or don’t take it in the first place (kids from certain countries must learn this.)
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Standard marine electronics


Every detail was so simple, so obviously thought out, so important. Icebreaker bow. Standard electronics. No keel. Anchor chain and fuel for ballast. 9 foot long twin retractable rudders. One-foot draft. This boat can sit on top of the ice.






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We need to make a video.

Berend and I talked with Mike about our education program for Abu Dhabi, and Mike was generous with his advice and ideas. Could some of the UAE’s youth become Young Explorers? It’s possible. I came away feeling that we have a lot of potential with the Belevari catamaran, and we are on the right track.




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Mike gets sponsorship because his program
is innovative and action oriented.

The Pangaea project has sponsors – Mercedes Benz is a big one – but they don’t overshadow the program or its message. Mike doesn’t compromise. He’s a maverick. Instead of searching for partners they are drawn to him, and he selects. You know, when you are talking to him, that he is at peace with himself, he wants for nothing, and yet he is driven toward the next goal, whatever it is. And you know that he will accomplish anything he sets out to do. That’s why he is so amazing.




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Most Amazing Person
of my year, if not life.

Mike’s next project is to build a 70-meter – yes, I said 70-meter – catamaran exploration vessel. What will happen to Pangaea? “It will be cut up and recycled.” What?! This beautiful ship? But we could see that, because it’s so unique, so purpose-built, who but Mike Horn would know what do do with it? Who but Mike Horn deserves to own it?

“Do you want it?” he asked us jokingly. “You can have it.”

Or maybe he wasn't joking …








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Really? We can have your boat?



Thank God I’m a sailor. Or, as they say in the Middle East, hamdallah.

And thank you, Dad. I don’t know what my life would be like without it.






Mike's cook was preparing Spaghetti Carbonara.


Sunday, October 14, 2012

Traditional Sailing Dhow Race–Abu Dhabi


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Emirati crew. Photo: Terry Mercer

On Saturday, we worked on Unwind  in the morning, and took our friends Terry and Pete sailing in the afternoon.

They are novice sailors. Pete did a good job driving, but when Terry took the helm, she accidentally tacked the boat. No worries! We just continued sailing in the new direction, and that turned into a very good thing.


Call it “Wildcard luck.”




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Photo: Terry Mercer

Sailing along, we noticed a dhow in the distance, sailing toward Abu Dhabi. Where there is one dhow there are more and, like magic, a fleet of about 60 dhows suddenly appeared on the horizon – headed right at us!


Behind us where we had just sailed, in front of the Emirates Palace, they were setting up the finish line. We were in the perfect location to watch and photograph these magnificent, all-wood ships.


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Photo: Terry Mercer

They don’t have a keel, so all of their ballast is human. And their crews must be 100% Emirati nationals. The dhows are an important part of their heritage, dating back to the pearling days when the ships would race back to port after weeks at sea.

Enjoy this video, and the music – “In Paradise” by Mohamad Hamami.





Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Romantic Germany: Wurzburg to Rothenburg



Marienkapelle (St. Mary's Chapel) at the
Market Square in Wurzburg.

Wurzburg    I’ve always been interested in Germany because my family name, Schreiber, is German. We have an equal number of German and Irish ancestors on both my mom’s and my dad’s sides of the family, so a few German words and traditions survived the century between their arrival in Detroit and mine. The Irish side seems to emerge more at parties and funerals.    
 
 
Just a week after I got back from my two-month stay in the USA, Mark and I were on a plane to Frankfurt. Our Lufthansa flight took off from Abu Dhabi at 12:55 a.m. and landed in Frankfurt at 5:45 a.m. Still recovering from jet lag, I slept most of the way, but I did wake up for the in-flight breakfast; I chose the pancakes. Normally I don’t like pancakes that much, but I figured that they might be different on a European flight, and I was right. No rubbery flapjacks with maple syrup, these were fluffy, sweet little cakes with sautéed apples and berries.
   

Wurzburg locals with Wurzburg Cathedral towers behind.
Once our large plane was on the ground, we boarded a bus to the terminal. Most of the people on our flight were immediately drawn like bugs to the lighted screen showing connecting flights, but Mark and I wound our way through the airport, in no hurry, to baggage claim. If we picked up our rental car too early, we would also have to return it just as early when we left, and our return flight wasn’t until 10:50 a.m. By the time we got to our lonely bags they were huddled together, circling around in the eerily quiet baggage claim area.        To waste more time, we decided to have a snack. Latte for me, tea for Mark, and we split a little sandwich – Breakfast #2. Finally we meandered to Hertz and picked up our Volkswagen. Mark was a little disappointed that it wasn’t a BMW, but eventually he got over it and decided he liked the VW.   
The first two breakfasts were just practice.

Our first stop was Wurzburg, for breakfast. Yes, you read that right, breakfast #3. It was still morning; only 9:00 a.m. Most places weren’t even open yet. Fortunately we found a cute little cafe right on the Main River that was open and, even better, there was a breakfast that included bratwurst, a pretzel, mustard and beer – “People from Munich love this!” the menu said. I had to try it. My German DNA was asserting itself. Of course, Mark enjoyed his first glass of German Riesling with his eggs.




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Getting an education.

Next, we walked across the Old Main Bridge as the town was waking up. There were groups of students standing around the statures of saints and historical figures, listening to their teachers lecture. We noticed ships in the locks, which we were to observe on rivers in Germany, France, and Switzerland. We entered the quaint old section of town, the first of many that we would see on this trip.





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The locks in Wurzburg.


It was at this point that I realized: I should have brought that quilted jacket, the black one that I decided at the last minute to leave behind for no reason except that I was hot in Abu Dhabi and couldn’t imagine wanting it. Or my black leather coat and knee high boots from Italy, which would be perfect. They were sitting in the closet in Abu Dhabi. I had thought about bringing them – and didn’t. Here, it was damp and chilly, despite the early morning sun.




I congratulated myself on the couple of pashminas that I threw in my bag at the last minute, and tried not to think about it anymore. I had my fleece jacket. Fleece! Sheesh.

Mark did the same thing. Didn’t bring any of the nice coats hanging in our closet in Abu Dhabi, waiting to go to Europe. I know that some of you out there can relate to this. What were we thinking? All I can say is, if you had been in Abu Dhabi, you might understand. It was so hot there, you would overheat just by touching a coat.  When you’re on a trip, and you start to feel out of sorts about some trivial thing, my advice is to either have a drink or take a nap. Since we had already done the first, it was time to do the second. Back at the car, we discovered that we had a parking ticket, but we shook it off and drove up into the hilly neighborhood above Fortress Marienberg to park and take a power nap. I normally can’t just drop off to sleep, but both Mark and I got a refreshing little snooze.  
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Fortress Marienburg

Afterward, we looked down on the giant fortress. Fortress Marienberg began as a refuge castle constructed during the Bronze Age. The oldest surviving structure on the site is a church, St. Mary’s Church or Marienkirche, built in AD 704. The fortifications were built in the 13th century. You can read about the many skirmishes and captures at the site through WWII at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortress_Marienberg.



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Commuting by bicycle.
Romantische Strasse
It was time to be on our way via the Romantische Strasse, or Romantic Road. Our VW had a navigation system which took us winding through the countryside and villages, while the female voice with a generic European accent said “Prepare to turn right soon …” We didn’t know it at the time, but she would lead us in a big circle or a dead end more than once.






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Don't upset the apple cart.

As we left Wurzburg, I really began to feel like I wasn’t in the USA any more, and we certainly weren’t in the Middle East. The already narrow two-lane road got narrower as we entered the towns and dodged parked cars, and the GPS had us making what looked like very improbable turns. More than once, an intersection was confounded with multiple paths and we wondered which could be the right way.







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Old town, new technologies.

Usually – usually, we stayed on the right path, passing through farming villages with Gasthofen (country guesthouses) and biergartens (outdoor seating areas perfect for drinking the locally made beer.)
             
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Germany is a leader in the renewable energy industry with rolling fields of not only crops like corn but also solar panels and wind turbines. Houses, barns and other outbuildings are covered with solar panels, and wind turbines are scattered around the countryside. It presents an interesting juxtaposition of the old and the new.



We only saw a small portion of the Romantisch Strasse, but we swear we’ll be back to see the rest. For more information about it: http://www.romanticroadgermany.com/


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We have arrived.
Rothenburg
Our first overnight destination was the walled city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, on the Tauber River. Mark had us booked in a nice little Gasthaus with a biergarten and restaurant serving home style German fare. We checked in, and I was immediately charmed by the courtyard with colorful laundry hanging off of a neighboring balcony. The room was small, and the layout was odd, but that’s what you expect in Europe.





 
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Everywhere we looked we saw quaintness.

We were ready to walk. Just around the corner was the White Tower, which was a helpful landmark to find the way back to the hotel, even though  there is a similar tower, the Markus Tower, not far away. These two towers mark the gates to the original 12th century Rothenburg, and a Jewish dance hall and Jewish gravestones are nearby.

       According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothenburg_ob_der_Tauber: Rothenburg held a special significance for Nazi ideologists. For them, it was the epitome of the German 'Home Town', representing all that was quintessentially German. Throughout the 1930s the Nazi organisation "KDF" ("Kraft durch Freude") Strength through Joy organized regular day trips to Rothenburg from all across the Reich. This initiative was staunchly supported by Rothenburg's citizenry – many of whom were sympathetic to National Socialism – both for its economic benefits and because Rothenburg was hailed as "the most German of German towns". In October 1938 Rothenburg expelled its Jewish citizens, much to the approval of Nazis and their supporters across Germany.[2] In March 1945 in World War II, German soldiers were stationed in Rothenburg to defend it. On March 31, bombs were dropped over Rothenburg by 16 planes, killing 39 people and destroying 306 houses, six public buildings, nine watchtowers, and over 2,000 feet (610 m) of the wall. The U.S Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy knew about the historic importance and beauty of Rothenburg, so he ordered US Army General Jacob L. Devers not use artillery in taking Rothenburg. The local military commander Major Thömmes ignored the order of Adolf Hitler for all towns to fight to the end and gave up the town, thereby saving it from total destruction by artillery. American troops of the 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division occupied the town on April 17, 1945, and in November 1948 McCloy was named Honorable Protectorate of Rothenburg. After the war, the residents of the city quickly repaired the bombing damage. Donations for the rebuilding were received from all over the world. The rebuilt walls feature commemorative bricks with donor names. Traffic-reducing measures were put in place in a significant portion of Rothenburg to increase safety and accommodate tourism.    Rotenburg town map

Passing through the town square, we had a glass of wine and a snack at an outdoor café on busy Klingengasse, where the Christmas shops are. Our waiter was was dodging among the many tables as well as talking with a boy of about 8 or 9 years old, lingering near him. “Is that your son?” I asked.
“No, but it feels like my son. He lives there,” pointing up the street. A few minutes later, we heard a loud banging and watched as this little boy paraded past, playing a large drum just like the Little Drummer Boy, obviously enjoying attracting looks from tourists.








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Gallows Gate.

It was 4:30 p.m. We returned to our room for a rest … and both fell asleep until the middle of the night! So we decided to take advantage of our unusual schedule, and walk the medieval wall at dawn.
Everything looks very cheerful during the day, but there is no erasing the dark history at Galgen Tor, or Gallows Gate. Steps lead to the top of the wall, where grisly public executions once took place. It was damp and chilly, the beginning of an overcast day. We got to the wall well before dawn; the village was still fast asleep; we talked in hushed voices. In the pitch black, we climbed the winding stairs. With no flashlight, we had to feel our way along the wall, holding hands and stepping carefully – there were many opportunities to trip.






Just before dawn, we heard a couple of cars driving noisily over the cobblestones, and then, in the distance, rock and roll music. Presently, a small pickup truck pulling a trailer rumbled past, with the Rolling Stones’ Start Me Up blaring though the closed windows.


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Schneeballen

The spell was broken. We needed coffee, and a Schneeball! My German blood must be thick, because I totally understand Schneeballen. The name means “snowball,” and they were first created as a way to use up leftover pastry dough. This is something that I have actually done myself in the past: you gather up the leftovers, make them into a ball, and bake. I sprinkled powdered sugar on mine back then, but nowadays in Rothenburg they have chocolate, caramel, nuts, and all kinds of flavors of Schneeballen.









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Lining up for torture.

The cruelest torture and execution marked the Middle Ages. Those who are fascinated, curious, or just can’t miss a thing visit the Criminal Museum, which Mark remembered as the “Torture Museum” when he last visited. He wasn’t hell-bent on going there, and I took a look at the photos in the brochure and thought – “There are nicer things I want to see.” We were in such a pretty town. The red tiled, gabled buildings strewn with overflowing flower boxes were so pretty … we just weren’t in the mood for torture, I guess, even if it did happen centuries ago. Walking the wall in the dark was enough.
             Instead, we visited the Reichsstadtmuseum (Imperial City Museum.) Housed in a former Dominican convent (my cousin Sue is a Dominican nun!) this place has something for everyone. Mark and I were both fascinated by the nine centuries of tools, weapons, furniture, and art. And as you can see from the photos, we were the only ones there. What a treat, to be able to wander through at our leisure. We paid a few extra euros for the privilege of taking photos, and had to promise not to sell them or otherwise make money on them.  
   Next we went to St. Jacobs, a Lutheran church which contains the masterpiece carved wood altarpiece, created in 1500-1505 by a Wurtzburg artist, Tilman Riemenschneider. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James's_Church,_Rothenburg_ob_der_Tauber Later, at dinner in our hotel restaurant, we met a charming mother and daughter team who told us that they were going to an organ recital in the church that evening. We’ll go too! we said. Which we did. If you have ever been in a large church with a pipe organ playing, you will understand. It’s half spiritual, and the other half … kinda creepy. 
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We wentr all the way up there!

We also found time to climb to the top of the Town Hall tower, where you get a wonderful view over the rooftops of Rothenburg. The climb to the top is an adventure. First, you climb several sets of steps until you arrive in a room with a turnstile, which would not let us through. What to do?

There were a few people in front of us, and as we discussed it, someone came out, turning a little light green. Aha! One person went through. We waited, and a couple more came through. Now, one person in their group was left. “What if we do this …” I said, reaching over and flipping the turnstile back our way.  The light went green, our new friend went through, and … “Alarm! Alarm! Alarm!” blared, and a stern German voice scolded us over the loudspeakers.





I thought maybe they would throw us into das Gefangus, the prison. Or, at the very least, a German Shepherd dog would appear. Fortunately, our friend hurried back to our side, and all was quiet again, except for our beating hearts.

The photo album below contains picture from the top of the tower, and also some taken from the wall during the day of the tower itself, St. Jacob’s towers, and some interesting roofs.  
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The happy couple will soon be proud parents.


After the trip up the tower, we joined the crowds in the town square. A wedding was underway, with a very pregnant bride. Apparently this is somewhat common in Europe – they make sure that there is no fertility issue by impregnating their girlfriends, and then planning the wedding. Our Italian friends told Mark that they did it this way.





     

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Mark is serious about his German wine.




The next morning we walked the wall again, and then Mark shopped for wine. As we were leaving the wine shop, the Little Drummer Boy came by on his bicycle, continually ringing his bell while pedestrians dodged out of the way. Little darling! I wonder what kind of driver he’ll be when he grows up?









 
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Finished here. On to Koblenz!







I took a spin through some shops. Then, it was time to hit the road again, headed for Koblenz, my ancestral home.








                   
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The most-photographed spot in town.




According to Rick Steves, the baby boomer tourist’s Pied Piper who was there before it was besieged by people just like him, Rothenburg is “well on its way to becoming a medieval theme park.” But don’t worry, there are no rides where they chain you upside down by your ankles and then twirl you around. http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/germany/rothbd.htm.

Call me "Schreib."

Thanks for reading!