Hot, crowded and always unique

About 25 deg C in the early morning! Haven't had it all summer in Augsburg! Well, in the room we didn't have any idea about temp outside, just saw it on the tablet on the nightstand. The window wall, which, of course, can't be opened, just showed a beautiful sunrise and clouds in the morning. Slept restlessly, in short intervals, struggling with 9 hour time difference and not being used to A/C and the blinking billboard outside. So much light around! 

 

After our unsuccessful hunt for coffee in the morning (long lines/high prices), we walked all the way to the Convention Center - passing all the famous "old" casino hotels like the Caesar's (pic below), where the emperor was dressed in a Las Vegas Raiders shirt - to register for IPW (International Powwow) and - hurrah! - they had coffee and pastries in the press room! Not too much going on there otherwise, didn't meet any interesting people like usually, and, therefore decided to take the buss (DEUCE) to the downtown area and on to the LV North Outlet Center. 

This shopping mall offers really good deals and we bought some clothing at Columbia's for a fraction of the price we would have paid in Germany. Also, checked out Levis, Jockey, Sketchers and a couple other stores before we left for Fremont Street and the Arts District, where crowds were dense and a street festival "Live is beautiful" with several music stages and vendors took place. 

 

Bus traffic in LV isn't really trustworthy, and, it took us quite a bit of time to get back to the Strip. Grabbed a burger at "Fatburger" ("Since 1952") and bought a sixpack of beer at Walgreens before we returned to the Aria Hotel and joined the German media group (only about a dozen this year) in the Lobby Bar for small talk and a drink. Feet tired after about 10 miles of walking!

Las Vegas is a crazy city. New developments are taking over and uniformity is dominating. New casino hotels all look the same in contrast to the old "theme hotels". Downtown is currently more interesting and innovative! Big crowds everywhere, again, mostly "country people" on a trip for a special occasion, or, Los Angelinos. Not too much difference anymore to "pre-Covid times"! Mask mandate is "officially" pretty strict (though FFP2 masks are rather unknown), but people don't seem to be really conscious about the danger. We were wearing FFP2 mask most of the day - which are a pain in the a.. in temps over 30 deg C/90 deg F during the day.

LAS VEGAS HERE WE COME!

Departed the house at 8 am on Friday by car service and despite a little traffic jam on the autobahn, made it in good time to MUC. There it didn't appear as if we would have fully arrived in the „digital age“ yet. Though, we had scanned all our papers and documents before the flight, we had to show print copies of NIE , the travel ban waiver, and of the COVID (Antigene) tests we had made on Tuesday (!), at the check-in counter. Also, the contact address, which we had filled into a form on the internet already, apparently was lost.

First trip outside Germany for over 18 months! All went smooth. The plane was not as empty as we thought it would be, with only business people and American-ID holders allowed to travel to date. At least, United tried to keep one seat empty in each 3-seat-row of the B787 Dreamliner. Food is even more packaged and worse than in Pre-Covid times. And, why the hell do these planes have individual switches for dimming the windows, when they darken all windows in the plane completely briefly after take-off ? Took me a bit of discussion with an attendant to get my window individually operable. It felt like traveling all night long, though it was bright day. Hate not to be able to see what's underneith, like Mount Shasta/CA on the left picture, surrounded by wildfires:

 

Immigration in San Francisco, after our 11 hour (!) flight, went quick and eventless, re-check of luggage as well and we arrived to Vegas on time, at around 6:30 PM. Airports were both not as busy as we were used to. Flew through thick, impressive mountains of clouds to Vegas (pic above). Strip to be seen in the upper right section below.

 At McCarren Airport we took an Uber to get to the Aria hotel, where the German IPW delegation is staying. Due to traffic it cost $ 35 for just a 10 min drive, but taxi lines were endless, too. Took us a bit to find the registration desks and the elevators in this huge hotel complex, had to cross the whole casino with our luggage, but once we were settled in our large room with a window wall towards Frank Gehry's Crystals Shopping mall, Planet Hollywood and a huge 24/7 blinking billboard, the world was o.k. again.

Until we meet again in 2023!

AMERICANA 2021 - a very special gathering and a full success!

500 horses and riders from 14 nations, 700 head of cattle, almost 39,000 visitors who spent an average of 465 Euro, sold-out evening shows – that’s the fantastic result of AMERICANA 2021 in a nutshell! Being the first trade show in 16 months on the fairgrounds in Augsburg due to COVID, there was a lot of insecurity and chaos in regard to COVID regulations until the last day before the opening. Nevertheless, despite of 3G and other not always logical rules (like the saloon, which could only operate the beergarden, but not the restaurant inside, and all of that only with reduced hours), the weather was favorable and the run for tickets was enormous.

Inside the halls over 250 exhibitors offered their merchandise with huge success: bags were getting larger and heavier towards the weekend, there was definitely a backlog demand in shopping! Also, the demonstrations on the smaller show rinks in the halls, given by reputed trainers, e.g. about horsemanship or Western riding, were a fav of the visitors, as well as the lectures in the »Health Forum«.

Besides the finals in several competitions in the evening shows, there were competitions taking place all day in the large arena and visitors didn’t have to pay extra to watch them. A total of over EUR 170,000 in prize money was paid out to participants and one of the highest-paying reining competitions in Europe was taking place at AMERICANA this year. In the Cutting und Cowhorse classes, participation was superb and outstanding riders were showing off, especially the Italian participants proved outstanding talent in the cattle and cowhorse competitions. Also, there were new standards set for the up-and-coming discipline of ranch riding.

                                            Cutting Competitions (above & below)

                                            Reining competition

                                            Cowwork

For the first time there was a record in digital international participation, too:  AMERICANA live on the Internet got more than 66,000 hits from 30 countries. The average viewing time was an impressive 29 minutes!

Two years will for sure be a long time to wait for the next AMERICANA, which is scheduled a bit earlier than usual, for August 15-20, 2023 (Infos: www.americana.de).

©Fotos: www.americana.de (with the exception of Cutting total).

AMERICANA - in full swing

Just a couple of impressions from AMERICANA 2021. While people seem to be fervently buying horse-related merchandise and while riding competitions are top notch, the usual hilarious atmosphere around the saloon is missing. The band has to stop playing at 6 or 7 pm and the beergarden closes at 10 pm instead of midnight or even later as in previous years. The saloon isn't even open this year due to COVID regulations, and, we can just keep our fingers crossed that the weather will stay fine and that it won't rain. 

Nevertheless, glad that the event is back! Enjoyed some competitions during the day and the finals of the Cow Horse Nations Team Cup in yesterday's evening show. Also, we watched some of the many horse and riding demonstrations and checked out vendors, trainers, associations and ranches.

“Howdy Cowboys and Cowgirls!" - AMERICANA 2021

 Augsburg/Germany Welcomes Western Riders and Fans to AMERICANA 2021

There’s one place and one event for cowboys and cowgirls from all over Europe: Every other year the City of Augsburg in the western part of Bavaria/Germany is hosting the largest Western Riding & Western Lifestyle Show in Europe, called “AMERICANA”. Sept. 8 –12, 2021 riders and fans will flock to the fairgrounds near the University Campus in the southern part of town and transform the area into a “Western Town”.

 

                                            Ute Holm at a cowhorse presentation

AMERICANA is the epicenter of the Western Riding scene in Europe, for professional and amateur riders as well as for fans of the USA and the American lifestyle. Visitors can’t wait to watch the competitions – they are taking place all day, every day –, and, they can’t wait to shop and meet other “horse people” interested in Western riding and the Western lifestyle. A visit to AMERICANA absolutely needs to include at least one of the evening shows as well!

 

Despite COVID, there are no unusual restrictions: Visitors have to be vaccinated, recovered from the virus or newly tested, and, masks are mandatory inside the arena and the exhibition halls. Around 250 exhibitors from ten countries will be present on AMERICANA 2021 (2019: 327 from 14 countries), 400 riders from 14 countries, 500 horses and 700 head of cattle. Riders will be participating in several Western Riding disciplines such as Cutting, Cow Work, Peasure or Reining. AMERICANA is place of the official European Championships for Western Riding – associated with over 170,000 Euro added price money. During the four big evening shows from Wednesday to Saturday the finals in each discipline will take place. Evening events are almost sold out (4,500 spectators every night).

 

  Competitions in different Western riding disciplines  ©AMERICANA

On 43,000 square meters in total, including three big exhibition halls, exhibitors and vendors of all kinds are offering everything for Western riders, cowboys and cowgirls: boots and hats, bits and spurs, saddles and tackle, jeans and accessoires. Information boothes of different riding associations will be present and special clinics will take place in different show rinks all day long. The outdoors area is made up like a Western town with the famous Red Grizzly Saloon, with country music and a lot of great food and cold beer.

 

Before the official start of the show on Sept 8 over 22.000 tickets were already sold, much more visitors are expected ((2019: total of 52.700). The weather is great, everybody is excited, even the horses and cows can’t wait …

 

• Informations: AFAG Messen und Austellungen GmbH, AMERICANA, Am Messezentrum 5, 86159 Augsburg, www.americana.de, #americana_augsburg

• Tickets:

• Opening Times: daily Wed-Sat 9am-7:30pm, Sun 9am-6pm

• Evening Shows (Halle 5): Wed-Sat 7:30pm (Gates open 7pm)

• Western Town & Red Grizzly Saloon: Wed-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-6pm

• Covid Safety Practices: 3-G (vaccinated, recoverd or tested), face masks required inside, physical distancing.

Happy 4th of July!

Wish we could celebrate Independence Day in the U.S.! We have done it twice in the past, in 2006 and 2009, both times with dear friends in NYC, with fireworks on the East and the Hudson River .

It’s over 460 days now that we are back from our last U.S. trip, beginning of March 2020. We were at home more or less continuously, bored and depressive. It’s the longest stretch of not-traveling in our career as freelance writers.

 

We are fully vaccinated in the meantime, COVID numbers in Germany are low, though there is, again, talk about a 4th wave because of the Delta variant. Currently, there are only a few COVID rules and regulations still in operation. One of them concerns  the mandatory masks in stores/restaurants/offices/public transport, etc. – in Bavaria it’s the dense FFP2 masks exclusively.  Still not too much fun to go shopping in the city center or to sit in a concert hall or theater in the heat with these masks on. Still not too much spontaneity in regard to restaurant visits.

 

Clubs, bars and other late-night spots are still closed and events only take place with restricted numbers of visitors. Much fewer summer events in total this year, and, if so, they are rather small and require advance reservation/registration. Big events like Oktoberfest or our local Friedensfest (Peace Festival) are already cancelled (again).

 

Not really back to normal yet, but feeling better now, less caged in. Fear and anxiety of the virus waned, being cautious and washing hands all the time did not. Also, masks became an indispensable piece of clothing. Summer and gardening are helping, too, though, April/May were horrendously cold and rainy, and, June continued with pretty mixed and extreme weather, severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and hailstorms. Can only get better now!

 

We eventually were lucky this June and qualified for one of the governmental programs for freelancers. From submission of application to payment it took almost three months ,,, the mills of German bureaucracy grind slowly! This support restored some confidence and gave us some security, though there is not much improvement yet in regard to tourism recovery . Correspondingly, we are not really in high demand yet being focused on the U.S.A. Borders are still closed for European travelers while Americans are allowed to travel in the E.U.

 

Keep your fingers crossed that borders to the U.S. will reopen soon (next key date is July 21st) because we have booked flights to the U.S. two days ago! The big travel trade show IPW will take place in Las Vegas in September, we are invited, and, we absolutely want to be there. Beg your president to let us in, pleeeease!

 

Happy Fourth of July to our American friends!

 

 

LIKE A SHIP IN DISTRESS WITHOUT A CAPTAIN

I think, it’s time to give our American friends a little update about our frustrating situation here. Most of them don’t have the weakest idea how dull, grimm and depressing the atmosphere and mood currently is. Our lockdown, which was introduced in a »light version« beginning of November 2020  and tightened middle of December (the week before Christmas), was extended recently until March 7. This also means, that we are under lockdown for months now, not weeks. Our most exciting weekly event is visiting a grocery or drugstore or standing in line in front of a butcher store or a bakery. 

 

Originally, the lockdown was supposed to end today, Feb. 15, and even though the numbers are going down and would have reached the targeted number in time – as our Augsburg Corona website (pic below) tells us –, politicians – lead by our soon-to-retire chancellor Merkel – decided to continue the lockdown. Now, the new number is 35 for the 7-day incidence quotient, instead of 50 formerly. Aggression, depression and lack of understanding are growing, especially in regard to political actions and rules which often don’t make sense anymore.

One example: hairdressers, and, only them, will re-open on March 1, prematurely. Why exactly them? No pedi/manicure, no fitness studio, but hairdressers, working in closest possible vicinity to their clients? Well, there were rumors a couple of weeks ago, scrutinizing why and how soccer players, politicians and other »hoi polloi« always have nice hairdoes, while regular people like us are getting »overgrown«.

 

Our politicians aim for fear, anxiousness and panic. The don’t have »hope«, »bolstering up« people, »encouragement« or »positivity« in their vocabulary. Now, that the numbers are going down, the new mutants of the virus from Great Britain (B 1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351) and Brasil (P.1), and the so-called third wave are the new scares. It’s not really lifting the spirits of people, and, I bet the long-term effects of this lockdown will be horrible.

 

Other than reported repeatedly, not all are happily, cozily sitting in an impromptu home office, at the same time helping their kids equipped with state-of-the-art gadgets and high-speed internet with home schooling. But, kids will soon – by specific dates/regulations for age groups/grades, different in every German county – be allowed to get back to school/kindergarten. They’ll take the bus or train to school, gather in the courtyard, be happy to meet people in the flesh again. As has been proven, kids do not get sick by the virus easily. But, they pass it on. Therefore, NOW, only now, discussions started to vaccinate teachers and caregivers in childcare earlier than originally planned.

 

Vaccination? A little over 3 % of the German population is vaccinated to date (2-15) – compared to about 12 % in the U.S. and about 3/4 of the population in Israel. Well, we have been told, that there was something wrong with the amounts of vaccines being ordered by the EU and Germany. Last week they started to vaccinate the 80+ age group and if it continues at the current rate, we won’t have our turn until summer or fall. Also, not sure, whether every elderly person knows about the vaccination register and how to register. The form is only available on the internet and you have to give a mobile phone number. Certainly, hard to do for some.

 

Regarding communication: Besides the before-mentioned register, I am not sure that everybody knew/knows in which parts of the city masks are mandatory and where not (the photo above shows one of the official maps published on the city’s website. It may not be accurate anymore, but it shows how confusing it is/was. Yellow marks mandatory mask zones). Besides these internet maps there are little paper signs on poles – that’s it. 

For a couple of weeks FFP2/KN95 masks (see photo) are mandatory in shops/offices and on public transport. To my knowledge, Bavaria is the forerunner in this regard and we were wondering how it came to this sudden change from fabric and surgery face masks to FFP2. 

But, oh yes, we do have this famous Corona App, a lot of money was once spent on it. But, mostly for data security reasons, it never became a real success. Rather inefficient. Public Health Departments are still – in some cities not adequately equipped with software and personnel – informing infected/quarantined people by snailmail!

  

Well, now we are staring, like a cat in front of the mouse hole at the next level: 35 for 7-day incidence. Hoping, that then the crowds in supermarkets are allowed to spread out to DIY stores and garden centers, bookstores and flower shops, shoe shops, department stores and furniture stores. In the meantime discounters like ALDI, Lidl and the likes, continue to sell EVERYTHING. And, most don’t even check on the number of people inside the store. The little bookstore around the corner (who’s struggling with Click & Collect, too, while garbage containers are overflowing with cardboards from ordered merchandise) would allow three people in and closely watch the numbers and distances. Same for our large, airy library or our fitness studio, which long time ago introduced very rigid hygiene/distancing/cleaning/registration rules.

 

I need new shoes (and can’t order them with my screwed-up feet), I need my fitness studio and the public pool (to stay fit and healthy), I need books made out of paper, a pedicure, I want to be surrounded by culture again – a museum, an exhibition, a concert, a movie, a reading – and I am sick of staring at a computer screen for another Zoom conference. Would love to talk to a doc and be understood and can understand the first time, and, see his/her face and expression.

And, I would dream of – gradually, selectively and carefully after that – having a beer and talks in a pub or bar, a nice cup of coffee while sitting in a café, breakfast buffet in our French bakery, or, good food in a restaurant, being nicely served and not coming out of a styrofoam container, lukewarm. What else? Traveling!!! Getting out again!

Live currrently is a joyless roller-coaster ride with the frights, but without the fun. Couldn’t terms like »zoning« (a grading system in re-opening businesses depending on infection numbers), »long-term plans« or »opening strategies« become part of our politicians’ vocabulary? Well, it’s a big election year, and, nobody wants to make the wrong decision, rather none at all. Right now it feels like we are navigating frantically in a boat, which is slowly filling up with water, without having neither direction nor plan,,, in the cold,,,

New Year, new luck?

Happy New Year! Things can only get better. 

Usually, big deal: A new year, being greeted with fireworks, champagne, good wishes and resolutions. Not on this New Year's: COVID lock down in Germany (and many other European countries), meaning: no fireworks, no parties with more than two households and a maximum of five people. Unusually quiet. Therefore, we slept through the turn of the year!

More than ever before, the turn of the year didn't even pretend to cause any change. The old ("Chinese", as Trump called it) virus is still highly active, the new ("English") mutation is adding to the general fear and uncertainty (or denial and ignorance). Numbers of infected and positively tested people are unrestrainedly on the rise since end of October. The first lock down "light" in November didn't change anything but to prompt a couple of shops/restaurants/services to already shut down for good. The "strict" lock down which was mandated on Dec. 16th is ongoing (probably until January 31st), but equally inefficient so far. 

In December there was suddenly light at the end of the tunnel, when Biontech-Pfizer announced that a COVID-vaccine is available. It took a little longer in Germany to have it formally approved, but after Christmas vaccination started with caregivers, nurses and in care homes. Also, the 80+ age group is among the first ones to get the vaccine. Well, that might beg the question: They may be in greater danger if infected, and, they would swamp the ICUs in hospitals then, but on the other hand, how many 80+ people are regularly leaving the house to go to work or use public transport and meet with other people than their caregivers?

The city is deserted, almost all shops (with the exception of grocery/drug stores), restaurants (only a few offer take-out profitably), fitness studios, services like manicure or hairdressers, cultural institutions, libraries, museums - almost everything - is closed. It's horribly dull and boring and the only way to not go insane is to go grocery shopping and to explore the neighborhood by walking every day. And, reading, lots of reading.

Americans under a certain taxable income automatically get their (second) stimulus check one of these days! Here, there are specific support programs for different professional sectors available, but, e.g. for artists/musicians/actors/journalists/writers, etc., it's hard to qualify. E.g., you have to state your monthly income (which we don't have), your operating costs (neither) or your savings (don't want to do that), and/or have to pay back in full or partially one day. In general, it's several pages of forms to fill out and until you will receive the money, another couple of weeks will go by. 

While the car industry and big companies like Lufthansa are subsidized, while delivery services, internet companies, security firms or producers of disinfectants and masks, Netflix and internet games are on a roll, the environment is suffering. Masks everywhere in the woods/parks/streets, one person per car, not many using public transportation anymore, huge amounts of garbage caused by all the self-declared "chefs". While the rich ones continue to live a good life (many of them in home office, teaching their kids themselves, self-isolating), the ones having to do the "dirty" jobs, salesclerks, caregivers, nurses, kitchen aids or factory hands, are struggling financially and mentally, are being neglected; unemployed and homeless are suffering badly. 

I do not deny the virus and how dangerous it is. I do not deny that there are really stupid people. But, what I particularly miss in politics is practicability, a down-to-the bottom-of-things attitude, a bit more enlightenment, foresight and respect for the educated citizen instead of new rules and flashes at short sight. I would wish for more than just orders, evocations, "mass punishment" because of "bad behavior," theories and theses by these high-paid people, living in villas with all luxury and support available. 

They probably can't imagine, how a family of six, living on 60 qm/600 sq.ft, will be able to find out which of their four kids is currently in "Absenzunterricht" ("home schooling" - as they previously mistakenly called it) and which of them has to be at school regularly (every other day/week?). Also, there are certainly not enough tablets or laptops available for the children to do their homework properly. Let alone the expertise to handle them reasonably and responsibly. Also, who should watch the kids at home, when the dad is a construction worker (a currently booming branch, too) and mom does shift work in geriatric care? Grandparents may be in a high-risk group and can't be bothered. At least, both parents still have work! Though, they probably won't go for a little ski excursion to the Alps on the weekend because the weather is just fine as some others do.

A widening gap is inevitable and "after" (?) COVID society will have changed. But, probably not to the better. We'll see.

 

COVID-19 holding the reins

Traveling is still out of discussion. Last year, around this time, we were getting ready for a trip to Toronto and New York City. 
This year, we are stuck at home and another lockdown is to be expected.
 

Would never have thought at the beginning of the 2020, that now, more than seven months later, we are still not able to travel. That we are still worried, anxious, bored and angry, aggravated and depressive. In August and September, there was a glimmer of hope, at least in Europe. Numbers of infected people were considerably dropping, rules loosened. At least, it was possible again to have a beer at a pub again or to meet with (a handful of) friends (in a beergarden). We were thinking about traveling to Rome at the time, but now even a day trip to Munich has become a not-too-funny endeavor.

In October COVID-19 numbers started to skyrocket again. With the change of weather – it became much cooler and rainier – more people stay inside. And, they gather inside in groups, which apparently is the main problem. One day, it's the young people partying, the next day, a religious groups gathering or weddings/family events taking place. For the elderly, it's always the young ones to blame. But, isn't it easier to stay home, watch TV and hoard toilet paper and pasta when you are 70+ than at age 20+?
 Hoarding of goods started again, toilet paper is already limited to one package per person.

As of late, we have a "traffic light system", colors corresponding to a statistical calculation called "Inzidenzquotient". Lights are changing from green to yellow to red, and, new: dark-red. Corresponding to the number of positively tested people in the last 7 days calculated from 100,000 people each city/county is treated differently now. And, I am only talking about Bavaria,,,

In the beginning of the pandemic rules/regulations were mandatory and (mostly) the same for the whole country. Now it's much more confusing IMHO, because just traveling like 5 or 10 mi. may mean you are in/out of a "dangerous zone" and have (not) to wear a mask and can eat out longer. Our hometown Augsburg is currently "dark-red", restaurants close at 9 pm, masks are mandatory everywhere in the city center (there are controls and fines up to 250 Euro). We assume the next stage will be "black" and this would mean going into lockdown. Not only will schools, day cares, restaurants and museums close, people will not be allowed to leave their houses without a good reason. Christmas markets (on the photo below the one in Augsburg) are already cancelled.

 

 

Apparently, human mentality (and stupidity) ask for strict rules, which are not always logical. It's not really conclusive to wear a mask in completely empty parts of the city, just because it's in the designated zone. Also, bikers don't need to wear a mask in the city, pedestrians have to. Theaters have strict restrictions in regard to number of visitors and struggle to survive (same for the artists involved). Just a certain number of people/households (depending on "color of the light") is allowed to meet in the public and at home. But, for soccer players (and some other sports) these rules are not applicable. Soccer is not really a "bodyless" occupation, and, if you look at the stands sometimes (rules are different in each stadium/state), you fully understand why people from other fields of activities get angry. On the other hand, in trains, trams, busses or planes proximity can't be avoided as much as people would love to.

Please, don't misunderstand me, we are cautious and we do wear masks and do not deny that this virus is dangerous, but currently we feel treated like nasty children. Politicians with their unchanged/ unreasonably big income and their large villas (preferably including fitness room, pool, park and lots of space) can easily talk about "stay safe, stay home!"

For Booklovers!!!

 

Keep in mind, please: besides this travel blog – which is, admittedly, for   lack of new travel adventures, pretty boring at the moment – there is our new book blog: https://travelingbookworms.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Recently, we reviewed Delia Owens, Der Gesang der Flusskrebse ("Where the Crawdads sing") - an absolutely fabulous book! A little earlier, we talked about Susan Neiman's "Von den Deutschen lernen" ("Learning from the Germans"), also, highly interesting reading, especially, in these politically crazy times.

In this context, you should also check out Amerikahaus München's interesting digital presentations on 

https://www.amerikahaus.de/veranstaltungen/veranstaltungsarchiv/

 Have fun reading now - it's good compensation for not being able to travel!