🌀 My trip to Peru was very impulsive – I felt a sudden urge, and it took only two weeks until I was on a plane to Lima. So this modern interpretation of the Chakana replaced my talisman six years ago.

⛰️ I bought this Andean cross from an old man on a hill in Sacsayhuaman. My intuition led me, on my first day in Cusco directly to this mysterious place, where an estimated 20,000 people once worked on its construction. I sat with the man on the hill for about half an hour, and he explained his interpretation of the Chakana to me, along with this site, which was likely used for military and ritual purposes.

🌐 The original Chakana existed about 2,000 years before the rise of the Inca Empire. The triangle is a modern variation for tourists; however, it symbolizes the trinity of the condor (upper world), puma (this world), and snake (underworld), and perhaps the three moral principles "do not lie", "do not steal", and "do not be lazy". The four planes represent the cardinal directions, seasons, and stages of life. It has 12 edges, like the months of the year. In the center, as a unifying element of origin, is the sun, a central deity.

🏔 The traces of the Inca were visible throughout my entire journey. Rock carvings, often with animal motifs, can be found on almost every mountain. Every mountain is alive, and many are sacred. It was a deeply nature-connected, inquisitive, organized, and spiritual culture. In Quechua, "Chakana" roughly means "acting as a bridge". The old man told me – even if it was his imagination – that the Inca at Sacsayhuaman would repeatedly undergo ritual cycles of the cosmos here before setting out to other places, like Machu Picchu. My journey also led me toward Machu Picchu a few days later, and the pendant accompanied me on this exciting adventure.

🧭 A few months later, I created "megagroundsloth," and to this day, I wear this pendant daily because, for me, it’s not only a powerful memory but also a symbol of guidance and encounter.

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The Europaturm ("Tower of Europe") seen from the Niddapark in Frankfurt-Hausen. Above me is the A66 motorway with some murals on the bridge pillars. The Europaturm is the second highest (337.5 m) telecommunications tower in Germany. I was up there a few times in my childhood, but the visitor area has been closed since 1999. Here the tower is not usually called Europaturm, but Ginnheimer Spargel ("Ginnheim asparagus"). The Niddapark is a place I like to visit in the summer. Not far from the bridge there is a public fitness park where you can torture your sloth 😁

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👻 A mysterious dusk atmosphere two weeks ago in Niddapark in Frankfurt am Main.

💧The ability of the fog drops to float is based on their small diameter, low mass and high air resistance in relation to the force of gravity. Together with the movement of the air, this ensures that the drops remain in the air and form fog. There are about 100 to 500 million drops per cubic meter of fog. These drops scatter the light in all directions, which is why it appears bright and is difficult to see through.

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You can say exactly which day that was 🤓🕰

The Zimmer Tower, originally the Cornelius Tower, was once part of the city's fortifications in the 14th century. In 1928, the astronomer and clockmaker Louis Zimmer gave the city of Lier his clock mechanism "de Jubelklok", which shows various times and astronomical events, to mark the upcoming 100-year anniversary of Belgium's independence.

1. Phases of the Moon:
Displays the current phase of the moon, such as new moon, first quarter, full moon, or last quarter.

2. Metonic Cycle and Epact:
The Metonic Cycle is a 19-year period after which the phases of the moon repeat on the same days of the year. The Epact is the number of days by which the lunar year differs from the solar year.

3. Equation of Time:
Shows the difference between solar time (as shown by a sundial) and clock time, accounting for the Earth's elliptical orbit and axial tilt.

4. Zodiac:
Indicates the current zodiac sign, which is determined by the position of the sun relative to the twelve constellations of the zodiac throughout the year.

5. Solar Cycle and Dominical Letter:
The Solar Cycle is a 28-year cycle used in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The Dominical Letter is a system for determining the day of the week for any given date in a year.

6. Week:
Displays the current day of the week.

7. Globe:
Shows a representation of the Earth, indicating the current position of the sun relative to the Earth.

8. Months:
Indicates the current month of the year.

9. Calendar Days:
Displays the current day of the month.

10. Seasons:
Shows the current season (spring, summer, autumn, winter).

11. Tides:
Indicates the state of the tides, which are influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.

12. Age of the Moon:
Shows the number of days since the last new moon, indicating the moon's age in its current lunar cycle.

Another astronomical clock, "de Wonderklok", has been located in an annex to the Tower. The clock mechanism contains, among many other displays, the slowest rotating hand in the world.🐌

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What's my state of mind? 🫣
Hopefully the last selfie with this hat.
Even though I have to shave my ears again, I'm looking forward to sunshine and rainbows and moths in my fur.*

🦋🌈🦋🦥🌴🦋🌞

*Metaphorical moths.
Sloths live in symbiosis with sloth moths.
That tingles!✨️🥰

You should also appreciate a slo-mo symbiosis. 🫠🕰

🤍

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🌄🚌 This picture was taken in Huertahuayco, during my bus ride from Ica (Atacama Desert) to Cusco (Andes). The election posters were for the regional and local elections in 2018.

When I started using Instagram, I just came back from my best trip ever. I spontaneously traveled alone through Peru for 16 days and took a few thousand photos.😄🇵🇪❤️

👀 Until then, I had only used Instagram passively. I had a little problem because its name means "instant camera telegram" and from my point of view that's how it was primarily used. But that didn't fit my needs well... 🧃🐌

💡This is how I came up with the idea of ​​a timeless Instagram, led by a giant sloth. It's so relaxed, grounded and full of adventure.😜

🕵️ The posts have been spread across the years and - unfortunately - Instagram deactivated the guides in December, but you can still view all Peru posts on my website (link in bio) at any time. Simply click on “Topics” and then “Peru” in the menu.

There might be a few more pictures to come.
Sometime.

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First flower of the year 💚😊

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Seemingly endless..
along the Grote Nete river.

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The heath in Kessel, Belgium is characterized by heather, swamps, drifting sand and ponds. Heath landscapes are a beautiful example of the interplay of culture and biodiversity. 6000 years ago 80 percent of Europe was still covered by forests. Heath areas naturally occurred only in very rare cases on coasts, in moorland areas and in the mountains. Then people started to use the forests for themselves. They required grazing land and thus not only changed the landscape, but also created new habitats for many different species. The extensive use of deforested and cleared areas resulted in increasingly nutrient-poor soils and grazing animals were bred that are particularly suitable for these areas. The upper layer of soil was regularly removed, mixed with animal manure and burned or applied to fields as fertilizer. The rain washed out the last nutrients and specially adapted plant species settled there, followed by rare animals.

These unique ecosystems survive only through active human intervention, which has been achieved through centuries of heath farming. However, this type of farming has become uneconomical, and a large part of the land has been converted into arable land by applying fertiliser. Other areas became forest again because keeping animals on nutrient-poor areas is associated with lower yields. With the loss of the heathland, numerous animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. And all the beauty that has always inspired painters and poets could simply disappear. It could hardly have been the biodiversity alone that led to active conservation efforts, but rather the cultural connection to this romanticized landscape form. We keep what we find beautiful and we can only find beautiful what we can see.

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I always enjoy the beautiful Taunus 😊

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