Viktor Apfelbacher

Many people have Route 66 on their bucket list: To ride it once, from Chicago to Los Angeles, on a Harley. Or in an old American road cruiser. And experience what we know from the movies: the endless expanse of the plains, the endless deserts with their shimmering red mesas, the small-town USA. Even after 100 years, Route 66 stands for freedom and adventure, the promise of happiness in the USA. But it also stands for the many people who live along Route 66 but are not part of its history. And thus for the USA itself and its contradictions.

The second episode is a journey of discovery through the southern Irish Midlands. This is where the heart of Ireland beats. Largely unknown, this region reveals worlds of scenic beauty, tradition, and Irish cheerfulness—despite the decidedly changeable weather.

Episode I - Between the Wind and the Dunes

Episode II - Between Fire and Water

The first episode is a journey of discovery through the northern Irish Midlands. With their mountains and lakes, vast moorlands, cultural history, and the open-hearted nature of their inhabitants, they are the true lifeblood of the Emerald Isle.