Stirnberger Zeitung - September 11, 2000
Hollywood Star for a short visit in Oer-Erkenschwick
There was hardly any use of the disguise. On Saturday afternoon, when Leonardo DiCaprio arrived in front of the apartment house on Kamp St., in which his grandmother Helene lives, the Hollywood star was certainly recognized despite baseball cap and glasses.
In no time the car was surrounded by autograph hunters from the neighborhood.
Otherwise the secrecy worked out well. No paparazzi, no TV teams got wind of the heartthrob's short visit to Oer-Erkenschwick.
At the moment the actor stays in Rome to shoot the new movie "Gangs of New York" (directed by Martin Scorsese). He used this weekend he had off from shooting to visit his grandmother from Oer-Erkenschwick. His stay at his grandmother's lasted only one night and on Sunday DiCaprio was back on a plane going to Italy.
He also caused a stir in the restaurant of the Stimbergpark Hotel, where both arrived Saturday night around 10 p.m. Hotelier Johann Frugte was totally surprised by the famous guest, too. Nevertheless, he didn't forget to make sure of another dedication for his guestbook. The US-American with Italian-German roots wrote it in German: "Es ist schön, wieder zu kommen, es bringt schöne Erinnerungen zurück" (It's nice to come back, it brings back nice memories)
Leonardo DiCaprio last was at the Stimbergpark Hotel in 1995. When he was younger, he often spent his vacation at Stimberg.
"With a cap and glasses and then the beard, fist I wasn't sure, if it was really him", said Sami Shala who brought the guest from Hollywood a mushroom `schnitzel' with spaetzle (sort of pasta; Swabian) and peas and an apple pancake for dessert.
The star, who is said to have weight problems, ordered a "Diet-Coke", which is called "light" in Germany.
Thanks to Schneewittchen for the translation !
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