5 Ways To Stay Cool in Berlin

The Brilliant thing about Berlin is there is so much to see and do that you could go 10 times and have a completely different experience every time. As temperatures soared to 35°, traipsing around the sites was not an appealing option. Our priority was to keep cool and luckily for us, Berlinners are a very chilled bunch so here are my top 5 ways to wipe the sweat from the brow.

No. 1 Badeshciff

Head to Badeshciff, which translates to 'Bathing Ship'. It started as an art project which transformed the hull of a vessel into a swimming pool right in the middle of a neglected stretch of the Berlin Spree. There's nothing quite like the feeling of swimming in a clear pool, surrounded by the murky water. It all gets a bit flash on the decking, with a bar, DJ and expensive drinks but get up before the Berlinners and beat the queues of 1hour + to get in the water for one of the most amazing swimming experiences you'll ever have.

www.arena-berlin.de

No. 2 Wonder around (in the shade)

Berlin has been doing casual pop-ups before we coined 'pop-up' to mean a slightly contrived tempary set-up. We got chatting to a man who told us 15 years ago, without mobile phones it was impossible to plan where to meet because you would go to a bar or gallery one week and it would be closed the next. For that reason, some of the best Berlin has to offer won't be in the guide book. We stumbled upon a DJ playing on a beach on top of a yellow taxi, some optical illusion street art and got lots of awful photos taken in the Photoautomats.

Mauer Park watermelon

Engelberg meat and cheese platter

No. 3 Eat outside

Here are some snaps of some of our cullinary finds. Water melon from Mauer park flea market, a gerkin from a beer garden and meat + cheese plate from Engelberg cafe.

No. 4 Drink outside

Whether it be in a beer garden or just walking down the curb of a Straße, Berliner Kindl in hand. A cool beer is the ultimate accessory.

No. 5 Go to the Flea markets

Have a good old rummage in the Mauer Park flea market and you will be sure to emerge with a great cheap find. We did get a bit hot, but that didn't matter becuase we got soaked by these guys who responded to everyone's "cool me off" cries by attaching a fireman's hose pipe to a water main and drenching grateful passers by.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

Look Mum No Hands

I want to buy a bicycle so I went to check out cafe/bar Look Mum, No Hands (LMNH) in Old Street. The cafe pays a rather large homage to the bicycle and you can bring your two wheeled friend in to have a flat tire pumped, while you sip a flat white. Yes, I know this popular cafe has been around for a while but after feeling like I spend a small fortune on my Oyster, I need to get my own pair of wheels so I started here to see what all the fuss was about.

Wallpaper in LMNH

Inside, bicycle owners compare notes under a canopy of hanging bike wheels. The bike haves just seem a bit cooler, a bit more care free than the have nots. Us TFL users are bound by time tables, have nights and weekends ruined by planned engineering works. I did own a bike once, it lasted about 3 weeks, after my darling brother left it all shiney, new and unchained outside our flat. What a lovely late Christmas present that would have been for the person who stumble across it. Anyway, feeling a bit biked out, I popped to the loo and was met with floor to ceiling bicycle themed wallpaper. The only way I was going to fit in around these parts was to just get on with getting a bike.

Union Cycles

I'm thinking of getting my two wheeler from Deptford based Union Cycle Works, a charity that teaches disadvantaged people how to make bespoke cycles using the best vintage and new parts. You can choose everything, from the frame to the colour and they really are beautiful. Take a look here.

In an effort to 'own' my bicycle and make it all together more 'me' I'm definitely decorating it with one of these leather wine holders made by Oopsmark.

Wine rack from Oopsmark

Bike fever has spread to Levi's adapting a pair of 511 jeans to suit and boot the trend conscious rider, The 'Commuter' jeans are now on sale for £58.90 here. With subtle Scotchlite reflector seams on the turn ups and a raised yoke to prevent a bum show for the car behind I think they should make a some for the girls.

Commuter jeans from Levis

 I'll keep you posted on my bicycle progress.

New Find #6 Lotta from Stockholm

You might have noticed an increase of beautiful clogs pounding the pavements lately, only to discover, that you just can't afford the £100+ on a pair of Sweedish Hasbeens. But then I stumbled across Lotta From Stockholm. The clogs are made in Smålland by a family owned clog factory, who have been making clogs since 1860 and at £57.50, they are half the price of Hasbeens! 

Despite their clompy wooden appearance, they are designed to be really good for your feet, although I'm sure this pro lessens the higher the heel but I live in mine, popping on some socks to keep my feet warm when it's chilly. 

Lotta also does seconds and sale items that are only £35 and with that tempting price, I am about to order my third pair, these beautiful silver peep toes.

Buy silver peep toes here

www.lottafromstockholm.co.uk

New Find #2 The Smitten Kitchen

The Smitten Kitchen. Never have I been so inspired to cook as when I found this food blog. It's one woman, in her home kitchen, using beautiful ingredients that just make you want to make everything she makes. It's not a secret recipe, in fact her first book 'The Smitten Kitchen Cook Book' has just come out today, she just uses the best ingredients and doesn't fuss with them and it works. It also helps that she is a great photographer. I cannot wait to get my mits on that book, but while you wait for yours, why not try one of the recipes from her blog?

Buy it here

All images from smittenkitchen.com

smittenkitchen.com

2012 Xmas decoration goes to...

The one issue I have with my wrapping this year is it's tasteful and I don't think that’s what Christmas is about. As you can see from our tree, every decoration is different. Each year, we buy one that sums up the year. This little red mini was found by my mum in Liberty (£19.99). It's a lot to spend on a little decoration but I passed my driving test last month and with the Olympics and the Jubilee, it was the Union Jack's time to shine so it was spot on.On that note, I'm off to sleep, Father Christmas is on his way.

LOOK AT THIS

H is for Hair

Mary

 Me

I just got my hair ‘did’ by an amazingly talented stylist from Painted Lady, a vintage styling salon in East London. The explanation for this lingo is that while typing, I am sporting an incredible 60s inspired up-do that makes me feel a little bit like I live in Mad Men era. I got it done for a 60s themed work do and the fact I work in an advertising agency definitely encouraged the Mad Men feel!

I was a little apprehensive because I don’t have Cheryl Cole’s ‘You’re worth it’ hair. I feared that at any moment the stylist would just give up attempting a volumous beehive. However, after lots of hairspray and enough kirbies to stock Boots, it was done… or did.

Although the dizzy heights of some iconic beehives were not reached -(see my friend Mary’s), I skipped away with a pretty 60s style hairdo. I totally underestimated how much more fun the party would be by taking the theme a step further and not just wearing a 60s dress.

www.thepaintedladylondon.com

Mary’s Magicures!

My friend Mary of Nail Something, treated my tallons to the ultimate manicure on Friday lunch. I asked for something fun to cheer me up in Britain’s usual poor excuse for a summer. She delievered. Every time I look down, cowering from the rain, the beautiful clouds make me smile. She also did a couple of beach scenes that gently remind me I still haven’t booked a holiday yet!

Check out her blog…she has done everything from the Queen’s Corgies to recreating Hockney’s masterpieces. I’m tipping Mary to be the next ‘Big Splash’ in nail art! 

nailsomething.co.uk