Perfection!

Yesterday we went to explore a new kiez:

Neukölln.

My sweet and dear friend spent the whole spring in Berlin living in this newishly hip area which I hadn't visited.

Years ago a local friend told me not to go even close to this then unstable neighbourhood, but as always, in every big city, things and atmospheres change and people find new places to start their cute coffee shops and showrooms.

Over the years this has happened to Neukölln, and my, it was the sweetest place!!

We got brilliant directions on where to go, and she was so right in every possible way!

All this took place around Schillerpromenade near Boddinstraße U-bahn station, look how pretty it was!!

Weekend market 

Sweet breakfast at Schillerbar..

Café Engels:

We continued our way to another market in Maybach Ufer where arts and crafts were on display with music, lots of people and good sizzling!

Das Hotel in Mariannenstraße, such a cool place! 

It was a perfect day, THANK YOU dear!!!

Little pieces of history

Have you ever seen these little plaques on the sidewalks here in Berlin?

They're small and very quiet but tell a heavy story of Jewish people and families.

They're placed in front of the houses they lived in and tell us they're names, date of birth and deportation, and the name of the concentration camp they were deported to.

Beautiful Berlin!!

My heart is again overwhelmed by this beautiful city. 

The roughness, the edge it holds inside is so my thing.

I love the opposites: ugly-beautiful, broken-sound. 

I love the history: no matter how painful or filled with shame it would be, it's kept alive with small things, as if every street corner would promise you: we never forget.

It brings tears to my eyes.

The weather is bright sunshine and boiling hot, a good European summer!

My dear, dear friend came Yesterday from her travels, we'd made plans to meet here, and now she's here and we're having the best time together!

I love Volksbüne!

It's got concerts, theater, dance, it's a culture factory and it's a cool place. Plus the building itself!

I remember some ten years ago we were here listening a Jimi Tenor-gig, and that was really cool! 

The afterparty included, the next morning excluded.

Summer!

Sweet friends, hellohello!

So nice to be back here again!

The beginning of the summer was filled with work and poor weather but now it's the perfect holidays, yay!

And I'm back in Berlin!!

Yes I am!

I don't know what's going to happen, I have a feeling this city will blow up on Sunday weather Germany wins the World Championship in football or not.. 

And there's Berlin Fashion Week going on too! Loads of sideshows and events! 

But first here's a few pics here and there:

Cable Factory, Avanti! and Porvoo, this was such a great week!

We had time to sit in cafés too...

The old tea house Helmi inspired us to take pictures like they used to!

Sannäs mansion

A moment before everybody departed, oh how wonderful the whole week was!

And now:

A Berlin mojito...oijoijoi!

I'll keep you posted!!

New Mugs!

When it comes down to pretty dishware and porcelain, I'm on thin ice.

For a while now I've had a good hold of myself but now everything has changed!

Well, not everything, but I just couldn't resist these pretty things I found from Indiska!

At first I just thought to get a new table cloth, but being a fan of all things colourful and mix-matched I caved in!

Here they are, on the new table cloth...

Sweet Tampere!

Today I've been spending time in the lovely city of Tampere!

Husband is working and I'm tagging along with my usual favourite things to do: fleamarkets and cafés!

Not too shabby!

Kahvila Runo aka Café Poem is one of the cutest places ever!

You must come visit this gem if you're nearby, it's open every day from 11-20!

The wall papers are so beautiful, everything about this place makes me want to dream even more, and bigger!

I had a sweeeet piece of cake and two cups of tea, ah..

A day in Kallio!

About two weeks ago I had a date with my very sweet friend and colleague! 

She's come here all the way from New York City and plays the flute like an angel!

She's thinking about moving to Helsinki so we explored the city together. 

We made plans to make it a habit so this first round took place in Kallio!

She saw a lot of New York in it which made her feel at home, and I was proud of our sweet Helsinki a little! 

Well, a lot, to be honest!

We stopped by at Hoochie's...

...as well as Frida Marina...

...and at the end had a FANTASTIC dinner at Bar Sandro.

It took our tounges away, really good food, excellent wine and the best of service! A rare combination which puts a big smile on my face when it happens, and at Sandro's it certainly did!

Their brunch is so popular you have to book well in advance, I've even heard of a two-month-queue! 

No wonder, this place is a pearl!

Thank you sweetie for a wonderful day!!