From Place To Space: Colourful London Weekend

Admittedly it is a few weeks ago that I spent a wonderful and colourful spring weekend in London with my friend Bridgee. We attended a blogger styling and photography workshop on a farm in East Sussex (I blogged about it HERE) but the rest of the weekend was reserved for some inspiring strolls throughout London. And I thought it would be nice to share a few favorite spots with you here today. 

Many years ago while being a student I worked for a major retailer and conducted a marketing project. And we were working with a London based design studio that was located in a wonderfully charming area - Primrose Hill. That was the moment when I discovered this beautiful quarter. So it was clear that I had to go back there and enjoy a brunch in one of the many inviting cafés and that is my first recommendation: The Greenberry Café. This café not only features a wonderful interior and some sunny places in front of it, but serves also delicious food and drinks - the pancakes were a scrumptious dream. And the staff was beyond cool and friendly. Must go if you are there!

Of course there is no visit to Primrose Hill without climbing the actual hill and enjoying a wonderful view of downtown London. Take your time, sit down on the lawn and take in the typical London atmosphere. And afterwards, I recommend just strolling around Primrose Hill. You will find lovely little shops along its main street Regent's Park Road. Plus, it's a stone's throw to walk further to Camden Town and discover the other, more punk side of London. 

Regarding the accommodation we've opted for an airbnb apartment in the leafy borough of Islington in London's north. The apartment was a great success and a pleasure to stay in: Its interior design was dominated by warm colours and ethnic elements added more character to this period home in a quiet residential street in Islington. If you like what you see, check out more pictures of the apartment in my Roombeez article HERE. 

I hope you enjoyed today's little stroll through London and I am wishing you a very happy new week! See you tomorrow!

Photography by Bridgee Melling

Tweet

From Place To Space: Off To Paris, Again!

Monday blues is curable. Yes it is! And the best treatment against Monday blues is a little getaway and design discoveries - and I am treating myself this week. Yes, later today I will be sitting in the plane to Paris! I am heading to my second home on a design mission - I was invited by Habitat to attend the presentation of their new collection and speak with their designers in their Paris showroom. I am so curious to discover what Habitat has prepared for all of us and I will make sure to share everything with you on my Instagram account - so come and follow me along if you aren't already!

Today's travel blog post had to be a Paris post of course. I thought it would be nice to share a few simple, on-the-go snapshots from my last stay in Paris. Sometimes I just walk around without a plan or decided destination and just snap a picture here and there. All these pictures were taken during one day - and I was walking a lot that day. From my home base in the 20th arrondissement I descended the Ménilmontant hill to the 11th arrondissement, traversed to the 3rd and entered the 4th arrondissement. I like to walk long distances in Paris - it makes me feel more attached to the city, amidst its vibrant life on the streets, discovering new shops, beautiful buildings and Parisians of all sorts, taking in its scents and sounds. 

My love for Paris is unrivaled and every time I share a bit of my love and excitement for the French capital with you, I hope I can spark a little travel desire in you and once you head off to Paris, who knows, maybe we'll have a coffee in one of the many street side cafés? Oh, I heard daydreaming is a good cure for Monday blues, too. 

Bon début de semaine mes amis!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

 

Tweet

From Place To Space: Visiting Old Jerusalem

Some travel destinations are overwhelmingly captive - they emanate a limitless number of impressions addressing all your senses, they flip through centuries, no millennia, with every second step you take, they blend sounds and scents, languages, cultures, religions. Quiet, abandoned alleys alternate with loud, bustling streets and squares. They leave you in awe. Between fascination and exhaustion. One of those destinations is Jerusalem.

This level of inspirational overload leaves me even now in a sort of writer perplexity. I don't know where to start and where to end this story. I encountered too many moments that were special, better said unique and really moving. But I will try to summarize some of my most important moments in words - for the rest I will let the pictures 'talk' to you.

During my Israel trip I spent two full days in Jerusalem, the controversial capital, the divided city, the center of three monotheistic religions. The change between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem couldn't be bigger even thought a mere 50 kilometers separates both cities. You switch from a coastal to a hillside city, from a very liberal, easy-going beach population to a rather conservative, religious population. You switch from a city drafted and built in the past century to an ancient city dating back to 5.000 years of inhabited history. 

My first day in Jerusalem was marked by a 'historic walk' throughout the old town to grasp an understanding of its variety and dimensions. I walked through the Muslim quarter, the Jewish quarter, the Christian quarter and the Armenian quarter. I walked through narrow streets with colorful markets and souks and finally arrived at a sign indicating: Western Wall. This marked the beginning of my discovery trail of the important religious monuments in Jerusalem.

Approaching the Western Wall was a magnificent feeling, something slightly bewildering, a mix between curiosity, devotion and reverence. Of course I used the opportunity to stick a little paper with my wish into the ancient wall and say a little prayer. Later on, I walked the entire Via Dolorosa and visited every single stop along it - not alone of course, but with dozens of pilgrims from all over the world. 

The trail ends at the overwhelming Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the heart of the Christian quarter.  In fact, the church is a conglomerate of many churches and chapels under one roof and is said to be constructed over the Golgotha hill where Jesus was crucified and his close-by tomb. Despite the numerous visitors the church effused an elevating atmosphere of prayers and admiration. And the moment when I approached the Holy Sepulchre was very special and personally moving (look at my happy face when I left the church further down). That said, patience comes in the package too as you have to queue for most of the important sights within the church. Finally, I wanted to visit the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aksa Mosque from close-by but I was not lucky enough - the two official entrances to the Temple Mount for foreigners were closed that day.

The second day was another one of discovery. First I visited the ancient City of David taking me back to the millennia-long history of Jerusalem including a fascinating walk through a subterranean water tunnel - I walked around 30 minutes through a very narrow and pitch-dark tunnel with my feet in water with my friend Sarah. The only source of light: The flashlight app on our iPhones. What a crazy adventure it was. Unfortunately, no pictures to share with you as it was - you remember - pitch dark! Everything was topped with a visit to the Mount of Olives with stunning views of the old town of Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem is an amazing place to visit. Especially if you are interested in history. It is like a navel between the past, the present and the future with the levitating eternal question: Will this city be one day not only the capital of a country and three religions but also the capital of peace? A wish well worth to be sticked into the Western Wall. Happy Monday everyone! Oh, and shalom!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

Tweet