Time to pack this darn suitcase...and then hit the road to Tamil Nadu via Delhi...a different type of Christmas this year...I am excited to see what south India has to offer...maybe a flower-covered Christmas tree? Who knows...but, adventure is the name of the game, so I'm keeping an open mind...and both eyes alert for images to share with all of you! So, have a blessed festive season and an wonderful, firework-filled start to the new year...
​Picture credit: Pinterest

Okay, so the title of this post could raise a few question marks and I can already see them circling a few heads. It is the title of Sam Smith's latest album and I am a fan already. And, with these songs circling my head, I decided to share some streetstyle with you. Taken in Schanze (one of my favourite places in Hamburg, although it is sadly being gentrified and more and more hipsters are targeting this area), this face (with flawless make-up and just enough street savvy) had to be shown on the blog. I love the bodysuit (nod to the Kardashians) and the Latina vibe that makes me think she could also fit in in downtown LA. As for the rest, it is streetstyle at its least complicated, without looking too forced...perfect for one of those rare sunny days in Hamburg!

When it comes to comfort food, nothing beats the Italian kitchen. And, when I met up with Cecile, we decided to stay in the area I lived in for over ten years...and we found ourselves in front of a restaurant that has been feeding Hamburgers since 1990...not an easy feat in a business where competition is fierce and where restaurants open and close within a year if they are not good enough. From the friendly and quick service, to the gorgeous pizza and pasta, L' Incontro da Cosimo is a place you should definitely visit because it is not only unpretentious but, here you sit with locals, away from the tourist traps. Here, the Italian feeling is so present, without the dreaded kitsch...and add to this good company, like Cecile, and you are sure to have a wonderful evening.

All things nautical make my heart smile somehow. Perhaps it is because I grew up on the coast in South Africa and the sea and all things connected to it have somehow found a place in my life and memory...and then add ten years living in the port city of Hamburg and you can see why blue and white always resonates with me. I love this outfit because it cleverly combines so many trends. Take the soft blazer, pair it with a striped jumpsuit and add a touch of Italy through the laced sandals...and you have a combination that is not only very current but, also globalised to the max. The fact that she is transporting three bottles of Prosecco did not go unnoticed in the trendy area of Schanze!

More fabulous sun and tropics from Rithika...and the amount of colour and fashion savvy is almost too much to bear...it is a dull, grey day this side of the world and I love the fact that somewhere else on this planet, the weather is exactly the opposite of what is outside my window at the moment!

To combat the winter blues and indeed the amount of snow piling up outside my front door, I have decided (with the kind permission of my friend, Rithika) to post some summer-filled images to warm your heart and inspire you all to pack a suitcase and chase the sun. So, this and the next post will be dedicated to island hopping and all things tropical...here she is touring Cuba in all her splendour, in island style deluxe with all the flair that we have come to admire and adore. So, when you are wrapping scarves around your neck and pulling a knitted cap over your ears, think about your next holiday and start planning now!

Karolinenstrasse 25 is where you need to go to sample some amazing Vietnamese cooking...XeOm is the name food is the game. Here, the service is incredibly fast (perfect for a business break or study break if you look around you and notice the university students slurping soups and eating fries and steaming plates of rice). This restaurant has managed to create a 'street kitchen' flair without compromising on the really important factor: the food. Other eateries shelve out a fortune to create the 'atmosphere' and forget that in the end food will make or break any establishment. XeOm is comfortable (plastic chairs need not be back-breaking), loud and fast...and with so many authentic asian flavours, I could recommend just about everything on the menu! Jürgen tucked into his hot pho bo tai with great excitement and Laura did not waste time attacking her bowl of crispy noodles, beef and vegetables. And considering how quiet we were at our table....this is always a sign that the food is really good.

And then there was still room for a bit of coffee and cake in the student village, Grindel...