Growing Up With Whitney : My Personal Tribute

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Left: A young Whitney Houston Right: Me and my mommy

Early this morning, my mother wrote "Whitney passed away, Bicole" on my Facebook wall. There was no need for a last name, because I knew exactly who she was talking about. I was on a first name basis with Whitney Houston, and my heart sunk, not wanting to believe it. The message also hit hard because she used my ONLY nickname, "Bicole", a word that instantly transported me back to the years when Whitney Houston had the greatest impact on my life. 

Waking Up In Berlin: A Photo Essay

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The windows of this U-bahn train is decorated with a pattern featuring the Brandenburg Gate

Considering that I have a full time job and that everything is closed on Sunday, my Saturdays tend to be quite hectic. When I am not visiting Copenhagen or hosting my boyfriend in Berlin for the weekend, Saturday mornings are my chance to play catchup with errands, shopping, and occasional pampering. Today was a welcomed change of pace. I met up with fellow Berlin-based travel bloggers, Adam from travelsofadam.com and Cheryl from cherylhoward.com for some brunching and shop-talk. Here are a few pictures from my day out in the big city!

Helenekilde Badehotel: A Charming Seaside Retreat

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Frost on a window, brutal yet beautiful

Winter recently took an uninvited turn for the worse in Northern Europe. Until last week, the weather, for the most part, was mild and pleasant, then suddenly the situation escalated to damp and freezing. With no prospect of acceptable temperatures until Spring, the cold seemed to be magnified. The drabness coupled with a hard crash landing back into reality after my amazing Christmas holiday left me destined for winter depression.

The Forgotten Art of Travel and A Louis Vuitton Hotel Label Postcard Box Giveaway

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Vintage suitcase with labels from word travels (source)

The image of an antique steamer trunk covered in hotel labels has always been the ultimate symbol of travel for me. I think of the Golden Age of travel, when different modes of transportation made the unreachable finally reachable. During this time hotel labels were in high fashion and served as a memento of one's past journeys.

Berlin, Germany: Places of Remembrance

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Jews are no longer allowed to work as independent craftsmen November 12, 1938

January 27th is recognized around the world as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, 67 years ago, the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by Soviet Troops. From 1942 to 1944, trains from all over Nazi-occupied Europe drove millions of Jews, Roma, Sinti, Poles and other religious and political opponents to the their imprisonment and eventual death. 

One area in Berlin was especially devastated by the Holocaust. Before Hitler came to power the small Bavarian Quarter in Schöneberg was home to more than 16,000 Jews. In the 1920's this area was known as the "Jewish Switzerland" because it was home to many doctors, lawyers and intellectuals, including Albert Einstein. By 1944, 6,000 of these men and women met their death after their deportation to concentration camps. 

Reykjavik, Iceland: The Perfect Escape

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Iceland's capital is a progressive, vibrant city despite its provincial village-like appearance

My favorite trip of 2011 had to be my weekend escape to Reykjavik, Iceland, the world's northernmost capital city.  Reykjavik is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Iceland. Despite it's provincial appearance, Reykjavik has been dubbed the "the nightlife capital of the north", with clubs that stay open past 4 a.m. Don't be put off if you aren't much of a raver, the city and its surrounding areas offer a mixture of nature, adventure and relaxation. The solo female traveler should feel more than comfortable in Reykjavik, the city is virtually crime free and almost everyone speaks perfect English.

New Years Eve in Copenhagen...and Around the World

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The songs in the video are from Pond5.com The first is called Inspiration Clouds and the second one is called Bells Present Main :)

Am I the only person who still pauses when they have to write down 2012 on a piece of paper? 

2012 got off to a great start and it seems to be flying by. My New Years was really amazing! I spent it with the Panda and the boys in Copenhagen, Denmark. I felt so much love and warmth during my week in Copenhagen that it was hard for me to return to Berlin. Our New Years was a fusion of both old and new, a little bit of them and a little bit of me. I introduced the family to raclette (SUCCESS!!), and they introduced me to Kransekake, which is a marzipan ring cake that we made from scratch. (Talk about cultural immersion!) It was all in all, great multi-culti family fun...aside from me almost losing an arm during a rocket mishap. :) So I'm here with all my limbs and digits with a heart yearning to see my Panda and his cubs again.