I’d been really looking forward to this summer’s journey to Spain, so much that at some stage I frantically tried to lower my expectations just so I wouldn’t be disappointed…
Turns out that certain things are meant to be great, no matter what. The trip ended up not only being a blast but also a much needed and very real break from reality, with no time left for the usual sentiments.
As expected, it also left me with some serious motivation to go surfing more often. Flights are booked, I can hardly wait.

Photos:
I didn’t take half as many pictures as I usually do but the few ones that made it onto flickr can be viewed here.
S., on the other hand, took tons of photos, including the one above. It’s blurry but perfect because it pretty much sums up my idea of Spain and it should by all means become the country’s new logo.

Bye bye spectacular Berlin sunsets, hola las olas español!

The last time I got notably excited about a non-fictional book was way back in 2003, when the first edition of Zeldman’s Designing With Web Standards arrived in the mail:

I took it everywhere and was inconsolable after it disappeared during a move.

7 (!!) years later it looks as if the time has come for the dawning of yet another promising era.

Can’t wait for 2012. (Naturally, the book is sold out but it can be ordered here.)

In order to escape the mayhem that ensues on the streets of Berlin on May 1st each and every year, I spent a weekend in Hamburg. Funnily, the riots followed the same idea, and so we ended up amidst hooligans, police and water cannon once again.. Nevertheless, it was a great couple of days and yet another chance for me to catch up on ‘Hamburg at daytime’ related activities as well.
(This photo was taken right before a hailstorm went down, which was as exciting as it sounds.)

This photo was taken on Monday. We went for a long walk heading towards Sanssouci Park. We marvelled at houses that are located right across the road from this pretty building – imagine that, looking out your kitchen window, you had the above pictured view.. At first I was a little jealous but then I got slightly sunburned which reconciled me at once.

There’s a first time for everything, so here are two of this year’s first times:

1. I bought my first Billy. Can’t believe I’ve never done this before.

2. I had dinner at a vaudeville show, and a pretty good one at that (both dinner and show).
I thought the funniest moment was when the charming lead act entered the stage holding a white rabbit on a leash, which during the song (partially gargled and accompanied by the sounds of glassware) proceeded to groom his coat as if nothing else was happening around him.
Also quite funny was the Great Kaplan, whose name plate turned itself into The So Lala Kaplan after one of his (intentional) fails at doing a magic trick.
I am easily amused indeed.