In the ring the boxers pounded hard: left hook, uppercut, a punch flies by. They avoid moving from side to side of the ring, and concentrate despite the deafening roar of the crowd. Suddenly, a gong sounds and the contenders get down from the ring, off come the gloves and on go the thick protective headphones to shut out the noise. They immediately sit in front of a chessboard. After a few minutes of absolute concentration, the gong sounds again and again the fists … Let me introduce you a surreal sport sure to inspire some talking: “chess boxing”.

The origin of the sport is surprising: it was first imagined by neither a boxer nor a chess player but in … A comic book! In the graphic novel Froid Équateur, the artist and filmmaker Enki Bilal, depicted a mash-up of boxing and chess between the same contestants. The Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh took off with idea, which attracted him because it combined his two greatest passions, and so he decided to organize the first meetings in chess boxing history. Albeit with a variation on what Bilal had imagined: there are short alternating rounds of chess and boxing, instead of having one confrontation after another. Each round lasts three or four minutes, and each player has a limit twelve total minutes in the game of chess.

Chess boxing requires both physical fitness and remarkable chess ability, as rounds can be won by a Knock-out or points (in boxing) as well as checkmate or finishing ahead of your opponent in chess… It’s hard to imagine the enormous difficulty that pausing half boxing match, with the blood full of adrenaline and body exhausted by the effort, only to have to think in the strategic subtleties and complex tactics typical of competitive chess. Who knows if any of the blows received during the rounds of boxing boxer serve as sudden inspiration for some brilliant chess idea …

The World Chess Boxing Organisation (WCBO) was created early in the decade. The organization coordinates chess boxing events are throughout the world. The first European Championship was held in Berlin in October 2005 in one of the most important clubs in world chess boxing, in the heart of Gormannstrasse. So if you would like to know more about this sport, you just have to rent apartments in Berlin and pass by the Chess Boxing Club. Take your boxing gloves and your box of chess pieces, and don’t forget to have fun!

Some say that curiosity killed the cat, while others venture about like Alice in Wonderland, and live out wild adventures which fill their lives with colour

Like Alice, who hasn’t once found themselves in the place they least expected.
One long night in a place known for its long nights, I unwittingly stumbled upon a fox on an old back street, while it seemed a bit strange to me a small wild creature would appear out of nowhere, nothing is strange in the wild cement paradise that Berlin affords us.

In that moment, I began an adventure, following a wild animal through the city without knowing where it was going or why.

My pursuit was not easy, sometimes I doubted if I was really following along or just scaring it away, and at some point I wondered if it was really a good idea. I could have ended up in a place that wasn’t so easy to get out of. But there was no time to think, and so I followed it without hesitation, eager to see where its path would lead.
Suddenly we came to a large portico, and the fox vanished into the bushes along a small path leading up to a grand entrance, and left me stopped in my tracks gazing up at the sign, surprised to see that the pursuit had led me to an excellent jazz bar with a unique style.

Ironic, funny, – but really- who but a fox, the caricature of 50´s jazz symbolism, would take me to the place where I would listen to one of the best jazz performance I have ever seen in my life? Though I must admit that this style is not my first choice in the music world, this creature, perhaps a reincarnated spirit showed me the beauty of the inspired sounds of this musical movement.

I spent the night enjoying the most exquisite art, delighting in every moment, and was transported to a time when jazz fusion made history, in a city full of history.
So why don’t you decide what type of person you are, and live your own adventure. If you rent apartments in Berlin, who knows where the fox will take you? ….

The German capital just recently inaugurated an retrospective dedicated to legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), one of the most controversial and mythic figures of this central American country, and one of the most relevant representatives of feminist art in the early 20th century.

Kahlo lived through and era full of radical social and political changes, which conditioned both her personal and artistic life. She crossed paths with such figures as Leon Trotsky (who lived in her house from 1937 until1939) or the photographer Tina Modotti. However the encounter which most marked her life was meeting Diego de Rivera, another very important figure in Mexican art.

Frida Kahlo´s art embarked Surrealism, symbolism, Stridentism and expressionism, and included many elements influenced by Maya and Aztec art. This exhibit (which runs from April 30th until august 9th 2010) in the Martin Gropius Bau in Berlin has created quite a stir, because there will be 90 never seen before drawings, as well as the last works she completed before her death in 1954. There are a total of 150 works borrowed from both private collections and museums in Mexico and the US.

Personal photos lent by the artist’s family round out the exhibit, giving visitors a chance to take a closer look at the artist and get beyond the myths. This exceptional event has also bee the impetus for a series of films, conferences and lectures about the artist in Martin Gropius Bau as well as in other places. The world of film has always been fascinated with Kahlo, whom for many is a very enigmatic artist. Eisenstein’s film “¡Qué viva México!” will also be screened.

The German capital is famous for its culture, and this exhibit promises to be one of the most important events of the year. Come to Berlin to bask in the glow of the arts and rediscover one of the most important figures of 20th century art. If you need to take a rest after the cultural marathon, there’s nothing better than renting apartments in Berlin, for the best quality at the best price.

Not long ago, an erotic book for blind people was presented in Great Britain by Lisa J. Murphy, a Canadian photographer certified in Tactile Graphics. The book is called “Tactile Minds” and collects 17 images in a 3-D format accompanied by erotic texts written in Braille. The Volume is destined to be read by blind people. For 150 pounds sensual pleasure even for those who can not enjoy colours. If you are only interested in the diagrams you can also buy them separately.

According to its author Lisa Murphy, the idea of the book came as a response to a need felt in the publishing industry. In an interview she explained that “there is no book for blind people” so in order to fill this “gap” she thought of turning this brand new idea into reality. She added that “only Playboy had such a magazine between 1970 and 1985, but without pictures”.

Eroticism and originality in one

The book is 100% Murphy’s work as she photographed, sculpted, thermoformed and published the volume herself. The plastic pages reveal images that give both men and women the possibility to touch bodies presented in different positions.

Readers may enjoy touching the picture of a naked man dressed as a bunny rabbit. They can even touch his penis (the paper penis, of course) and the hearts that compose the background of the image.

Some pictures offer the chance to touch women with perfect breasts. Some kneeling, some leaning against the wall, some turned to one side so you can only touch one breast (what a pity!), some dancing and pointing out the sky and some even letting you touch their vagina. The images put women in a very seductive “light”.

Because of its simple spiral binding, the book is very easy to read, allowing you to touch the diagrams on a flat surface. If you take your lover to Berlin and rent apartments, you can also lay them flat, and caress their sculptural curves. Blind or not, you´ll have a good time.

The face you want to give to these images is up to your imagination, as in all the pictures the face is covered by a mask.

Blind people who buy this book may prefer to experience touching a man’s pubic hair or a sensual, naked woman wearing high heel shoes, the sensation is up to them .

Rent Apartments in Berlin and when you pass by a bookstore don’t forget to take a look at this erotic masterpiece.

Wladimir Iljitsch Uljanow, known to most of us as Lenin, was one of the most influential politicians of Soviet comunism . He was responsible for the founding of the Soviet Union and the October Revolution of 1917. His political activity and ideology was very polarizing. At first, fighting for the emancipation of the working class he found many followers, but once in power his extreme ideals were no longer supported by the general public. The revolutionary turned into a dictator and found himself in and out of exile. Still, even after his death in 1924, he remains a historical Russian icon.

Several monuments were built in his memory and his honor in Russia, other Soviet Republics and other Communist states including former Eastern Germany.

One of them stood almost 20 meters tall in Berlin. Created by Russian artist Nicolai Tomsky it was placed on the Leninplatz which is known today as the Platz der Vereinten Nationen. But soon after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 many of the Lenin statues and monuments were torn down as a symbol of liberation of from the Communist regime. This monument´s destruction is one of the best known examples of post- wall iconoclasm. It was broken down into 129 pieces and buried in the woods outside of Berlin.

The question what to do with the parts of the monument has caused and still causes controversies amongst politicians because now the head – which alone weighs 3,5 tons – is supposed to be part of the exhibition “Enthüllt. Berlin und seine Denkmäler“ (Revealed. Berlin and its monuments). Dealing with monuments honouring anything Socialist remains a hot topic of discussion. Organizer of the exhibition Andrea Theissen has her eye on the prize and wants it to be part of the project. She does not anticipate political resistance against her plans. She also adds that if the Lenin-head is permitted in the exhibition its excavation will not start until next year.

Even 20 years after the Fall of the Wall we can’t seem to let go of the past. Whether or not Lenin’s head will be part of this exhibition Berlin has many other sights and venues remembering Germany’s history, including former Eastern Germany, for example Checkpoint Charlie. However the German capital is not just interesting for history nuts. Rent apartments in Berlin and find out what more this city has to offer.

There are two theories of the origin of the term Flea Market. The first comes from the observation that flea markets tend to be very crowded and the people -buyers and sellers equally- seem to be very active, just like fleas. The other theory claims the term comes from the fact that some of the items sold are infested with fleas because they switch owners often more than once. Either way a flea market is the type of market where all types of second-hand goods are sold. It can be indoors or outdoors. Most of the time you can get anything at a flea market from extravagant, antique, curious, weird, cute, etc.

Generally speaking flea markets are not very profit oriented. Often they are even charitable. For some it is an opportunity to get rid of old things that they didn’t have any use for anymore, others go there to find one of a kind items at a bargain price. The mere rush of bargaining about a price and winning the battle is sufficient motivation for some to go to a flea market. When I was a kid I used to sell my old stuff at this children’s flea market and I always ended up spending the majority of my hard-earned money on something that I found there.

The special thing about items sold at a flea market is their value. I am not talking about money here because flea markets are known for cheap prices but personal or emotional value. Everything you can get there belonged to someone else before and maybe at some point it meant something to them so everything comes with a little story. All the vintage lovers out there love to shop at flea markets and second hand shops. And that’s exactly where the “marketing strategy” lies: The better the story the more money you can demand for this item. And it gives the buyer the feeling that he just purchased something really special to a really good price. To summarize it all a flea market provides good material for some funny or interesting stories.

Germany’s capital Berlin has tons of flea markets in every neighbourhood that are definitely worthy of checking out. If you are not interested in buying anything take a stroll through the flea market to check out the cozy atmosphere and later continue on to some real shopping at the KaDeWe. To save some on the accommodation rent Apartments in Berlin and discover the city.