Ok, imagine your life turned into a caricature of Tom of Finland for 6 days. Exactly. You dressed in leather, handcuffs, a muzzle or also attired like a motorcyclist, leather sailor hat, tight pants showing hidden genitals rustling love and violence, magic everywhere. Easter in Berlin offers you this and more in one of the coolest cities of the moment.

Easter in Berlin is about Leder und Fetisch or Easter in Berlin, call it the way you prefer, a convention which will meet its fifth edition this year, the largest week dedicated to leather and fetish in Europe, in addition to the competition, “German Mr. Leather”, so be ready! Parties during this week have no limit. If you are not fit, I suggest you to go jogging from now on! It’s between bizarre and excessive; a state of celebration and excitement that should exist every day, especially if there is leather and latex. Please note it’s not a movie for the fainthearted.

Fetish tradition is more than wide, and so is its art, of course. Among this year’s convention’s activities there will be an exhibition of artistic and unique photographes related to fetish and its variations. The opening is on the 19^th, so arrive a day earlier and do not miss the atmosphere. The proceeds of this exhibition will go to the project Diversity-A Place for Living, it is worth mentioning an alternative housing project for senior gay.

And the madness starts on the 20^th, you have to dress in black latex and go with the desire to warm the world. That’s right: NO JEANS, NO PERFUME, I want it to be quite clear. Tickets range in price but they are very cheap compared to what you find in other cities. Gay demand is high in Berlin as well, and that cut some costs, democratically, ha!

The Fist and Fuck Invasion party will be on Tuesday 21^st. Also, this party consists of wearing only underwear and no scent at all. I think that it is above all the pheromones taking the environment into a poly sex galactic radiation mass generated by love throughout the galaxy. I always recommend that if you go through all these things have clear that protection is important and what decisions you make. Learn to take always on your decisions, your “grandma” Ray is telling you.

Besides the German Mr. Leather contest, where you will come to know participants very closely, during the convention you can find varied information of all gay spaces in the city: bars, restaurants, clubs and more. Among these spaces there are Café PositHiv, HIV-friendly coffee, which has very good dishes, international cuisine during the week, wi-fi and is very cool. For more info on the convention, go here: http://www.blf.de/html_seiten_gb/01_homepage_ggb.html

SISTER RAY

Keep traveling and eventually get to a place you can call home, and believe that you are happy paying bills, eating at your hours. Meanwhile, the fun never ends and you know it’s about getting one of the apartments in Berlin and have even more fun. Love in German is Liebe, by the way.

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Translated by: Maria
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If you love a good beer, and fancy going to Berlin for a few days of soaking up German culture, as well as some of the many different varieties of beers to be found – this article is for you! In the name of truth, good taste and standards – and the fact that one can’t go to Berlin without being seduced by a good beer – here are some basics to whet your appetite.

One of the main things about Germany is that in almost any restaurant – whatever type it is – you can order a house beer, which are most often genuinely local, or homemade creations. I’m pretty sure that in Berlin, there are more places like this than anything else – so whatever else happens, you won’t have any problems finding something to drink. A good place to start would be a Brauhaus, with its expansive dining rooms from which you can sample the beer culture. One such classic place is the George Brauhaus in the Nikolai neighbourhood, on the banks of the Spree river. Yes, you might say it’s touristy, but in my opinion, it’s the only place to start. After sampling the famous Berliner, Helles or Dunkles – or all three, depending on your tastes – you can move onto somewhere a bit more underground – such as Tacheles, an old “under okupa,” located in the legendary Mitte district, where you can enjoy a modestly priced beer, and a beautiful view of the neighbourhood. Then later, take a wander round Mitte and discover for yourself some hidden gem to carry on the drinking.

Other places you shouldn’t miss out on are the Berliner Bürgenbräu factory, and the Prater Garden, an outdoor beer garden open April-September. If you are visiting the city during these months, you have to go! Bon voyage – enjoy Berlin, and Prosit!



Luz Obscura

If you rent apartments in Berlin you also have the option of drinking a good beer in the comfort of your own home, and with good company. Noch eins, bitte! And enjoy Berlin!

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Translated by: Poppy
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The organization PETA is known for their ceaseless struggle for the defense and protection of animal rights. With nearly one million active members and supporters worldwide, is undoubtedly one of the most powerful organizations in favor of ethical treatment of animals.

Its shocking and sensational shows, bold ads and support of some of the world’s most popular stars like Kim Basinger, Pamela Anderson and Paul McCartney have succeeded in drawing public attention to the problems concerning the abuse and killing of animals for many years.

However, in recent years the organization itself has had to face criticism and public scrutiny because of some advertising campaigns, for many, bordering on bad taste because of “sexist” nuances. Many feminists and specialists in women’s rights were disappointed after seeing PETA campaigns populated by basically naked young girls, who, from their point of view, did nothing but making use of a highly retrograde and sexist feminine image.

PETA now encourages again the wrath of feminists with the latest advertising campaign designed for the Super Bowl, the biggest sporting event the US. In this latest stunt titled “Veggie Love” we see a group of beautiful girls in bikinis playing with phallic-shaped vegetables in a fairly explicit way. And again the critics talk about “sexual objectification of the female body” and discrimination against women.

Heloise Battista

What do you think? Do you agree with the statement that the end justifies the means, or PETA should rethink its ethical stance regarding the female image? Rent apartments in Berlin one of the most liberal cities in the world where you will find an endless amount of feminist clubs and organizations.

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“Girls in beauty contests always say they wish for world peace. but I’m the one trying to make it actually happen,” says Katrina Hodge as she gets ready for a photo-shoot for lingerie brand La Senza.

Like the hurricane, Katrina was swept off her feet after the Miss England contest, becoming the number one representative for beauty in the country in 2009. The young woman, who works in the British Armed Forces, has been dubbed Combat Barbie – a nickname she says she picked up during her time spent with the army in Iraq, because she carried with her false eyelashes and a pink suitcase.

The girl from Tumbridge Wells says that she wanted to break away from the stereotype of women in the army. “Being Miss England does mean you have to look the best in a swimsuit – thankfully there’s much more to it than that. It’s about being a good role-model.”

After her crowning as Miss England, the British Ministry of Defence granted Hodge a six month holiday, so that she could make the most of her new status. After the break, she handed the crown over to Jessica Linley in September 2010, and returned to the army. At the start of this year, having undergone training, she was incorporated into the British troops in Afghanistan.

Hodge singed up for the army when she was 17 years old, having been influenced by her older brother, who is also a soldier. At 18 she was sent to Iraq, where she received a medal for bravery in Basra. “It’s difficult to be enthusiastic about the idea of going back to Afghanistan, but it’s just part of the job. It’s our job to go and protect our country. It that’s what I’ve got to do, then it’s what I’ve got to do,” the young women tells newspaper El País of her return to the war zones.

But there is also an element of controversy, as some people don’t believe the story, saying that it is a sort of publicity stunt to boost the image of the British Services. Another theory is that it’s a good strategy of defense against the enemy – who would hurt such a beautiful woman? The thing is, Katrina looks better in camouflage than in a dress and heels, and this is what her fans love her for – it’s what they fantasise about.

Who wouldn’t be seduced by the idea of Katrina in combat, and saying to her “Let’s make love, not war.” Rent apartments in Berlin and find your own combat zone.

Laura Aurelia

Who wouldn’t be seduced by the idea of Katrina in combat, and saying to her “Let’s make love, not war.” Rent apartments in Berlin and find your own combat zone.

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Translated by: Poppy
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In 1933 – two years before the birth of the famed English architect Norman Foster who, six decades later would amidst much controversy, be the person destined to make it what it is today -  the great Reichstag Building (Platz der Republik), headquarters of the Weimar Republic’, was set fire to for the first time. And it wouldn’t be the last – the neo-Renaissance palace fell victim to fire once again during the final conflicts of the Second World War – as though the old HQ had been a vestige of the cities past, destined for final destruction.

It is one of those events which marks a “before and after” point in history, and when looked upon with hindsight, seems a sad, devastating kind of omen – as though not just Berlin, but the whole of Europe, and maybe the world, was going up in flames that night of the 27th February, 1933. Though it’s never been proved – quite the contrary -  the Nazis used the fire to their advantage, taking the opportunity to point the finger of blame at the communists.

Obviously, it wasn’t the first time in history (and it would hardly be the last) that a catastrophe was taken advantage of, and used as a convenient weapon against the scapegoat. In England for example, authorities didn’t miss the opportunity to blame the Great Fire of London (the biggest it had ever experienced until the Nazi bombings during the Second World War) on the French, and the “Papists.” The fire struck in September 1666 – a year after a plague epidemic had killed around 100,000 – and just after an exceptionally cold winter which had frozen over the River Thames, and in the words of diarist Samuel Pepys, “killed birds in mid-flight.” The inferno destroyed 87 churches, 50 trade centers, and more than 14,000 homes.

Sadly, the Reichstag fire of 1933 didn’t have Samuel Pepys to document events. Though of a far lesser magnitude than the Great Fire of London, it’s consequences were greater and far-reaching. The Nazis immediately used the event as an excuse to abolish once and for all the fundamental civil rights established by the Weimar Republic, and implement the death penalty for acts of treason. The rest is history…

In 1995, Norman Foster, having won a public competition, unveiled his project for the remodeling of the building – the defining characteristic of which was the pedestrianised glass dome roof, which has become one of the most distinct symbols of the new, reunified Germany.

Paul Oilzum

Don’t forget to stop by the Reichstag when you rent apartments in Berlin Get some comfortable rest after a long day’s sightseeing.

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This title was inspired by my boyfriend, due to the fact that I sometimes sleep in a Spongebob Squarepants pyjama top… I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

But anyway, I started thinking about all those things that we find strangely - or “morbidly attractive” – but before I get into it, there are a few things to get clear. The first is to establish what does “morbidly attractive” actually mean? Ironically, this has been described as “the attraction to the unsavoury or the evil,” which doesn’t really have anything to do with the thing we are referring to – but still, that’s what the language experts say. (Maybe they too suffer from the “morbid”? If I find out, I’ll let you know…)

To get back to the point, there are several uses of the word “morbid.” One is to describe that feeling of finding out about other people’s intimate situations; another is to define sexual situations, or feelings towards people we might describe as passionate.

Personally, I am more interested in the second. Somebody could be described as having a “morbid” fascination with sex, and who seeks out and initiates certain situations. But the main question is, What kinds of situations? The truth is, all kinds. Like, for example, sex in public, roleplay games, encounters with strangers…the list goes on – there’s no limit to the different things people are into.

However there’s one thing in particular about what we consider as morbid – it’s very subjective. That’s why there are so many things that people are morbidly fascinated by or attracted to – why some things are strangely attractive to some people and not at all for others.

Dictionary definitions aside, it is basically just a state of mind, and in relation to sex, the morbid is what excites, provokes or seduces us – it doesn’t hurt anyone. So my advice is don’t just think it, live it.

Judeclash

Why not rent apartments in Berlin and indulge some of the things you have a morbid interest in…and see what happens.

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Translated by: Poppy
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Inaugurated on January 22, Camera Work Gallery in Berlin exhibits “Yangtze – The Long River” and “Pripyat and Chernobyl”, two impressive photographic series by photographer Nadav Kander and Robert Polidori.

Until May 25 you can enjoy the works of these two talents of photography, representing some of the most striking images in the history of recent photography. Here, in brief, we want to introduce you these two photographers.

Born in 1961 in Israel, Nadav Kander is one of the most renowned contemporary photographers. His work has been exhibited at high standing institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. This architect, who began to shoot photos at the tender age of 13, works with some of the most prestigious journals, such as the Sunday Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Another Man and Dazed&Confused. In 2009 he was awarded by the Art Director’s Club and IPA in the United States, and the John Kobal Foundation in the UK and Epic in Europe. His series “Yangtye, The Long River”, which can be seen in the Camera Work gallery, won the Prix Pictet photography prize in the same year, and the Silver Photographer of the Year Award at the international festival in Lianzhou China.

The Canadian Robert Polidori, is not only interested in architecture, but also in desert places, which give off a post-apocalyptic environment. Born in 1951, his stories for magazines like The New Yorker, Geo, Architectural Digest and Vanity Fair not only attest to his incredible talent, but also his international success. His series “Pripyat and Chernobyl”is a document on human failure, which shows its quality as a keen observer of our society.

Further info at: http://www.camerawork.de/

Heloise Battista

If you want to stay informed about latest trends in contemporary photography, do not hesitate to rent apartments in Berlin and have a look at this fantastic exhibition that will remain open until May 25.

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Translated by: Maria
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