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Before visiting Vitra Design Museum, I thought that Ikea is the godmother of interior design and functionality. In other words - I never knew I could be excited about a chair.

Vitra is located in a suburb of Basel, in Weil am Rhein - the most southwesterly town in Germany. Since 1980's its campus collaborated with world renowned architects, so the view from the outside is as stunning as the interior. 

Among temporary exhibitions, which we didn't have time to visit because of the insufficient time (and funds), there is a museum collection space in which all the key objects of design history can be seen and tested. Pretending to be in your holiday house in Vermont or resting in Don Drapers office lookalike is an option. 

I suggest that you take the whole afternoon for the Vitra visit, because it is worth it. And if you want to understand what the furniture is about, visit their website - 100 Masterpieces are gonna get your inner Paul Rudd fired up. 

Useful info:

Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00

The extensive collection area is free of charge

If you know how to play a piano  - just do it. There's few of them in exhibition space

Rest your feet on Eames Ottoman

Don't feed the elephants 

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Since today is the final day of the glorious Frühlingsfest, we decided to skip the tents and walk around for a change. 

Frühlingsfest is the feast of flamboyant rides, plastic figures, good food and checked shirts. It lasts three weeks (19th April to 11th May) and can hit student's pocket pretty hard because the beer is expensive (10 Euro per Liter) and the energy of the intoxicated crowd usually makes you forget that.  

Wednesday is the family day, which means all the rides are half a price. Give your "ground people" friends a camera and take rides all you want. There are special offers workdays in the tents, on which you can get 2 beers for a price of one and not cry over your money the day after.

Absolute must:

learning the lyrics to "Ein Prosit" 

having a near death experience on "The Gladiator" ride

eating chocolate covered fruit or a cotton candy twice a size of an average head

commenting on the best dirndl boosted cleavage

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When a girl with a flower crown gets called Lana Del Rey I feel like certain Frida is getting discredited. Mexican surrealist with a personal style as iconic as her trademark unibrow. 

"I paint flowers so they will not die." Lacking the painting skills, I decided to crown myself with flowers in eternal homage to Frida Kahlo. 

DIY necessities: 

real/artificial flowers (I choose to combine both),

a pair of scissors,

a hair band (one with big wholes is really handy),

thin rope.

Artificial flowers have a lot of metal wire in their stem so you won't be needing thin rope if you are using them. Cut the stem of a flower to a length of 10 - 15 cm, put it through the hole of a hair band and fasten it by tying it to band. Trim another flower and continue on until satisfied!

I did this for a "Be a work of art" costume party, but I'm pretty positive I will wear my crown throughout the spring and summer. 

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Internationales Trickfilm Festival, also known as Festival of animated film, was held in Stuttgart for a week. Dates are irrelevant since the festival ended and you can't attend the event. We were kinda absorbed by all the colorful goodness on all kinds of screens throughout Stuttgart City Center so we didn't notify you guys, our loyal readers (all three of you), in time.

Open Air Kino in Schlossplatz was a good move. People on their asses, enjoying the sun and short animated movies during the day, waiting for the main feature in the evening, like Croods, Frozen, Monsters University etc. 

One minor flaw - even though the festival carries the prefix "international" - there were no subtitles, only german dubbing.

We managed to get our hands on some tickets for a small conference about the state of the art in design and gaming. Some of the speakers weren't well prepared but overall impression was pretty good.

Visitors had a chance to attend graffiti workshops, as well as the gamezone - where you could try exceptional mobile games on different devices, and also there was a brand new PS4 (that was always taken by couple of kids).

And to the adults out there how think animated movies are for kids only, do yourself a favor and watch one this afternoon. I bet you a Paulaner that you're gonna buy the earlybird tickets for Stuttgart Animation Fest next year.

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Each year in Frankfurt you have a chance to visit the Luminale.

On dozens of locations throughout the city there are art installations that revolve around a common theme -  light. Projection of art pieces on buildings, bunkers bathed with artificial light of all colors, tech stuff...

I was busy with drawing piggs with Batman glasses (kinda) so I didn't have time to check out all of the Luminale.  Our weapon of choice for making Literaturhaus a more colorful place was an old Nokia N95 connected to a projector. Best part was letting people paint with the system. By far the best idea was doing initials of the Frankfurt's greatest rival football club in the middle of the city - Mainz. Shout out to our cute roommate.

Other than Luminale - Frankfurt is a pretty cool place.  It seems like everyone in Frankfurt is jogging next to the river, gorgeous people sitting on grass and loving the sun. Me and my entourage sat next to a tunnel under the bridge where obviously everyone pees so the breeze didn't allow us to enjoy our sandwiches to the fullest.

You want shopping? It's there. Culture? there. Architecture? There. They got everything. We didn't have enough time to take advice from a friend of mine (thanks,  Ada) and visit the Bar ohne Name (yelp review also says it's awesome sauce) or palm gardens.

Go to the Main tower (Haupturm for those with advanced knowledge of German) to catch the best view of Frankfurt. At first I was afraid that I'll spend ages climbing 115 floors of the building but somehow it escaped my mind that it is a modern building. And that it has extremely fast elevator.

Have an ice cream. At gelateria preferably in the old core of the town.

I'm definitely coming back to Frankfurt.  Next time with my baby. 

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German people really appreciate their culture, sometimes even bending the originals such as movies and tv shows.

Eric Cartman speaking fluent German? Bilbo Baggins using the irregular German verbs like a boss? Yeah, everything is possible.

For everybody that wants to watch a movie in its true form, as the artist intended - there is a solution. Right up in Vaihingen. It's called Corso Kino. They regularly show original versions of movies, and it's even a bit cheaper than getting a ticket at cinema-chains such as Cinemaxx. We've seen Gravity, Hunger Games and couple more blockbusters in Corso Kino, and we enjoyed it. Seats are really comfortable, and in front of you there's space where you can put your drinks and snacks.

It's a small and cozy cinema, with two screens, and on the entrance you can buy some really nice movie posters for 1, 50 euro. Who knows - maybe in the future those posters will cost a fortune, and you'll get rich. You can make reservations on their site.

Tip #1 - screen is too small if you sit all the way in the back. Sit somewhere in the middle.

Tip #2 - sneak in some snacks and drinks, they are expensive on the entrance. If you have bunch of money and you like to pay two to three euros more for a bottle of Dr.Pepper, neglect this piece of advice. 

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Stuttgarters do magic on the back of a road sign. Stickers love.

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First day we spent in Stuttgart, our German teacher took us to Killesbergpark. That day was awesome. Even though we haven't slept at all, and our asses were glued for sixteen hours to a seat of a sweat smelling bus. We climbed the tower, witnessing girly screams from our fellow students since the tower is made from steel and little bit of wire here and there. You should go up there if you have a chance. Usually, you should pay a small fee for climbing but we didn't. There's a train circling around the park, there's a pool, there are all kinds of flowers and god's creatures. We saw flamingos. And a bunch of other birds. And goats. And llamas!!! Llamas!!!!!!  There are couple of places where you can get an icecream, snack or a drink. If you got nothing to do on a sunny day, take a U5 train to Killesberg from Hauptbahnhof and enjoy yourself. If you're afraid of heights, don't climb the tower. Orrrr be brave and do it. Do it, son! It's 42 meters high. Almost like Statue of Liberty (45m). But without the pedestal. Whoever comes to Stuttgart, we take them to Killesbergpark so no one can come back home thinking Stuttgart isn't beautiful. Because it is.

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If you live abroad already for a few months, homesickness is slowly kicking in. Social media is the real killer. Seeing all your good friends back home celebrating someones b-day or lack of mom's holiday food really does it. Fro told me I have FOMO, after I cried after seeing wedding photos of a good friend, partly because she looked so beautiful and partly because I wasn't there to see it firsthand. Diagnosed Fear Of Missing Out would show itself here and there while witnessing my friends life back home continuing at the usual pace, unaffected by my absence.

As soon as I got back, for a short break from my exchange, I was waking up early because there was only limited amount of days I have at my disposal. List of everyday things that moved me:

Realizing that some intern jokes never change

Having Sunday lunch with my family

Having Saturday nights with my girls

Having afternoon naps with my man  

Seeing unsignificant places that trigger memories

Driving a car

Drinking 1,5 dl coffee with a glass of water

Making cardinal decisions like cutting your hair short while watching Paris Texas 

 Making up for all the lost NBA 2K14 stamina

Finding out my all time favorite highchool pub is closed

Finding all the old people in the new pub with old vibe

 Crying out of laughter with my bro

Walking my dog

Not having time for scrolling the newsfeed 

  My home time was spent being all up in my own business: doing what I love with who I love. No Fomo.

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We were off the radar for more than a month, now we're back in Stuttgart. Hometown glory post is pending, until then Fro, Do and Drava.

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I was a kid when Beverly Hills 90210 was on. Dylan had a sweet Porsche 356 Speedster. Couple of years later I stayed at my uncle's place for two weeks and I played the shit out of Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed with my cousins.

I was in love with the Porsche. Every Porsche.

Now it seems that I'm growing up and that love is fading. 

During the Christmas/New Years break - we decided to visit the Porsche Museum. 

Porsche is from Stuttgart. Even their logo says so. Even has the horse. Museum was a little bit disappointing. Ferdinand Porsche made the first Volkswagen beetle (by the orders of the owner of the most famous moustache in the world - not Salvador Dali). No sign of the Beetle in the museum. Maybe it's some kind of licensing issue with VW but it was the beginning for Porsche - it had to be there. No sign of tanks that Porsche also designed and produced. No sign of Dylan's black Porsche. No sign of all those badly designed everyday objects with Porsche signature (coffee machines, adidas shoes and whatnot). 

All the time I felt like something was missing. Not the car turned upside down, that was awesome.

Don't get me wrong - the space is filled with beautiful cars but it seems more like a car collection of a person that has a Porsche fetish than a museum. Maybe it would be better if I had the audio-guide but those things irritate me.

Mercedes Benz had gimmicks, had a story. If you have to choose between the two - go to Mercedes museum (we wrote about it here). If you have time, visit Porsche museum. And maybe form your own opinion - this is just an opinion of a kid who was in love with Porsche and expected a bit more.

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Coming to the Black Forest on a rainy day makes you regret not carrying an extra pair of socks in your backpack. But other than that, amazes even the pavement lovers, because all of it's Grimm eeriness comes out at once. 

To admire a part of it's 6 000 km² we went to Triberg. Even though we found Triberg a bit dull, it can satisfy a day trip needs. The biggest Waterfall in Germany and the world's largest cuckoo clock are situated there. Enter any of the clock shops to admire the craft of cuckoo.

We were getting hyped to try the original Schwarzwald cake since we came. It looked amazing but tasted so bitter from all the cherry liqueur it was dipped in  that I ended up eating only the topping. 

But all in all, Triberg is one wicked witch's candy house away from no one ever calling it dull again. 

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In Croatia we got used to organized NYE parties on the main city square (along with bad music and huge fireworks). This year we decided to check out Stuttgart's Schlossplatz expecting the same thing. Boy, we were wrong.

No music, no countdown, no nothing. Except bombs everywhere.

Seemed like a battlefield. That kind of firing power would be enough to take down goverments in some countries. Rockets flew everywhere, some of them found their way to the stars, some of them managed to break a couple of windows. First fireworks in our lives that weren't fun at all. We headed back to our kitchen, to eat and drink and celebrate with friends.

Doesn't matter where you are, it's about who are you with.

Wish you all the best in 2014.

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Weinhnachtsmarkt hopping is an attempt to visit as much Christmas markets in December switching you drinking habits from beer to glühwein. 

After visiting Esslingen, Heidelberg, Tübingen and Paris (not to brag) it was time to go local. Stuttgart Christmas market is a real deal for festive decor lovers. Over 280 stands selling everything from knitted goods to chocolate covered fruit. 

Treat yourself with glühwein

Take your cup home, it is the cheapest and cutest holiday souvenir

Buy a Christmas tree ornament for your mother 

Save some change for street performers, it's about time you learn "O Tannenbaum"

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Do and Fro and the little wooden guy wish you a merry little Christmas! 

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We spent last week in Paris filming a short documentary. 2 days of shooting and 4 days of sightseeing, more than fair share. 

Paris is as wonderful as city can get. All the buildings are camera ready. Language is sexy and even Grandmas have style. It's hard not to get overwhelmed. 

Few tips to stay on track:

Let Eiffel surprise you. While filming next to Seine, our film crew caught a glimpse of it and screamed like schoolgirls because we didn't expect to see it yet. 

Check out secondhand bookstores (Abbey Bookshop, San Francisco Book co. ) & bouquinistes. Diagon Alley experience guaranteed.

Watch your wallet! Pickpockets are pros. 

Make sure you cross Pont des Arts. Even people who cherish freedom in love find it beautiful. 

You will find cheapest Eiffel key chains in front of Sacre Coeur. 4 for 1 €! For few Euros you'll have souvenirs for everybody back home.

If you are under 25 and you are an EU citizen, congrats! Most of the museums are free of charge for you, even Louvre.

In the land where wine is cheaper than beer, don't miss Bar hopping in a local beloved Bastille area.

End your Montmartre day in a small cinema-like concert venue Les Trois Baudets (or Three hookers, yes it's located in sex district ). 10 € for Melanie Pain is a good deal.

Change your profile pic with the one where Eiffel is a centerpiece and try not getting more than 100 likes.