“European people know how to live! In America they’ve forgotten all about it.”
Johnny Depp
Unfuck the world
Stay hydrated
Why pay for water when it comes out of the tap clean and good? We would rather invest in a reusable drinking bottle that accompanies us on all our adventures. Our favorite: the Traveller MyPlanet from the Swiss company SIGG. The item is made from recycled aluminum and has a leak-proof cap made from renewable materials such as cellulose. Five uses and the aluminum bottle beats its PET sister in terms of carbon footprint, not to mention its shelf life.
SIGG, “Traveller MyPlanet”, 0.6 l and 1 l, in various colors, from approx. 27.-
Book
The great outdoors
Fancy jetting off, but still no plan where to go? Then “The Great American Road Trip” is a highly recommended read, as this freshly printed work takes us into the vastness of the USA and out onto the roads of America. After all, the country has more to offer than Los Angeles and New York, namely wild forests, high mountains, prairies like something out of a cowboy movie and canyons that capture our dreams after a visit. There are 9,834,000 square meters of US land to explore, and this work is better at helping us than the most competent tourist guide. Aether & Laura Austin, “The Great American Road Trip”, design, ca. 45.-
Nice to have
Cyclist
The idea of freedom drives us out into the world. Depending on the means of transportation, however, we are not quite so independent: in a four-wheeler we are tied to rising fuel prices and scarce parking spaces, in an airplane the thought ofCO2 really pushes us down into our seats. So how about a new two-wheeler to take us pedaling off into the distance? Very popular with us at the moment: the retro bikes from Ratingen-based bike manufacturer Brave Classics. Sustainably manufactured in Germany, the bikes can also be customized from the frame color to the rims and leather handle. We sit proudly on the padded leather saddle like kings and queens as we cycle towards true freedom. Brave Classics, bicycles from approx. 800.-,
E-bike versions from approx. 2‘900.- ( braveclassics.com )
Places
Tropic thunder
If Wes Anderson had directed “Out of Africa”, La Maison Palmier would definitely have been the location. It is this colonial style, modernized and pimped, that takes the tropical feeling to the extreme. La Maison Palmier in Côte d’Ivoire is the new addition to the Design Hotels portfolio and the first African hotel to bear this badge. You could almost smell the freshly applied paint, as the Maison only opened its doors in April 2022. High ceilings, terrazzo floors and floor-to-ceiling windows delight the eye, while the fact that all the materials used were produced locally delights the heart. There are 74 rooms to choose from, each one more charming than the last. Art Deco elements can be found everywhere and even as dark green tiles in the pool, one of the highlights alongside the wild gardens. Speaking of highlights: Works by African artists decorate every corner and every room and give visitors the opportunity to get to know the local art scene. La Maison Palmier, Rue des Jardins, Plateaux Cocody, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, designhotels.com
