What\'s your friendly neighbourhood dyke up to around town? http://idyke.co.uk Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:55:24 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://idyke.co.uk/images/M_images/rss.png http://idyke.co.uk What\'s your friendly neighbourhood dyke up to around town? http://idyke.co.uk/Amsterdam.html Amsterdam Of course, as soon as we landed; I needed a good coffee to boost my levels so early in the morning. Could we find a decent coffee bar in central Amsterdam , could we hell as like. What we did stumble into was the traditional ‘coffee shop’ with that distinct aroma of skunk! I’ve done my days of smoking the ole Ganja and really wasn’t in the mood to get high at 9am . So we poodled off and got caught in the tourist side of life in central Amsterdam and managed to find an ok coffee [well actually it was crap!] and a breakfast which would see us through to the next find. I hated central. It made me feel as though I had taken the 23 bus route into Bayswater. If Amsterdam was going to resemble West London , then I’d rather go straight back home. But to our surprise, once escaping the tourist traps, the crowded places, we discovered Jordaan area, with great shops, galleries and flea markets selling the most amazing things for very little money. Supposedly this city is known as the ‘gay capital of Europe ’. What they forget to tell you that it’s the main gay capital for boys! Although many of the bars for boys are ok about dykes stepping over the threshold, it was a hard, nay impossible feat to find a bar for women, let alone women only. I must say that I don’t shoot around to other countries trying to find the nearest gay scene though. Amsterdam in general is gay friendly, so where ever you go, it doesn’t matter if you choose to wear your sexuality on your sleeve or not – it’s all good! To get around Amsterdam is quite easy by foot. You get to see everything you need to see although the transport system is great. I certainly felt at home in Jordaan. Get yourself a map of the city and you will see just how easy it is to get around. Prices are pretty much the same as in London, but well worth taking a bit of cash to spend in those odd quirky little places you are bound to find if you’re not just visiting for the skunk! Sat, 14 Apr 2007 05:04:49 +0100 http://idyke.co.uk/Berlin2.html Berlin 2 Pounding down the tree lined street in Friedrichshain we were keen to find some of those places mentioned in Ex Berliner magazine. Blackdoor beauty being one of them. Blackdoor Beauty Kopernlkusstr. 7a Mon - Sat 10 till 8pm Throw me up to the angels and I shall dance in heaven with them.. This place, for you freaks of jewellery out there was fucking fantastic. I can't even begin to tell you just how much I spent on one visit. We even got a discount because we bought so much. jewellery from all over the world, silver, natural fibres, piercing jewellery. Anything you want, I find it hard to believe you wouldn't find it here. The bloke who served us was a sweet young gay boy, happy to help and take time with two older birds who looked like they had just wandered into a sweet shop. Go if you can. But take cash with you, no one seems to like plastic in that there town! ArtLiners GartnerStrasse 23 10245 Berlin F'hain An sexy bar with sofas and comfy chairs. A real laid back feel that forces you to feel calm even if you're buzzed at being in Berlin. Dave [customer/waiter - who knows] was happy to natter away in English and translate for the waitress. Great images of sexy women on the walls, but more than that they take pride in offering film nights and exhibitions. The next round for us in December is to go check out their Acoustic night on a Sunday evening. Live music for those into chilling out. Don't bother taking your credit card with you, make sure you have plenty of cash. Only the bigger places take CC's. It well worth remembering that. I even bumped into someone who had lived in the area of London where I grew up. Everyone's so friendly and ready to natter to you. It's a place you could certainly go alone. I could ramble on, I could add much more, but I won't. Take yourself off to Berlin and see it for yourself. I'm telling you, you won't regret it. Cheap, colourful, seeped in history and all jumbled up with a cosmopolitan feel with a mix up of many different cultures and races. I'm off back there in December for the Christmas markets. I can't wait! Sat, 14 Apr 2007 04:58:03 +0100 http://idyke.co.uk/iscene.html IScene I've decided in my grey hair days that I want to travel a tad more. Before the curlers, flapping cape and parrot handled umbrella kick in [Margaret Rutherford style], I want to see parts of the world that have always fascinated me. I might not be able to get to all of them because time and my spend thrift persona.. But, the ones that made an impact on my life shall be added here. Enjoy, if you don't.. You already know I don't give a shit! Berlin *Stands up* 'My name is Lorna and I'm addicted to Berlin and latte's'. I have wanted to go to Berlin for oooooh, far to long to remember. West Germany was always my stop off place after a hard six week summer programme working with the kids at my work place. I was in Frankfurt the day the wall came down. I'll always remember that day. So, this September was Berlin quality time. Myself and a friend took off at 4am in the morning on our destination to one of Europe's almost forgotten towns. The city seems vast, certainly spacious. London just doesn't compare. Sat, 14 Apr 2007 04:51:07 +0100