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Post-reunification of Germany, Prenzlauer Berg was one of the first parts of East Berlin to be discovered and colonized by West Germans. Decrepit buildings were bought by developers at rock-bottom prices, restoration projects were subsidized by the city. This sense of resurrection made Prenzlauer Berg popular among students, artists, and free-spirits from the West.

Photo by erdbeerblond25Mishkabear, Rabbitaroundtheworld, Linda Gavin, Marber

Paper Magazine’s Drew Elliott transforms Mr. Mickey’s Home From a Mess to a Miracle.

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Wes Anderson teamed up with production designer Mark Friedberg to capture the beauty of India. Shot in two months, Anderson and company made their way through this endearing country, which began in Jodhpur and ended in Udaipur. The director wanted to paint the train bogeys (The Darjeeling Limited is the name of the train the actors take to travel through India) in the style of trucks he had seen on Indian highways.

Want to take on a magical trip yourself?  You’re in luck.  The best way to see India is at the ground level.  In fact, no visit to India would be complete without the experience of travelling on Indian trains and negotiating busy Indian railway stations!

Train travel is safe, cheap and (in AC classes) comfortable.  Even long distances such as Bombay to Delhi or Delhi to Varanasi can be covered more time-effectively than flying, using overnight sleeper trains. By Rajdhani Express, you can go from Delhi to Bombay for ~$30 to $87 depending on your choice of class. You can make a reservation at any of the Indian Railway reservation counters in India. There are hundreds of them all around the country.  Ready to be greeted by chai-sellers, fruit-sellers, toy-sellers, cold-drink sellers, and just about every type of seller imaginable passed through the carriage, shouting, wailing and bellowing?  I think so too.

[ Tips ]

• - Ask for the upper berth (it will say “UB” on your ticket stub) when buying your ticket—it has a far greater degree of privacy and you can stretch out any time, even in the middle of the day.
• - Avoid the lower berth or middle berth; you will not be able to stretch out until everyone decides to go to sleep.
• - Purchase all tickets as far in advance as possible. It is a good idea to purchase a few legs of your journey all at once while you are at one major station so you are assured a seat on the date that you want.

Not a fan of unguided trips?  The Royal Orient Express will transport you to palaces and forts steeped in legends of heroism and chivalry. The Royal Orient has been provided with personalised service that only royalty was privileged with. A cuisine truly fit for kings and queens. is a seven-day rail tour of the cities of Rajasthan and Gujarat, starting and ending in Delhi, with visits to majestic forts, the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, the hilltop jain temples of Shatrunjaya and the Amber Palace in Jaipur.  S.D. Enterprises organizes trips from ~$1,500

Side note: Louis Vuitton made a special collection of luggage for “The Darjeeling Limited” movie by Wes Anderson. The collection consists of many Louis Vuitton long time classics, featuring a safari design on premium brown leather. Unfortunately the collection never went on sale, and was auctioned off after the movie came out.

If you want to give your place an expensive feel, look to the small details. Handles may not be the focal point of a room, but it can be a prominent feature. Upgrading kitchen & bathroom cabinet handles can make a world of difference at a fraction of the cost of replacing your entire unit.

Consider switching up your doorbells, switchplates, door knobs, and even your house numbers.

Look outside your big box retailers. Decorative, custom made, and handmade hinges, knobs, pulls, and handles are all the rage. Try larger flea markets that feature furniture, Craigslist.org, and drive around your neighborhood. You may find small mom-and-pop shops that specialize in hardware.

Spanish TV actor, Javier Beltrán, carries on as the García Lorca with grace. He steals the spotlight. Matthew McNulty, who looks nothing like the famed filmmaker, dives into his homophobic yet unrelentingly supportive character with ease. But its Rob Pattinson, cast just before the Twilight craze, who seems out of place and insufficient as Dalí. However Pattinson did mimic Dalí’s growing flamboyance well.

But this is not a film review. I want to talk more about the production itself. The UK-Spanish production was vividly captured by cinematographer Adam Suschitzky. From the growing military presence on the streets to the elegantly appointed homes of the upper class. Suschitzky took advantage of Spain’s rich settings, including Dalí’s home in the seaside town of Cadaques and Lorca’s in Andalusia.

Director Paul Morrison decided to shoot this movie in hi-def video, yet still resulting in beautiful hues with rich and warm tones. Costume design was superbly done by Antonio Belart — two-toned shoes, argyle sweaters, creamy wool suits. The film embodied the flapper culture — the age that defied conventions of acceptable behavior — with short hair, short skirts, turned down hose, powdered knees for women; tweed cloth, lace-up style shoes, shaped silk ties, black bowler hats and the sacque suit for men.