Amaizing collection of furnitures and curtains, modern and classic.read more

I like Ikea and I am glad they started to become more environmental and conscious of different…read morecultures. For students it is an affordable solution. Their designers' ingenuity in having hiding places and fitting storage areas into furniture is unlimited. A huge advantage when you live in tiny-room-or-house-Holland. Plus that they come up with good design and make it accessible for people who start out on their own. Yes, most Ikeas carry the same products. When you read their magazines and history, however, you find out that there is a difference in products. I have to admit that back when I started out and got furniture at Ikea, the quality seemed better in my memory -- but I don't mean a 'everything was better in the good ole days'! For example, I have stainless boxes that have lasted over 20 years and crossed oceans. Of course it's a place I recommend.

So apparently Ikeas are the same no matter where you are. I've now been to one here in NL, in…read moreGermany, and various locations in the US. You'll find affordable furniture, a huge parking lot, and several pregnant women since they flock to this place. Oh, and meatballs.

Of course, Wolsdorf offers the usual range of products that you can expect from a tobacco shop. So,…read moreWolsdorff is worth mentioning for a different reason: cigars. The shop is rather small but situated at a highly frequented spot in the centre of Essen right at the beginning of the pedestrian zone Kettwiger Str./Willy-Brandt-Platz. When you enter their premises you will find a humidor with the size of around 4 square meters on the left side. It is wide enough to walk in. The humidor lies behind the counter but of course the personnel gives customers access so you can rummage around until you are certain what you will grant yourself today. The range of cigars includes Davidoffs (obviously, there are still people who do not know better ;-) ) and other premium cigars from the Carrebeans and Central America and most importantly: from Cuba. All the famous names are represented (Cohiba, Trinidad, Partagas, Romeo and Juliet etc.) as well as less known brands (Cuaba, Flor de Cano, Fonseca and more). One can be certain that a newly launched Edicion Limitada will definitely be available at Wolsdorff. At least until today I have not been disappointed. Not all Cuban cigar formats may be in stock all the time (I seriously doubt that even a Casa del Habano can permanently offer everything possible) but in Essen I do not know any other tobacco shop that is stocked as well as Wolsdorff. A word on the personnel: always friendly, always assisting and competent. They sometimes offer recommendations but that falls on deaf ears with somebody who has a total Cuba fixation (sorry!).