Hard to imagine that it is the middle of March, as we walked along the Landwehr Canal in Kreuzberg, ice creams in the hand as others unfurled picnic blankets on the grassy banks, filled the terrace tables outside cafes and bars, and enjoyed the sunshine and the unseasonably warm temperatures. Berlin is a city of notoriously late risers, to the point that even large chain stores don’t bother opening until 10am, but perhaps it was the excitement of the weather and the feeling that – at this time of the year – you need to take every chance you can get to grab some fresh air, as it felt like the city woke as one, with a spring in their step as if about to burst into a song from the Muppets movie at any moment…

Words & Pictures: Paul Scraton