Bonn Weather: Snowy Blast Hits the City – Tips for Hats, Jackets, and Staying Cosy
Fair play to March, it's really caught us out this time! You’d be forgiven for thinking spring was just around the corner, and then suddenly Bonn is hit with a dose of mad snow. Temperatures have plummeted, and the wind is howling around your ears as if to say, "Not so fast, winter's not done yet!" If you’ve got to head out now, you’ll need more than just a bit of good craic.
Winter in Bonn: How to Brave the Cold
I dug out my old shearling aviator hat yesterday – you know the one with the ear flaps that makes you look like a pilot from the 1940s. And sure, guess what? They're totally back in fashion. Brands like YUECIBAI, for instance, are making some seriously cool winter bomber hats that not only keep you warm but look the business too. For men, women, teenagers – sure, it doesn't matter. The main thing is keeping the ears covered when you're taking a stroll along the Rhine in Bonn.
But a hat alone won't cut it. What you really need in this weather is a proper, sturdy jacket. I swear by the JOB Winter Pilot Jacket BONN in black. It's perfectly suited to our damp winter: windproof, practical, and it looks like you could take on any building site in it. A mate of mine who works on construction swears by them. Those yokes are practically indestructible. Here's a handy checklist for anyone who has to brave the elements now:
- Shearling aviator hat with ear flaps – the YUECIBAI ones are class
- A tough winter pilot jacket – like the JOB BONN in black
- A snug spot like the Bonnie Doone in Bad Godesberg
- A hot cuppa tea and maybe a catalogue from a current art auction
Arts and Culture for Chilly Days
When it's that miserable outside, I usually end up heading for some cosy corners. There's a little pub in Bad Godesberg called Bonnie Doone. They've a fire going and a mighty fine selection of whiskey. They call the place "Home away from home" – and that's exactly what it is. When the snow is lashing against the windows, you're sitting in there feeling like you're in another world entirely.
Or you could just get cosy at home. I heard recently that Sotheby's in New York is putting an amazing art collection under the hammer on December 5th. There are graphic works by Daumier, Chagall, Gauguin and, of course, Bonnard – a name that always rings a bell here in Bonn. The collection comes partly from the estate of Paul L. Joachim from Chicago and from Mrs. Pierce Trowbridge Wetter of New York. Yes, her name really was Wetter – fitting for the season, isn't it? If I had the money, I'd stick one of those colourful Bonnards up on my wall. It'd make you forget the grey skies over Bonn in no time.
Off to the South of France? Gite in Bonnieux
Some folks from Bonn do a runner entirely in the winter, though. A colleague of mine booked a gite in Bonnieux for February – that's in the Provence, right in the hills of France. They say the lavender is already blooming there? Well, not in February, but I suppose the sun is out more often than here. Bonnieux, Bonnie Doone – there's a pattern forming; people are drawn to places starting with "Bon" this time of year. Maybe it's the promise of good wine.
So, stay warm out there! Whether it's with an aviator hat, a pilot jacket, a pint in the Bonnie Doone, or in front of the fire with a big art book – the main thing is that you get through these last few days of winter. And who knows, maybe Bonn will manage to get to spring after all. But until then: hat on, jacket zipped, and off to find some cosy craic!