Sunday, May 19, 2013

Berlin Baby! I LOVE YOU!!!


Berlin! WOW I don’t even know where to begin! I guess I just forgot that I was living in a different country. I forgot that anywhere I went was new because Munich has truly become my home! I am used to everything now! I have found an awesome group of friends; we have found good UHHH bars and clubs (if you know what I mean.) BUT with that it also means that I have fallen into some sort or “routine” as you would say. When I decided to go to Berlin I had thought that I would go with a friend who decided not to come after all. If you have ever heard anything about Berlin in most cases its not good. Not safe. And really you don’t travel outside very far alone at night. As I was leaving Berlin I decided that it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I had a great time and I walked the city during the day alone and was in complete awe the whole time. Whether I was stopped in from of just completely random street art or right in the middle of one of the many Holocaust memorials. To me everything about Berlin was just amazing! Something that I knew but I guess really didn’t click to understanding in my head until I arrived was that Berlin is a “new” city it has been “alive” for only 24 years when the cold war ended and it has been 23 years since Berlin has been reunified. And a complete new fact that I learned was that November 9, 1989 the only reason the cold war really was ended was because of one word a major politician had said in a press conference claiming the freedom to the city. The history that this city has been through is truly amazing! And I have never seen myself as such a true history nerd until I came to Europe! NOW I just can’t get enough! 

DAY 1: I arrived in Berlin at a little past 10. After checking into my hostel and getting settled in meeting my roommates I was on a mission to find food. I was recommended to this little pizza place! The pizza was actually really yummy but the reason I am telling you all about the pizza is because of what happened before. When I am standing in the pizza place looking at the Menu and having a long discussion with the employees about what I should eat. While having these IMPORTANT talks a young guy came in… looked at me looked at the employees and said to me… “Split a pizza with me and then you have nothing to decide then.” So I ended up having dinner with this nice guy talking about pizza and then what’s different about the US to Germany.  Otto and I talked for an hour and then when we parted our ways. But it was good to know that even in Berlin I would never be alone.

Day 2: In a nut shell… I got up figured out the Sbahn Ubahn system and took a tour walk around got lost and saw so many great sites! After a day full of walking I was totally exhausted! So what did I decide to do that night… Yup you guessed it! I went on a pub-crawl!  It was amazing fun and I met some truly awesome people! I hung out mostly with 3 girls and 2 of them where staying in the same hostel as me just a room down the hall from me!
The girls that I met from the pub crawl. Stefanie (Sydney Australia), Sarah (Denver Colorado, Munich Germany!), Me and Mylene (Canada)

Day 3: after getting home and to sleep a little after 4 I didn’t end up getting up until 10.  After getting up and out the door I was on the hunt for some down to art graffiti and ART! And must I say I was not disappointed! I really could have walked around all day and still not seen enough! After my tour and extra walking I met up with my new friends for dinner and we sat and talked and had a good ole time!
Street art... Ich Liebe dich!

Day 4: Going home this day was so tuff! I left the hostel at 645 to make sure that I could catch my bus in time!
"I love to live"
What I learned from this trip was that people are people! Whether 19 or 30 we are the same! We party the same, drink, talk, and travel everything! I learned that I enjoy the time that I am able to meet new people and try new things. I love traveling and meeting new friends. Now today I am headed to Budapest for a week. Wish me fun and good friends finding! 

Your excited traveler;
Natalie Romo

Victory tower

Berlin Wall, Artist from USA

IT'S BATMAN!!!!! YES <3
Street performers! 

“Au revior, auf wiedersehn, arrivederci: however you choose to say farewell, your in the journey of a lifetime. Savor every moment.” Lonely Planet, Discover Europe.

Friday, May 3, 2013

OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO.


Oh the places I’ll go.
And the places I’ll see.
This time is my time.
For adventure and glee.

I have brains in my head.
I have feet in my shoes.
I can steer myself
Any direction I choose.
I am on my own. And I know what I know.
And I am the girl who will decide where to go.

Nine months down and who knows how many more. I am enjoying my adventure and cannot wait for more. I haven’t left the country since Christmas but my adventures never end. While making new friends and meeting new people I believe that has made my life everything it means. Some roads I have gone down have not been the best, BUT others have been life changing and truly inspirational.

I’ll bee on my way up!
I’ll be seeing great sites!
I’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

This month I have an amazing amount of vacation days that I am so lucky to have. My grandparents are coming so I will go and see them at some point and another great thing I CAN’T wait for is that one of my best friends will be here! After 9 months of not seeing any friends in person I am jumping off the walls!

All Alone!
Whether I like it or not.
Alone will be something
I’ll be quite a lot.

And when I’m alone, there’s a very good chance
I’ll meet things that scare me right out of my pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
That can scare me so much I won’t want to go on.

But on I will go
though the whether be foul.
On I will go
Though my enemies prowl…

On and on I will hike.
And I know I’ll hike far
And face up to my problems
Whatever they are.

I have already passed so many challenges and I know that there are many more ahead of me. I have been through the ridicule of mean, rude, and crazy people and I made the choice that I knew what was going to be best for me. I have been mixed up but now I am just taking a step in the balancing act called life.

No regrets!


Now to tell you a little about my week, the weather has again been POOP! But Wednesday was a holiday to “bring in May” so a couple of friends and I put on our dirndls braided our hair and set our sites to Fruhlingsfest or Springfest. This is really just another version of Oktoberfest but MUCH smaller only having 2 beer tents I believe. BUT it’s almost just as fun! And I went with friends that I have so much fun with! We danced on the benches and sang along to the music. I have learned that my intake for German beer has increased since September… so I guess that is an INTERESTING FACT! Also at the fest a friend and I both got told our english was so good. Honestly if you could see the looks on our faces. And every time my response was the same "Well YEAH! I hope my English is good. I was born and raised in California!" Anyways as I said I plan to go on a trip next weekend and then once then a couple weeks later it’s PARTY TIME!!!! I hope that everyone is having a good week! 



 My friend Agata and I
 It's not ALL for me... I promis!
Stacie, Agata, and ME! Dancing on benches has never been so fun!



Your Acrobatic Au Pair Traveler,
Natalie Romo

"Travel is not really about leaving our homes, but leaving our habits.”
- Pico Iyer




AND ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FOR DR. SEUSS!

HE INSPIRED THE BLOG IN ALL IT'S ENTIRETY. The poem was his all just switched around a little! 
Citation:Seuss. Oh, the Places You'll Go! New York: Random House, 1990. Print.