To Paris, With (a Positive Feeling That is Not) Love

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a severe lovelike/hate relationship with France. One of the worst problems with France is so many people go there with high expectations. However, France isn't as great, romantic, or wonderful as people think, especially since most people's experience of France boils down to one city: Paris. This will be my third time in Paris, and I have corrected my previous errors and have come with very negative expectations. When things went wrong, it was to be expected. When something was nice, it was nicer than I anticipated, so I was quite happy. Don't get me wrong, Paris does two things amazingly that I love.

1. Crepes (and other pastries)
2. Versailles

Please note: Anytime you see this type of sign...it doesn't mean they will actually speak to you in English. It is more of a general statement that they understand English and will willingly communicate back to you, but not necessarily in English. Parisians generally like to pretend they don't speak English, and will *not* speak to you in English. What happens is you point, attempt words in French, and try to interpret what they are saying back to you in French. Maybe since I'm older or I now speak a second language, I feel like I was able to understand a lot more French that before. Go me! I also learned how to properly ask where the toilet is, instead of just saying "Toilet?" and trying to look confused.  #pointofpride

Day 1: We took the (super early) high-speed train from London to Paris, and I quite enjoyed it! No surprise, as I always prefer a train against a plane if the timing makes sense.We checked into our hostel, which was right around the corner to the train station, and went out for crepes before our tour. Now, I've been on a number of the Sandemans Free Tours throughout Europe, and I would highly recommend them. However, this may be the first time I've been genuinely bored during a tour. This is surprising because I'm a huge nerd, and I always stand at the front of the group to soak in as much learning as possible. France and Paris have such rich and crazy histories, but we didn't hear much about it. Towards the end of the tour, it started getting cold and rainy. Plus, the tour guide was a Londoner who openly admitted to preferring Paris, so there was obviously something wrong with her in the first place.

We bought umbrellas from a street vendor. Erica's lasted about an hour before she broke it when she was swinging it around. #badluck There was a weird ball being hung in the middle of the Eiffel Tower, which is really distracting. The guy who took the picture was a construction worker, hence the Eiffel Tower being decapitated at the top. #guillotine

I'm not even sure what's going on here, but I love it. 

Day 2: After Sacre Coeur, Saryah wanted to check out a cemetery. This led to an epic journey of trying to find a toilet, eating yummy pizza, and eating even yummier pastries. I will dream of that raspberry tartelette for the rest of my life. We found the cemetery, but there was only this bridge over it. We were about to begin a search for the entrance, but Saryah said "nah. This is good. I'm happy." I made her take a photo as proof we were there.

We were trying to find the metro and accidentally wandered through the red light district #oops

We decided to separate for a few hours because Erica wanted to see the Louvre, Saryah wanted to see the impressionist paintings at Musee de Orsay, and I wanted to go see an old church. Personally, I think I made the best choice, because I love old buildings more than art. However, I found this awesome painting at Saint-Sulpice. I have seen many old churches. Seriously. I've seen A LOT; I really love them. I have never seen them have a painting depicting Jesus Christ and God as two separate and distinct beings. I believe God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are three separate and distinct beings with one shared purpose, to help us return to live with God and Christ again. I was so happy to see that in the church!!! 

This is the view I found walking out the east side of Saint-Sulpice, and it was BEAUTIFUL! I did filter, because I wanted to make sure this photo came alive as much as the real view did for me.  I made it back to the hostel about half an hour later than we planned, but so did we all. We all arrived within 10 minutes of each other being late. #greatmindsthinkalike

Later that day we were walking around trying to find some food, and it started pouring rain. I think the best part was while we pulled out our umbrellas from our bags, the Frenchmen scattered like little ants. It was pure panic and chaos for the next few minutes. #giggles

Day 3: We debated this thoroughly last night. One of the most beautiful things about Versailles is walking the gardens and seeing Marie Antoinette's little cottage. We checked the weather last night and the forecast said 20% chance of rain in the low 70's. Saryah and I put our umbrellas and jackets in our purses for the next day, while Erica put her jacket and umbrella in her backpack...the same backpack she checked into luggage storage for the day. #badluck We hopped on the train and as we were travelling, we saw that we were travelling towards dark and ominous rain clouds. As soon as we walked off the train, it started to rain. Erica was wearing a white shirt. #badluck We decided to look for an open shop, but nothing was open so early. Instead we popped into a bakery to get some yummy food to bring and hide in Starbucks. We stayed in Starbucks for about an hour before we decided that we didn't want to go to Versailles in cold rainy weather, but I insisted we at least go and take pictures in front of Versailles. The picture above is a representation of Erica's bad luck for the day.

Since Versailles was a bust, we went back to downtown Paris with plans to eat lots of pastries. When we arrived, the sun came out and it became a beautiful day! We decided to stand in line for Sainte Chapelle, which was highly recommended to Erica. Evil Saryah with her student + EU status let her in for free. (This also happened at other museums where she was allowed to bypass the lines and just walk through). I had to pay. The stain-glass was EXQUISITE! But it was a little pricey just to walk into one room of stain-glass. We wandered around, played in a park, and saw the Statue of Liberty.

mini Statue of Liberty!

We then went our separate ways, as Erica and I headed to Ireland, and Saryah went on to Italy. But first we ate more pastries! But seriously. Our diet during out three days in Paris consisted of crepes and French pastries. #noregrets 

I Think You Misspelled "Hotel" #Hostel

Okay. This post is mainly for Americans. I have heard this so many times. Most people think I'm speaking with an accent, mispronouncing the word "hotel", or misspelling the word "hotel" if I text them. My favorite is when people ask me about staying in "hostiles".

Sadly, this is what many Americans think of when you say "hostel":

What is a hostel?
Hostels are cheap places to stay normally with dorm rooms (and bunk beds), a kitchen, and common room. The people there are normally 18-30 year old people who like to travel. A lot of backpackers.

Hostel vs Hostel.

hotel

For me, I like hotels when I don't want to meet people, but just be fancy and relaxed. Let's face it: most people who stay in hotels are not there to make friends with other people in the hotel but to enjoy their vacation. Hotels are clean; maids will clean up after you every day. Things are supposed to look nice and uppity. You can throw your stuff around for the duration of your stay and know it is safe because only you have access to the space. It's a lot easier. Room service. However, when you are travelling, unless you have people to split the cost with, the price adds up very very quickly.

I feel more relaxed at hostels. I don't ever feel like people are judging me, not to say that people are judging me in hotels, but I feel like I don't have to act so proper at hostels. I feel like I'm among peers who understand my nomadic spirit. People are just so nice and willing to be your friend if you let them. People will welcome you into their lives for the short time you are together. These people are really just there to have a place to sleep, meet people, and enjoy themselves. They are not there to rob you as you sleep or take advantage of you. As usual, be a smart and aware traveler, but don't assume everyone is out to get you in a hostel. The staff cleans the bathrooms daily, so they are cleanest during the day (when everyone is away from the hostel).

What you need to ask yourself before staying in a hostel:

• Are you okay sleeping in the same room with a bunch of strangers? If you are, stay in the dorm rooms, because it's the cheapest options. The more people in a room together, the cheaper it will be.If you're not okay with it, consider splurging for a private room or go to a hotel.
• Are you a germaphobe? The rooms get messy. The bathrooms get dirty. They get dirtier the more people who share them.
• If you are okay with sleeping in the same room as a bunch of strangers, do you want them to be the same sex as you?  Hostels mostly offer mixed dorms, female-only dorms, and, personally I don't take too much notice how often this happens, male-only dorms.
• Do you have to have wifi at all times to survive? Most hostels have free wifi in the common rooms, but it may not extend to the bedrooms.  

What you should expect:

• Communal bathrooms. By the end of the day, these can get dirty and wet. If lots of people are showering, the bathroom floors get wet. If you are showering in a communal shower, you may also want to get shower shoes if that freaks you out. Ensuite rooms have the bathroom in the room with you, so you don't have to go to the hall to use the bathroom. 
• Bunk beds. You quickly learn if you prefer top or bottom. I have seen dorms from 4 to 20 beds. When you check in, they may give you the bedding to put on the bed yourself. Then you take it off the bed when you leave. 
• Lockers for pricier personal items. Personally, I use lockers provided maybe 25% of the time. I keep my luggage out. If I'm remember or care, I'll put my electronics in the locker. Most lockers are not meant for your whole luggage, but for you valuables. I wouldn't worry about trying to fit everything you brought with you into a locker. 
• Common courtesy. Most of these people are fellow travelers and kindred spirits. They will be quiet when they see you are sleeping. They will offer advice and tips if they've been to where you are going. People won't touch your stuff because they expect you not to touch their stuff. 
• Friendly people who want to get to know you. They like to offer advice and tips if you are traveling somewhere they've been before. 
• Communal Kitchens- Most hostels will have kitchens. They will have plates, bowls, refrigerators, cooking things, and utensils. You can cook there, store food there, and reheat food there. You will be expected to clean up after yourself. Wash and dry your dishes. Put stuff away where you found it. 
• Sometimes the bedrooms are small or a little more cramped than you are used to. Hostels are really meant for people who just want a place to sleep and not hang out in their beds all day.
• You will probably see people in various stages of undressing. Many people are super okay with you seeing them in their underwear. 
• Relaxed atmosphere. 
• There may be a limited number of electrical outlets in the room. The best hostels have a plug at every bed, but sadly, this is not yet the norm. 
• There are a wide range of hostels. There are some hostels that are so sketchy, that you'll get bed bug bites. There are also hostels that feel like B&B's. There are hostels that feel like resorts, complete with pools and social activities every night. There are party hostels, where people party till all hours of the night; hostels that are known for being nice and quiet. There are hostels that are family friendly where you'll see children or old people. You really just have to know what to look for and read between the lines to know what the hostel atmosphere they are promoting before you choose a hostel. It's the same for any hotel you choose.

What you may want to bring:

• ear plugs- this is ideal because people are coming into the room late, and some are leaving early. If you are a light sleeper, you'll probably be woken up multiple times a night. Also, there is almost always that one person you want to kill because they are snoring so loudly. 
  
• sleep mask- most people will never turn on the dorm light at night if they see if off because people in hostels are generally really courteous to others. They will assume people are asleep and use a flashlight. Still, this might wake you up, or the sun in the morning will wake you up. Also, you might be trying to be courteous if you are going to bed earlier than everyone, you might just leave the light on, put your face mask on, and sleep.
• shower shoes- please see my communal bathroom comment about the wet floors.
• a quick dry towel - about 90% of hostels have towels you can rent. Sometimes they provide them for you for free. If you go to hostels a lot, I recommend investing in a quick dry towel, like the REI Multi-Towel Lite XL. Personally, I'm obsessed. You can take a shower, completely dry off, and the towel will barely be damp. I bought one for each of my siblings who like to travel. 

To book a hostel:

Personally, I always use Hostelworld.com. You can search for the hostels by city and then sort by ratings or facilities that they offer. For beginners, I would say, don't stay at a place with under an 80% overall rating. You're also going to want some place with a great location, so make sure to look at that. I check for 80%+ overall rating. 90%+ location rating. 80%+ cleanliness and facilities. Then I check the most recent reviews to see what people are currently saying about the place. You want to make sure it's near public transportation, especially if you have heavy or big luggage. Then select the room type you want. It's pretty simple. They only make you pay about 10% or 12% of the whole cost up front. This is great for one person to book for everyone, and everyone pays for themselves when they arrive and give a bit of cash back to the person who booked. 

I'm so fancy. You already know. I'm in the fast lane, from H-town to London-o!

When planning a trip, know your audience. What are the *must see* items? Is everything a must see item or are the people you with more relaxed tourists who don't care if you see everything? Are the people really into seeing iconic tourist things or experiencing the life of just enjoying *being* there? Do they like history? Do they like tours? Do they like museums? Art, history, or both? This was our itinerary for three days in London that will accommodate a mixed group of people who've already been to London and those who are there for their first time, with an emphasis on Harry Potter fun. We did not accomplish everything on our list because I was with relaxed travelers.

Day 1:
- Tower of London - £21.45
- Camden Town
- Platform 9 ¾
- 221B Baker Street
- Trafalgar Square
- Wander London
- St-Dunstan-in-the-East
- Millennium Bridge- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens with a dramatic sequence of the London Millennium Footbridge collapsing. A pedestrian-only steel suspension bridge crossing River Thames, the Millennium Bridge links Bankside with the City and offers dramatic views of St Paul’s Cathedral as you walk from the south side to the north.
- Buckingham Palace

- Big Ben

- London Eye

- Westminster Abbey
- Redemption Bar (non-alcoholic bar)

Day 2:
- 10am Brunch at Mr Buckley’s

- 1pm Church. 2:50 Sacrament service. London YSA Ward.
- Little Venice, London- The affluent district of South Maida Vale is is interspersed with picturesque waterways and the area where the Grand Union and Regent’s Canals meet is affectionately known as Little Venice
- Covent Gardens
- Dinner with England family

Day 3:
- Harry Potter Studio Tour+Audio Tour £35.00. Train: London Euston to Watford Junction (20 minute journey) A shuttle bus, operated by Mullany's Coaches runs from Watford Junction to the Studio Tour, with a journey time of around 15 minutes. Plan to arrive at Watford Junction 45 minutes before the time stated on your ticket, and have your ticket or booking confirmation ready when boarding the shuttle bus.

- Leadenhall Market 10am - 6pm, Monday to Friday - Leadenhall Market in the City of London was used as Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The entrance to wizard’s pub, the Leaky Cauldron, is an optician in Bull’s Head Passage in Leadenhall Market. Leadenhall is a superb example of a Victorian covered market with an ornate painted roof.
- (Tube: Bank) and approach the storefront at 42 Bull's Head Passage — the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron pub
- 7:30pm Les Miserables- Queen’s Theatre (everyone should do this. you can NEVER see Les Mis in West End too many times. Seriously)

Other suggestions:

- Tate Modern (art museum)
- British Museum. You could spend DAYS here.
- The British Library
- Victoria & Albert Museum (art and design museum)
- Imperial War Museum
- Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum
- walk through Hyde Park
- find the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens
- Abbey Road (for Beatles fans)
- Jack the Ripper Tour
- High tea at St Paul's Cathedral Crypt
- Beyonce Dance Class

Everyone on their electronics

Now onto the trip!
Rule #1. It's hard, but you have to get on a sleeping schedule or you'll suffer from jet lag longer than you want. Don't go to bed before 10pm each night, and wake up at 8am the first 2 days at least. This will help you get over jetlag ASAP. Don't nap whenever you sit down because it will throw off your internal clock. You want to be exhausted when you go to sleep because you want to be able to sleep through the night. Otherwise, you'll be able to fall asleep but wake up super early due to jet lag. 

Rule #2. Stay off your electronics, especially your phone! You're on vacation!

The Tower of London is *ALWAYS* a good idea. Saryah goes here all the time. It's a little strange. I don't think you can come here enough. The beefeaters (the guys in uniform) are always the best tour guides. I don't know how they do it, but you fall in love with them! Coolest people ever. The story of the two princes is always a fan favourite.

I wish this photo wasn't as fuzzy as it is....but I love it! There is an official queue up to this spot to take a photo. There are official people there taking photos that you can buy later, but you don't have to. They will let you take your own photos. We probably waited 30-45 minutes in line, but after we got through, the line doubled in size. Poor Erica, I was grilling her on the exact angle and time to take the picture so I could get the perfect photo. I'm intense.

 I just want to shout out to the guy in this photo who went to a crepe stand in Camden Town and just had them give him strawberries drizzled with Nutella, hold the crepe. Way to go stranger!

 The sun never sets on the British Empire. I love this poster. We were at brunch, and I felt so patriotic. #brits

Sunday was a relaxing day to walk around. We went out to Covent Gardens for a nice stroll and cool shake, since it was so hot out. Before heading over to Kate's for Sunday dinner. I adore Kate! Ben and Rachel drove down to see us too. I love family time in England! Especially when Ben and Saryah do yoga together. As we always say, a family who does yoga together, stays together.

Okay, let's be real. I'm such a Harry Potter nerd, I really just want to post all the pictures I took during the HP Studio Tour. I've been wanting to do this tour since the moment I heard it was going to open. I tried to back in 2012, but the weekend I booked, the studio was closed for some unknown reason. I'm still angsty about it.  You start off in this line to get you pumped. You then enter a standing room to see a video getting you excited. Then you sit in movie theater seats to see this little introduction video. No lie: I cried. No lie: Erica cried too. Words cannot describe how much Harry Potter has meant to me in my life, even though I tried to explain it once. 

 Wow. Could this lighting be any more beautiful?!?! Natural lighting forever! This is the back set. I have officially walked where the HP cast has walked. I loved every moment of it. Erica had her first butterbeer here.

Knight Bus! All Aboard!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to Diagon Alley

They say the Mirror of Erised would show the happiest person a reflect of themselves, exactly as they are. I can tell you, I was probably the happiest person alive when I was there. The Mirror showed true. #fangirl

I could have done the whole thing again, but Erica and Saryah were tired and hungry. We went back into London to have some fish and chips for dinner before Les Miserables (my favourite!!!)  The whole cast brought their A-game, and I was eternally grateful. Next stop...Paris.

5 Reasons You Should Travel Solo At Least Once

Maybe this is a nature vs. nurture situation. Maybe it is just within certain people's natures to travel solo, or maybe only those who were reared to be independent can travel solo. I don't care who you are, where you're from, or what you've done; everyone should take a trip by themselves at least once in their lives.  It might be like Green Eggs and Ham where you don't know you like it, because you've never tried it!

Just try it before you decide you do not like it.

A lot of people do not believe me whenever I tell them I'm going somewhere by myself. Seriously. They do NOT believe me. Lying about travelling alone makes no sense to me, but then again, me travelling alone seems to not make sense to them either. Whenever I manage to convince someone I am really going somewhere all by myself, they always say "Oh my goodness. I could never do that.", "Why?", or  "How do you do that? You're so brave/crazy. I could never do that." I don't think I've ever told someone, and had them respond with, "I've always wanted to do that!"

I took my first solo trip when I was 18, and I spent the summer backpacking Britain. My dad is from England, so my parents weren't too worried. I often look back and wonder what they were thinking. Did they really have that much confidence in me, or did they genuinely not think about the dangerous possibilities? Granted, if I ever felt lonely, scared, or bored, I had family and family friends to visit. I've been lucky enough for my parents to have taught me to be independent. I felt more than ready for my first trip alone; I could never have anticipated how much it would change me. Did my parents know something I did not?

1. You are the truest version of yourself, when no one is watching. 
It is probably the most liberating feeling to go somewhere where no one knows you; no one has any expectations from you. Everyone you meet is a stranger. You can reinvent yourself every time you meet someone if you want. What you will discover is, being in these new strange situations reveals a person you may not have realized was hiding within yourself. It allows you to discover these little pieces of yourself that have never had the opportunity to come out before.

Something to know about me: I don't drink. I remember, on my first trip alone, going to visit a family friend and her offering me a beer. She said, "Don't worry, I won't tell your parents." I knew she wouldn't. I knew what I did on that trip at 18 would probably never get back to anyone I knew, especially my parents. I also knew, I was not that person. I learned so much. I learned I am super uncomfortable with meeting new people, but I also learned I am really good at meeting new people, when I just do it. I learned how much I love to read in public places, i.e. parks, restaurants, trains, airports, etc. I learned that people in foreign countries are always in a state of disbelief when I tell them I do not have a boyfriend. I learned how much I hate tourists, especially American tourists. I learned the kindness of strangers and that gentlemen still exist. You will learn so much about yourself and about people and the world around you when you travel alone.

2.There's no comfort in a growth zone, and there's no growth in a comfort zone.

Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” It's not always the most comforting thing being in new situations or being around people you don't know, but you will grow. It's not always the most comfortable thing going to a hostel for the first time in your life and trying to figure out how everything works. The most important thing you need to remember is...You will get use to it, and you will love it. As you are willingly placing yourself in new situations, you will really learn the meaning of carpe diem, because everyday will be a gift just for you. Everyday will be a blessing for which to be grateful.

3. Escape the co-dependent society we live in, and be alone. The person you will spend the most time with in your life is YOURSELF, so start to love to spend time with yourself. 
In this day of technology, it is as if we cannot do a single thing without having to tell the whole world and wait for their approval. People go to restaurants with friends, take photos of their food, and wait for others to "like" what they are doing. That's called codependency. Codependency, "in broader terms...refers to the dependence on the needs of, or control of, another" (Wikipedia definition) In this society, we are co-dependent on the approval of others; we need it; we depend on it. It is so freeing to leave that all behind, and be alone. If you are saying that you cannot go on a trip because your friend(s) cannot come with you, you are limiting yourself. Why can't you go? If you want something bad enough, you shouldn't wait for someone else to tell you you can have it. I am a true believer that you have to love yourself.  I can go somewhere and still enjoy it without having a friend with me. I don't need someone with me to appreciate the beauty and peace of new places or experiences. I think that is an experience everyone should try once in their life.

4. The people you meet, who you probably wouldn't have spoken to if you were with a group
Maybe it's just me, but I find a lot of people do this. When you are with a group of friends, you are with your group of friends. You normally do not go out of your way to include new people or strangers to your group. I went to Milford Sound in New Zealand by myself. It was a bus ride out to the area before the cruise, and they stopped multiple times along the way to get out and take photos. If I was with a friend, I would have had a person to sit next to and take my photos. Instead, I had to find someone to take photos for me. I found a really cool guy who was also travelling alone. We sat by each other and took photos for each other. We then met a girl on the boat who was travelling alone. We had a great time talking, sharing our life stories, and having so much fun. It was like we had been best friends forever. When you are travelling, you bond so quickly with friends. It's so wonderful and beautiful.

5. Freedom. Do what you want, when you want.
Don't get me wrong. I love planning trips for me and my friends. I love it. True love and friendship is compromising and changing travel plans to make everyone happy. Nevertheless, there is pure freedom in doing whatever you want. One day in Germany, I walked around for a while, then spent hours having lunch and reading at a table, while drinking hot chocolate. It is something I would have never done if I had people travelling with me, but it was a perfect day for little old me. You can change plans last minute. You can be as impulsive and spontaneous as you want without having to check if it's okay with someone else. It's freeing.

Even after you read this you are probably thinking, "But Natasha...."

But Natasha, isn't dangerous to travel alone, especially if you're a girl?
Nowadays, there are legitimately dangerous places and dangerous things. I'm not saying to go travel Syria or Afghanistan alone in this political climate. Read the news. Be aware of travel alerts. Avoid North Korea if you are an American tourist. Please be smart and be careful, especially as a female traveler. Don't get drunk in foreign countries when you are alone. Don't get drunk in foreign countries at all is my personal recommendation, but if you cannot help it, at least have someone who is going to be sober enough to make sure you get to your hotel/hostel safely with all your belongings. I knew a girl who left her wallet in bars when she got drunk and never found them again. I've had a friend lose my camera because she was super drunk in Mexico. I've been pick-pocketed in Madrid, but that has not stopped me from travelling alone. It makes me travel smarter. I try not to be out at night when I'm alone, especially when there aren't many people around. Invest in a money belt. Always be aware of your surroundings.

But Natasha, I want to be able to share what I do with someone.
Share it with someone. Take photos and share them when you get back. Make a friend where you are staying. Make friends on the tours you are taking. I went to Belize on my own, and did a scuba tour and a tour for the ATM caves. On the ATM tour, I met this British girl who was travelling alone, and we had the best time together. We were immediate friends and the repertoire we had was amazing. I had someone to share the amazing experience with. On one of the snorkeling tours I went on, I actually met a girl who was going to be on the same flight as me home, so we decided to take a taxi together to the airport. Just because you don't bring someone to share the trip with, doesn't mean you won't find someone along the way.

But Natasha, how are you supposed to meet people travelling alone?
My number one recommendation to meet people is hostels. No, I did not misspell the word "hotel". Hostels. Hostels are meant for younger travelers who want to meet people. Most hostels have common rooms to socialize. It's a great opportunity to make new friends, share a meal, and make plans for the next day. If you hear that some people are doing something cool, talk to them; most of the time, they will be more than happy to let you come along.

But Natasha, I don't have the money.
Save. Save your pennies. Put away a certain percentage of each paycheck. If you haven't traveled before, make a goal. Write it down and tell your friends so they can hold you accountable. You can do anything you put your mind to.

But Natasha, I've never traveled alone before; I wouldn't know how to do it.
Don't get me wrong, I think everyone should take a solo trip once in their life, but I'm not saying it should be the first trip outside your home country that you've ever taken. If it's your first big international trip, go with someone if it makes you comfortable. Start small. Take a weekend to a different city by yourself.

But Natasha, if I go, I'll probably get robbed.

This is me after checking my purse for the billionth time for
my stolen wallet.

Honestly, it's a possibility. I'm not going to lie to you. I've met people who carry fake wallets in case they are robbed. Personally, I think you're more likely to be pick-pocketed then outright robbed. I have been pick-pocketed. I was mad; I felt violated, and as someone who thinks they are pretty well-traveled, my pride was wounded. My friend and I had our wallets stolen at the exact same time, and we didn't realize it. It was on the metro in Madrid, and we only found out because my friend had her metro pass in her wallet and couldn't find it to exit the metro. Buy a money belt. Keep money in your bra, if you are a girl...or boy...no judgement. Touristy areas are always where you need to be most aware. There are certain cities known for pick-pocketers. Be aware. I was not. They will try and distract you in order to pickpocket you. Never leave your bag unattended. It was really upsetting, luckily I had only 20 euros in my wallet, my drivers license, a few personal items, and a credit card, which I quickly cancelled, so no major irreversible damage was done. Now, I have a really great story, and I know if I'm ever robbed again, I will live. I'm a survivor.

But Natasha, I don't have enough vacation time.
You don't have to plan a large vacation. Have a three-day weekend getaway. Leave after work Friday night, and come back Sunday night. Do what you gotta do; be you.

But Natasha, I'm scared/nervous. 
It's okay to be nervous. It's okay to be scared. The idea is to conquer your fears and nerves. I think there are two quotes that can apply here. Marianne Williams once said, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." I also think the 4 lines I love most from "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley would be great too:

"I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul...
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul."

John Lenin Wall in Prague

Disclaimer: Don't get me wrong. I love travelling with my friends and family. I love planning trips. I love it all. I also love doing little trips by myself, just to get away for a bit. You can do both; you don't have to choose. These are just the opinions of myself and no one else. Opinions not meant to insult or offend anyone's upbringing, lifestyle choices, or anything.

The Implusive NYC Getaway that Broke My Friend's Foot

Rachel and Lauren

Let me introduce you to my travel buddies: Rachel and Lauren. I met Lauren on Jan 13, 2014. How do I know that? Facebook, of course! It's a story I must tell. I met Lauren at FHE after Rachel convinced her to come. Rachel says she knew Lauren and I would hit it off immediately. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I remember her making snarky comments throughout the night which made me laugh....and I knew fate had brought us together. I sent her a creepy facebook message about how I am excited to be her new friend whether she wants to be friends or not. She responded saying that she was quite excited. It was a magical beginning. We hung out a handful of times before my impulsive behavior kicked in.

I was checking emails and saw an email from Playbill.com (yes, I subscribe to it, even though I'm not in NYC) stating that Idina Menzel was going to Broadway in an original new musical. I thought to myself, "cool. I'll go this fall." A few minutes later, I thought, "How do I know she'll still be there in the fall? What if she gets a better offer to do a movie or something else?" I tried to calm myself, and then I thought "If Aladdin (which I have been planning on seeing since I heard they were planning on making it to a Broadway show) has opened finally, I will to NYC now." Lo and behold, they were both in previews. I thought...who do I want to go to NYC with...and Rachel and Lauren popped into my head. I found out when Rachel's spring break was, and texted them. They both said yes. It was amazing.

We arrived in NYC about a month later for a long weekend. I convinced them to go get cronuts the first morning we were there, because it was supposed to be the warmest we were going to be there. (Winter in NYC is a lot colder than winter in Houston). The we made friends with the guy in front of us, Tommy, who is from NYC. He was super fun and ate with us before going to bring a girl a cronut too.

With our new bestie, Tommy

After the cronut, we did the 9/11 memorial and the gift shop. It took all our will power not to buy something. Rachel wanted a really expensive purse and I wanted an expensive scarf. It was just soooo pretty!!! The 9/11 memorial was quite moving and lovely. I would recommend it to anyone. We wandered to Battery Park and Wall Street before meeting up with Ben. Woohoo!

We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and it was beautiful! It was also really windy. Who knew? Still, the sun was out, so I was able to take off my coat and enjoy some much needed warmth! I think the best part was when Ben asked Lauren if she could tell him any of my crazy adventures and secrets, and Lauren was like "No. I don't really know that much about her" lol. We made it to the other side and wandered down to Grimaldi's for lunch. After waiting in line for an hour, I find out that there is a Grimaldi's very close to where I live in Texas. #jaded While we were waiting for our order, two older ladies (who we met in line previously) offered us their extra pizza slices. We were ravenous and said yes. #worthit It was an epic lunch followed by some ice cream on the windy dock. As we metro-ed back to Manhattan, Ben explained to me how to navigate and read the signs. They are quite unclear when you're unfamiliar with them. Seriously, there should be a website explaining how to read them. It was the best gift anyone could have given...the knowledge of how to get from Point A to Point B. He dropped us off at The Met and took a couple of Gossip Girl photos for us. (now that's a good friend)

Sadly, after he left, we talked and decided there wasn't enough time to wander around the Met and not feel very rushed. Instead, we went to the hotel to prep for a night on the town. We walked to Time Square before our showing of Aladdin. Can I just say, when we tried to book tickets for Aladdin, it was showing to be sold out. I was heartbroken, until I went to a new site and found a handful of scattered tickets throughout the theatre. I tried to buy three, but when I clicked to purchase them, it said the tickets were already sold. Luckily, third time is a charm, and we got seats....just not all together. NBD.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was such a high energy show, with the razzle and dazzle expected from a Disney show. The costumes are so bright and vibrant. The dancing felt a little more Bollywood than anything, but it's still amazing. The genie was by far my favorite. I have never EVER seen an audience have an intense standing ovation during the middle of a show like I saw with "Friend Like Me". It was brilliant.

Sunday started with church and brunch with Dena! I haven't seen Dena since our reunion trip to Chicago in 2009. It was so good to see her. I wish I had more time to catch up with her. She is as fierce and fabulous as ever. We went to a french bakery, and of course, my eyes were bigger than my stomach. What else is new? As she walked us back to the metro stop, Lauren asked if we could go to a pharmacy and get an ankle wrap, because her ankle was hurting. We got back to the hotel room for her to rest a bit. She said she could still walk, but we decided to have a slow evening to not hurt it more so it would be better in the morning. Spoiler alert: it was not better in the morning.

We went to see If/Then...the show we had all been waiting for. Ladies and Gentlemen, it did NOT disappoint. The summary is a bit confusing, so I wasn't sure what to expect when we got there. All I knew was that it was a play about choices. The best part is that the show starts with Idina on a balcony, talking on the phone...first line "hey. it's me" and the audience goes wild. She is amazing live. Wow. Wow. Wow. Goosebumps. The show starts at the same point and shows how one decision can impact your entire life. It starts in a park where she is meeting two friends and the one decision of who she will spend the day with has a ripple effect and the play showing both possible lives she could have based on that one decision. It was one of those plays that makes you reflect on the decisions of your life, and how you got to where you are. It was so powerful that I probably spent the last 20 mins of the show in tears.

After the play we went to get some cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery and spend the rest of the night, resting Lauren's ankle and having much needed girl talk time. #girlsnight #bonding

Monday morning started with Lauren telling us that she didn't think she could walk. With the idea of "leave no man behind", we decided to change our plans a bit. We decided we should do an early dinner and see another Broadway show. Suggestions were thrown around, and the decision ended up being: Newsies. Lauren stayed in the hotel as Rachel and I faced the cold winter air. We went to Mecca...the New York Public Library. Sooooooooo pretty. Please note: Rachel and Lauren are English majors, and I'm just a huge nerd/book lover. It was magnificent! We took a free guided tour, which also allows you to get discounts in the gift shop.

I saw this and laughed.

After the Library, we wandered through The Met. It was pretty cool. However, the best part was when we saw our friend Tommy again! What a crazy coincidence. I loved it. After The Met, we went to pick up little Lauren. We took a taxi up to our dinner location of choice, the classic Serendipity's. Frozen Hot Chocolate. Check! Eating lots of food and spending lots of money on said food. Check! Then it was time for Newsies. Ever since I saw Elijah Kelley singing and dancing in Hairspray (the movie), I realized how dancing singing men are absolutely brilliant. This was more proof of that theory. It is a musical full of dancing men who sing, and I was in love. The choreography blew. me. away. I did have a fav newsie...Specs. Everyone loves a guy in glasses. We were on a musical high as we walked back to the hotel that night. It truly was a great sacrifice we made going to another Broadway show for Lauren. ;)

Our last day in NYC had us checking out Chinatown, stumbling upon an epic Sample Sale, and meandering through NYC towards Levain Bakery, all while Lauren waited in the lobby as a cripple. It really was a great trip! Lauren pointed out that Rachel and I say the same things, at the same time. #twins I have found great travel buddies.

While we were there, I was writing my previous blog post, which is a disclaimer of all my travel crazies. Since it was my first time traveling with them, I realized the little crazies I have that people who have traveled with me before don't notice anymore because we already have the ying-yang/give-take travel routine down. I started making notes of things that popped into my head throughout the trip. I was sharing it with them as I wrote it. On Tuesday, Rachel asks me, "are you hungry? because you said earlier that you act different when you're hungry, and you seem a little off." I *was* hungry! lol. See, the disclaimer was already effective.

Now I know what everyone is wondering. Is Lauren's ankle okay? It turns out she has an os peroneum fracture. Oops. We broke her. Nevertheless, she is still my friend, and we are all looking at another possible travel adventure later this year together. 

My Travel Disclaimer: 22 Things You Should Know

I've been travelling with people I haven't traveled with before, and decided to write a little disclaimer for my crazy. I forget how OCD/Type A I can be when travelling. Please note, anyone who knows me already knows I'm neurotic and will think things are quite sensible, because I have clever friends. Nevertheless, don't say I never told you; consider this a warning, list of expectations, disclaimer, or whatever makes you comfortable. 

Free piece of travel advice: if you cannot take good pictures, you're pretty much a worthless travel buddy to anyone who is going to want their photo taken. Take it at flattering angles where you can see the person's face and learn how to zoom on cameras and on different camera phones. If you are a dot in the photo, but you have the giant building in the background, you did it incorrectly. Have the subject of your photo step forward. 

I've traveled with many friends, and the best part about traveling with friends, is you already like them. You are trying to compromise and make sure one another has a great memorable time. There has only been one disastrous trip where at the end, the girl and I were very obviously never to be friends again. (Points 6 and 20 have been added because of this). This is more of a "you're going to discover this anyways, so I might as well tell you up front". 

Saryah's #1 Rule of Travelling: Bring Snacks. 

These guys are serious powerhouse travelers! I love them!!!

1. Don't whine. You can complain about or say something negative once to let people know, but saying something negative more than once gets annoying, unless you're trying to be funny, but even then, there is a thin line. On the other side of the spectrum, not complaining a little can be problematic. If you're travelling with a bunch of people who don't complain, sometimes, at the end of the day everyone is about to die. You push each other so hard, because no one wanted to be the first to say they were tired. (P.S. this is still pretty fun even when you're dying. A bonus is, you begin to be able to read the "tells" of your friends on when they're tired and hungry)

2. You will walk...a lot. I walk faster than some, slower than others. We'll find out how you compare when we travel, but try to keep up. Please keep in mind, the only time I can't keep up with someone is if they have freakishly long legs, like Marijn. :) Since my natural walk may be faster than yours, I will turn around to check you are still behind me. Don't get offended. I just really don't want to lose you. There is just so much to see in new places and so little time. Because of this feeling, I don't like to take breaks every half hour or hour. We will not take a break after every thing we do, especially if the tour has only taken an hour and there is a site to see, not even 100 feet away. (the only way this happens is if I'm completely overruled by a majority)

3. Expect to get no more than eight hours of sleep each night, unless we have previously decided on a lazy vacation. You can sleep when you're dead. If you expect less than eight, you will be happy if I let you get eight full hours of sleep or more. You are only on vacation for a limited amount of time, and so I want to use every moment for fun. Just to be clear, you will be tired, and you will sleep better because you are tired. 

4. Wear comfortable shoes. Seriously. You can think if this as words of wisdom, speaking from experience. Blisters are very terrible on vacations. Same goes for sunburns. They have the potential to ruin trips. 

5. Don't dress like a tourist with me. I will hurt you.

-No white tennis shoes.

-No baseball caps. (for outside of America only)

-No shirts with American flags. (Texas shirts are acceptable).

-There are nice tshirts, and there are the tshirts that you get for free from events and you wear them at the gym or to be lazy running errands or laying around the house...don't bring the latter. 

6. Respect. Respect the cultural differences, the towns, or whatever. Don't be a snob. "When in Rome, do ask the Romans." Don't expect the Romans to cater to your American whims. You say thank you, and don't be a git. I traveled with this one person and the whole entire time she acted like she was better than everyone and corrected how people did things and acted like a stereotypical American tourist. Then again, I use to complain about how much I hated the NYC metro, until a friend recently explained it to me. I kept on getting lost. Granted, it's confusing, but I shouldn't have complained so much. 

Valencia: We all almost starved to death. We only had a pack of cookies
to sustain us as we tried to find a place open for dinner.
We hadn't eaten for hours, and everyone was hangry.

7. I sometimes forget to feed you because we have so much to do and see. If you're hungry, let me know! We will get food, even if it's a snack or something.

8. I get grumpy when I don't eat. If I start getting grumpy, let me know, or give me a candy bar. Don't worry, I sometimes don't realize why I'm getting upset until you remind me I haven't eaten. If you remind me, I like to buy snacks for the day, just in case. I might not even get grumpy, but after a while, you'll be able to tell there's been a change in temperament. 

9. Please tell me of any preexisting conditions you have. Bring ankle braces if you have weak ankles, knee brace for weak knees, snacks for hypoglycemia, etc. I can and will be considerate and accommodate plans accordingly. 

10. If you injure yourself on the trip, it's not complaining to let me know. I brought bad shoes on a trip and had horrible blisters for the rest of a vacation. Had I said something earlier, I could have bought shoe inserts before it became a problem. OR, for example, if you roll your ankle, say something. Your silence is only further hurting yourself.

11. Have an opinion. Part 1: I always create large to do lists for vacation. It is mainly a list of ideas for us to talk about or decide later, just so we have a rough idea of what we are doing.  If you want to sight see, or if you want to be lazy, let me know.  These are not permanent plans; they are open to interpretation, revisions, and suggestions. Don't be afraid to say you want to do something else. I will let you know if something on my list is a must do or just something I thought we could do if we had time.

12. Have an opinion. Part 2: if I say, do you want to do this or this, make a choice. I really want to know what your preference is. I am NOT saying "don't be flexible and easy-going". You don't always have to have an opinion, but if you never make a choice 100% of the time, I will kill you.

13. Try and know where we are. I acknowledge that 95% of the time, I will be the one reading maps and telling everyone where to go. (The other 5% is when I'm with Lukas...OR you are guiding us because you think you know where we are; I'll be quiet and jump in if you get us too lost) However, please be aware of where we are. I don't mind feeling like a tour guide, but I don't want to feel like a babysitter. Please note: you may think I know my way around everywhere, but I have to look at maps and use my phone's GPS. I only seem like I know exactly where we are because I have a great sense of direction and memory. 

Pavia, Italia. 2009.

14. There is one word you will never find me trying to claim: ladylike. Nope. Not me. I may not dress like a tomboy, but I'm really not a girlie-girl. I won't be eating dainty food; give me a steak over a salad any day. I have some manners, so you can take me places in public. However, if you're with me 24/7, you will see me yanking at my tights in public, not showering everyday, and spilling food and crumbs all over myself. #toolegittoquit #sexyandiknowit

15. On tours, I like to be in the front near the tour guide. Just a personal preference. 

16. Seven out of ten times if you give me the choice between a museum and something else, I will choose something else. I just get bored looking at things for hours and hours in a building. If there is a tour guide involved, the stories always entertain me. Also, I like looking for all the weird and silly things in museums. However, I love going through old homes. Some may say museums and old homes are similar, but I don't think so. 

17. If I'm following you, I may make a wrong turn without you. In my head, I think we are going one way, but really, we aren't. If I'm following you, I may fall behind a bit, but you will not lose me. Let me re-phrase, you *cannot* lose me, even if you tried. I'm an excellent stalker ;)

18. I have bad hearing. I will ask you to repeat yourself a lot. Don't feel self conscious. It's not you, it's me.

19. I will threaten you with bodily harm or death at least once during our time together. Don't be alarmed. This is just how I express myself. 

20. Passive aggressive behavior will ruin our friendship. If I'm doing something that's bugging you, let me know. I'm not a mind reader. Respect, guys. Respect. 

21. Don't try to throw me off docks into water. I will be openly upset. 

22. I love adventures! Adventure trips. Once-in-a-lifetime activities. All of it. As Dumbledore once said:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/111868154/harry-potter-quote-let-us-step-into-the

16 Books to Read Before They Hit Theaters This Year

I saw the buzzfeed article, and wasn't interested, but when the Library set the challenge, I said "Challenge Accepted".  #15Feb2014

These will be listed in the order I have read them:

The Giver by Lois Lowry - Read when I was a kid. Maybe that is cheating, but I'm counting it. I'll probably re-read it at a later time, but for now, I'm counting it.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead- I found this series as a senior at uni. I was skeptical at first, because of the lame vampire story stigma that Twilight left after the horrible casting and screen adaptation, but that's a different story. I read it, and loved it. There was one part where I was crying; my roommate came in and asked if I was okay. When I told her I was crying over something in the book, she said, "oh. I thought someone in your family died." #itfeltthatway One thing I like about the series, is it is one that can be reread and you still like it. I explained that to my sister, and she didn't understand what I meant until she reread it. I'm currently having one of my besties read them. She says the plot is a little slow, because all the conflict doesn't happen till the end of the book. I didn't mind it too much.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - Finished 17 March 2013. Wow. I don't even know what to say about this book. It's amazing. You know it's going to be sad when the premise is about a young cancer patient. What I didn't expect was to feel like my heart was breaking as I read the book. I cried consistently at least for about an hour reading that book. I was bawling, with the i-can't-breath-and-snot-is-running-out-my-nose tears. The only other fictional books I have had this intense emotional response to recently would be: "The Book Thief" and "Me Before You".

Divergent by Veronica Roth. - Read 25 Oct 2013.  Oh Divergent. To be honest, I would recommend the first book to anyone, as long as they promise not to read any further. The first book is great! The second is mediocre, and the third book is the worst. It is a worst 3rd-book-in-a-trilogy than Mockingjay, which is saying something if you've heard me rant about Mockingjay. The premise of Divergent is clever. I love Tris and Four. It has the makings of an epic trilogy, but she cannot keep up the momentum in the next two books. Divergent as a stand alone is good. I would never recommend the trilogy. Stop at Divergent. *Spoiler Alert* If you do decide to read on, don't get to attached to any characters, because (like in Game of Thrones, or so I've heard) everyone you love dies. The ending is terrible too.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed - Started 24 Feb 2014. Finished Abandoned 3 March 2014. This is my review from my Goodreads accound. I've officially abandoned the book after 43 pages. I should have gone further, but honestly, I hate Cheryl already. I thought it was going to be a great book along the lines of "Eat, Pray, Love". However, instead of something inspiring, it is a sad story about a girl who doesn't know how to handle grief, cheated on her (what seemed to be) supportive husband instead of going to counseling and ran away from her problems. I just can't get into her head, because she has warped reasoning and is in serious need of therapy instead of hiking around America.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand- Started March 2014

I'll keep you updated as the reading continues.

I would rather...

Photo taken by: Becca

6 Year Reunion in Puerto Rico

Playlist for this post and for our vacation:

     -"Happy" by Pharrell
     -"Best Day of My Life" by American Authors
     -"Everything is Awesome" by Tegan & Sara featuring The Lonely Island (aka, the Lego Movie song).
...and keep it on repeat....seriously. Also, use the pet name "baby" or "puppy" for everyone.

This is Mego. I haven't seen Mego in six year. What's a better way to catch up than to vacation together?

Happy Birthday weekend to me! A few months ago, I decided I just wanted to get away for my birthday for a low key weekend. I decided that it would be more fun if I had people come with me. I invited my lil sister, and then inspiration struck....invite Mego! I adore Mego, because she is one of my life inspirations. I joke around saying that I can't do anything until she does it first. I already know we travel well together, because we've done it before, 12 years ago when we went to England and Paris together. We know that when someone gets grumpy, you must buy them a candy bar to calm them down. Easy peasy. We met up at the San Juan airport and went over to our hotel to make plans and chillax.

Can I just say, I normally don't stay at fancy hotels when I travel, so this trip was on another level of classy for me. Saryah joked that this is her first "adult" vacation, because adults always go places with no plans but to relax. Those were our exact plans. This was a "No Rules" vacation.

We went out to eat the first night at a restaurant down the road, where we ordered three dishes to share. We would eat part of the plate, and then rotate the plates throughout the dinner. #genius We each took turns giving a summary of the past six years of our lives, because, like I said, we haven't seen each other in a while, and it's hard to find time to catch up sometimes. It was pretty funny when we had those "omg. I can't believe you did that!" moments, as we reacted to events that happened years ago. The waiter gave us free crème brûlée during our meal. We also created a list of all the countries we travelled to over the past 6 years. Over the past six years, we've visited a combined number of 26. There was only one country that we've all been to in the past six years....the motherland, where it all began, the UK!

First of all, shout out to Tattly, which has really cool temporary tattoos! Secondly, Friday was a really lazy day. When I say lazy, I mean, brilliantly lazy. We woke up late, to the maid knocking on our door for room service. We went to breakfast across the street at Denny's. Then, we went to lay on the beach and swim for the next few hours. I read, Megan watch the Canada hockey game, and Saryah just laid there. We went back to shower and get out of the sun in the afternoon. We decided it would probably be a good idea to go look around San Juan instead of only looking at the beach all day. We took a taxi out to Old San Juan, and checked out the Fort. Our taxi driver pointed out the capitol building for us, and recommended a good place to eat. Sadly, with my bad memory, about five minutes later, I couldn't remember what he said. It was so windy at the fort, but the view was gorgeous. The whole place was beautiful. We walked around, and I loved to stone streets and colorful buildings. It was a beautiful mixture of Latino and Caribbean culture without the need of a passport or changing currency.  I would definitely recommend it to people. We went to Barrachina for dinner, where they claim they invented the Piña Colada. With a claim like that, how could we not have a taste. Truth: I normally don't like Piña Coladas, but this one was wonderful. I had two. The dinner was GREAT! We had a great time, and they gave us a free slice of tres leches cake as they sang Happy Birthday to me. Mego was having a fun time making sure everyone knew it was my birthday. We went back to the hotel to book a tour to Culebras Island to go snorkelling, but we found out the tour was cancelled due to weather. Bah humbug. We went back to our room to discuss. Instead, we decided we should rent a car, drive to the ferry in the morning, book a room at a swanky resort, and be completely spontaneous tomorrow. Done.

Saturday morning, we got a rental, and drove down to Fajardo. Mego hopped out of the car to just get us tickets so we could then go to lunch, but she called, told us to park the car because the ferry was ready about to leave! We went...and the ferry broke down. They said it would be up and running within an hour...and it finally left about 3 hours later. Woohoo #carribeanspirit We got to the Resort on Vieques, cortesy of Mego's hotel points, and it was so swanky. I felt like white trash at a cotillion ball. We loved it anyway. We went straight to the beach to enjoy the sun!

After a few hours in the sun, we went exploring. When I say "we", I mean, Mego went exploring, while Saryah and I followed. On this exploration, Megan found a coconut, which entertained her for the next 12 hours as she attempted to open the coconut with random tools found in a hotel room. Room service said they did not have any machetes available. The highlight of the night was discovering the black pebble pool, with LED lights at the bottom. With all the stars in the sky it felt magical, only to be enhanced by listening to "Across the Universe" while relaxing in the starry water.

Sunday Fun Day! Mego and I went on an adventure to find the church building and get ferry tickets. Ferry tickets are only sold one hour before the ferry leaves, and we were quite panic-y that we wouldn't get a ticket. We were told, that you can go and just get them anyways if you are confident enough. False. They guy was quite rude. We then went to church, where we were given a corner and couldn't find it anywhere. After about 20 minutes of wandering, we followed a couple in a nice dress and a suit to find the church. #stalkeralert We met a couple from Tennessee who decided to move to Vieques a few months ago. What I really wanted to ask was, what are you doing on the island? I was pretty sure that was rude, so I stayed silent.

We eventually made it back to the hotel and decided to risk missing the ferry to stay later at the resort. We laid on the beach. Worried when Mego disappeared. Mego came back after exploring more of the beach. Ate lots of yummy coconut. And took silly photos.

After six years, things haven't changed much.

There was a little vacation romance...that lasted about 5 minutes.

Needless to say, we made it onto the ferry without a problem. While waitin in line, I started chatting with this really cute Brazilian. It was in Spanish, so Mego and Saryah thought it was something nice we were talking about, but I'm pretty sure they were talking about when him and I laughed over me hoping I don't get sea sick on the ferry ride back. #whatyouseeiswhatyouget #classylassy The romance ended, when he went to the bottom deck, and I went to the top. I didn't even think of telling him I was planning on going to the top until Mego and Saryah reprimanded me for being so bad at flirting.
We finally made it back to San Juan and had a late night dinner at Denny's. It was a great way to end a whirlwind vacation.

Monday, Saryah and I slept in, while Megan woke up to soak in as much sun-time as possible. I joined later and had a pizza and piña colada brought out to my chair. Mego and I talked for a while, as Saryah stayed in a shaded hammock far away from us. It was sad to say goodbye, but I'm pretty sure, we'll travel again together in the future to make more epic memories.