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meet the staff // nico

Meet the staff Amstel House BerlinOnce a month, in our ‘Meet the Staff’ section, we love to take you inside our hostel and introduce you to one of our cute / friendly / hot looking / adventurous / hilarious or all of the above staff members. Please meet our staff member who definitely ticks all the boxes and has been with us the longest; our very own Hamburger-turned-Berliner; Nicos!

Well dear friends, let me tell you a little story. I’ll be quick, cause that’s my specialty… (*for the elaborate version, see below…). I moved from my hometown Hamburg to Berlin right after high school.

At Amstel, I represent the rock-solid old-school staff. I think, I actually might be the oldest member of the reception-staff here, having worked here the longest, which for me says enough about how much I like and respect the Amstel for it being such a cosy, friendly and loving place!

What’s your favourite hot spot in Berlin?
Funnily enough, maybe it is because everything is flooded with people in Berlin nowadays, or maybe it’s just because I became extremely grown-up and boring, my favorite thing is discovering beautiful spots outside and on the outskirts of the city. NATURE RULES!

What’s your favourite hot spot close to the Amstel House?
I love the “Subito” bar right opposite the Amstel House. “Subito” is the stronghold of this neighborhood and has been here forever – at least it feels that way. I also love it for the insecure looks it puts on peoples’ faces after they asked me to point them to a nice bar in Berlin and I just do, in fact, point my finger and say “There! 10 meters”.

I never left that bar without complimenting the bar-staff about their f***ing awesome music! You can hide, it’s cozy, nice and dark – and STILL A SECRET! YES!!! (Sssshhhh)

What do you like most about working at the Amstel House Hostel Berlin?
I like helping people discover Berlin in a way that I would like to be helped, and make their trip as nice and easy as possible. I think as a traveler you want to relax as much as possible, but still you have to think about a lot of things, probably even of more than at home. If I can take some of those “worries” and make things a little easier, that’s a great thing.

What’s the last place you travelled to?
Thessaloniki, Greece – my brother got married there, my family grew, the (Big-Fat-Greek-) Wedding …. oh, and I love the SUN!

Favourite quote?
“I love you”

What is your secret super power?
Talking with a wink!! 😉 .. but mostly .. talking!! .. At least that’s what a lot of people think of me. Personally, I hate talking! I’d rather not talk at all! And listen, to what you have to say! .. HAHAHAHA ..

If you could sing a song on The Voice of Germany, what would it be?
If I ever want to go some place and seriously sing a song, I want it to be in my late 70s and the song being Frank Sinatra’s “I did it my way!” .. Might sound lame now, but I bet, it’d be crazy emotional then.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Kate Beckinsale, pornstar Stoya, Naomi Watts, Charlize Theron and Brad Pitt! .. OH! and Wall-E!

What 3 items would you bring to a deserted island other than food?
I-pod, Sex doll, toothbrush
* Right after school I went to Berlin, when I was still fresh and only 18 years old. I left my home town Hamburg not because I didn’t like it there, but on the contrary, I left because I loved it there so much. It might sound a little funny, but when my mom, who understandably was extremely sad about me leaving (her), asked me “why?why?why? ..my son?” my answer always was: “because I know that i’ll be back!” What made it a little easier was that Berlin was just 3 hours away from my hometown.

Hamburg, up in the North, is the second biggest city in Germany after Berlin, and just as f***ing awesome as the Capital. My choice, and I believe the choice of every Berliner or person from Hamburg, is one of those two cities to live at, and nothing else. A lot of people try, but comparing the two is impossible, and yet, the values and the liberty and freedom you have in those two cities, to be and live as you like and find people who share those same believes, that is exactly identical in both those wonderful places. I always say I love Germany, because it is constitutional, (actual) democratic, liberal, tolerant, with people who are interested and people who care about their environment and equality between each other, because it’s multicultural and you got the freedom and space to develop and flourish as you please. That’s what I say – generally – and I think this picture of Germany is greatly influenced by those two places in the country – my two homes.

Now I’m back rocking Friedrichshain, which was not my first choice to go back to. Friedrichshain of course is happy about it, but I like neighborhoods a little better, where you live with all sorts of people and that for me includes the old, the young, the poorer and the richer, immigrants as much as people, who are actually from that town – and for me there are other parts in the city that have all the varieties and focuses a little less on party 24-7. But I live with one of my best friends in an apartment for two and we found ourselves a nice little spot where it is a little quieter and where you can actually sleep at night – so i’m happy. 😉