Day 10 - May 25, 2010 - Hostels aren't so hostile

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber

Traveling leaves you in both amazing and odd places. I've come to discover that hostels fit within both of these categories. So far, we've stayed in two hostels on this trip. Both were intriguing to say the least. The first one had a rather interesting bathroom. The shower was not separated from the rest of the room. We joked that there was a toilet in the shower... well, there pretty much was. The next hostel had 10 beds in one room and it was nearly impossible to move around. Someone was definitely snoring, and another girl was talking. The talking was amusing, though.

Not everyone is cut out for the hostel experience. I heard a chorus of complaints from others on the trip. Yet, they teach you something very interesting about the difference between wants and needs. Each hostel has a shower, bathroom, beds, and a free breakfast. Beyond that, they can be pretty paired down. Travel isn't about glamor. It's about experience. To experience a place, you don't need a large suit case, novelty souvenirs, or even 1,000's of pictures. You simply need an open mind, two feet, and a well-marked map. What happens next is up to you!