Hostels

I have now stayed in a stupid amount of hostels. Here's some of the best:

Bauhaus, Bruges
It's in Bruges (it's in Belgium), which automatically makes it awesome. The staff are all cool, and can be found in the bar when not working. The bar is great. A big clock that goes backwards, huge masses of melted candles, a good selection of beer, happy hour 1euro beer, and easy to meet fellow travellers. Once the bar closes move across the street to The Crash, which stays open for as long as you can drink, probably longer.

Af Chapman, Stockholm
It's in Stockholm. It's a boat. 'nuff said.

Goat Hostel, Budapest
Crazy (in the best way) staff. Projector for films. Free popcorn. Laid back. 24hour shop opposite. A few metres from the Danube.

ROOM Hostel, Rotterdam
Every room has a different theme. Most comfortable cushions in the world. Good bar with cheap jugs of beer. Near the water.

Hostel Celica, Ljubljana
Former military prison. Nice rooms. Meditation room. Bar with a different event every night. Live music.

Peanut Butter

Seems not to exist in most countries. Houmous is also hard to find.

+/-

+ Falafel burgers with chili sauce. Divine, best burger i've ever eaten.

- Take a number. What's wrong with the old fashioned queue in a line? With take a number you never know how long you'll have to wait as people take one, see it's far away and leave. So when your number is 30 away, there could be anywhere between 1 and 30 people before you.

+ White chocolate Lion bars. All chocolate bars should be these.

- Green man lights should mean it's safe to cross the road. Not that traffic could still appear any second.

+ Student discount. If you have a student card, whether you're still a student or not, ask for discount. Most places don't check it's valid. Some don't even ask to see the card so try even if you don't have one.

- Scaffolding/road works. Around every monument/statue/interesting building there seems to be some kind of building works spoiling it. Just give it a rest and be content with the world we have for a minute.

Journey to the Cabin

First i skate around the edge of vast lakes, full to the brim of bone chilling water. Then i must dance across the undulating landscape, never sure if my foot will find snow, ice or water. A small jump over marshland finds a makeshift bridge of wooden slats, ready to crumble without warning. Next is the ice walk. I hope for a snow flurry to provide a little grip. Clinging to whatever my flailing arms can reach, I slip and slide along the clear ice, cracks forming with every step. I make a desperate lunge for the safety of my porch, as the ice i tread on breaks away into the depths, and hold fast. With a deep exhale i dive into the warmth of what I must call home for the night.