Welcome .4.

The directions weren't hard to follow. It was the first hostel I'd booked for my trip and I'd invested hours of research and comparing accommodation on hostelworld.com. I was hopeful and really unsure of what to expect, all I had was a mental image of the court yard from a picture I'd seen on the website. I walked along the main road up a gradual hill. I felt alone.

I was along way from home and knew no one or what I would eat for dinner. I was starving. I grew up never having eaten alone without the company of a friend before in my life. I wasn't comfortable sitting by myself. I would buy take-away items that I would devour while strolling or to take home. I would later learn that I was just uncomfortable with my own thoughts, I couldn't sit and be on my own. I was mentally weak and cared what everyone could possibly be saying, secretly judging me from across the room. So I hadn't eaten all day, but all was forgotten as I walked down the little stone steps onto a cobble alley lined with white walls and dainty doors. The hostel was second on the right and looked exactly as it did online. Here we go I thought to myself, I took a deep breath and stepped over the gated entrance.

It was a small courtyard, busy with crawling ivy hanging from the stone white washed walls that stood two stores tall. A set of non-railed steps on the left led to a small platform where a woman stepped out. She was a cuddly and warm lady of early grandmother age. I introduced myself and told her I have a reservation for today. She looks at me and almost like my presence had reminded her of my reservation she immediately puts her arm around my shoulders, greets me with questions of my journey and leads me to the room in front of us, right there on the ground floor. She opens the door and warm orange light shoots threw the gap. The curtains were only half drawn and it was noon. It was a 6 bedroom dorm meaning 3 sets of bunk beds and the only bed left was top bunk right infront of the door, I wasn't bothered I was just happy to have found my first destination.

I put my bag down and man did my arms ache, I was a smoker and never exercised on a regular basis, 15kilos was really starting to strain my back. Can I really do this? On my own? I don't have a choice now, I'm already here.

I looked around the room, there was a couple interlocked between the half covering sheets on the bottom bunk on the right. The bed above had belongings sprawled out all over. I was a little taken back, almost feels like a serious case of PDA. I quickly changed my opinion when I realised it's pretty rugged, very back to the 70's love's for all era. On the left bunk was a girl on each bed, I got the vibe they knew each other. Was I the only person traveling alone?