Day 335: Arequipa, Peru
I landed in Arequipa at 6am only to find out that the hostel I had researched in HostelWorld had been turned into an Irish hostel that is also in Cusco and La Paz and known to take parties to the extreme.
I hate it.
I hate the groups of gap years who know no Spanish and see no reason to learn.
I hate the menu of fish and chips, quesadillas, and even the bacon and cheese ‘toasties’
I hate that it looks like St.Patrick vomited all over everything.
And the thing is I feel guilty about this. Recently Evan Carpenter guest posted on Almost Fearless and was lambasted for sharing a post that I agreed with.
It’s official I’m a travel snob.
As I ask you not to judge me for being lazy or not going to popular attractions, I am judging you for being at the party hostel.
I don’t know why you annoy me so much.
But tonight you and your Sublime-playing-beanie-wearing-clown-pants ways annoy me.
You never leave the hostel, the comfort of the Irish bar that could be anywhere in the world.
You surround yourself with English thinking that someone from another Commonwealth country is so exotic.
Why are you even here?
I don’t believe there is one right way to travel. Or do I? I’m a hypocrite because I judge you for yours.
Tomorrow I will realize that I was once you and I did all the same things. And I will know that eventually you will look for more as well.
Why shouldn’t you have your gap year? Why shouldn’t you be allowed to party as you want, only ever in the hostel, afraid to try street food or any food in a restaurant that doesn’t serve burgers.
Tomorrow I will have patience but tonight please forgive my rolling eyes.
Tomorrow I will not ask you to change, but I will change – hostels.
I don’t blame you for feeling that way. I’m the old woman in the hotel/hostel who’s always like “will those damn kids shut up already! Mama needs her sleep!” Yeah, I’ve never been much a partier myself (at least, not ever while traveling and not beyond the age of 21!).
I’ve always been the partier but I don’t know, some days beer pong just annoys me!
I try not to judge either, but I’m with you on this one.
This quote resonated with me:
“Tomorrow I will realize that I was once you and I did all the same things. And I will know that eventually you will look for more as well.”
Over time, tastes change and we grow up. If others don’t, the great thing about travel is that you choose somewhere else the next day that does resonate with you.
And if that makes us a “Travel snob,” well people just have to deal with it.
As I get older I’m less afraid of having an opinion. This may be controversial but it’s how I feel.
Awwww….I want to give you a room at the closest Marriott/Hilton/Sheraton so you don’t have to deal with the gap year kids. (Although you may have to deal with their parents-pick your poison.) Another great post. 🙂
True, what annoys me more, people who find safety in a hotel or an Irish hostel.
I guess it all depends on who is paying for my hotel stay 🙂
I appreciate your post, I’m all for keeping it real. I too avoid stereotypical Irish hostels abroad due to there clichéd representation of Irish culture and a reliance on this to boost sales for the party crowd.
Before you go pasting all Irish with the same brush know that Ireland is a republic and not part of the commonwealth. The people definitely aren’t “surrounding themselves with English” …as they’re Irish.
Although I’m sure they’re quite happy to if they are up for the banter! 🙂
Luanne, touche that’s a very good point!
I 100% agree.
Good to know I’m not alone!
Wow…you ARE a travel snob. Too bad you didn’t leave your pretentiousness back with your apartment, boyfriend and amazing job.
At least you can admit it. So, I guess you’ve got that going for you.
Thanks Chris, at least I have something going for me!
I like your evolution in this post. I think it can very true, that we’re less likely to travel the “authentic” way when we’re younger and just opt for the easiest, drunkest, most touristy experiences. Give these folks a few years, and they may blossom into beautiful travel butterflies, haha.
I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the crazy party hostel experience of ten years ago. But maybe it’s best to experience it and move on.
“I am judging you for being at the party hostel.”
You know…it’s possible to stay at the party hostel and spend your days befriending Khmers on the local part of the beach and eating grilled squid on a stick. It’s possible to stay on Khao San Road and spend your days visiting Sri Lankan and Somali refugees.
I love plunging into the culture, and I love meeting other backpackers. They’re not mutually exclusive.
Kate I totally agree with you, it is possible to do both. And believe me I’m not some tea-tottler on the road either – remember my favourite new drink is pisco.
It’s not the partying that annoys me, it’s the fact that these people aren’t getting out and delving into the culture, they’re spending their afternoons watching football on Fox World Sports.
Heh. Love pisco sours.
I hear you! I find that especially the backpackers who pass through places at breakneck speed — those are the ones most likely to be living in the hostel.
I resonate with this. Sometimes, we just want an escape and get annoyed by those wanting to go on a bender or westernize or dilute a cultural travel experience.
Hope you find a nice plush B&B to chill at! 🙂
We are actually discussing the pretension of your post on twitter (@nearafar). I say you’re just having a bad day, not that you’re trying to be above or better.
Thanks Natalie, I write the feelings as they appear and hope no one takes personal offense to them.
I can only hope that people looking for misplaced feelings of being exoticly and special travelling will change, or “evolve”. But I have my doubts. In fact, I have seen people changing the other way around within a few months, and becoming less interested in the cultural stuff and more interested in the superficial world of the numerous local parties.
I’m glad that this post has been written!
Martin – I think sometimes people burn out a bit and seek solace in the familiar. I remember one day in Hanoi after weeks of being sick, my traveling partner and I went to an Irish pub to eat fish and chips – although I think that made us more sick, but you get the idea..
The ‘seeking solace in the familiar’ makes a lot of sense. When I was teaching in rural Guyana for two years with VSO in my mid-twenties, when I’d go to Georgetown every so often, I’d indulge in a bit of ‘ex-pat-itis’…drinks at a (relatively) fancy hotel, enjoying the running water, watching a bit of TV (my town had only very intermittent power – sometimes none for months at a time). I loved living with less almost all of the time; however, we are creatures of habit (and comfort)!
Television is definitely my guilty pleasure, I still download Modern Family for homesick days.
I think these feelings come from time to time when we travel, although hatred is a pretty strong term to use for anything. As you say, everyone has their own style of travel, and indeed, their right to travel in the manner that pleases them. So long as this isn’t causing me a massive inconvenience, it’s a case of live and let live.
Sounds like in this case the fact your hostel wasn’t what you expected it to be caused you a bit of upset, and this post is the reaction. I’m pretty sure (not that I know you particularly well!) that you don’t really *hate* the entire Irish nation, it’s just a question of unfortunate circumstances resulting in frustration, and frustration often needs a bit of a vent 🙂
I could be entirely off the mark of course.
Hehe I don’t hate the entire nation, it would mean hating my heritage as my father’s side of the family is Irish and Brogan is a very Irish name. It’s simply what these hostels represent.
‘Today I hate the Irish’ ..hoping you are not just referring to Irish people and are more referring to ‘Irish hostels’ or ‘Irish pubs’ also Ireland is not part of the commonwealth……
Ciara
Of course I don’t hate the Irish people, my last name is Brogan!
I used the Commonwealth country term because none of the people staying here are actually Irish, but more often from Commonwealth countries, like me – a Canadian.
At least you have the option to change hostels! Let everyone travel the way they want to travel and you can travel how you wish. Hopefully the they don’t get in the way of each other.
If only hostel’s operated in a dating website fashion! 🙂 You select ‘I prefer a glass of wine with dinner over chugging a keg a beer’ and ‘I want a room filled with people interested in the culture and going to bed at a decent hour’ and the right hostels (for you) come up! 🙂 Partiers can go to a different hostel! 🙂
Hmmmm… new business idea? 🙂
You could have a good idea there! Usually I avoid the “best party hostel in X city” when I search because I’m not looking for that. I like to go out at night but I also like to come home and sleep.
I thought I left a comment, but maybe not… my brain is still in a sickness-induced fog. So if I DID already leave a comment, please just delete the least coherent of the two, okay?
Anyway, this post cracks me up. I am totally the same way. I hate when people judge me and my traveling style and say things like, “Geez, Sally, why do you even travel if you spend so much time hanging out on your couch eating potato chips?” What? You don’t have a right to judge me, people!
But, uh, I totally turn around and judge other travelers (especially any travelers walking around barefoot or in ugly pants). I know it’s not right. But I’m going to roll my eyes anyway.
Yeah it’s ironic that I profess that there is no one right way to travel yet here I sit rolling my eyes at these dudes.
It’s probably their first time overseas without mum and dad – in which case, many have the same reaction as your first time at home without mum and dad: PARTY.
I stayed in a party hostel full of gap years in Queenstown, NZ – I can assure I was the OLDEST in the whole resort. Still, I think me and my friends managed to combine both, the traveling and the partying. After all, what do you do if you can’t beat your enemy? You go and have a drink with him. Problem solved 😉
Katherina, very good point, perhaps I should show them my maracuya pisco sour making abilities.
I’m on your side with this one Ayngelina. To me it is all about diving into the culture and truly experiencing where you are at. You can party anywhere. We stay away from these places like the plague.
Me too, I also think part of the problem was that I arrived thinking I was checking into one hostel only to find out it had been replaced with another.
Oh well, everything is an experience and this was mine.
It’s hard for me to disagree with you. I never really understood why people would just spend the whole day sitting in the hostel getting drunk, and partying all day long. You would think they wouldnt have to travel to another part of the world for that. But then again, everyone likes to “travel” in there own way.
Yeah you could be in any country in these places and they choose to stay inside. I’m not saying I wasn’t that person ten years ago, but now I can’t stay there, I have to move hostels.
I think it’s endearing you are only figuring out now that you’ve become a travel snob. : )
You’re last few posts include a bit more cynacism vs. when things were fresh. Yet that’s true with anything that becomes habit vs new – a job, a significant other, etc.
I’m surprised you didn’t think I was a cynic back then! I was, even in the Mexico days, but I didn’t write about it.
But look out world, I’m sharing everything now!
Oh my, Oh my! What am I gonna do with you lady!?
Everyone judges, as much as they like to say that they don’t. And everyone has their pet peeves. Don’t feel bad for venting. That’s what your blog is for!
Alas, try not to make general assumptions about places or people.
Oh yeah it was an eye opener as I think I don’t judge, but really I do.
May I just add that most “commenters” here also judged you, Ayngelina? It seems no one can help it 🙂
That makes me laugh, being judged for judging, I guess we’re all a bunch of jerks!
To each his own I think. And I’m glad that there are party hostels and non-party hostels…then I have the choice. I can, and do, avoid them…but they need a place to be too.
Yeah I’m not asking people to change, but I do need to move hostels.
After having lived in Ireland for two years, I can tell you are right to fear Irish parties, they are WILD!
This being said, Irish people are friendly sometimes, and probably those are traveling for the first time and they only care about having a blast and a massive hangover to remember Peru by and to boast with their friends back home.
Ok, change hostel…asap 😛
See that’s the thing, after my initial negative thoughts I figured I should just leave and let them have their party just as people let me have mine ten years ago.
Hi Ayngelina.
I don’t blame you and I don’t think you’re a travel snob. I think you were expecting one thing and got something completely different that disappointed you. And you have every right to be disappointed and annoyed.
Could it be that you wanted a 100% Peruvian experience and feel shortchanged walking into an Irish cliche? As you say, you could be anywhere in the world, which takes away from your own experience.
Anyway, this is a long and convoluted way of saying I feel your pain 🙂
Thanks Ana, the upside is that there is really awesome wifi here. That’s a positive, right!
I´m Irish.
I hate Irish pubs in foreign places.
I didn´t even know there was such a thing as an Irish hostel, but I already hate them.
I suspect there is nothing Irish about them apart from the decor.
This title just makes me laugh!
Totally agree with your travel snobishness! I would never say I hate the Irish, or any other racial group, but I admit I look down on people who hole up in their hostels/hotels/expat hangouts to party. Even when I was in my early 20s, I had no use for the party scene. It just seems like such a waste of life (and travel money). If travelers really want to party, I think they should leave the hostel and party it up at a bar or club with the local people.
It’s true it’s a bit of a misleading title, I could never hate the Irish because of this hostel, especially because an Irishman likely doesn’t own it.
What’s the point of travelling if you never leave the comforts of home? Good post and if this attitude makes you a snob, then may I please join your club?
There is little point to having the kind of blog you have, if you never have an opinion. I say write more of these opinionated stories.
You can be club Vice President although you have opened a dangerous door into all my various opinions, you may come to regret it 🙂
Sometimes I feel the exact same way. Most days I can tolerate the way some travelers and backpackers just don’t seem to be interested in anything besides the bottom of a pint glass. Other days I just want to go up to them and shake them around to knock some sense into their heads. Then I think of the days when I’m traveling and just want to sit indoors and enjoy a cup of coffee or a pint of cold beer. And I try even harder to cut them some slack.
It was definitely a clash of a 20 hour bus ride with a hostel I should have never been in.
Hehe, I don’t hate the Irish at all, in fact the original title for this post was “When St.Patrick pukes on a hostel” but I thought this was a bit more concise.
Besides there wasn’t a single Irishman at the place!
I totally get it-we avoid the St. Patrick’s Day foolery at the local Irish pubs. I hate fakey-Irish. Maybe my snark didn’t read well 🙂
Sadness on the lack of Irishmen.
I drank the green beer once, did you know it gives you green poo? That may be TMI but also serves as a warning!
I couldn’t agree more. What is the point of travel if you don’t expand your horizons and explore local culture. I like a good party as well, but I was never that kind of traveler even in my teens and early 20’s…Gee I guess I’m a travel snob too! :o) Great post
I think we all have a right to a well justified spongebob crankypants moment. That would irk me too. Heck, remember how I ranted about seeing a Mickey D’s across from the Pantheon? That was cruel. But I think that you were just caught off guard with that one. It’s like trying to find authentic mexican food and ending up at taco bell. Muy disappointe! ;-D
I would have felt the same about the Pantheon, in fact one of the nice things about South America is that it isn’t as tainted with McDs – yet!
I think the best thing to do is to change hostels and hope for the best in the next one…this is why I never stay in hostels btw. 🙁
Hostels generally have great people but you have to be careful where you go. I thought I was going to one called HOME Backpackers and was surprised when I showed up at 6am to see it had changed ownership.
I’ll try to overlook the hating on the Irish in particular.
My husband is Irish, and he also gets irked by many English and Irish travelling to another country only to spend it with other English-speakers. But many people are truly reluctant to leave their comfort zone. They want sun and warmth, but for it to still be like home. I’ll give them props for having a passport and leaving the country for a holiday. Still ahead of the majority of Americans on that. Some will get that ah-ha moment and try to engage in the culture. Others will stay stuck in their ways.
Yes — that’s an awful hostel you’re in.
But,you had me scared at first. Your title is very provocative and if you had meant it, I’d be very disappointed that you were judging a whole nation based on a hostel experience. Your last response to ehalvey is especially interesting — ..”wasn’t a single Irishman at the place!” Maybe you could have said that up front. I just don’t like to see the word “hate” used in the same phrase as any country or people. There may be some who won’t even read the comments to find out that this has nothing at all to do with the Irish.
Cathy – I knew it could be a potentially dangerous title but hoped my readers would know that it was meant to be provocative, not that I had a single issue with the Irish. I know as you travel a lot of people try to place labels on certain countries. But just as Canadians have a reputation to be polite and friendly, we also have as many jerks as other countries.
Eh, judge away. You aren’t obligated to like and respect everyone just because they travel. And definitely get out of that crappy hostel and find one better suited for your travel style!
Yes the wonderful thing about Twitter is that so many people had great suggestions for where I should go, and luckily none of them was to hell 😉
My word Ayngelina, you have started a discussion here. Let me tell you that a) I applaud your guts to write such a potentially inflamatory post and b) salute you as a fellow travel snob. I’ll most certainly never be in this situation as I don’t stay in hostels but I get the picture and would hate it too.
Well Inka I do remember you stayed in a hostel for charity a while back, although it was the most glamourous hostel I had ever seen.
We thought we wanted to meet more travellers when we first took off in December but we are now officially OVER IT. You commented on our post about the hostel jerks so you may remember some of the incidents that got us here, but we are sort of going out of our way to avoid backpackers unless they look particularly compelling. I´d rather struggle with a local with my (terribly slowly) improving Spanish than sit in the hostel common room. It´s going to be a long year.
I do remember the post, very funny as they were really nightmares.
Hating on the Irish a week before St Patrick’s Day? That’s harsh! 🙂
However I agree with you. I don’t like the party hostels. It’s not why I travel and I don’t really relate to that. I think there are things that each one of us will find annoying about traveling. It seems you have found yours!
In reading the other comments above, I think I have to agree – after a while, I think it is better to connect with locals as some of the travelers may get old after a while. It was for this reason that I wrote about connecting with locals. Love the comments on this one!
I hadn’t even realized it was a week before, my Irish ancestors will roll in their graves!
Ooh, I am betwixt and between about this post! And also read Christine’s post, thinking I’m not a travel snob, yet in Goa it’s the Russians. They. Piss. Me. Off.
They wear those multi-colored harem pants or strapless harem jumpsuits with no bras & the men persistently refuse to wear shirts even miles away from a beach.
Russian people: Harem pants are not Indian!!!
They don’t attempt to speak English to Indian people who do speak English, and have been labelled Cheap Charlies by many shopkeepers.
They get so shitfaced they are staggering around the streets.. basically showing little interest in the rich environment around them.
You are in India, not Moscow.
Rant over.
See, we all do it! Even to the Irish. 🙂
One piece jumpsuits, oh I must see this.
Nice bit of grumpiness here Ayngelina
I’m with you on a lot of what you say (and don’t even get me started on a particularly annoying subset of this cohort – the little rich kids who didn’t even have to save to pay for their trip!). That, said – in their defence, the average British 18 year-old today has lead a really sheltered life, often with over-protective helicopter parents, so it’s not surprising that on their first big trip they exhibit a herd mentality. It is true, we were all newbies once.
But, I won’t hear a word said against bacon and cheese toasties – they are the crux of Western civilization!
PS – Lovely last line on the post – bet you were pleased when that lightbulb went on…
Thanks Christian I wrote that post in ten minutes in the midst of it all, it’s really the thought process I went through at the time.
ROFL
I don’t know. I try not to judge the people that want to party all night long. But at the same time, I’m certainly going to do everything I can to distance myself from them — both in physical distance and in …ummmm…mental distance? I mean, in the way that people see us — I don’t want someone to think that I’m like those other tourist fools that cause a ruckus.
You know it made me realize that while I profess to be really open minded, I’m not as much as I think. But even as I wrote this post in the height of the emotions I realized that I needed to relax and just let them have their fun – and to find something better for me.
Agreed.
So there are some snobby sounding comments in there but I’m a bit of a travel snob myself.
Yes people should try venturing out of the hostel and try the local food (IMO), however sometimes it’s nice to eat something familiar and you’re grateful for the Irish bar or other familiar eatery – I got to the stage in S E Asia (after 6 months) where I just could not eat another noodle or rice dish and I succumbed to a pizza one night and I loved it!
Oh I am with you there, every once in a while I need to eat and drink something familiar. I have had my fair share of ice cream soft cones in the last 11 months, and (gasp) a few were from McDonalds.
Nicely written!I understand why you changed titles, but I really do like the original: “When St.Patrick pukes on a hostel.” That’s just awesome.
You know I really struggled with the title and had a few options but I knew this was short, sweet and would stir the pot for grumpy commenters.
That picture is bizarre, I think it’s offensive but am not quite sure why.
I think you’re right, tomorrow you will realize that maybe this is the beginning of their journey. Maybe it makes it easier to leave home to have a little home with you.
It’s okay to hate them.
I figured I could either fill myself with negative thoughts or just leave so we’d both be in peace.
I love this post! In the interest of full disclosure, I have yet to stay in a hostel. I’ve always been what I considered a “budget” traveler, staying in inexpensive hotels. But, as I look toward planning a long-term trip, I know that hostels will be my primary form of accommodation and I have to admit, I am terrified in ending up in a party hostel like you describe here! I love to meet new people and enjoy a few drinks now and then, but I am not a big partier (even less so now that I’m in my mid-30s). And I don’t think that feeling makes you or me or anyone else a travel snob. 🙂
I love staying in hostels, it’s a great way to meet amazing people. But there are so many types of hostel that you really do have to find your fit. Usually I ask people in the hostel I’m currently in where they stayed in the city I’m headed to but I made the mistake of not listening to their advice.
One of my professors always used to say “I joyfully accept the choices other people make.” It’s become a bit of a mantra for me on the road, reminding me that people can do whatever they want–even if I don’t agree with it!
Good choice on changing hostels though–if you wanted Irish beer, you can go to Ireland!
I thought I was that way too, until I landed in that hostel.
OMG, this hostel sounds like a nightmare! I totally agree with you… why travel overseas if you are going to cocoon yourself in a bubble with food, music and people from your home country? Obviously their travels are just an excuse to party and “go wild” in Arequipa…
Take a deep breath, Ayngelina.
That’s the hidden cost of hostals.
Jason
Oh I know, but as a planner I try to avoid all that. But you can’t avoid a hostel changing owners and only indicating it with a sticky note on the door.
It doesn’t bother me when people choose to waste their time all day at a hostel. It’s their life. It does bother me when they are loud and inconsiderate when people who don’t want to stay up all night getting wasted want to sleep. That’s why I choose not to stay at party hostels. Hope you find a better place!
I was lucky here in that the bar was far away from my dorm; however, I was unlucky in that I roomed with 4 guys who turned the light on at 3am and started talking in full volume.
i like to party. ha. like some of the comments said, i think for a lot of the kids it would be their first time away from home, so they are taking full advantage of getting loosey goosey. its all a part of growing up. the smatterings of worldy knowledge that they will take home with them could go a long way to making them better people in the long-run. of course there are limits, there are some obnoxious shits out there that should never step out of their front-yard and sometimes its embarrassing to be associated with them. there will always be hostels like this one.
while youre in arequipa, check out travellernottourist.com
we spent a couple of months volunteering with them in the flora tristan school. was AWESOME. and we stayed in the volunteer house. it was a young crowd, but also a more globally conscious one than what you would typically find in a hostel of the type you described here. some killer karaoke bars in arequipa too.
Yeah I think there is a hostel for everyone. I’m not saying I never touch the pisco, but I do like to venture out of the safety of the hostel bar.
I hear what you are saying, and I know we are all guilty of being travel snobs and annoyed at the ways certain cultures behave.
Must say I do love the Irish.
I think we are all guilty of being jerks too.
I think the best thing for you to do is change hostels, then you won’t get annoyed anymore.
I’ve come to understand in life that there are always going to be people that annoy you. The most powerful thing you ever have is the ability to choose.
I choose not to let others bother me and I remove myself from their surroundings (I doesn’t always work but for the majority it does.)
Because in reality whose day are my irritated feelings ruining- my own. I choose to make each day the best it can be.
That’s why I don’t care much what others choose to do with their life as long as I’m happy with what I am doing with mine.
I do love the Irish as well, including all my relatives 🙂
ROFLMAO!!! Oh, too funny. I guess you’re just not in the mood for this huh. At least you can look fw to a better place 2mro;)
When I first traveled internationally, I liked the idea of a party hostel. I’ve always hated the experience of one.
Yeah I´ve stayed in my fair share but I think it´s best to now leave them in my past.
Isn’t someone who enjoys all the comforts of home in their hostel/hotel and never ventures out to explore the real culture of the country a tourist? I always thought that was the difference between a traveller and a tourist.
My parents went to Turkey last year and wandered around and ate where the locals ate. When they came back and talked to some work colleagues who’d been at the same area, their work colleagues were gobsmacked and said, “You went in *those* areas? That’s so dangerous! Couldn’t you go to eat at the hotel?”
My aunt and uncle are another pair who try to wow us by telling us about their five star hotel which had a pool, fun activities, karaoke, nightlife right there and all the food you can get at home. We’re like, “Right … so what was the country actually like?” The idea of actually leaving the hotel baffles them completely.
It´s kind of sad when people come from vacation and the first thing they talk about is the hotel.
I’m definitely the eye rolling old sinister in a situation like this. Why would you travel a thousand miles just to do the things they can do at home? Then again that is why it’s good to avoid party hostels!
I meant spinster =)
I will not be making the same mistake again!
I haven’t spent a lot of time in hostels, but I can understand where this is coming from. Maybe it makes you a travel snob, but I don’t think so. Truth be told we all make judgements, people say they don’t but they do. And who knows, maybe one day those kids will venture outside the hostel.
The biggest surprise was that I thought I didn´t judge others, but I guess I was just around people I didn´t feel the need to judge.
Another bad experience I see. Tsk2x. And right from the beginning when you found out that the hostel was already different! There are just those days when lady luck doesn’t show.
I have learned that I am now a travel snob as well. I hate the people that are traveling for the purpose of partying in a new and cheaper location.
I switched hostels in Granada, Nicaragua for the exact same reasons as you (although it wasn’t Irish themed).
I think there are two reasons I’ve developed my attitude. One is because I’ve been traveling so long that this is my life, not a vacation. And the second is that I have outgrown that style of partying, and I didn’t enjoy it in the States so of course I’m not going to enjoy it now.
This his to be Wild Rover. You are gracious for not mentioning the name. I hated that place with a fierce passion. I love nightlife, but what happens there goes so far beyond what’s necessary to have a fun night and it spills into your experience whether you want it to or not. Seems to be a mecca for people who come to that part of the world to go on a cocaine binge.
I stayed at the one in La Paz and while I did meet some cool people there, I met some of the worst backpacker scum in my entire backpacking history and the WORST managers ever. UGH.
This hostel put an end to my short lived party hostel days.
Easy to judge others. Gee Ayngelina, what got you so rarked up?
Every young traveller will seek home comforts when they travel. First time out of their comfort zone, sure if they’re UK they’ll want to seek out familiar settings, an Irish pub, a good curry etc. But most of the young travellers we find so annoying, will go onto becoming more experienced travellers, more prepared to soak up new unfamiliar experiences. I don’t mind them, I admire them for getting out and travelling. Great to see so many moving around the world.
I was going to say something indignant and try to defend the honor of the people from the country in which I reside, but then I remember I live right next door to a pub. Rant away! 😉
Who hurt you? 🙂
I too believe there’s no one right way to travel – but I definitely think there are ways which are less valuable than others. Is that diplomatic enough?! 😉 I don’t party too hard myself these days and need my sleep – so I’d switch hostels too.
Hehe I was just surprised when push came to shove, I wasn’t as forgiving as I thought I was!
No hating on the Irish amongst us…
Ayngelina – it is a great opinated article and I loved the insightful, self-reflective running commentary as well.
Thanks Cams for taking it in the spirit it was intended.
LOL. Oh gawd… I totally stayed at “that” hostel in La Paz. Worst night ever. Next time you’re in Arequipa stay at Arequipay backpackers house 🙂
I will definitely take that advice! I ended up moving on to a little hostel that Peruvians tend to stay at, private room for the same price of a dorm at the Irish one.
Sounds like you’re having a lousy gap year of your own. Unless you make some sort of place for yourself in one of these countries–a job, a romantic partner of some kind, volunteer–it will just be some scenery and one annoying experience after another because in the end you are not really that different from them until you get involved. Just saying.
Have a read through the rest of the blog, you will see I have made a home in many places, which makes me dislike hostels like this all the more.