How do you go from from being made 'homeless', to enjoying a free street concert with a bunch of complete strangers in the space of 12 hours? Well, I'm going to tell you..
l found myself essentially made 'hostel-less' in Pula, after an intense row with the hostel owner of the aptly named 'Crazy House Hostel' (avoid this one by all costs if you visit Pula).
I'd asked her politely to switch to a lower bunk, given that I'd paid to stay for 4 nights and the bunk below was vacant. Given her abrupt response and face like a freshly smacked arse, you'd think I'd have asked her to change the sheets after shitting the bed.
Pulling her up on her shocking lack of hospitality and dire customer service, by way of mentioning how reviews work, she loses her s*it and demands that I leave - practically throwing the 80EURs back at me on the way out.
In retrospect, I wish I had shit the bed after all.
Anyway, it's coming up to lunchtime as I shoulder my backpack through the stiflingly hot Pula streets. People with ADHD tend to do well in a crisis, so at this point I'm beyond caring and embrace my 'f*ck it - it will work out OK in the end mentality' - this one has served me well with my travels over the years and this story is no exception!
Seemingly unfazed by my encounter with Croatia's very own answer to Stalin, and in spite of it being high season in Pula, I manage to charm the lovely team at Hostel Antique into two nights and a reserve spot on the sofa ( as everything is fully booked tomorrow evening).
I spend the rest of the afternoon trekking 45 mins across Pula's port to Stoja and find a gorgeous beach tucked away in the corner of the bay. After sitting on the rocks for a short while, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine and gentle lapping of the shore, I realise I have unwittingly found myself on Stoja's unofficial nudist beach, My picturesque views of the Croatian coast and afternoon sun are temporarily obscured by an overweight 60 year old German's arse.
Taking this as a clear sign that it's aperol' o'clock, I head to the nearby bar (this one is an absolute corker, if you ever find yourself in Pula). I raise a refreshing glass of limoncello spritz (and middle finger) to 'Hostelzilla' and take in the orange hues of the late afternoon sun.
Back in hostel room 206 I have made some new friends: Nuria (from Spain) and Jonathan from Germany, soon we are well acquainted over a bottle of wine and some glasses borrowed from the kitchen.
It seems I have struck gold with this hostel: all 7 of the other occupants are fun and friendly and down for a laugh. We are an eclectic mix of nationalities: even our two new Ukrainian friends Olga & Dash (who can't speak a word of English) are embracing the vibe.
Suddenly one bottle of wine becomes two, as we burst out with laughter, rapidly typing our conversations into Google Translate for the Ukrainians: it seems we have found the perfect solution to the language barrier.
We manage to convince Nuria (who hasn't been feeling very well) to join us for an impromptu night out - our laughter echoing down the old hostel steps into the street below. We meet another random stranger, Emma (from Belgium) on the stairs on the way out and convince her to come along for the ride - the more the merrier eh?
The evening is spent on the steps by Pula's remaining city arch, sipping on cocktails and enjoying the live music in the square: it seems the Ukrainians have taken a shine to our French amigo Antoine, as they dance away in the square to the live band.
I can't help but wonder if I would have had the opportunity to meet these wonderful people, had it not been for the hostel wench!
It's these spontaneous nights out that are the best, and I'm reminded once again that you don't even need to speak the same language to find common ground, build friendships and enjoy yourselves.
The 'Army Of Strays' are as follows:
Jonathan from Germany - 'JoJo' 🇩🇪
Nuria from Spain 'Noo-Noo' 🇪🇸 (I have explained the meaning)
Antoine from France (Ant Ant) 🇫🇷
Emma from Belgium 🇧🇪
Olga & Dash from Ukraine (Team Ukraine) 🇺🇦
Google Translate 📲
📸 The Crew From Room 206
📸 My beach spot.. before the nudists colonised the beach 😅
📸 Raising a glass to Hostelzilla 🖕🏻
📹 Stoja Beach vibes
📹 The Crew From Room 102
A review from hostelworld 💅
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