Hostel Territory

So we've set off to Barcelona to live the dream and open our very own hostel. We're keeping this journal online to keep everyone updated of our progress, adventures and mishaps navigating Barcelona's booming tourism industry, Spanish bureaucracy, and daily life in Catalunya.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

I'm Gonna Write Myself a Letter...

So I was back in the states for two weeks at the end of August and the Somnio staff did a wonderful job in my absence. Of course, it's now that I'm back that things start to fall apart again (damn washing machine!) but that's an entirely different blog post.

I admit that I'm not so timely checking the mail. That has always been Lauren's job and even she wasn't too good with the hostel mail. What's exciting about bills, anyhow? When I got back from the states, naturally I checked the box expecting it to be full but there was nothing in it. Eh, no one does any work in Spain in August so maybe it'll come in September? It ends up Paulina was diligent enough to check the mail for me and I only found the stack of mail today.

Yes, it was a lot of boring bills but there were a couple of gems in there which I'll share with you now.

First of all, we received our first ever reservation request by snail mail. Say wha? Honest to god, a french couple wrote Somnio Hostels a letter to see if we have availability in October. How did they find our address in the first place? On the inter-webs, peut-ĂȘtre? They also included their email address so I know they're aware of modern technology. Il est bizzare, non? I wrote them an email just now and am embarrassed by the lag time in responding but at least I didn't post it, right?
The next exciting piece of correspondence was a much awaited postcard. I don't remember the full story, but there was an artist guest who stayed with us last year who makes postcards. He and Lauren got to talking and she asked if he'd send us one here at Somnio. Lo and behold, it has arrived! I, myself, have recently become obsessed with postcards and I've begun writing them to strangers (and getting some in return) via the site www.postcrossing.com. Lauren thinks I'm nuts but it keeps me entertained. Maybe I should start making my own? The artist/guest's website is www.joshuasurprenant.com. Check it out. He might be on to something.

PS: Shout out to my Aunts Nancy and Carol! Thanks for staying loyal and I promise to post more often. If there's anyone else out there, let me know and I might even dedicate a future post to you...