The reviews said the "pillows were moldy" and the rooms were "so ridiculously hot that it was impossible to sleep". They also said it was the "perfect location for gorgeous hikes and beautiful beaches" and that 
it had "lovely and helpful staff". With such a vague spectrum, I had no idea what to expect. I just knew that it was going to be quite the experience- good or bad.
As I walked up the front steps of the Albergue do Pirata with my friend, Jenna, I was greeted with some not so discrete snickers and skeptical looks. After all, I was tugging a nearly 80lb. suitcase, fully equipped backpack, and a trail of excess bags here and there. To the avid backpacker, I was a bit beyond a ridiculous sight. How could they know I was not the normal backpacker, but a student here for 6 months? My cheeks flushed, but I swore to myself I would make this a good experience. I was determined. Now when I look back, I think "good experience" is an unjust understatement.
Jenna and I were exhausted from our 12 hour overnight bus ride but the sound of the high tide and the smell of the salt water were beckoning us. Within 15 min of our arrival, we found ourselves wondering down a long, deserted road into town. Our first meal was on the exotic side... but then, we were in Brasil, what did we expect?! We thought we ordered fried fish. When an entire fish (head, scales, eyes, tail, and all) was placed on our table, we quickly realized our Portuguese was not up to standard! But hunger persisted and we dug in. I ate the fish tail. Andrew Zimmerman would be proud.
It didn't take long till we found ourselves completely at home at the Albergue. Jenna has this unbelievable flare for starting a conversation with just about anybody and everybody and my own relaxed nature was easily accepted. Soon, we were just another pair of wondering, free spirited travelers with a hunger for knowledge. People came and went. Days were filled with adventure, nights with endless fun.
Breakfast closed up at 10am sharp every morning. And when they said 10am, they meant 10 min till or earlier. It was a battlefield getting a scrape of food before everything was put up for the day. So, every morning at 9:30, an automatic alarm clock rang in my head- it was breakfast time. My only free meal of the day. Free food to a traveling broke college student is music to the ear. French bread with jam, fruit, and a tall mug of coffee. Nothing special. It was no Breakfast Taco from Taco C, or Susan Kasemyer's famous homemade biscuits and gravy with sausage, but I was still not about to miss it for the world. Breakfast always proved to be one of my favorite times of the day. I always dabbled in the most intriguing, in depth conversations no matter who I was sitting with that day. Funny enough, they all seemed to stem around life's purpose.
it had "lovely and helpful staff". With such a vague spectrum, I had no idea what to expect. I just knew that it was going to be quite the experience- good or bad.As I walked up the front steps of the Albergue do Pirata with my friend, Jenna, I was greeted with some not so discrete snickers and skeptical looks. After all, I was tugging a nearly 80lb. suitcase, fully equipped backpack, and a trail of excess bags here and there. To the avid backpacker, I was a bit beyond a ridiculous sight. How could they know I was not the normal backpacker, but a student here for 6 months? My cheeks flushed, but I swore to myself I would make this a good experience. I was determined. Now when I look back, I think "good experience" is an unjust understatement.
Jenna and I were exhausted from our 12 hour overnight bus ride but the sound of the high tide and the smell of the salt water were beckoning us. Within 15 min of our arrival, we found ourselves wondering down a long, deserted road into town. Our first meal was on the exotic side... but then, we were in Brasil, what did we expect?! We thought we ordered fried fish. When an entire fish (head, scales, eyes, tail, and all) was placed on our table, we quickly realized our Portuguese was not up to standard! But hunger persisted and we dug in. I ate the fish tail. Andrew Zimmerman would be proud.
It didn't take long till we found ourselves completely at home at the Albergue. Jenna has this unbelievable flare for starting a conversation with just about anybody and everybody and my own relaxed nature was easily accepted. Soon, we were just another pair of wondering, free spirited travelers with a hunger for knowledge. People came and went. Days were filled with adventure, nights with endless fun.
Breakfast closed up at 10am sharp every morning. And when they said 10am, they meant 10 min till or earlier. It was a battlefield getting a scrape of food before everything was put up for the day. So, every morning at 9:30, an automatic alarm clock rang in my head- it was breakfast time. My only free meal of the day. Free food to a traveling broke college student is music to the ear. French bread with jam, fruit, and a tall mug of coffee. Nothing special. It was no Breakfast Taco from Taco C, or Susan Kasemyer's famous homemade biscuits and gravy with sausage, but I was still not about to miss it for the world. Breakfast always proved to be one of my favorite times of the day. I always dabbled in the most intriguing, in depth conversations no matter who I was sitting with that day. Funny enough, they all seemed to stem around life's purpose.
"I learned a lot those mornings. Things they don't teach in school.Things I will take with me the rest of my life."
Jenna and I made the most out of our time together (she would be leaving a week earlier than I). If we weren't hiking up a mountain through a jungle to a waterfall, we were soaking in the sun and battling waves at the beach, or window shopping in the little beach town. The days it was too cold or rainy to go to the beach, we could be found lazing around in the hammock causing all sorts of havoc together or plopped on the couch watching Friends with everybody. It is amazing how the whole world knows about Friends. Every day we waited for 2 o'clock to roll around so we could watch. My friend/staff at the hostel, Jose, learned to speak English because of Friends. Who knew Rachel, Chandler, Joey and the rest of the crew could have such an impact. The 2010 Winter Olympics happened to be going on during our stay at the Albergue. When you have Europeans, Australians, South Americans, Americans, etc. all crammed together in the same living room rooting for their own teams, bashing others, and laughing at the ridiculous game of ice shuffling, it was quite the scene. I think we all really bonded over the ice shuffling though...
It didn't take us long to make friends. There were the people who came for a day and those (like me) who made the hostel their home for several weeks. Everybody, however, made some impact on my life. If you didn't know their name, you called them by their country. I often had long morning talks with Canada, music jams with Australia and fun with America. Guitar playing, smooth talking English Carne would serenade me with songs about Texas that he made up. Jonas, on the run from the Swiss Gov, would whip up amazing meals. J.J. from Ireland was my source of endless random information from the Discovery Channel. American Mike was my partner in crime. And then there was Stian from Norway... If I could justly describe him, I would. You just have to meet the guy. Everybody was a character. Everybody had something different to give and brought something new to the table. Whether it was world knowledge, a surfing lesson (thank you J.J.!!!!) or simply a laugh, everybody's presence had value.
We eased into a daily routine: wake up, eat, hammock, goof around, beach, Flavio's market, lunch, hike, beach, hammock, read, computer, beach, dinner, sometimes party (especially during CARNAVAL!), sleep, repeat. Yet, each and every day was promised to be filled with adventure. Each day was a grid full of learning, growing, and simply- living. With no obligations, no responsibility, and no worry other than what I wanted to eat for dinner that night, life was good. Life was simple. It was easy to get sucked into the lazy, carefree atmosphere. My priorities began to shift. Homesickness was out of the question; the Albergue was my home. Technology went out the door. Book education turned to life lesson education. Strangers turned into friends. My mind was opened, my heart touched, and my curiosity peaked.
I often think about the Albergue and wish I could go back. Somehow, I just don't think it would be the same though. With all my friends gone, maybe it would feel empty, different. I am confident I would be able to make new friends, new memories, but the on
es I have now would be hard to top. I came to the hostel with so many unanswered questions. I was young, naive, and hungered for what the world had to offer. When I left, I was no longer that same girl who blushed at people's laughter. I left confident, independent, free spirited, and most importantly, I had found my answers. I knew what was important in life: the relationships we create, the knowledge we gain, and the personal feats we overcome. I was an explorer on the verge of discovering something big. Something life changing. Myself.
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