Tripwolf Blog

I was sure that I was in the wrong place. It looked like a living room done up by Ian Schrager – gorgeous wooden floors and big ceilings filled with stark, modern edge (including a deer head sculpture made out of plastic). A mojito bar was set up in the corner and the DJ was spinning some ambient something-or-other. Everyone had the same what-the-hell-are-we-doing-here look that I had.

I was in a youth hostel. The Lisbon Lounge Hostel, to be precise.

They’re popping up everywhere. The rage right now seems to be converting old homes or hotels and turning them into eye-popping digs. Only a few bucks more than most hostels, it seems unbelievable that these places will ever recoup. Most of them sell out quick, but a dorm still doesn’t generate the kind of bread that a hotel does.

I spent a couple of nights this summer at Villa Saint Exupery in Nice. It’s a grand old monastery that’s been turned into one of the most-recognized hostels in the world, and with good reason. The place comes with a chef (six euro meals that you’d die for) and a massive common room, complete with a wall of stained glass. The Internet Chapel is stacked with eight computers and it’s easy to grab a beer afterhours because the vending machine is stocked with cold ones. I paid $25 USD for a bed and didn’t flinch upon checkout – it was worth the extra money.

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I’ve been out here for 15 of the past 24 months, this time on a year stretch.  The more people I talk to, the more I feel less like an idiot for having brought things I wouldn’t need.  I’m not the only one who has mailed a big package of stuff home after a few weeks.

Here are a few things that I could not live without:

1) Retractable Cable Lock These run about $10 and can really save you in hostels that don’t have security lockers.  I just lock my pack to the bed.  Also really handy if you need to sleep on dodgy transport – I even locked mine to my belt buckle once because I was sketched out by my busmates.

2) Tupperware A small Tupperware container is one of the things in my pack that I’ve used the most.  Yes, it’s good for leftovers.  Better though, I’ve used it to keep electronics from getting wet in monsoons and usually for transporting potentially leaky items (The Great Olive Oil Spill of 2009 was such an occasion).

3) Seasoning (No Kidding) If you’re traveling in hostels that have kitchens, invest a few bucks in spices that you crave.   Most days I can’t be assed to cook but when I do, I have at least some herbs, curry powder and garlic salt.  From there, I can whip up about ten things for under three bucks.  Transfer anything to plastic baggies, so that the glass container doesn’t weigh you down.  Light and tasty.

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The Museo de la Policia Federal has got to be one of the strangest places in the world. Often ignored by guidebooks and maps, its contents are a dream for anyone who is obsessed with CSI:Whatever. I spent a few hours here and can attest to the outright creepiness that the museum delivers.

The building that houses the museum looks like any other in downtown; half-hotel, half-office and all business – hardly the locale for a museum. I took the elevator up a few flights, not sure what I would see as the ding dinged. The woman in the ticket office was downright startled to see a patron. Entering the museum, I could see why. Nobody was there – not a soul. I’d spend the next two hours taking it all in and would not witness one other customer.

The first section of the museum was straight out of a B horror flick. The curator used mannequins to display uniforms that were worn through various eras of Argentine history. The effect was eerie. There were glassy-eyed mannequins at every turn, all seemingly about to come to life. The uniforms were interesting – but not interesting enough to keep my pansy ass from scadoodling through to the next section.

Around the corner was another treat, the long-since-dead bones of a police dog called “Chonino” . Proudly displayed, the sizeable skeleton was flanked with information about his active duty.

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GUEST POST: Tom Gates is a travel writer who is currently spending a year abroad – the original plan was 12 months, 12 countries, but as any seasoned traveler knows, plans can change quickly out there. Right now, he’s living in Germany.  You can read more on his blog, The World is Getting Smaller.

The great thing about Berlin is that everyone is fiercely loyal to their own Top 10.  Each person has their own favorite book shop, café and even S&M dungeon.  What’s incredible is that there’s enough to go around for everyone.  Here are my current (and ever-changing) favorites:

Mauerpark Flea Market

If you’re looking for it, you can probably find it here in this crazy collage of crapola.  Unlike the finely pruned market in Friederichshain, this one is an equal lot of junk and treasure.  Most boxes are filled with complete mysteries. I couldn’t resist buying a photo album from a family, with photos from 1951 and 1952.  This is also a great place to chomp some cheap food.

Uncle Phillip’s Toy House

Onkel Phillip’s Spielzeug is pure magic. Parents don’t dare bring the kids, as every inch of the store is crammed with surprises.  More importantly, it isn’t even really a place for kids.  Phillip (or Hans) will rush you at the door and immediately lead you to a toy, often giving you the controls while racing to another customer.  Only slightly eccentric, both of these guys are just really passionate about toys.  Home-wrecker Alert: On weeknights you’ll find lots of hot dads haunting the place, playing with Legos and such.

Ramones Museum

This spot feels more like an obsessed fan’s bedroom than it does a museum, but that’s just fine with me. I’m happy to stare at a framed pair of Johnny Ramone’s jeans, which he traded for an Elvis poster in 1996.  Ask for Flo, the owner.  He’s super-cool and knows everything that’s going on in the city at the moment.  Also watch for acoustic sets from some of your favorite punk rock bands.

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