Despite the late hour, the gentleman behind the counter tells me there is a fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen – help yourself.
I grab a cup and join my new hostel friends in the living room.
The room is filled with mementos of world travel, masks hanging from the walls, photographs, strange-looking statues, books, world maps of various sizes and designs – one has pictures of animals in the parts of the world they are found.
On the coffee table is a stack of coasters with London scenes.
Blankets of various colours are stacked on an olive-coloured ottoman, and on top of the blankets is a pillow with a picture of an owl.
On a corner table is a small drum; I’m glad later that an employee’s rambunctious son hasn’t discovered it.
On one wall is a series of pictures and motivational phrases, one of which reminds me of my philosophy as a young man, that a successful life meant being well-read and well-traveled.
The text: I Read, I Travel, I Become.
There is an old radio sitting on the shelf of the television stand, and as I sit with my coffee, no kidding, Radio Ga Ga by Queen begins to play.
My new hostel friends come from many places – Ireland, the UK, the United States, Finland, Czechia, and, of course, Canada.
The young woman from the UK is curious about everyone, wanting to know our best travel stories, our favourite ice cream, juice, and tea choices, what our travel plans are, whether we’ve tried certain foods in our travels.
She has good energy and makes everyone else feel involved and important.
She is baffled though when the fellow from America tells her about apple pie and cheddar cheese.
“Those two go together? No way!” she says, laughing.
The American, from Idaho, is young, late twenties, but already well-travelled and quite knowledgeable about world history and politics – he apologizes to me when he criticizes Trudeau’s policies, of which he is well-informed.
I suspect he’s also business savvy, since he is either working or running his own business from the road.
He speaks respectfully, without arrogance, and although the Finn disagrees with him on a couple of items, he’s no match for the debating ability and intellect of the American.
If we ever play a trivia game, I want the fellow from Idaho on my team.
My cup is empty, but I pour myself more coffee.
My friends are fascinating and I don’t want the discussion to end, though it finally does shortly after midnight, after which I quietly sneak into my dorm room amid the soft snoring of my roommates and slide into my bed, grateful for such a beautiful evening of camaraderie.
