I’m sitting at a black dining table in my new hostel wearing shorts, thongs and my hoodie while drinking a tasty Costa Rican coffee. For some reason my laptop doesn’t want to connect to the WiFi here, though it did yesterday... The dodgy WiFi is one of few irritating things about this place.

I’m staying at Smart Russell Square which is huge compared to the last hostel and it’s much cleaner too. There is a large kitchen with electric stoves, dodgy microwaves and no forks or tea towels.

The laundry shower and toilets are all located downstairs and about a 2 minute walk from my room. It’s a slight hassle but I’m getting used to it. Walking around downstairs is interesting. The white cylindrical corridors are completely featureless and with a constant hum emanating from some secret location, it makes me feel like I’m aboard a naval ship or navigating my way through the catacombs, if only it wasn’t so bright.

Bright and white seems to be the theme to this hostel. Both the common area and lobby are equally  as featureless as the catacombs below. What breaks the bland decor are the colourful guests. There are numerous groups staying here. Some seem like school groups and often the common area or lobby is packed with kids or other tourists as they prepare to head off on a tour.

It is strange to think of people as tourists when I’m staying in the same place as them, but they’re so obviously different to the rest of us ‘travellers’. I have to admit that I don’t like the tourist groups. I much prefer the hostel life shared purely with backpackers, people living on the cheap and often alone too. The tourists are a different breed, mostly wealthy and here to see as much of the sights as they can fit into each day of the short time they’re here.  The travellers on the other hand are happy to see the sights but are in no rush to do so.