Fall 2016-Spring 2017

It is really hard for me to write a post about Vagabond Hostel (currently on about my 10th attempt) and frame it in a way that truly reflects the impression it made upon me. I do not mean to sound cheesy, but to me, Vagabond was not just a hostel, but my home and my community. I felt more welcome there than literally anywhere I've visited or lived since leaving home for college. And considering all the flats, rooms, guesthouses, and other hostels, this is pretty substantial.

To be honest, the first thing that drew me to Vagabond was the name. It sounded like a stopping place for wanderers from around the world, so I initially made a booking for five days. I thought this would be good and give me a chance to either stay if I liked it, or go find a new hostel if I didn't. I stayed... for over five months.

I am not sure how it happens, but somehow Vagabond always seems to attract the most amazing and interesting people through its doors. Maybe it's the staff. First off there's a slender curly-haired guy named Nikita, who is always down for helping you learn Russian and cooks the most wonderful breakfasts. Then there's a blond girl with an asymetrical haircut named Yulia who can make you laugh until it hurts, and Roman the bearded and tattooed artist. Needless to say, this crew soon became my closest friends in the city.

And then there is Robert, the owner and founder of Vagabond. If anyone deserves the credit here, it's definitely him. This haven for wanderers, artists, musicians, and locals looking to escape the hustle of the big city was Roberts dream and he tirelessly works to improve on his already amazing creation by bringing in weekly free concerts, daily free breakfasts, hostel dinners, and birthday celebrations if there happens to be one. And on top of all that, it was the creative environment at Vagabond that compelled me to create this blog in the first place. So, Vagabond will always have a close place to me.