| Glenn's Bologna Journal #3 4-08-02 Before I continue about Bologna, let me add some notes about hostel living (at least this specific one at this specific time since what I am writing does not apply to any other hostel per say). The hostel did supply bed sheets and a pillow cover which were nice. There was a separate smoke room, which was nice for us non-smokers. The bathrooms had 2 shower stalls, 2 toilet stalls, 3 sinks, and 3 other porcelain bowls of sorts on the ground. (O.K. I was not sure what they were for!) At my end of the hall only one bathroom was open, at least for the first night. The showers were nice except the fact that one shower trickled to the point that it would not spray water beyond the faucet, so that you felt like you had to climb the wall just to get wet. Of course, this included the environmentally correct water shutting off automatically. Did they have to shut off every minute though?? At least this shower faucet would turn to allow hot water to flow. The other shower, which I tried the next morning, worked great. The water sprayed across my body without having to contort myself to get to it. The only issue was that the faucet handle was stuck and it was not all the way on hot. A mildly cold shower was taken that day. Oh yeah, the other thing we didn't bring enough of was our own towels. We did buy the travel towel, very absorbent and compact, but only one. (O.K., so I forgot mine!!!) Erin was nice enough to share, but this had to be accomplished by her showering first, then finding me to hand off the towel. What else can I say about hostel living. We stayed in dormitories, which meant that I had to stay in the boys room and Erin had to stay in the girls room. Our first night sleeping apart. The rooms had 4 beds with very simple metal frame beds about 6 foot 3 inches long. I stand just about 6'3", so I barely fit. There is only 1 room key and it is left at the front desk while everyone is away. When the first person returns then the room key stays in the room until the last person leaves and returns it to the front desk. Sounds pretty simple!!! Upon arrival the first night, the front desk said that the key was already upstairs. I proceeded upstairs to my room and the door was locked. I proceeded back downstairs to ask for the key, just in case she had not seen it on the desk somewhere (an opportunity for a 5S/Visual workplace effort). She again said no. I went back upstairs and knocked on the door, only to find that the gentlemen that arrived first had gone to bed and locked the door behind himself. Forget about the other 3 beds in the room!!! Luckily he woke up long enough to let me in, upon which I tried to explain to him about not locking the door, but he didn't understand a word I was saying. Believe it or not, he did the same thing the next night. I couldn't believe it!!! This should give you an idea about hostel living. |
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| Bread was our daily breakfast at the hostel in Bologna |