The Backpacker's Dream

Every backpacker, myself included (though my claim to that title may be dubious) has had at some point the dream of running a hostel themselves, perhaps in some small, peaceful village near a tourist attraction or perhaps in a major city. Regardless the dream pervades the culture. I have now had the pleasure of seeing that dream become reality firsthand as Nina, the owner of the Backpacker's Refuge in Thessaloniki did just that. She bought a flat near the centre of town and renovated into a small (six bed) hostel and has been running it for just over a year. not only is the hostel a great place (clean firendly and with all the trimmings) but she has made it into the newest edition of Lonely Planet's travel guide ensuring her a steady stream of budget minded travellers like ourselves in the foreseeable future. Open arrival in Thessalonaki we gave her a call as the guide suggested and she directed us onto a bus and met us at our bus stop to guide us the rest of the way. Upon meeting us she noticed, in David's hand, a copy of the newest Lonely Planet guide to Greece, something which is strangely unavailable in Greece itself. Turns out this was the first time she had seen it and that we were the first guests who had been directed to her hostel by it. She asked if she was in the book and upon hearing that she was asked to read it, the reveiw of her hostel was prominent and very positive and after reading it she exuberantly rushed off to buy candy for everyone in celebration. It is not often that I get a glimpse at the other side of the hostel buisness and to see it work out so well for someone certainly nurtures me own version of the backpacker's dream.