Hostel Musings

Stenio, Stenio, Stenio....

Q: Who is Stenio?
A: Stenio is a Brasilian traveler (although I'm sure he'd prefer the title "surfer dude"), as well as the most recent addition to Noah's "Ban List."
Q: And what is the Noah's "Ban List"?
A: That would be the hostel's long, long list of delinquent hostel-goers, put on the list for things like stealing, rent evasion, belligerent drinking, or merely for being rude to my boss Simon.
Q: So why is Stenio on the list?
A: All of the above. He's what we call a "Class A Ban List-er".

I'll admit; I have a soft spot for Stenio. And since his banning, his attempts to sneak into the hostel have grown more and more comical. How could I not be somewhat amused? At first he pretended not to understand when I told him he was no longer allowed at Noah's:

Carlyn: Sorry, Stenio, for the 15th time, I can't check you in.
Stenio (imagine a Brasilian accent): But why no?
Carlyn: For the 15th time, you've been banned.
Stenio: I isn't understand. I have money. I pay.
(Stenio flicks his beautiful shoulder-length hair over his shoulder...I pretend not to notice).
Carlyn: Sorry.
Stenio: I will call cops. This is injustice!
(Stenio makes rude hand gestures and makes a diva-like exit through our automatic sliding doors)...

...Four minutes later I see a strange-looking man with a towel wrapped around his had and Mary-Kate and Ashley-style sunglasses. I mean, seriously. He's got to be kidding. He hasn't even done a proper job of disguising himself. Not only is he wearing exactly the same board shorts as before, but strands of blonde hair are sticking out from underneath his turban.

Carlyn: Stenio! I can see you.
Stenio: I have hate for this place!
(Stenio makes yet another rude hand gesture and makes yet another diva-like exit through the doors).

This will occur at least three or four times over the course of the next couple days. One time he'll even make it up onto our rooftop deck, at which point I'll catch him on the camera and stomp upstairs to kick him out. He'll give me that innocent look and tell me he "isn't understand" again. False. He understands perfectly well. And for some reason unbeknownst to me, he likes to sneak into Noah's on a daily basis these days.

Ah, there are some very interesting people in this world, and I'd like to think that about half of them have already walked through Noah's hostel doors (and the other half soon will...). This hostel seems to attract some crazies. Lucky for them, I'm easily amused....