We thought it might be interesting to break down–hour by hour–what a typical day here at the hostel is like through the eyes of JB. Of course each day is a bit different with its own unique and interesting twists, but it’s a good general idea of what an average day of running the hostel looks like. It gives us plenty of time to work on Life Out of the Box, have fun, relax, learn, make new friends, explain/spread the message of our business to people and make some money on the side. It’s a pretty awesome and surreal life. It never really feels like work, but that’s how it’s supposed to feel when you’re loving what you’re doing. That’s Life Out of the Box.
6:00am
Night guard leaves, gardener arrives.
6:30am
Cook arrives via bus.
Wake up.
8:15am
Cold shower, brush teeth.
8:30am
Cup of coffee no sugar, no cream. Straight black.
8:31am
Maid arrives.
8:45am
Make breakfast tomato, green pepper, onion, ham cheddar cheese 5 egg omelet with four pieces of toast.
8:51am
Split it with Quinn.
See how guests are doing.
Check Out begins. Add up bills and kindly hand to guests.
Juancito, the shuttle driver, arrives with day guests and overnighters.
Give day trippers the welcoming tour of property.
Check in overnighters with their passport.
10:54am
Go downstairs and sit down behind the bar with journals and iPad. Quinn stays upstairs and works on the laptop to work on Life Out of the Box.
10:57am
Work on Life out of the Box articles.
11:15am
Eager to relax, guests want a beer–I open up a cold one, put it on their tab and talk to them about their travels.
11:27 am
Guests go out for a swim, I read Inc. Magazine.
11:50 am
Study the art of creativity.
12:16 pm
Reply to any emails.
12:30 pm
Happy Hour time so Quinn comes down to help. 2 drinks for C$60. Beer, coke and rum or shots.
12:37 pm
Play Deadmau5‘s song “I Remember” on our computer to set up a comfortable and relaxing outdoor bar feel for us and the guests.
12:45 pm
Explain our business to the guests while Quinn and I share a beer.
1:30 pm
Happy Hour, unfortunately, comes to an end.
1:40 pm
Orders for lunch. Walkie talkie them up to the chef who prepares the meals.
1:57 pm
Grab the food and bring it down to the guests.
2:15 pm
Quinn sits at the bar and works while I go for a quick swim.
2:25 pm
Switch it up–Quinn goes to the dock to get tan like me.
2:49 pm
Quinn is red.
3:16 pm
Close out tabs and hand business cards for Life Out of the Box if requested.
3:30 pm
Day guests and Albertina (the cook) leave with the driver to go back to Granada.
3:40 pm
Work on Life Out of the Box.
4:26 pm
Estella (the maid) assists us in preparing any meals ordered for dinner.
4:45 pm
Estella leaves.
4:57 pm
Quinn and I swim to the dock to watch the always colorful sunset.
5:14 pm
Swim back, dry off and change into dry clothes.
5:57 pm
Make dinner for any guests and ourselves. Guests order the dinner special: Albertina’s famous spaghetti bolognese. We of course eat the same.
6:30 pm
Happy Hour round two starts. 2 drinks for $C60.
6:32 pm
Play music–usually some fun but relaxing music to get the night going like Mac Miller, Kaskade or Calvin Harris.
6:41 pm
Quinn and I have a nica libre (rum & coke with a slice of lime).
7:15 pm
Continue to drink and talk with guests–great friendships often start at this time.
7:30 pm
Happy Hour ends. Or not. Sometimes we extend it if we’re all having good conversation and a great time.
7:45 pm
Lock up kitchen.
8:00 pm
Turn on Monday night football or any other sporting event going on that night.
8:07 pm
While watching the game go online and submit hostel daily report.
8:15 pm
Reply to any emails.
8:26 pm
Work on Life Out of the Box.
8:45 pm
Sell a few more beers to guests.
9:12 pm
Head to the bedroom brush teeth and read Harvard business cases.
10:10 pm
Security guard arrives.
10:30 pm
Watch a movie in bed while Quinn reads her new India book Shantaram.
10:56 pm
Quinn falls asleep with the iPad on her chest.
10:58 pm
Lights out.
11:07 pm
I’m out. Goodnight.
The article in photos:
I’d love to come check out the Hostel in a couple of weeks. If you get a chance, send me an email letting me know how to get there from SJDS. I enjoy keeping up with your adventure.
BLISS.