The Hostel Mafia

After a bit more Sun in Croatia I've said goodbye to Andi and am all by myself again, now in Sarajevo. I'm hoping to get some cheap accommodation here and maybe stay awhile, read a book, practice my Serbian, do my Laundry etc.... But it's here that my plan might come unstuck.

It seems that Sarajevo is home to one of those hostel mafias. The Mafia makes sure it gets lots of customers by having lots of signs, a website and lots of touts. Everyone uses them because they feel safe when they see lots of people with backpacks and signs in English. As a result there are no little old ladies offering sobe (i.e. guesthouses , pensions) and the hostel supplies crap service at inflated prices!! I actually have a suspicion that this particular Mafia used to arrange sobe (from looking at their signs) but then decided to cut out the competition, as you do.

It's a real pity because sobe a pretty much always very clean, have a TV, fridge and sometimes cooking facilities and a helpful host plying you with coffee. So today I'm hunting a room.

P.S RIP Steve, he was annoying, I often wished the Croc wouldcatch the end of his finger but it's sad to see him go.