It’s Friday October 13th and I’m sitting on the couch ‘cause I’ve been up from 06:00 typing and updating my files, resizing pictures and I’m looking at the time, realizing that I better get ready and go see Nathalie of Auberge Chez Jean for 10:00. Give me a couple minutes to shave, bathe and get off to my appointment. I’ll talk to later and let you know how it all goes. I’m finally off and sitting here at the bus stop waiting for the local bus here. During that time it gives me a few moments to pick up a connection and try to send off some emails. The bus takes about ½ hour and I finally get on, but call in my appointment and inform Nathalie that I’ll be a bit late. I make my way to Villa Marie and get off at Mont Royal, walk out the station and go left a couple of streets and continue till I reach. My first impression of this hostel is a open concept loft with people everywhere. Nathalie makes me a cup of tea and we start chit-chatting about the area and what they’re actually doing at their hostel. This trip is a bit different; to lesson my workload after my meeting I now bring out the laptop and start updating all files immediately, something that worked well from my last appointment the prior day with Katia. Nathalie works with Jean and she gives him a call and then he makes his way over, so I update him on our conversations and go over section by section. This open concept is only for a few who just don’t mind that there’s NO privacy, but the atmosphere of sharing and interaction is very evident. There’s a Japanese lady in the kitchen who is preparing sushi for some of the people staying and I’m told that people just pick up food for those that choose to cook and share with other persons…very communal. There’s a lot of information posted on the board for people to participate in a variety of activities and have some brief knowledge ‘bout what the hostel is about through their Newsletter that they publish each month. Nathalie and Jean are very accommodating and make sure that everyone is satisfied. Now the tour, I walk around to the patio where people can have breakfast in the morning or go out for a smoke and view some of the artwork on the building. We go down the swirl staircase and what I think is an oversized locker is actually an outdoor shower…wow…This is not a misprint…lol…the shower is outside behind a shutter door. I thought it would be a bit nippy at this time of year, but Jean suggests that it’ll be in use for one more week…another wow from the lady inside when we accidentally pulled the door. There seemed to be beds everywhere and if you really want to live out the seventies…Jean has a van on the ground floor parked on stilts which includes a bed inside and literally outside the door is another outdoor toilets and shower...The van thing would be all good but because there’s no luggage room so it could get a little crammed. And their showers and toilets are just outside the door, literally. I forget to mention that the main floor bath/shower is in the same room as the laundry room and they actually sell condoms for $1. It must be working because there’s only one left…people are having personal fun. After the tour we make our way back upstairs and exchange t-shirts and more Hostelbookers marketing tools…pens, pamphlets and my business card. After asking about directions, Jean kindly offers me a ride to my next location. He’s a very interesting character and is very passionate about what he does. This seems like something that has long as he has breath, he’ll own hostels.