Welcome to The Magic Monkey Hostel
This is the story of how Steemit saved us from closing down during the winter and made all our projects possible
Our hostel is located on a Magic Island in the south hemisphere, Florianopolis - Brazil. We live in a place that feels like a Tomorrowland movie during the summer but almost a complete opposite universe during the winter. This seasonal economy makes almost all hostels in the neighborhood to close down during the winter, AKA low season, to charge batteries and bring the joy (and money) again in the spring.
Two summers ago, our friend Eddie The Chimp, a world-traveled Englishman, opened The Magic Monkey Hostel in the heart of Lagoa da Conceição. A project born from and for travelers, a chill environment, diversed, full of music, close to the beach and made for fun at night. His first asset was to find Sebastian, my friend and business partner from Colombia (right, in the picture above) who set up the running of the Hostel alongside his brother Daniel at the beginning. About a year ago I came into the team, closing the circle of what now has become the show-runners of this dream.
Around march, when we were coming to the end of the summer, we faced the question that every winter we have to solve: "Now what?" - Sebastian asked me. We were preparing the Hostel to shut down, finding new jobs, trying to keep alive all the ideas we were developing over the high season, everything felt like coming to an abrupt end. One of the perks of closing down for the winter is to get all the finances clear, payments, transfers, investments, etc. As you can imagine a hostel full of people from all over the planet, owner and staff from different countries, plus the online business, all of that makes dealing with several currencies and banks just a pain. This is how Bitcoin and the crypto-currencies came in handy, almost like a miracle, at least that's how it was for us.
Even though Eddie is not the type of guy who will spend all day on the beach, he is a summer animal. His life style chase the sun, and as soon the winter comes soon he leaves, to spend the summer somewhere else and bring new ideas to the project. For this reason, he needs to move money all the time, around several countries, pay in different ways, deal with tons of bureaucracy and banks, and of course, paying a lot of fees and taxes for that. Almost since I met him I told him about Bitcoin and how my economy is totally based on crypto-currencies due to economic situation in my home country Venezuela. I offered my advice and guidance to understand this for his personal finances, but it wasn't until I mention it as a tool for the business that he actually started to pay attention.
First Bitcoin, here we go...
The challenge in hand was to make everyone's profit from the season available for international "thinking". When you are preparing yourself for a trip, that does not necessarily has an established route nor end, you have to think to have your money available everywhere, a currency easy to exchange, a platform that does not have many fees and taxes and even more if you can do everything online. By now, probably you already can imagine the answer. So I told everyone to buy Bitcoin. During our first transaction we even made a profit! Due to the rise on the price while we were buying, we made about $400 USD profit! The conclusion was: it works and even better, makes some extra money!
We were in the right place and in the right time. We bought at a very good rate and then saw how our net worth went up up up. The rise on the price of Bitcoins and other crypto-currencies like Steemit, Ethereum and Antshares expand our investments and capital in a blink. The surprising success of our little idea made us rethink everything.
Sebastian made to Eddie an offer he couldn't refuse:
Alberto and I are going to create a crypto-business platform for the Hostel, invest in tools and equipment, open new sources of income and keep it open during the winter. And when the day comes, we even might even sell our shares of the business or the building itself in Bitcoin!
Basically, we run the show and the crypto-currencies are the stars. Like the rush of a dream, everything started to move very quickly, we are now proud to say we are the First Crypto-Hostel in Brazil, if not the continent or, maybe, the World?
Steemit has played a big role in my economy since last year, and now I just diversified my personal finances to a much bigger project, with more people and goals. This blog has support me through personal and professional challenges, but now, Steemit has put my ideas on a relevant platform with real capabilities of something big. Steems and bitcoins has been paying for all these things and I just want to be thankful to all the steemians that have helped with this, specially those that has come to guide me in this process, sobre todo tu @Chitty.
THANK YOU!
Very inspiring - thanks
Thank you @katythompson
Hi !
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Amigo que groso!! haha... obviamente tu post fue autovoteado por mi bot pero no lo había leido aun.. me alegra mucho y espero visitarlos en Diciembre!.. eres un genio con talento y te mereces todo y más!
Awesome story!
I'm just getting started out with a couple of friends who are developers to see what we can do with blockchain :) such an awesome time to be alive in and to be capable of innovating around this disruptive new technology!
Glad to have come across your profile thanks to this post! Will give you a follow and hope to have many fruitful exchanges on how blockchain-based entrepreneurship can open new business models going forward. Perhaps we can mutually benefit from being connected here on steemit :)
fa
Hey @fredrikaa ! Nice to meet you!
Im glad you liked my blog, I think the main value of Steemit is exactly this, a super network with tangible tools to develop ideas. WE have the people, the platform and resources to make everything possible!
Lets keep in touch, find me on steemit.chat and tel me about your projects, and like I said, you are welcome to visit Brazil and stay with us, vacations paid by steemit! haha
Cheers!
Upvoted and Resteemed by the xx-votesplus curation trail! Want more earnings? Follow @dropahead in Streemian https://streemian.com/profile/curationtrail/trailing/396 and/or delegate some STEEM POWER to @dropahead! Keep up the good work!
Thank you @dropahead !
I got a bellyRub and this post has received a 25.00 % upvote from @bellyrub thanks to: @albertogm.
Great story! Resteemed and Upvoted. Hope you have great success! Cool name... care to share the story behind it?
Thank you @cryptokash
Eddie The Chimp has been his nickname for a long time, and Florianopolis is known as "The Magic Island" here in Brazil. One thing lead to the other. Im gonna write more posts about our days in the hostel, you will see what kind of magic these Monkeys have.
Have a good one!
Hey! thanks, looking forward to those posts!
Nice story
Thanks @lembach3d much more is coming soon!
Congratulations very happy to see cryptocurrency changing people's lives.
Thank you @paulygg it is kind of unbelievable haha
New to Steemit here and your post was an interesting read.
Welcome @selfbuiltcamper and thank you for reading
Welcome and Thank You for being with us!! Following your Blog now
Thank you for reading and following @digitalplayer!
Hello @Albertogm its good to see more Steemians around. Have fun in this community. I wish you many followers and new friends :-) Cheers @chrisx
Thanks @Chrisx
A rocket scientis friend does not sound bad at all haha :-)
Have a good one, and if you want to come to Brazil someday, now you have a place that you can byu everything with Steems!
Great post. Look forward to more. Hope it works out for you. Do not panic at the current price drops. They will recover for sure. My friend runs the Lazy Monkeys Hostel in Amsterdam http://lazymonkeys.net/lazymonkeys/
He is a real chilled out guy a lot like yourselves.
Hi @robbieretard
Is your friend on Steemit too? Do they are into cryptocurrencies too? We want to get in touch with other hostels like ours.
We want to set a tourist route where you can travel comfortably with your crypto money and spend it all hahah
Hi albertogm, I'm not sure he would have heard of Crypto or Steemit. I could be wrong but I don't think so . I will ask him and I'll report back.
Upvoted & RESTEEMED!
THANK YOU! @imbritish
We get lots of british people here in hostel, you are more than welcome to visit someday!
Yay - this is so encouraging! Florianopolis, too. Very beautiful area with lots to attract all sorts of travellers - can't wait to hear how things go.
Thanks @healingherb
This is such beautiful place to have a different lifestyle, amazing nature, diversed people, healthy vibes and herb everywhere.
You are welcome to visit!
That's so cool. It's hard to deny the future of crypto when there are real businesses accepting it as payment. The crypto BOOM is happening even as we see prices fall. It'll bounce back harder then ever
Oh yes my brother!
Happy 4:20 @rawpride !
Cheers!
Hiya, Welcome, I hope you have a good time.
I'm looking forward to seeing some good posts :-)
If you like check out my posts called "My Awakening" Three parts so far and their short. I think you might like them
Love & Peace always. . Rea.
Thank you! @reabow
No worries. I think you're on to a winner. What crypto's you except? And what is the most popular?
We deal normally with BTC and STEEM, but we already got requests in Ethereum too.
This is so cool!! I've started to try to sell things online for crypto currencies lol, not as cool but I think we are all headed in the right direction
Every little step counts, just the fact that you are open to trade whatever thing of value for any cryptocurrency helps the cause. Plus, you might get very enthusiastic customers like us! haha
Love that!
buy bitcoin
hahahaha
Yes. Actually good timing
Nice to be your friend here at Steemit <3 ! The community needs cool people like you :)
I already upvoted and followed you to see all of your future blogs!
I wish you more followers and friends!
Don't forget to follow me too @apple64 so that we can be friend forever :D
Thanks @apple64
Cheers!
Very cool! Shops/ restaurants or hotels were you can pay with crypto currencies are so nice and innovative! I really like it much! Keep on rocking Alberto and have a nice day : )
Greetings from Germany
Hello @simon.braki.love
Thanks for your good wishes. Have a good day too, cheers from Brazil! And remember that now you can come a visit us! I will like to have as a guest another Steemit writer!
This is exciting! Followed.
Yes it is @expat-teacher Thank you for reading and follow!
Awesome steem success story! keep it up guys!
Thank you @sant0rini !
About to burn a fat one too! haha
Cheers!
felicitaciones desde argentina...muy bueno...
Gracias @matuca ! Estamos a la orden por aca, Floripa no queda tan lejos ;-)
De que parte de Argentina eres?
This is great. Steem is gaining more acceptance and this is a very good thing. You guys rock.
@positivesteem Thank you so much! It is so good to feel the support of the community.
Have a nice day!
Wow cryptocurrency is the key. Thanks @albertogm for sharing this post with us.
Thank you @muhammadalikatu !
Very inspiring :)
Hope your home country recover from its crisis
Resteemed and upvoted
Thanks @rjona1 And thank you for the thoughts on Venezuela, it is a hard time indeed. Hope you like the next sories. Cheers!
Yes, I feel for you. My country Philippines also has problems. Sometime all we can do work abroad and try to help our families survive.
Following so I can see your next stories
That's dope guys. Where can I find more info on the Hostel?
Thank you @geechidan
We are on Instagram and Facebook, thats our everyday image. https://www.facebook.com/themagicmonkeyhostel/
https://www.instagram.com/magicmonkeyhostel/
And our website is mainly a business card and the links to get a reservation.
www.magicmonkeyhostel.com
Thanks for reading and voting! Cheers!
Just checked out the website. Looks like a very nice, clean, and spaciously decorated place. Prices are very affordable as well. I think I'll resteem your post. I like you guys just because your price is reasonable. Tells me what kind of people you are.
hahaha thank you! I assure the best part of our hostel is the people here, the vibe, the enviroment, you should come visit during our summer ;-)
Yessir. Soon as I get my STEEM up, Brazil here we come.
Wow! I want to hear the entire story , do you have a website for the magic monkey? Followed to keep updated 😀👍🏾
@hawaiianstyle Thanks!
We are on Instagram and Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/themagicmonkeyhostel/
https://www.instagram.com/magicmonkeyhostel/
Have a good day!
That's a amazing story of just taking a calculated risk at the right time in a volatile environment. By environment i mean society not the crypto space
Yes indeed sir, thank you for reading and voting! @astuteglasses
that was realy inspiring , This is how technology changes lives! u just earned an upvote :)
Thank you @funfacts!
Nice post i am @djnoel
Thanks @djnoel
Ha! Que cool!! Me encantó este artículo
Gracias @anotherworld!
Super motivador ! gran post
Muchas gracias @bitcoinroute!
Valeu!! Sucesso e boa sorte mais uma vez!
Este mês em Floripa aconteceu um evento sobre blockchain e empreendedorismo:
Whaaaattt!!! Thanks for sharing this info with me @wagnertamanaha !!
Wow! Good to know. Thank you!
Hugely important development guys! Wish you all the best! How do you hedge against crashes thought? Does the lower price hurt your cashflow?
Thank you @the-traveller!
We have moved part of our capital to the cryptocurrencies on a risky investment model. A percentage remains saved in BTCs, but the majority is exchange according to the necessity. A part of these savings is take to invest in other cryptocurrencies, as an speculation opportunity to make extra money. Even though the crashes in the long term the price always goes up. BTC is our main coin because its reliability, and the fluctuation opens a window to make profit due to the rise of the price. Because our flow of guests the exchanges is very often.
Cool! Hope to return to Floripa one of these days (was there once in 2010)! Would love to swing by!
For sure! Keep in touch and thanks for reading and following. Cheers!
esta muy bueno tu post hermano!! de verdad que si un abrazo!! sigue asi !! felicidades!
Gracias hermanito! Abrazos y fuerza por alla!
Great post! I would love to visit this hostel some day! Its my dream to visit Brazil!
Thank you so much @firepower!
You are more than welcome bro! This is definetly a little paradise!
Floripa awaits! Find on facebook or instagram and lets plan your trip, keep in touch. Cheers!
Great post! If I'm ever in your part of the world I'll definitely come stay with you guys! :D :D
Awesome @mlai88! Totally worth it, this island is a dream. Have a nice one! Thank you!
Hello and welcome! My name is @zeartul please check out @bellyrub for some sweet votes!
grandes exitos mis estimados, con esto tendran clientela hasta los cielos, es un nuevo nicho de mercado de personas que deseamos que el mercado acepte las criptos, yo estoy queriendo convencer a una cafeteria de que acepte cripto como pago pero en eso estoy espero lograrlo para aumentar la clientela es un nuevo oceano azul, ya que existimos muchos que no pensamos gastar en algo mas pero habiendo oportunidad donde hacer lo pues con el mayor de los gustos
suerte y exitos en tu negocio. en hora buena.
Muchas gracias por tu apoyo @galberto!
Entonces te espero por aqui! Que tengas un gran dia, abrazos!
Con el mayor de los gustos alla esperamos llegar algun dia.
Very cool story! I live on the island, gonna check out your hostel for sure, you sell beer there? If so I will bring some mates hehe
@vipete! YEEESSS more steemians in Floripa!
Come by, now during the winter we dont open the bar everyday but if you come we can organize something. Actually this week we might get an artisan local beer to sell, maybe you could be the first cliente to taste it! Hahaha. Find me on facebook or the hostel and lets talk more.
Have a good day, cheers!
Welcome and Thank You for being with us!! Following your Blog now
Wow I love it!! I just talked with @luzcypher the other day that it would be great to have a hostel that accepts cryptocurrencies!! and here you are starting one! Definitely stopping by on my worldtrip!
Thank you @lizanomadsoul! Of course! I dont know if you have seen pics of Floripa, it is worth it. A little paradise in the south of Brazil, full of fun and palets of blue. I will say I could be a mix between an Ibiza brazilian version with a Bali dream vibes. Hahaha, very 4:20 friendly.
You are more than welcome to visit! And maybe we can get together some steemians and do something fun!
Have a good day. Thanks for reading and following,
Cheers!
Your story is suuuuuuper inspiring because it shows where we will be in the next 10 - 15 years. Your story proofs that evolution is always flexible.
The todays mighty guys think they are safe, but actually we see the beginning of an economic revolution that will change the face of the planet.
And it is good that we are part of the beginning.
Thank you @masculumlibertas! These kind of words are what makes us keep going! Have a good one!
Nice to meet you
I am @faisal25
I am new here.Follow me and I will surely follow you back.
And one more thing, upvote my posts for upvote back.
very nice , i like.
i love to join steemit and to help earh other
#vote and follow you
do not forget to upvote and follow me @rezachaisar
HUGE welcome to #steemit @alberto, great pictures ! I am following you because you interest that i see some common one. This is a great community and hopefully we will grow up on great and useful content!
Happy steeming and greetings from Switzerland!
Francesco