I arrive at 13:00, still September 22nd at HI – Niagara Falls Rainbow Hostel to meet with Sheena Swirlz. I enter this vibrant colored building and enter through the side door for all guest and check-ins. Now I had walked from my previous appointment and it’ took me 30 minutes to walk down and there less than 5 minutes from the Niagara Falls Bus Terminal, so when your on your way out, it’s just a quick walk away and if your driving they provide free parking. Like all Hostels International that I’ve visited their reception area is filled with an abundance of information and necessary items that you might need to make your trip easier. Oh! How could I forget, the hmmm scent, it’s the aroma of organic coffee brewing that offered to all it’s guest. I get the friendly reception smile, like their expecting my visit (you’ll have to check my Milan trip…lol). Sheena offers me a choice of beverages and actually my hesitation to answer is not just because I’m a crazy brotha, but admiring the artwork that supports the handy work of past and current persons whom have passed through these doors. Even down to the Organic compose, there NO waste of food here in the common kitchen and if guests leave food, well it just gets passed on…yes, good food only. One second, Sheena is checking the oven…baking potatoes bits in the oven with herbs that they grow from their onsite garden. Okay, I know I’m talking a bit, so you want to play. Well, let’s play some pool…FREE for now down below in the basement by the TV room (bring a movie or your neighborhood video store), your thought provoking exchange library and lockers. Oh! I hope I’m not tiring you out, if so then you can go to one of their earthly themed rooms or just grab a basic and all are shared facilities…don’t be shy. And HI enjoys groups to the maximum of 50 persons and all preferences and types are accepted, but if you’d like to make some changes then you better give two weeks notice or deal with the wrath of…well someone. In the summer there are free guided tours. Now you can check out a variety of things to do for $3./hr on the internet.
A quick nap
After a quick nap we can go on one of the many tours that HI – Niagara Falls Rainbow Hostel can direct you too. Eco – tourism, butterfly conservatory, trails, biking isn’t a problem neither is hiking. Oh! You don’t want to leave to far from the roost, then you can enjoy the patio, while watching guests play badminton, basketball and then we can sit by the fire and sing songs, play drums, guitars…hey Sheena pass me the tambourine….thanks and let me play.
Wake up! To a meat free continental breakfast and HI offers vouchers for the diner or restaurant next door, if you’re feeling for some bacon and sausage for $2.75.
A great eco-friendly place to stay and enjoy Niagara Falls!
Its 14:27 and I just got back, feeling a bit tired, but I better start writing and deciphering the recordings, so I don’t get further behind. Well I guess you know I’ve left to get some food and watch the TV watch me…lol…good night boys and girls. Oh shit! I can hear the person next door snoring…going to need a little night drink to sleep through that noise. That person better be by themselves…well not my business…but got me putting both pillows over my head and mediating on ignoring any sounds.
Its 08:15, Saturday September 23rd and I’m waking, well still tired so I put my head down and then I look back up and it’s now 09:10 and my appointment is for 11:00 at Backpackers International, I guess I really enjoyed my sleep. Jump into the shower and get my things organized, say my byes and taxi it to my next location.
Everything is for a reason so I meet a man, taxi driver whom has lost everyone in his life to drunk driving and I mean everyone…no worries I won’t start preaching, but with the luxury of roaming around just careful when getting behind the wheel. It’s better to book a room via Hostelbookers.com and sleep it off then driving and in must cases a room is the price of a bottle…that’s all. Now, I enter Backpackers International and meet Jocelyn for my meeting and I’m stunned immediately by the workmanship in this Victorian home. The original home is crafted by an English trade’s man that was contracted and made in total 5 historical homes in the vicinity. We start with a tour with private and dorm rooms throughout the building which has rooms from 1 – 6 persons in this 38 room house. This all wooden bed home is filled with an abundance of antiques from the early 1800’s…no doubt character is in every corner of this house. The common kitchen has a wooden church bench with tables and chairs and all your necessities. Oh! Yes, some of the items were from a couple of hundred years ago, since there was a Catholic and Anglican Church that got torn apart and some of the wood and pieces were used in the structure of this home. Now, you can actually sit down on just talk ‘bout some of the history here and early Niagara history. If you like search on the free internet service that is offered and/or read in their exchange library in their beautifully antiqued assembled lounge room. What makes this special is the hospitality here. Once you enter your family and will be treated so, lots of respect to go around and repeat customers. Same day booking here if rooms are available and parking is free so bring the vehicle if you’d like or do like me…greyhound it, since they’re barely a 5 minute walk to the bus station.