Woke up with morning at 4 am with the ear shattering fire alarm. Then staff banging on our door..get out NOW!! I packed the night before, I couldn’t find anything… I marched out the door into a cold dark morning, clad just in flip flops and a short kimono bath robe. After about 10 min  the fire department showed.

However, the stags just stood sheepishly to the side. We were suspicious, since they’d been running the halls yelling, knocking on doors and running away, yelling from the roof.

Then some guy walked up with fish and chips, offered it to several people that all declined, he hung around wanting to know what was happening. Started talking to me in my bed head, I’m a sucker. Then he asked if I would go with him for 30 min…he was talking away..can’t understand, was kinda going, uh huh, yeah… then he asked again if I would go with him for 30 min. When I finally understood.. I said, NO! By then we got the all clear and I walked in. All I could think of was getting back to my warm bed. I try to protect my hearing since working in audio. As I laid my head to my pillow there is a buzzing in my ears from the deafening alarm.

When I got up at 7 am, left for the airport…there was that fish and chips untouched laying on the wall outside. What a creep..did he think he could get a girl with fish and chips?

This mornings routine… taxi to the airport, fly to Manchester England. Take the train to the city center and find my hostel, called Hatters.

Where’s the city?

All went well, till the train. I almost went to Scotland. My ticket said city center..watched for marquise…no city center. I asked this girl near, she said its the next to last stop. We were leaving the city..going out to the country side. Through farmland…no buildings in site. Uh, Oh. I asked a man and he said we were almost to Edinburough, Scotland. So I got off the train, went to customer service. Was getting so frustrated with myself!! Caught another train going the opposite way. By the time, the conductor came by to collect tickets..I had to admit what a dummy I was. He didn’t charge me..but by that time the tears were starting to flow.

Made it to Hatters Hostel. The hostels have certainly been declining. I have a 10 bed mixed room. Its on the 4^th floor and “no lift” (elevator). There is one nice guy from Australia. Later a couple came in and hardly spoke..I introduced myself..as in proper hostel etiquette. She didn’t even give her name. That’s a first, I’ve found. There is only a boys bathroom on my floor. The girls in 3 sets of stairs below. I told the boys..tonight theirs will be co ed.

Not too sure about this place? I’ll give it tonight and may change.