St. Leonard's
Description: I remember the day I was sitting at home printing out the directions to a few hostels I found on the internet. A very simple map of Edinburgh was all I had when we arrived at the train station so I was relieved to find out that E-burgh was really as small (and cute) as the map said it was. The hostel was hardly a five minutes walk from the station, up a very intimidating hill (which we tamed as the week went on).
A bright blue door squished between a restaurant and a convenience store is the entry to my favorite hostel in the whole world (so, I haven''t been to many). The staff was more then helpful getting a room for us and giving us advice on what to see. I remember the colours most of all, though. Like the door the stairway that spiraled up five floors was bright blue. The ground floor was checkered black and white and the walls were bright yellow with red doors to the rooms they offered. They offered everything we could ask for... internet access (although we found out later it''s much cheaper to go somewhere else.), a full kitchen, laundry machines, a comfortable lounge with a large T.V. that played Simpsons every evening around 5.
I was impressed with how clean everything was and how friendly the people were.
Later that week we got stranded in Edinburgh for a little longer then we bargained for. All the floods that we passed through in York went down to London and caused all sorts of chaos. They stopped the trains going down there the day we were supposed to go back to London and catch a flight home. We would be stuck there for an extra five days, when it was expected the railways would open up again (thank god for open rail passes. =) Since we hadn''t budgeted for this we were in a bit of a dilemma. The people at the desk said it was no problem. If we did two hours chores a day, we could stay free! =) So that''s what we did.
One of my favorite things about The Backpackers is that it''s right in the middle of everywhere you want to be. It''s also in the "Old Town" so you get that whole historical feel.
So my next stay in Edinburgh will definitely be there.
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