It's Pumpkin and Spider Time, Mushroom and Apple Cider Time and Time for Shakti to pay Another Visit Time

My dear friend from Italy, Shakti. 

She was here in the fall some years ago. 

We had so much fun. 

What a beautiful woman she is and such a nice photo. 

Shakti teaches meditation and non duality in Italy and other places. 

I miss you, come back!!

A quote from Shakti.

It's always true. I resonate with this completely.

"Life is a beautiful ride. It goes up and down, it goes round and round and at times it looks like you are stuck in a traffic jam, so just when you get angry and tired a yellow flower smiles at you and then again you go ahead and again another peack, another mountain, another flat moment. It is never the same and it is for free. Enjoy it all, it is all for you. A gift." Shakti Caterina Maggi

Thank you dearest Shakti!!

In italian

"La vita è come un bel giro in auto. Va su e giù, gira in tondo, a volte sembra che si sia bloccati in un ingorgo di traffico, e proprio quando ci si arrabbia e si è stanchi un fiore giallo ti sorride e di nuovo si va avanti, ancora un'altro picco, un'altra montagna, un altro momento piatto. Non è mai uguale ed è gratis. Goditi tutto, è tutto per te. Un regalo. " Shakti Caterina Maggi

http://avasashakti.blogspot.com/?m=1

A Jewelers suzani. 

From the Silk Road. 

A pacific giant pumpkin. 

It didn't become giant though!

And a few shrooms in the yard. I think deer have been eating them here. 

Thank you Shakti for the lovely pic

And sending you big hugs. 

International Hostel at Ft Worden. Port Townsend WA, and comparison with other international hostels

I will volunteer to travel to compare hostels worldwide..

To be honest, at 27.37 per person per night  (up from 19.00 on member 5 years ago) for a hostel that you must check out of by 10:30 am and doesn't open again until 5:30 pm I  think they could put some comfortable foam rubber on the beds, plus,  the hours are not accommodating I feel. I was disappointed. The same manager was there, and he is very nice, but the hostel shouldn't just be a home for whoever runs it.

Olympic Hostel
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel060110.en.htm

 When I was here many times before waffles batter was mixed in the morning.  Iron on, at least..Now I guess there is a bread machine that makes bread automatically, and it's put out for the customers. I didn't have any. To be honest, it wasn't comfortable there anymore with the new restrictions. I felt that I wasn't really welcome, that somehow I was just in the way of whoever lived there.
Wasn't a good feeling.

I understand maybe they don't get enough help or funding, but if you can't operate it as a hostel is to be operated where people feel comfortable and have a place during the day to go in and out and prepare food, then what is it for?

I decided to check other hostels for prices to be fair, you can compare:
Portland 2 hostels 20 and 22.00 I have stayed here as well.

8am - 12midnight; 24 hour access for registered guestshttp://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel060112.en.htm?n=n&hiavail=Y&hinearby=Y


http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-HI---Portland----Northwest-060112.en.htm#

San Diego  2 hostels 32.00 breakfast included and  another 23. 00breakfast included.
 I am not sure of the breakfast is just bread machine bread or not?
 http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-HI---San-Diego---Point-Loma-060023.en.htm
I've been invited to SD in May for a lecture and seeing my friends Lisa; Rachel and Ron.

Philadelphia, 2 hostels 31.00 and 20. 00
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-HI---Philadelphia---Apple-Hostel-060104.en.htm

Buffalo, Niagara
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-HI---Buffalo---Niagara-060048.en.htm

Bethel ME
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel060132.en.htm


 I see that most of the links for the hostels on this site aren't listed with them actually, so I looked into other hostels to compare. But I noticed the ones that were more expensive were definitely upgraded from what the photos show. Nice modern kitchens etc. Now I see these links only take you to the hi hostel page, sorry.. Maybe I'll fix it! Later..



I see some prices increase seasonally, prices I am posting are for tonight for example.

Sweden 16.00 to 22.00
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/ghostel.en.htm?lang=E&country=SE&ghouse=SE%7C054006&day_a=29&month_a=02&year_a=2011&dow_a=Tue&day_d=01&month_d=03&year_d=2011&dow_d=Fri&nights=3&people=

Hanoi, 2.00 to 25.00 US
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/ghostel.en.htm?lang=E&country=SE&ghouse=SE%7C054006&day_a=29&month_a=02&year_a=2011&dow_a=Tue&day_d=01&month_d=03&year_d=2011&dow_d=Fri&nights=3&people=

Glasgow 16 GBP
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel050001.en.htm

Lillehammer Norway
330. NOK= 58.00 american
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel042113.en.htm
with breakfast buffet

Amsterdam 16.50 EUR
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/list.php?lang=E

Malta Gozo
12.75 Euro with breakfast, very nice accommodations
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/list.php?lang=E

Morocco Fez
165.00 MAD, (20.59 US)
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel039005.en.htm
 Rabat 70 MAD  (8.73 US) This is in a Riad
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel039011.en.htm

Japan 2211 JPY (27.00 US)
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/list.php?lang=E

Hakodate (3800 JPY)

http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel032013.en.htm

 Italy Venice  22 EUR
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel031001.en.htm
Salerno  15 EUR ( looks inviting)
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel031009.en.htm
Florence
15 EUR (21.00 US)
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/list.php?lang=E

France Lyon 21 EUR
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/list.php?lang=E
with breakfast, and I bet it is good!

Finland Helsinki 22 EUR
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Helsinki---Hostel-Suomenlinna-019022.en.htm
Germany Berlin 26 EUR
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostels-Berlin---JH-am-Wannsee-022124.en.htm

Greece, Athens 12 to 17 EUR
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/list.php?lang=E

Ok, I'm stopping now..:)