Last summer I got a chance to do something that I had talked about for a long time: Travel to England to do some research for a novel I am writing (the novel's topic is for a later time). Many things had to align in order for this to happen, and being a father and a teacher are two major stumbling blocks to unfettered travelling. Financially, being a teacher does not lend itself to much freedom over the summer and before having kids, I had to work through them with little break. Then, for the past few years, it has been "Camp Dad" each summer.
But this summer I decided I had to go and get it done. I got the go-ahead to go alone! (My wife gave me permission) I planned my trip itinerary and got my tickets. I spent a lot of time online looking up places to stay and was getting a bit discouraged because it was going to be quite expensive. Lodging was going to be my biggest outlay next to the flight.
Then my sister told me about an organization called Couchsurfing.com. http://www.couchsurfing.com/
Couchsurfing is a network of hosts and travellers worldwide. Its mission is for educational and cultural exchange, not a financial transaction. People open up their places and hearts to host travellers. There is no money exchanged, only perhaps a cultural exchange. What an amazing concept!
I checked it out and immediately put up a profile and started to contact people. As it turns out, I stayed with someone every night except the first night there! It was one of the most amazing experiences I ever had, and by far more meaningful than the purpose of the trip in the first place.
Here is a list of Couchsurfing experiences:
1. stayed with Erich and Olga 2 nights near Bath
2. stayed with Dave 1 night in Liverpool
3. Stayed with Michelle 1 night in Durham
4. stayed with Michael 3 nights South Shields
5. Stayed with Alex 2 nights in Amsterdam
6. stayed with Andre 1 night in Eindhoven
7. stayed with Rene 2 nights in London
8. Participated in a really cool scavenger hunt in the East End of London!
Each experience was unique and special. I slept on air mattresses, couches, and comfy beds. I stayed in one room flats, row houses and even an old vicarage.
Here are a few highlights (and in no way represents any more than a fraction of the experiences): While in Bath, Erich and Olga took me on a wonderful tour of Bristol, and then later Olga took me to Wells and Glastonbury. In Liverpool, Dave took me out to dinner at an Indian restaurant and then took me to some Beatles spots, like the Cavern, Penny Lane, and other places. Michelle showed me around Durham and treated me to a wonderful English Sunday Brunch. Michael showed me some cool stuff around Newcastle and South Shields (some good clean naked fun, too). Alex gave me a cool tour of gay Amsterdam and a few lessons on original Skinhead culture, clothing and music (probably not what you think, Oi!). Rode bikes with Andre in Eindhoven (unfortunately one of the bikes got stolen).
My London experience takes a bit more to explain. My host, Rene, was not able to meet me at the station as planned, so he sent another Couchsurfing host, Mike, to come pick me up. We then spent the rest of the day running around in a scavenger hunt looking for clues and solving riddles around the East End of London. I met a lot of other surfers and had a great time. To this day, I still keep in touch with a few of them. Rene met us later and he was able to make sure that I was prepared for my walking around London. I even ran into him in my wanderings (he was looking for me hoping to run into me) to take me to a Couchsurfing pub meeting after a Free Hugs event. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Hugs_Campaign
This entry can't do justice to the amazing time I had. Each experience on its own is worth an entry itself. I look forward to hosting my own travellers and can't wait to jump back into being a traveller myself.
But this summer I decided I had to go and get it done. I got the go-ahead to go alone! (My wife gave me permission) I planned my trip itinerary and got my tickets. I spent a lot of time online looking up places to stay and was getting a bit discouraged because it was going to be quite expensive. Lodging was going to be my biggest outlay next to the flight.
Then my sister told me about an organization called Couchsurfing.com. http://www.couchsurfing.com/
Couchsurfing is a network of hosts and travellers worldwide. Its mission is for educational and cultural exchange, not a financial transaction. People open up their places and hearts to host travellers. There is no money exchanged, only perhaps a cultural exchange. What an amazing concept!
I checked it out and immediately put up a profile and started to contact people. As it turns out, I stayed with someone every night except the first night there! It was one of the most amazing experiences I ever had, and by far more meaningful than the purpose of the trip in the first place.
Here is a list of Couchsurfing experiences:
1. stayed with Erich and Olga 2 nights near Bath
2. stayed with Dave 1 night in Liverpool
3. Stayed with Michelle 1 night in Durham
4. stayed with Michael 3 nights South Shields
5. Stayed with Alex 2 nights in Amsterdam
6. stayed with Andre 1 night in Eindhoven
7. stayed with Rene 2 nights in London
8. Participated in a really cool scavenger hunt in the East End of London!
Each experience was unique and special. I slept on air mattresses, couches, and comfy beds. I stayed in one room flats, row houses and even an old vicarage.
Here are a few highlights (and in no way represents any more than a fraction of the experiences): While in Bath, Erich and Olga took me on a wonderful tour of Bristol, and then later Olga took me to Wells and Glastonbury. In Liverpool, Dave took me out to dinner at an Indian restaurant and then took me to some Beatles spots, like the Cavern, Penny Lane, and other places. Michelle showed me around Durham and treated me to a wonderful English Sunday Brunch. Michael showed me some cool stuff around Newcastle and South Shields (some good clean naked fun, too). Alex gave me a cool tour of gay Amsterdam and a few lessons on original Skinhead culture, clothing and music (probably not what you think, Oi!). Rode bikes with Andre in Eindhoven (unfortunately one of the bikes got stolen).
My London experience takes a bit more to explain. My host, Rene, was not able to meet me at the station as planned, so he sent another Couchsurfing host, Mike, to come pick me up. We then spent the rest of the day running around in a scavenger hunt looking for clues and solving riddles around the East End of London. I met a lot of other surfers and had a great time. To this day, I still keep in touch with a few of them. Rene met us later and he was able to make sure that I was prepared for my walking around London. I even ran into him in my wanderings (he was looking for me hoping to run into me) to take me to a Couchsurfing pub meeting after a Free Hugs event. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Hugs_Campaign
This entry can't do justice to the amazing time I had. Each experience on its own is worth an entry itself. I look forward to hosting my own travellers and can't wait to jump back into being a traveller myself.
1 comment:
hard to believe there's an organization for couchsurfing!
-J$
http://phishvideos.blogspot.com/
Post a Comment