Laura Rico's Photo

Partially Verified

  • Payment verified
  • Phone not verified
  • Government ID not verified

Not Accepting Guests

  • Last login about 12 years ago

Join Couchsurfing to see Laura Rico’s full profile.

Overview

  • 92 references 34 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English, Spanish; learning Italian
  • 38, Female
  • Member since 2007
  • Photographer/Writer/Social Media Expert
  • B.J. in Broadcast Journalism
  • From St. Charles, MO
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

Explore the people and places of the world... living, learning, loving! My goal is to set foot in all 193+ countries learning from and serving those in need in any way I can!

ABOUT ME

I'm taking on the world... one ancient civilization at a time. First, it was Roma, IT! Next, I went to "smell the origins of the ancient world" in Greece. Then, I strolled along the rim of time and I stared into the depths of the Earth at the Grand Canyon, glimpsing over 230 million years of creation through a chasm that took about 6 million years to form. Then, I went to get my salsa on and do a bit of mission work in Tijuana, MX. A whirlwind blitz-like tour of Europe followed as did a thorough exploration of the South East Asian pocket - complete with training in Muay Thai Boxing! I'm now officially encantada with Latin America, where I really learned all about a "que rico" life whitewater rafting down rivers, jumping off cliffs, visiting romantic waterfalls and serene lakes, hiking up volcanoes, witnessing just how deep blue the reflection of ocean waves appear on black sand beaches, fairytale forests with underwater rivers and blue lagoons... and so much more!

I have traveling fever and see no relief from the infectious, but welcome condition anytime in the near future. Symptoms are getting worse. Flights are being purchased at random that are taking me further and further away for longer and longer periods of time. I really can't imagine life NOT on the road anymore.

What you see is what you get... and that's nothing short of wonderful. ; )

***UPDATE***

I've actually slowed my pace a bit (can't believe it!) and am currently settled in Playa del Carmen, Mexico with my lovely latino boyfriend. Thrilled to be currently pursuing another personal dream, I currently dedicate most of my time to building up my own photography business - using photography as an excuse to continually explore the mystical Yucatan, land sacred to the ancient Maya. When you're passing through, give us a shout and my boyfriend and I would love to meet up for a rich coffee or a relaxing glass of wine in the center of PDC. :)

PHILOSOPHY

Dream the future. Plan it. Then make it happen.

Remain focused on the dreams instead of the "hows," and move with unwavering faith.

Stay hungry. Stay foolish. -Steve Jobs

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I rave about it to everyone I meet! I chronicle my travels and the amazing couchsurfers I meet on my blog. I can't wait to host once I'm settled more in one spot and I'm really looking forward to getting more involved in new ways.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far I've surfed in:

Chicago, IL USA
Austin, TX USA
Atlanta, GA USA
Koln, Germany
Brussels, Belgium
The Hauge, Holland
Paris, France
Saarbrucken, Germany
Graz, Austria
Munich, Germany
Bangkok, Thailand
Vienna, Austria
Salzburg, Austria
Bern, Switzerland
Lausanne, Switzerland
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
San Jose, CA USA
Columbus, OH USA
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Antigua, Guatemala
Berlin, Germany
Barcelona, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Chihuahua, Mexico
Cancun, Mexico
Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Hosted:

Florencia - Buenas Aires, Argentina
Grace and Zialina - Australia
Andrea - Peru
Jeff - U.S.
Daniela - Chihuahua, MX
Benny - Cancun, MX
Axel Herrera - Mexico City, MX
Bill Anderson - Ohio, US
Perla Lovera - Cancun, MX
Joee Symyrozum - Squamish, CA
Daniel Jové - Barcelona, ES
Lalo and Alejandra - Cancun, Mexico
Alejandra Tumax - Guatemala City, GT

Also hosted a few non-Couchsurfing travelers in La Antigua, Guatemala and Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Each experience has been unforgettable! I'm so gracious that there's a network of like-minded people that I have access to... thanks Cousurfing.com!

Interests

Photography, wine, futbol (aka soccer)!, yoga, traveling, music, foreign languages, foreign cultures, architecture, videography, graphic design, art, reading, dancing, cooking, sports (and by sports, I mean ALL sports), university, fashion, hmmm... I could go on and on and on. It might have been better to list DISinterests: NONE.

  • arts
  • architecture
  • design
  • graphic design
  • fashion
  • photography
  • dancing
  • cooking
  • wine
  • coffee
  • yoga
  • reading
  • traveling
  • blogging
  • music
  • guitar
  • piano
  • drums
  • hiking
  • whitewater rafting
  • sports
  • boxing
  • soccer
  • business
  • journalism
  • languages
  • beaches
  • lakes
  • rivers
  • mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: My itunes library is full and diverse. But, I've been listening to a lot of Mano Chao, Carla Bruni, David Gray, John Legend, Johnny Lang, Rufus Wainright, Andrea Bocelli, Tracy Chapman, Hans Zimmer, Newton Faulkner, The Eagles, Thelonius Monk, Vivaldi, Strauss, Mozart, Diana Krall, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Led Zeppelin lately.

Books: I've had tons of good reads, though the one I can't stop raving about is 'Shantaram.' Love anything and everything from Paulo Coehlo.'Eat, Pray, Love' is another read I couldn't put down and was sad to finish. Getting ready to start some Hemmingway and finish up my huge bio on El Che.

Also currently reading 'The Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East' and some insightful books from Ghandi.

Movies: Again, the taste is large and diverse. But a few are The Butterfly Circus, Boondock Saints, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, 300, Gladiator, Crash, Pirates, Godfather I II II, Kite Runner, Vicky Cristina Barcelona... Rambo 4 just because Sylvester still is a badass.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Geez... just one??

Stepping into the land of fairy tales at Semuc Champey in Guatemala. Really, the lush ferns, fertile mountains, root-gnarled woods, underwater river rapids, step after step of blue lagoons and mini waterfalls... are straight out of the "Enchanted Forest!"

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach: Italian, Spanish, photography and videography, English, journalism... how to stay hungry and foolish for traveling!

Want to learn: yoga, graphic design, architecture, to play the guitar, to play the piano (in progress!), to play the drums, to play the saxophone, more about fashions, cultures and music of the world (in progress!) and more about people of the world.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States

Old School Badges

  • 21 Vouches
  • Pioneer Badge

Join Couchsurfing to see Laura Rico’s full profile.

My Groups