CURRENT MISSION

Surf in South Africa, cook in Italy, explore Egypt, relax in Tahiti, visit the battlefields of France, hike in New Zealand, etc., etc. 8 countries down, 185 to go. We best get cracking on this project.

ABOUT ME

My wife and I are fun loving but also very responsible. Generally, I (Allan) am considered to be the funny one while my wife is considered the artsy one. My wife (Deb) is a lettering artist with a deep knowledge of the arts and keen observation skills. We are both very independent travelers, but welcome the company and guidance of locals. We love food, history and exploring new cultures. Our traveling style is flexible, and in all cases, we are highly respectful of the time, ethos and property of the hosts.

PHILOSOPHY

At the end of the day – life is short and the world is big. No time to waste on causing more misery and needless drama. We would rather spend the time, money and effort going to new places and meeting like-minded people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfed with three different hosts in Australia and had three awesome, yet varied experiences. Can't wait to surf again in other countries!

Interests

My wife and I love the outdoors - hiking, biking, snowshoeing, X-country skiing and kayaking are some of our favorite activities. Of course, all this exercise can make a person hungry so eating is also priority! Everything from food trucks to fine dining is great but the best meals always seem to be made and shared with friends – both new and old. We love exploring in all its forms – museums, new places, new sights and sounds. The best times we have had traveling are when we got off the beaten track.

• arts
• dining
• cooking
• food trucks
• fine dining
• exercise
• drinking
• gardening
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• mountaineering
• skiing
• snowshoeing
• track and field
• calligraphy
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies - Any good films from the classics like Casablanca, film noir like DOA (the original not the crappy remake) cult films like Repo Man, Rocky Horror and Fight Club, Princess Bride. If asked, Allan would even admit to liking Jane Austen movies.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Allan: Raced in the Car and Driver One Lap of America (1992-1996); Burning Man (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012); Colorado Outward Bound Mountaineering School (30 day alpine mountaineering course - 1989); helped build an Internet Retailer Top 500 online company. Deb: Stood between the paws of the Sphynx at sunrise; shook hands with Robert Redford at Sundance; had dinner with members of the original Band of Brothers; swam with sea turtles in St. John USVI; earned a black belt in Karate.

Teach, Learn, Share

Allan - I have helped to build a Internet Retailer Top 500 company from the ground up. Learned a lot on the way. I often get asked to teach new companies how to sell online, what pitfalls to avoid in growing a company, etc. I am willing to share that knowledge with the CS community – especially if I am staying at your house and I have had a few drinks! DEB -I can show you the basics of Calligraphy, how to cook some great scrambled eggs, and give you fantastic pointers on touring New York City. Always up for talking about art and gardening, and all things Italian!I work with children of all ages to expose them to the art of calligraphy.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Morocco, South Africa, United Kingdom, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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