CURRENT MISSION

Hello, my name is Armando E. I'm an International Man of Mystery (when money allows) who loves, laughs, lives. Life is too short for anything else. My story inspired the Austin Powers movies (at least I think so).

Are you looking for a CouchSurfing friend that can travel short notice?
Need a friend to view the new city you're currently in?
Are you looking for a native to show you the ins and outs of New York (if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere)?
Want a CouchSurfer that you trust and confide in? One that you can talk to about food, meditation and creating a business to fund your travels?

Well, nice to meet you. My name is Armando.

ABOUT ME

Funny how life works. It's so strange how only a few months ago, my reality seemed different.

I had a life-crippling condition for 5 years, that kept me grounded in New York City (because I was too sick to travel).

My job prospects were slim to none. My health made it hard to work, so I took the time to learn how to create my own freelancing business online so I can have income (being a "digital nomad" as many call it).

I had to rely on the typical CouchSurfer cycle: work, save up, then travel and splurge. Come back broke, then rinse and repeat.

So here I am reinventing myself once again, currently residing in Colombia. For me personally, this place holds a lot of memories when I would stay here during my summers off from school.

A bit more about me, and what made me a CouchSurfer:

-After being too settled into New York City and having a "career" I wasn't particularly enjoying, I decided to spend more time traveling. Once I started, I got hooked (like I'm sure many of you have), so I started to travel more and more. While I'm not traveling I'm part web developer, fitness addict, travel blogger, writer, digital income hacker (so I can get income online while traveling).

-I can out-eat all of my friends. If you want me to be your friend, a good way is to take me to a good restaurant. I take my food very seriously. Some wacky foods I've tried are escargot in France, alligator (I had the chance in Miami, but ironically enough it happened in NYC), and morcilla (blood sausage) in Colombia.

My favorite foods: Italian gelato, lechona Tolimense in Colombia, and a good chili dog (like in Checker's).

- I'll also be able to show you around the city. Contrary to popular belief, there's SO much more than Manhattan and the Midtown area, which is the 20-block radius most tourists think is ALL of NYC. My borough (Queens) has been voted having "best quality of life in NYC" after all (yes, it beat even Manhattan). While Manhattan is great in its own right, it's not worth being bombarded by armies of tourists, being squished in a super-expensive Manhattan micro-apartment (it's a real thing, I'm not joking), and going deaf with police/ambulance sirens in the late night :P Spend an entire day trying to be there just to be in the "popular" place and you'll be saying that too, but feel free to find out for yourself :)

If you're ready to see more than the Hollywood version of New York, I'll be glad to show you around. It'll be 10x more fun than just Manhattan alone. You can thank me later. I always accept yummy food :)

PHILOSOPHY

Follow your dreams. If it turns out to not be your dream, you have a better understanding of what you want out of life and you never have to ask "what if?"

You should contact me if:
- You too want to learn how to get money while traveling, as I'd love to help a fellow traveler out.
- You want some company when you go to a restaurant
- You like meeting good friends

You should not contact me if:
- You're only looking for a "free stay" without even trying to give back to the CouchSurfing community (I've hosted more than a fair share of these freeloaders).
- You're looking for drama, or you're an "energy vampire."
- Your idea of good Italian food is the Olive Garden.

Contact me

Follow me on:
Twitter - @AgentArmando
Instagram - @NYMinuteTraveler

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

***Update 5/19/19: I am no longer accepting guests, as I currently don't have a permanent home anymore :)***

I like to host and meet people from other countries, and welcome guests to my home. However, some ground rules (aside from using your common sense):

- No taking my food from the refrigerator without my permission. I expect people to bring/cook their own food (yes, you can use the fridge), and clean up after themselves, whatever they use. This should be an easy rule to follow, especially considering there's a 24-hour supermarket that's ALWAYS open that's only 4 blocks from me that has good food with good prices. Hey, it could be worse :P You could be paying double in Manhattan.
- I expect you to be considerate of my schedule. This can include some early mornings and truncated late nights, so be prepared for these when they happen. I'm very busy and my life moves fast, so you should keep on top of coordinating with me when you can go in my house because I won't always be home.
- If you're intent on drinking non-stop/vomiting/going crazy partying, I will not host you. I like a good party now and again and can hold my own with the best (come on, I survived Oktoberfest in Munich while never passing out), but I expect guests to know where to draw the line and handle their partying responsibly. If I can do it, you can do it. I've heard of horror stories in CS, even some that has ended with guests bringing paid escorts/one night stands into the host's home. You should know better than that!
- When sending a couch request, please send me a Facebook/Twitter handle I can follow you with. Not only do I find out more about you, but then you can see I'm a real person. I get a LOT of requests, so please save me some time! Merci!
- Some tips to be the select few who get to crash at my humble kasbah: First come first served so try and answer any communications as soon as possible because I fill up FAST. Tell me something interesting about yourself, which does not mean "I'm broke","it's an emergency","HELP!". In fact, you should already be doing this. It's common courtesy :) Dank je wel.
- If you want a huge bump/raise in consideration, put the following in your request along with the rest of your message so that way I know you actually took the time to...you know, read my profile: #IWantToStayWithArmando

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've actually hosted many different men and women from a variety of different places and countries. People describe my place as a cozy, yet very nice place. I'm willing to host 1 or 2 people (in one same group). It's also a nice way to meet fellow travelers.

Interests

Meditation: I love doing it in order to keep my mind right and to keep myself inspired and focused.

Exercise: I like to do P90X workouts such as cardio, abs and yoga. Yoga and meditation go hand in hand, so I have a special connection to it. I can lift a car now with my newfound strength (two cars if I use both hands).

Food: But you know that already! In fact, I love Queens because you get better and more authentic eats from all parts of the globe while paying a 1/3 of the price of Manhattan restaurants. Any suggestions for cities I'm visiting are welcome.

Comics: Want to talk about how Adam Warlock is noticeably absent in Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame? Want to talk about how Paul Rudd may be the most underrated actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Want to discuss if the Scarlet Witch's House of M will ever make it onto movies? Do you think DC is tacky outside of Batman? Let's grab a coffee and chat.

Broadway shows: I love seeing Broadway musicals and I've seen many of them already. Ask me about any discount codes because I always get deals through e-mail. Some of my favorites are: Avenue Q, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago.

Baseball: I try to watch every baseball game (MLB) from the United States. Thank goodness for MLB.tv (online TV service for live baseball games)! Big Yankees/Mets fan. Or baseball fan, period.

Copywriting/Marketing: Want to know how to make a living making over $100K while traveling the world? Feel free to discuss with me, and let's get some ideas flowing!

• writing
• oktoberfest
• dining
• cooking
• fitness
• exercise
• yoga
• running
• meditation
• partying
• drinking
• comics
• traveling
• cars
• socializing
• opera
• hiking
• snorkeling
• baseball
• communications
• languages
• beaches

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

- Went snorkeling in the coral reefs of the beautiful island of Oahu in Hawaii. Yup, it's as beautiful as they say (although Waikiki Beach isn't that great, so don't spend too much time there. Trust me!)
- Mountain hiking in the forests of Colombia, seeing how water droplets form into waterfalls
-Spent 4 straight days in the original Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany and lived to tell about it (seriously, it's so much partying!). To sum it all up: fun, but crazy! Not for the weak partier.
- The MLB All-Star Game (I'm a big baseball fan) and Home Run Derby in CitiField in 2013. I finally got to see my Mets in the World Series this year! It was a very memorable experience. Also, I love the Subway Series - Mets vs. Yankees. You can never go wrong with a baseball game.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've been living in NYC for over 29 years, so I'd be glad to show you the great spots as a local, as well as the tourist traps to avoid. Also, I love learning new languages! I'm willing to teach as well as be taught. Currently working on French and Portuguese.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Experiences, friendship and of course, some goodies from NYC.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Colombia, United States