Half-Austrian, half-Hungarian, grew up in Vienna, but i hang my hat in Innsbruck at the moment. A typical cancer, I have strong family ties, am curious and talkative, though not necessarily an extrovert by nature. I grew up with two younger sisters, so respect towards female travellers is something you can expect from me . Politically, i'm left-leaning, but always open to other opinions and appreciative of an exchange of ideas, especially in complicated times like these. I practice yoga and believe in self-improvement and life-long learning. It's up to each and every one of us to make this world a better place.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

A tight budget should never keep you from exploring. Couchsurfing allows you to travel in a unique and affordable way, engaging with your destination and its locals, and also requires you to step out of your comfort zone from time to time, which i find important. I have surfed and hosted multiple times, and find both equally enriching!

Interests

As a couchsurfer, naturally, I love independent travel and venturing off the beaten path. I'm interested in foreign countries, their history, culture and people, and try to actively engage with any destination I choose. As a health professional, I am passionate about the human body, it is the greatest instrument we'll ever own. I enjoy an active lifestyle and practise a wide range of sports, both in summer- and wintertime. I also enjoy cooking, good food and a glass of wine. Recently i have also fulfilled a teenage dream and bought myself a Vespa PX scooter. Hope to be surfing some places in Italy with it soon!

• pets
• culture
• singing
• concerts
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• yoga
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• hiking
• windsurfing
• camping
• snowboarding
• sports
• baseball
• rock climbing
• hockey
• tennis
• volleyball
• teaching
• history
• medicine
• trekking
• sup
• healthy lifestyle
• vespa
• paddling

Music, Movies, and Books

Too many good movies to list here,.. but always up for a David Fincher, Quentin Tarantino, Coen Bros, or Woody Allen movie :) I like independent and arthouse films, regularly visiting the annual Viennale film festival.. THE THIRD MAN, a black and white classic shot in Vienna, is a must-see for any visitor, and if you stay with me, i can offer you a private screening :)

Musically, I grew up on Grunge and Indie Rock, but my tastes have evolved and there's also a fair amount of Folk, Blues, Jazz, World Music and Hip/Hop in my record collection which consists of about 400 CDs and 100 vinyl LPs at the moment. Despite growing up in the city of classical music, I haven't been able to sit through a single opera in my entire life. Maybe all you classical music and opera lovers heading to Vienna can change my mind?

I have a crammed bookshelf and like to mix it up between fiction and non-fiction. Some of my favourite books in recent years: "Shantaram", "Moneyball", "The Goldfinch", "The Wrong Boy", "Three Cups of Tea", "His Bloody Project". Some of my favourite authors: John Steinbeck, Patricia Highsmith, George R.R. Martin, George Pelecanos, Donna Tartt, Nick Hornby, Milan Kundera, and Franz Kafka.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Maybe the most amazing and craziest thing I've done though was travelling solo to Algeria in 2009, a whacky adventure that included a 4-hour custody with the military police and ended with me smuggling a tiny little kitten in my backpack (through customs and on 2 airplanes) to Vienna. It became my pet, received an Algerian nickname (Zizou), and if you decide to visit me you'll get to meet him (as well as our two other cats).

Teach, Learn, Share

Obviously I could help you hone your German and flavour it with some Viennese idioms. As a language buff, i'd like to pick up something in return as well. I play guitar and sing a little, and would be eager to learn from other musicians or teach beginners. I have a basement full of sports equipment and can introduce you to a range of sports and outdoor activities: baseball, tennis, beach volleyball, windsurfing, stand-up-paddling, kayaking, hiking, climbing, slacklining, camping in the summertime and ice skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ski touring and cross-country skiing in the wintertime.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm happy to help you shopping, cooking, and dishwashing, as sitting down for a meal is always a great opportunity to get to know my hosts or guests a little better. I'll make sure i add some traditional Austrian dishes to my repertoire before i hit the road next time. If you suffer from any ailments, i'm also happy to apply my physiotherapeutic skills and yogic wisdom :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Algeria, Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Venezuela

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria

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