My name is Francisco Jaramillo, Los Angeles County is my home and I live in a little tiny town nestled on the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains called Sierra Madre. I was born in Los Angeles California on the hottest day of the year in September of 1963, and since that day I have spent most of my time on earth in California but also for short periods of time I have lived in many places all over the world.
My dad was in the Navy until I was 8 years old and after he left the military we became Northern Ca. residents (Sacramento, Lakeport, and Susanville) until I joined the military myself at 18 years old. While I was in the military I lived in Georgia, (United States) Kentucky/Tennessee, Panama and Germany. I left the military in the late 1980's just before the Wall fell in Berlin.
After leaving the military I have lived in Los Angeles County for the most part. I lived a short first year in a place called San Simeon, on the Central California coast, best known for it's long beautiful coastline and the Hearst Castle where I worked while living with family.
Since that time I moved back to LA and did the normal things people do...... I am now divorced and have one child who is in college. I am looking to travel extensively over the next 10-15 years while I'm still healthy and fit enough to enjoy it. I hope my age won't put people off, I may look in the mirror and see a fifty year old dude but I still feel like a thirty year old dude deep down inside.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am an avid photographer and I plan to spend my later years pursuing my passion. I want to travel extensively so I can pursue that passion over the next 10-15 years and I want to help as many people as I can travel also. After considering my options and bank account I came to the conclusion that all I have to really offer is my couch. After hearing about Couchsurfing.com I figured; "That's the ticket!"

Interests

I try to take pictures every day, I run every other day and I have ran in one marathon, the 2016 Los Angeles Marathon. I try to get to a musem or art gallery when I'm not taking classes at least once a week. I take a college courses in the Los Angeles Communty College system almost every quarter or semester depending on the school. I love archeolgy classes, science classes, art appreciation classes, ancient art history classes and art history classes in general.
My music tastes are very eclectic, in fact one of my favorite music shows on my favorite radio station (KCRW) is called Morning Becomes Eclectic. I can sit and sip out of a jar and listen to old country or sit in a coffee bar and watch a jazz combo go to town. I was raised on rock & roll, weaned on the sound of the 80's, immersed in old punk, grunge, metal and rap. I can take it all and find great value in all of it as I can in any art-form, because I love art for art's sake.

• photography
• running
• hiking
• archeology
• art
• museums
• marathons.

Music, Movies, and Books

I started reading at an early age and I try to read everything I can get my hands on. My favorite author's are: John Steinbeck, Steven King, Isaac Asimov, Piers Anthony, Elmore Leonard Dennis Leyhane, Michael Connelly, Joe Connelly, Jack London, Edger Alan Poe, Cormac McCarthy, J.R.R. Tolkien. Just to name a few. I share a love of J.K. Rowling works with my child as well as all the movies based on those books.
As for Movies, I LOVE movies, and GOOD television. Of course there are the first three Godfather's, Scarface, anything Martin Scorsesi, Quintin Tarantino and Stanley Kubric has done. That goes for the Cohen Brothers too. Kathryn Bigalow, James Cameron, Penelope Spheeris. And of course George Lucas. My newest favorite: Guardians of the Galaxy.
As for TV: Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Fargo, Better Call Saul, True Detective and Game of Thrones. The Walking Dead is great too.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The most amazing thing I've done to this date is raise a child and get that kid to go to college. While that child has yet to graduate ( I am very confident that will happen) I really can't say anything else I've done is truly amazing. I've been involved in many amazing things but they have all been collaborations where I have had small parts. So yeah, getting my kid to a healthy, happy college age and into college for me is truly amazing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am well versed in California. What do you want to know? If I don't know it I'll know where to find out quickly.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I have a couch to sleep on, a free laundry room, a small kitchen and bath to share.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Panama