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Overview

  • 92 references 57 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English; learning French, German, Spanish
  • 67, Other
  • Member since 2006
  • Retired
  • Educated at Grammar schools in England and Germany
  • From London, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

ABOUT ME

We have always had a love of travel more to learn about the different cultures than to be a regular tourist. Open and broad minded we have become even more tolerant as we have got older in some respects but less tolerant of people who don't show consideration for others.

Steve and I started full time traveling in January 1997 and other than a couple of years break with health problems we've been roaming around every since.

Our travels are mainly by motor home in Europe, Scandinavia, America, Canada, New Zealand Australia and Africa, back packing, house sitting and more recently cruising.

Due to us both having low immune systems our back packing days in some countries is over.

We are definitely not your typical Brits .

Post Covid we are starting to travel more and to build up our confidence as we so much enjoy being with local people. 2023 we are buying a motorhome in USA to travel on and off there for 2 years.

PHILOSOPHY

What goes around comes around. We treat people as we would like to be treated ourselves.

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today - you may enjoy it and have time to do it again. On the other hand if you don't enjoy it you can then go on to find something you do.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We have hosted and surfed through Couchsurfing.

It's good to tell people about Couch surfing and encourage them to join if they seem the type to enjoy and contribute to the experience.

I have a blog with travel tips to help travellers www.glenswatman.blogspot.com

It has always been our nature to help people in whatever way we can, meals, transport, accommodation, advice etc.

Prior to joining Couchsurfing we were always having people drop in to stay. We often made friendships with and visited other people whilst travelling but the great thing about Couchsurfing is that it opens up far more opportunities than chance meetings.

Many of our hosts have been inspired by our lifestyle and some have made life changes after our visit.

The most dramatic would have to be Kevin and Ruth from Ottawa.

Just 10 weeks after our visit they had sold their house, packed in work and moved into a motor home. We had a great time exploring Mexico together for 2 months last winter.

WARNING, MEETING US MAY SERIOUSLY AFFECT YOUR LIFE PLAN!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

We have learnt so much when we have stayed in peoples homes, parked on their drive in our motorhome and had people show us their town. It has been a pleasure to host and hopfully again in the future in our motorhome.

Interests

Anything to do with travel, learning about different lifestyles and cultures, motor homes, backpacking, playing card games, computers, naturism and Steve is fanatical about British football and most sport.

  • dining
  • traveling
  • backpacking
  • surfing
  • sports
  • soccer
  • budget travel

Music, Movies, and Books

Enjoy lots of old movies, comedy and bittersweet comedies.
From TV we could watch Faulty Towers many times over.
Books - whatever we can get as swaps but particularly John Grisham, James Patterson, Kellerman, Wilbur Smith, Jeffrey Deaver and books about the country in which we are travelling.
Loved Mama Mia as a real feel good movie.

Our variety of reading material grows every year as we exchange books with other travellers. At times in Eastern Europe Steve was even known to read a Mills & Boon novel as it was the only thing in English available!

For trip planning I study Rough Guide and Lonely Planet and almost read them like a novel from cover to cover and highlight things I may go back to.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

To drop out of conventional life and adopt a travelling lifestyle.

To aid and abet others to do the same!

Teach, Learn, Share

Having learnt how to live a most enjoyable life on a budget we are always happy to share the "secret".

Much of our touring has been in motorhomes so we can advise on buying and selling them in different countries and doing exchanges.

For Asia and other less developed countries we travel very light and back pack around using public transport.

We can help you with information on really good web sites to help with budget travel and to save you money.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Lots of travel and money saving tips. When we have a motorhome we are happy to have people round for meals and the occasional overnight stay and to share a journey with us.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gambia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands, British, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United Kingdom

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