CURRENT MISSION

I'm a man on a mission - and the main purpose of it is actually finding what the mission is about.

ABOUT ME

I'm a relatively quiet guy, although when they get me started I can talk for hours on end, especially if it is somehow related to a subject of my interest! :)

I enjoy travelling and meeting new cultures/people/ideas. Add that to my shutterbugness and you have someone always dragging the group behind, as I like to look everywhere and take photos from not-so-common angles!

I study Physics (mainly Applied Physics, and Optics) and I'm currently starting my PhD at the University of Kent - the first time I actually moved away from Porto for such a long time, quite a milestone in my life!

In my (scarce) free time, I enjoy those common cultural activities like reading (charity bookshops: beware!), listening to good music (pretty eclectic on my tastes, I must say), and watching the odd movie. Lately (in the past 3 years) I became a bit more serious towards sports: I started rowing at my local rowing club, and eventually there I "discovered" the pleasures of running as well.

What can I say more about me? Well, you will have to meet me to find out (or go to my webpage, although it is permanently in a state of construction...)

PHILOSOPHY

I like to live by that famous motto "Live this day as if it will be your last". I know it is a cliché, but honestly you can't go much wrong than this - you are only entitled to a finite time on this world, so use it wisely and try not to waste it on stupid things, and remember it could also be the last day for someone you treated badly for no apparent reason!...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

At the moment, I can only show the city round, as I don't have my own place.
Once I know a bit more of Canterbury (previously I lived here for 6 months but since then discovered entire neighbourhoods I never heard of!) I may also show this city (and some of the Kentish countryside and coast), but for now I think it is better if I'd just stick by my home town!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Just registered. I have heard of couchsurfing before but never actually registered. It will be difficult for me to host someone as I either live at my family's home or in rented rooms, but I have no problems in showing the views of a city I know (mostly my hometown, Porto) to anyone interested! :)

Interests

Bah, it is all in my blog/website --> http://manuelmarque.pt.vu . Enjoy!

• running
• clubbing
• boating
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• hiking
• sailing
• sports
• rowing
• physics
• mountains

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A long time ago, while vacationing on the Cies isles in Galicia (northwestern Spain), we went on my uncle's sailing boat across some of the other islands. While lunch was getting ready, we took the snorkels and dove right next to the boat - so many fishes, and the water was crystal-clear, with white sands underneath: beautiful!

On our 2012 roadtrip to Romania with my friends we met some interesting people and saw some beautiful places, one of them being near the Fagaras mountains. After a 14km hike to the top, we stayed at a lodge and the view from it was breathtaking (I'm still using some of the images as my computer's wallpaper!).

Countries I’ve Visited

Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Portugal, United Kingdom