Hi everyone, Maria the Cultural Mountaineer here!
Nature lover, mountaineer, climber, skier... yep - traveler!
When I go on a trip, I usually focus either on the mountains or the people. Or both. Okay, at times I feel the need of walking through a city simply to admire the architecture or to have a coffee in a cozy place. But mountaineering and culture seeking are the main characteristics of my travels.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to connect with people from around the world, to be able to help them when they need my help, even though that might only include a city trip at the moment.

Interests

• culture
• hiking
• skiing
• mountains
• nature
• climbing
• connecting

Music, Movies, and Books

My favourite bands are Coldplay and U2, but what I listen to mostly depends on how I feel at that precise moment.

As a film recommendation, my all time favourite is 'Into the Wild'. I have a long list of films about mountaineering and travelling.

I read all kinds of books but I prefer biographies or those based on true stories. There's a huge difference between reading adventure novels and what people write about their own experiences. To name a few great books I've read: Into Thin Air (Jon Krakauer), Seven Years in Tibet (Heinrich Harrer), My Life at the Limit (Reinhold Messner)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've done alpine climbing in the Dolomites (Italy). Best. Feeling. Ever! Maybe for the first time, I felt that my life was in my own hands. I felt absolute freedom, but also a huge responsibility.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Norway, Romania