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Overview

  • 2 references 2 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian; learning Croatian, Italian, Spanish
  • 59, Male
  • Member since 2011
  • Self employed in antique building materials; full-time fa...
  • Economics&languages in Rotterdam; Art history in Amst...
  • From The Hague, the Netherlands
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

? I will have a look at other profiles first!

ABOUT ME

I studied as long as possible, in order to stay free and travel for some more time. From 17 to 31 I hitch-hiked everywhere. It was my third university, and perhaps the most useful.
I try to explore the world avoiding tourists. I never book anything in advance, I just take off and see what comes my way.
Some experiences:
*At age 10 I cycled on an old bike with my 11 year old brother to my aunt, 140 kms away. From here it all started.
*I learned Hungarian in Africa in 1987, being the only foreign member of the Hungarian Teleki Expedition.
*I enjoyed the Transsiberian go and return during Gorbacsov's time (1988) and saw old China in between.
*I walked part of the Camino de Santiago when nobody was doing it yet april 1990).
*I loved also trekking on my own through the rain forest in Ecuador for a week (1990).
*Idem playing mariachi for a week in Cuernavaca, Mexico (1991).
*Idem Croatian island hopping by bike in winter (2001).
*Biking 500+ kms with my daughters of 10 and 8 through Hungary, Romania and Ukraine (2007), camping wild.
*Connecting the European Capitals of Culture of 2010 on bike: Essen-Pécs-Istanbul, 6600 kms solo. I hope to make a tradition out of that now (www.europeonbike.info).

At the same time I love being at home with my wife and children!

PHILOSOPHY

Love your fellow man as yourself, don't ly, don't shut anybody out, do as you promised, give the good example, try to be humble.
I'm afraid that between philosophy and practise there is often a difference, but I keep on trying anyway..

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I just joined! But I will get involved more substancially soon...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Still a virgin, but eager to get experience.

Interests

A good and simple life; family and friends; art and culture in the broadest sense; bicycling; cooking; eating and drinking; photography; languages; history and what is happening in the world right now.

  • arts
  • culture
  • books
  • folklore
  • photography
  • cooking
  • drinking
  • traveling
  • cycling
  • hiking
  • camping
  • history
  • languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Danish thrillers (Adam's Apples etc.)The girl with the dragon tattoo.
Music: Arvo Pärt, Henryk Górecki, J.S.Bach, Chet Baker.
Books: Tove Jansson: Summer book; Thomas Mann: Der Zauberberg; Johan Huizinga: Herfsttij der middeleeuwen;and so much more...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The temple of Abu Simbel under the stars, being all alone (1987).

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you how to hitch-hike effectively; same for long-distance bicycling.
I know everything about antique concrete tiles (www.panharmonia.com).
I know a lot about Hungary and Hungarians.
I love to share cooking ideas, and taste the result together.
I would like to learn Croatian much better.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Venezuela

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain

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