Hey there, my name is Vittoria, I'm Italian and I'm in my early 30s. Born and Raised in a small city on the Adriatic coast, I did my university studies in the beautiful city of Bologna. Then I have lived and traveled to many different places, all over the world.
I'm working as social worker giving legal and social assistance to asylum seekers and refugees but during the seaside bathing seasons I work as baywatch lifeguard.
I like to focus my energy on collecting experiences as opposed to 'things' and would much rather spend my money on a trip to a foreign country than on a fancy new car (one thing I do not possess, of course). I'd like to think I'm a friendly, sociable person and I try to greet everyone I meet with a smile.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

There is no better way to get to know a place than through its people. Couchsurfing hosts are generally awesome people with a global point of view, and meeting this kind of person is crucial for my life in many ways. Couchsurfing allows to experience a new culture from the inside, to see things that aren’t in guidebooks and really to understand the true meaning of generosity. I'm very interested in other people and what they do, which makes for good conversation and open-minded dialogues, and hosts allow to meet even more awesome people. For me the couchsurfing experience is most often about cultural exchange and allows to do and try things you never thought you would, and it’s definitely great for the solo traveler. It widens horizons in incalculable ways.

Interests

I love to live an active life and explore. I like solely walks along the sea boardwalk (I usually cross 10 km a day). I am very passionate about sea and water sports, and I love my bike...I mean really really love my bike, which I consider to be my best friend and my preferred mode of transport. It has always been a dream of mine to do a road trip across Europe by bicycle.
Cooking is another of my passions and a perfect night for me is getting my friends together and cooking a nice dinner for everyone. I'm a person who enjoys the outdoors and isn't afraid to step on the dancefloor from time-to-time. I am fascinated with human interaction and why people do the things they do. I enjoy philosphical conversations (or simply talking with people) and learning about different cultures and ways of life.

• culture
• dining
• cooking
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• sports
• law
• social work
• solo travel

Music, Movies, and Books

Music play a huge part in my life. I strum piano and saxophone but the music that fuels my life is Electronica, trip hop, acid jazz and..bossa nova!! I can't live without Bonobo, Daft Punk and Stan Getz.
I'm a movies junkie. I adore European filmmaking and directors very much. I really enjoy Fatih Akin movies like Head-On and Soul Kitchen (I’ve seen them so many times!). I also like Danny Boyle and Sorrentino style, and eventually I don't wholly despise the american film industry. My Favourite Movies include City of God (Cidade de Deus), Amores perros, Bread and Tulips (Pane e tulipani) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.. but a guilty pleasure of mine is Forrest Gump (I know it word for word!I cry every time!)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing I've done has been to visit The Ijen volcano complex, a group of stratovolcanoes in the Banyuwangi Regency of East Java, Indonesia. It is inside a larger caldera, which is about 20 kilometers wide. I reached The Gunung Merapi stratovolcano, the highest point of that complex, which has a one-kilometer-wide turquoise-colored acidic crater lake. The lake is recognised as the largest highly acidic crater lake in the world and it is something unbelievable to see. It is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation, in which sulfur-laden baskets are carried by hand from the crater floor.

Teach, Learn, Share

Travelling means sharing. It's part of the human condition to want to share things - thoughts, ideas, opinions. I'm just someone who likes cooking and for whom sharing food is a form of expression.

What I Can Share with Hosts

First and foremost, what I can share with hosts, it's a typical Italian home-made meal. I'm a very good cook and I would be honored to cook for my host and ,of course, helping out with dishes, to keep clean the kitchen, bathroom and "public" areas or to help in some other meaningful way, It's common courtesy. Furthermore (if regulations concerning cabin baggage are not so stringent), I always bring a sample of a special product from my homeland: olive oil. Finally, as Couchsurfing is one of the few ideas to emerge from the era of social networking that actually encourages people to do more, together, we can have (I hope) unforgettable moments of sharing.

Countries I’ve Visited

England, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Portugal, Switzerland, United States