This post is also available in:
Italiano (Italian)
For a period of my life I happened to host with couchsurfing. This is a site that connects those who are willing to keep travelers in their homes, free of charge. In my opinion this only makes sense if it involves an acquaintance and an exchange. That is why I no longer do it since for many it is instead just a way to mooch a bed.
For someone who has two jobs and always a thousand things to do, it is too much of a risk to find someone in the house whom you would like to dismiss quickly and instead just won’t leave. And although I had won myself some good reviews, I decided not to host anyone anymore after a couple of bad experiences.
With my spirit came a few, but beautiful, friendships that I still cultivate.
Couchsurfing I’ve been using it a little more often to get hosted. Even more as a hookup to have a few chats and a beer with someone local. Thanks to this platform, especially abroad, I have gleaned anecdotes that I talk about in this blog.
- Smurfs, monkeys and whiskey – trip to Andalusia and Gibraltar
- The palace of Knossos; hard to be gay on an ‘island
Hosting with couchsurfing, my experiences
In the very early days I hosted some people through the sponsorship of a girlfriend who was a veteran. In fact, if you don’t have reviews, it’s hard for someone to come to your house.
The first time was one of the most fun with a Belgian-Vitnamese boy studying in Bologna. Initially he wanted to come alone to see the mosaics in Ravenna; eventually there were 6 of them. A little tight they camped out in my apartment, and it was fun to chat with them.
Less pleasant was dealing with two Polish hitchhikers, to whom I had also prepared, a fish dinner. They were supposed to arrive in the late afternoon. They did not show up until well into the night. Only then did they write to me that they were still in Florence, at an autogrill. I froze the fish and went to sleep. In the morning I saw a message sent at 1:30. They had written that they were at the station in Ravenna, that is, half an hour from my house, and that I could pick them up.
Really fun was with 3 young Swiss girls; one night we went to the restaurant, the next day they went around Ravenna alone, and the second night we had dinner at my place. In the site review they wrote enthusiastically about a real dinner at an Italian’s house with even 3 courses. I actually warmed up some piadina with sliced meats, made a first course and there was a sweet treat, but it seemed so much to them: how expensive.
Russia’s dog wanted to eat the neighbor’s chickens
A Russian woman who had been traveling for months with her little dog, turned out to be just a freeloader who got kept wherever she went, not even interested in the places she went. She should have stayed with me for a couple of days. Instead she left after a week and after first emptying my fridge and exhausting the Giga of my Internet connection (at that time, it was not a lot).
The theoretical justification was that she got sick. In fact, on the second day she wanted to go to the sea and bathe. I pointed out to her that in April in the entire Adriatic she would be the only one, she replied, I’m Russian, I’m not cold.
For an evening or two I had always offered to others, which is not even due. In fact, it is customary to contribute in some way, especially if one is so much. Anyway, these comparisons can be really nice, but after two guests I was out of the mood.
Punctually she cooled down, but, as mentioned, her recovery was very long. If at least she had been company. Instead she stayed in the house the whole time and when I returned she minded her own business, leaving me to eat alone. To make matters worse I was reprimanded by a neighbor because the dog Russo had escaped and heavily harassed his chickens, who fortunately got away unharmed.
Trips to the cities of Emilia-Romagna
Of taking trips to the cities of Emilia-Romagna, I wasn’t even thinking about it. As perhaps happens to everyone, it took me a long time to visit and appreciate the beauties I had nearby. Ravenna with its mosaics is a marvel, but Rimini and Cesena to speak of Romagna are not bad at all either, and all the capitals, but also many smaller towns in the region, have something interesting.
One city I particularly like is Ferrara, especially on winter evenings with a bit of fog that makes it so medieval. Same goes for San Marino, which for me is unpassable on the days when it is most crowded and lovely if no one is around. Having guests, not just couchsurfing, is a great opportunity to visit beautiful places close to home, and so now I could also be a cicerone in English.
My friend Pimpi has a nice blog that also talks in depth about Romagna.
Going to San Marino for a selfie, here’s what happens if you decide to host with couchsurfing
A half-French, half-German I even took her to my parents’ for dinner, but even there she spent her time messing around with her phone. I like San Marino, like all very touristy old towns, when the tourist droves are not there, and having gone there several times, I prefer to do other things. But I can understand someone who has never been there being intrigued by it. He cared so much about it, and one Sunday morning we went. She took a nice selfie right away, didn’t want to go up to the top but at noon go straight to lunch right in the square despite the fact that I assured her there were a myriad of nice places to eat.
The restaurant had a room in a kind of basement, the food was questionable and expensive, but she was puffing the whole time because there was no reception. We ate quickly, I thought she was eager to see the rest. Instead she wanted to go straight into a decidedly anonymous bar, without ordering anything but so she could post her fresh selfie and comment on it. Leaving there I made a series of overtures to her, but nothing, the day’s goal was largely achieved: home home!
I really had to insist on taking her to the 5th-century Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I let her go alone but she returned after two minutes. She had taken the selfie from outside without even going inside. She was the last one I hosted.
Bologna and the singer-songwriters
Since I know Bologna well, sometimes it happened that I met someone there and acted as a bit of a cicerone. Once I organized a surprise evening for a non-Emilian friend who was a fan of Italian singer-songwriters. We slept on Via Paolo Fabbri, very close to where singer-songwriter Francesco Guccini lived and whose home address is also the name of one of his most famous records. We had dinner at an equally famous osteria, sung by Guccini himself and a historic haunt of him, Lucio Dalla and company.
It was a rather specific experience, but in general I am convinced that Bologna is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and can be combined with many other beautiful places.
Speaking of Guccini and even musical outings; I happened to combine a concert of his in Modena with a visit to the city, where he lived and about which he speaks in several songs. The concert was right in the square and I was next to a bar where there was a table of ladies who might have been contemporaries of the musician. It excited me to think that maybe some of them had been in some way the inspiration for one of those songs.
Home set of experiences Visit San Marino and especially Emilia-Romagna
Previous articleWhat to do in Emilia-Romagna and San Marino?
Next Article Animals in the pine forests of Ravenna
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Countries visited in my travel stories
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.