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Leonardo Morantes

Current Mission: "To meet awesome people in South America."

Personal Designations

Meet for coffee or drink Verified Vouched for6

Community Designations

City Ambassador (Mobile)
Contribution
United States
Alabama
Mobile
Lat: 30.69417, Lon: -88.04306
Show nearby Couches (100 K)

General Information

Leonardo Morantes is a CS City Ambassador for Mobile, United States!
Leonardo Morantes has been vouched for
VERIFIED MEMBER (3) more info
Couch availableCoffee or a drink
CouchSurf requests replied to92%
member sinceNovember 23rd, 2006
profile views1244
age27
genderMale
membernameBRAINSURGERY33
occupationI am a medical student who travels as a means to avoid insanity.
educationI'm a biologist currently working on my medical degree.
grew up inBogota, Colombia
ethnicityHuman being of hispanic heritage
Direct Profile URL

Languages

  • English (United States)Expert
  • SpanishExpert
  • ItalianBeginner

Groups I Belong To

Atlanta 853:3216
Why: I lived in Atlanta for 3 years and I loved it.
Travel Companions in Argentina 69:73
Why: Going to Argentina Dec '08
Santiago 438:1149
Why: Estare en Santiago desde el 15 hasta el 20 de Diciembre 2008!
Active in 24 more groups.
Show them all

Couch Information


Couch picture

Couch Available: Coffee or a drink
Preferred Gender: Any

This is a picture of my couch and two of my classmates.

Friends (38)

     + Add to my friends    

World map
Map of friends
PictureLuz Castro
28, Female
Kissimmee, Florida
United States
Friends since January 1995
"We was neighbors for many years."
Friendship Type: 6 - Close Friend
Met in person   Traveled2  
PictureMary Harpen
23, Female
Madrid, Madrid
Spain
Friends since July 2007
"rented from him"
Friendship Type: 6 - Close Friend
Met in person  
PictureBebeto Le Garfs Azevedo
25, Male
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
Brazil
Friends since March 2008
"Well, you know, Csing"
Friendship Type: 3 - CouchSurfing Friend
I vouched for Leonardo Morantes
Met in person   Hosted1  
PictureKatherine Russell
22, Female
Mobile, Alabama
United States
Friends since August 2007
"studied together"
Friendship Type: 5 - Good Friend
Met in person  
PicturekHeLeHk
35, Male
Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Friends since February 2008
"through Couchsurfing"
Friendship Type: 4 - Friend
I vouched for Leonardo Morantes
Met in person   Hosted7  
PictureNicolas Jadot
23, Male
Montreal, Quebec
Canada
Friends since February 2008
"in the Maracana..."
Friendship Type: 5 - Good Friend
I vouched for Leonardo Morantes
Met in person   Traveled1  
PictureYara Howe
27, Female
New York, New York
United States
Friends since March 2008
"CS Meeting at my house"
Friendship Type: 3 - CouchSurfing Friend
I vouched for Leonardo Morantes
Met in person  
PictureJuanita + Arnaud
31, Female
Baltimore, Maryland
United States
Friends since March 2008
"Met through a mutual CS friend "
Friendship Type: 4 - Friend
Met in person   Traveled2  
PictureSAMMY406
30, Male
Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Friends since March 2008
"Hang'out in Niteroi and Lapa "
Friendship Type: 5 - Good Friend
I vouched for Leonardo Morantes
Met in person   Traveled1  
PictureMurat Ağdemir
23, Male
Istanbul, Istanbul
Turkey
Friends since September 2008
"He helped us up while we were evacuating :)"
Friendship Type: 3 - CouchSurfing Friend
Met in person   Traveled2  
28 more friends
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Leonardo Morantes
From Corcovado mountain
View all 38 photos

Personal Description

I'm from Colombia but have lived in the US since 1998. I lived in Orlando, Atlanta, Birmingham, and now live in Mobile. I love traveling and meeting lots of people from diverse backgrounds.

How I Participate in CS2

My current plan is to get the community more involved at a local level and maybe organize some events with nearby cities like Biloxi, New Orleans or Pensacola.

CouchSurfing Experience

Toon- Leuven, Belgium
Bram and Nele- Gent, Belgium
Jean-Sébastien & Stéphanie - Paris, France
Henri- The Hague, Netherlands
Mathias- Zurich, Switzerland
Gianluca & Claudia- Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro
Vanessa- Sao Paulo
Yara- Sao Paulo
Alberto- Sao Paulo
Murat & Ibrahim- Turkey
I have only had great experiences, but the best ones have been when I have met many people through my host (Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Gent jump to mind).

Interests

I cherish diversity. I really enjoy traveling, but I like to travel off the beaten path. I like to see the places I visit from the eyes of the natives. There is a lot to learn from others. I can't live without music and I enjoy listening to music that I cannot understand; I prefer soft balads.

Philosophy

Carpe Diem et Carpe Noctem!!!
Do onto others as you wish they'd do onto you.
Work hard and play even harder.
I enjoy the small things in life. I try to take a trip whenever I'm off from school. I am frugal on my daily life, but splurge in the things that really matter to me (like traveling).

Music, Movies, Books

Music: I absolutely love music. I learned English by learning the lyrics to my favorite songs. I know a little Italian because I listen to Opera, I am learning German because I found a German musical and I can't stop listening to it. I love Meat Loaf, Queen and especially Freddie Mercury.

Movies: The Shawshank Redemption, Love Actually, Crash, Immortal Beloved, American Pie, Deep Impact.

Books: Plato's Apology, Brain Longevity, Rich Dad Poor Dad. I don't really read much; now I don't even have time to read much besides what I have to read for school.

Types of People I enjoy

Really all people, but mainly those who are optimistic and enjoy their life. I like being around people who have flexible personalities and can have fun doing a wide variety of things. I have a hard time making decisions, so it is good to have someone around to help me make up my mind.

Teach, Learn, Share

The main purpose of my trips is to create long-lasting friendships. I've stayed in touch with many of my hosts and I enjoy talking to them and plan to meet them later in life.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school." Albert Einstein

"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us _universe_, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." Albert Einstein

One Amazing Thing I've Seen or Done

Flying!!! I still think it is amazing how we can fly and go so far and explore a wholly different world.

I've delivered babies. Try to match that!

Opinion on the CouchSurfing.com Project

I love this idea. The oportunity to meet people from all over the world is amazing. What is even better is that those people are open enough to at least want to have a cup of coffee with a stranger.

I'm not a stranger, I'm just a friend you haven't met yet.

Locations Traveled

TRAVELED: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United States
LIVED: Colombia, United States
WANTS TO GO: Malawi
IS GOING TO: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay

References

     Leave a Reference >>    
Picture
From Rodney Sabatini
 Atlanta, United States
 Nov 27
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

After only 10 years, 4 months, ......CONGRATS on the promotion to the blue passport!

Let's talk Havana soon.

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From Andrew Brown
 Decatur, United States
 Nov 26
Met in person Friend,  
Positive

I was originally contacted Leonardo to surf his couch in Mobile and to talk about my upcoming trip to Colombia. That fell through when he had to go to a medical conference. We didn't let a minor hiccup get in the way of a good time. When Leonardo came to Atlanta we met up at a CS dinner and had a blast. We were talking about travel, Colombia, and how great CS is. He is a great person who is very proactive in CS. I would surf, host, and travel with him anytime. Thanks for all the great tips on Colombia.

Picture
From Caroline Riegel
 Atlanta, United States
 Nov 26
Met in person Acquaintance,  
Positive

At dinner, Leonardo was telling our table about all his amazing experiences exploring the Americas. Oh- and congrats on the citizenship!

Picture
From Luz Castro
 Kissimmee, United States
 Nov 23
Met in person Close Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Considero a Leonardo un gran ser humano. Tuve la oportunidad de compartir con él dos agradables días rodeados de naturaleza y gente cordial en un viaje imprevisto.

I consider Leonardo a great human being. I had the opportunity to share two awesome days surrounded of nature and cordial people whit him in an unexpected journey.

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From Zsofia Pales
 Debrecen, Hungary
 Oct 5
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

I had the pleasure to spend a fun CS invasion with Leonard including fine jazz concerts, buggy ride, a war game :) and an intro to Hungarian cuisine. He definitely is a nice and trustworthy person!

Picture
From Murat Ağdemir
 Istanbul, Turkey
 Sep 22
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

Leonardo is pretty much awesome, he was very but very helpful to pick us up from Biloxi when we tried to evacuate. It was also very kind of him that he introduce us to his lovely wife and brother. We hang out 2 days and it was well enough to know his big heart.

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From Darryl Goodwin
 New Orleans, United States
 Aug 31
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 1 days  
Positive

I had a wonderful time when Leonardo came to a couchsurfing invasion in New Orleans, a collaboration of several ambassadors. Leonardo was a great guest at my house and added to the events of the weekend. Thanks, hope to meet again.

Picture
From Margarita Navas
 Bogota, Colombia
 Jul 5
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

he is a great guy!!! very friendly, funny, easy going, great personality :)

Picture
From Juan Sebastian Bonilla
 Bogota, Colombia
 Jul 4
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

He is a great guy, we met in Mobile town last summer and we had a good time. We did not spend enough time but I must say that he is very very friendly and smart. I really wish you the best and I hope be back in the us again. Have fun

Picture
From Katherine Robinson
 Mobile, United States
 Jun 15
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

I met Leo at a starbucks and he introduced me to couchsurfing which is totally awesome. He is really friendly and fun to talk to!!!

Picture
From Thom Johnson
 Hollywood, United States
 May 6
Met in person  
Positive

Leonardo was so nice to greet me when coming to his town of Mobile. He is very warm, intelligent and a very experienced traveler. He gave me great tips while we drouned ourselves in caffeine at his local Starbucks, both for different reasons. He was studying for his final exams on his way to becoming a doctor and I was traveling through the night on a 19 hour voyage home from working in Houston, TX to where my RV was in central Florida. I wish that we had more time to hang out and that the last minute timing was different but I will be passing back throug his area again soon and will definitely look him back up. I suggest that you do the same. He has the true 'couchsurfing' spirit and a great soul. See you again Leonardo! Come visit Florida! You both are welcome with me.

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From Claudia Pedroso
 Niteroi, Brazil
 Apr 14
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

It was very good knowing Leonardo, a host that everyone should have, very polite, kind and quiet. Hope meet him again.. kiss for you..

Picture
From David Mitchell
 Mobile, United States
 Apr 10
Met in person Good Friend,  
Positive

Leonardo is a great guy who really really really likes to travel. So if you're on couchsurfing.com, you probably have a lot in common with him. And he likes to see how people in other countries live instead of seeing hotels. So again, if you are on couchsurfing.com, you probably have a lot in common with him.

Picture
From kHeLeHk
 Niteroi, Brazil
 Mar 26
Met in person Friend, Hosted 7 days  
Positive

Leonardo is exactely what you expect from a guest: nice, polite, clean, really interested to travel and to share experiences, funny and friendly. He has a fantastic CS soul that give to you the hopeness that CS Project will grew through people like Leonardo. I´m sure that we will meet again somewhere in the world!!!

Picture
From Vanessa Mathias
 Sao Paulo, Brazil
 Mar 23
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 2 days  
Positive

Leonardo was a great guest, educated, polite, fun to be with, and very smart!

Picture
From Robert Parham
 Haifa, Israel
 Mar 10
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Leonardo is a really cool, interesting guy. We met in sao-paulo thru mutual CS friends, and ended up spending the better part of 2 days together. A great guy, fun to meet, and i hope to surf his couch in mobile soon :)

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From Niels Alexander
 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 Mar 9
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

We met eachother during a great party in Niteroi and had some nice conversations. It was a pleasure to meet you Leonardo, and for sure I will let you see a little bit more of the Netherlands once you are back in Europe! You are welcome in Amsterdam!

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From Juanita + Arnaud
 Baltimore, United States
 Mar 8
Met in person Friend, Traveled 2 days 
Positive

We had a good ol' time hanging out with Leonardo in Niterói & in Sao Paulo! A nice surprise for the both of us! We hope to be able to meet up again soon, in the States or who knows, why not in Europe!! Nuestra casa es tu casa amigo!! Un besote! J&A

Picture
From Yara Howe
 New York, United States
 Mar 8
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Leonardo is such a nice guy, even when he's had no sleep at all(that tells you a lot about a person). All my friends loved him in Sao Paulo and I'm definetly looking foward to seeing him again sometime. All the best and good luck on your tests!

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From Bebeto Le Garfs Azevedo
 Sao Paulo, Brazil
 Mar 8
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 1 days  
Positive

Sometimes in life you meet people that you can totatlly feel you would be friends for life with them. This is the case with Leonardo. He is such a nice guy, easy to talk to about just anything. I had an amazing time while he was here, and I wish to visit him in Mobile on time for Mardi Gras ;) Hope our path will cross again!

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From Nicolas Jadot
 Montreal, Canada
 Mar 7
Met in person Good Friend, Traveled 1 days 
Positive

I met Leonardo in the hive of carioca crazyness, namely the Maracana... he's an intelligent and curious guy, and I totally support your "33-project"... please tell me if you come in Canada!

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From Gabriela Godoi
 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 Mar 6
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

I met Leo while he was in Rio and he was a good company, looking to learn more about Rio and Brasil culture. I hope to meet again soon!

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From Andrea Rossi
 Assisi, Italy
 Mar 3
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

Besides the fact we didn't manage to talk one each other, face our language communication problems, i just realize he's a great guy. Maybe who knows someday i'll meet up him in America... huh?

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From SAMMY406
 Niteroi, Brazil
 Mar 2
Met in person Good Friend, Traveled 1 days 
Positive

It was really nice to hang out with Leo, he was always an excellent companion at our gatherings and we always had a lot of fun and some talks about culture, which was enriching for me. Besides, he has always great chicks around him. hehe.
He’s very intelligent, full of energy and truly interested about people. :-)
Good luck in your journey mate!
And come back soon as ít possible!

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From Nicole Maciel
 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 Feb 29
Met in person Acquaintance,  
Positive

I love Colombia and I love speaking Spanish so, when I met Leo, I made his life "miserable", cause I couldn't stop talking...lol Anyway, we had fun at the game, he is very nice, polite and, even though he's a little serious, I'm sure he's a party guy. Nice "cachaco"...hope to keep in touch!

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From Suzi Ribeiro
 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 Feb 25
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  

Unfortunatly, I met Leonardo just once in a bbq in Rio. Anyway, I realize he´s very nice boy. I hope meet him more at any place around the world. ;-)

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From Jean-Sébastien Vautrin
 Paris, France
 Jul 28, 2007
Met in person  
Positive

Leonardo was a very nice guest. He's crazy about music and he showed me some of his favorite songs. It was a great time. Unfortunately he could stay only one night.

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From Toon Beerten
 Leuven, Belgium
 Jun 14, 2007
Met in person Friend, Hosted 2 days  
Positive

Leonardo was an perfect guest. Too bad he could only stay one night. Had a fun night out with him. It was also funny he took a picture of my toilet :) .

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From Saskia De Schryver
 Gent, Belgium
 May 31, 2007
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend,  
Positive

This guy is great : he's funny and serious at the same time !! He's interested in everything, culture, beer, jenever ... just name it :-)

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From BRAM AND NELE
 Dendermonde, Belgium
 May 31, 2007
Met in person CouchSurfing Friend, Hosted 1 days  
Positive

Leonardo is a very nice and polite guy. It was fun having you over! And thanks for our Spanish lesson! Enjoy your trip in Europe.

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