Because I look to get to know the city where I travel from the local perspective (and of course save up money on the hotel :P ). Happy to host if it means learning about some new cultures and/or meeting interesting people.

Wow so much. My favorite books are Master and Margarita, 1984, and Catch 22. Favorite movies - Chinatown, The Seventh Seal, The Godfather. Music - classic and alternative rock, blues.