I returned to Couchsurfing in July 2024 after more than four years of absence, during which many life changes occurred. Though I’m not as cheerful as before, I still have a passion for travel and a wide range of interests.

Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, I moved to Toronto, Canada, in 2006, and I’ve never regretted it. What I miss most is the proximity to Europe, and the deep, enriching experiences I get from each visit there. My heart belongs to Venice, a city I adore and return to time and again to recharge. Yet, Japan is the destination I’ve been dreaming of for a long time.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

If I ask to stay with you, it’s not just because I’m looking for a free place to stay. I enjoy spending time with my hosts and consider Couchsurfing a unique opportunity to make new friends. I believe that new people enrich our lives by offering fresh perspectives and experiences.

While I’m not an extremely active Couchsurfing user, some of the people I’ve met and stayed with have become very good friends, and I keep in touch with them outside of this platform. Hosting can be difficult for me, especially since my mom passed away and my dad still lives in the same place, but I would host anyone I’ve stayed with. I’ve been fortunate to meet many thoughtful and fascinating people, and I would welcome them again — just not all at once! :-)

I was a member of the Naked Sleepers group here on Couchsurfing, but strangely enough it disappeared.

Interests

Art and nature are what make my heart beat faster and give me peace, reminding me that life is still beautiful. I try to visit as many fine art museums as I can, though sometimes I feel like it might be too many for a single trip. However, it’s not about checking things off a list; I want to hold onto the memories and impressions these places leave on me.

Opera has been a significant part of my life for a long time, and I see it as the most "synthetic" art form, combining all types of creativity into one experience. I’ve reviewed opera productions for the media in Russia, and after moving to North America, I had the privilege of gaining accreditation at institutions like the Bayreuth Opera Festival and the Metropolitan Opera. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine affected this part of my life, but I still try to watch as many opera broadcasts as I can. Directing is my main area of focus, and I miss the "brain workout" I used to get from writing analytical reviews about opera direction — not just simple statements of opinion, but exploring why a director made specific choices and how those choices impact the overall production and touch the audience. Touch the audience - isn't that why we go to the opera? :-)

I’ve also been involved with the National Ballet of Canada for quite a while, mainly as an extra. Whenever they need non-dancing people on stage — like servants, waiters, or courtiers — I’m there. It’s always a fun experience, and I’m proud to be part of a company that’s one of the best in the world.

Fossils used to be one of my passions, and while I’ve shifted away from collecting them, I still use them as interior design elements. I’m a big fan of design in general, from interiors to magazine layouts. I worked in the design department of a railway company in Russia for several years, and one of my designs for a restaurant car was even built. I still do graphic design from time to time.

Other interests include gardening (I have a flower-filled front yard and a backyard full of berry bushes — though no tomatoes this year, since I’m tired of battling squirrels), cooking, hosting friends, and enjoying wine and beer. I’m also deeply interested in psychology and relationships with people, and I love engaging in thoughtful conversations. I’ll never pressure you to talk, but I’m always open if you’d like to chat.

• arts
• architecture
• design
• graphic design
• beauty
• perfumes
• ballet dancing
• traveling
• opera
• psychology
• fossils
• fragrances

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
Theatre by W.S. Maugham, Eugene Onegin...

Music: classical (Mozart, Verdi, Wagner ... ), jazz, pop, house, alternative... Muse, IAMX, Damien Rice, Max Raabe, Stromae.

TV and Films:
Dirty Sexy Money, Damages (season 1), Heroes, Little Britain, Evil under the Sun, Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Thomas Crown Affair (1999), The Muse, Red Desert, Le Libertin, Gazon maudit, Kika, Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios, /The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover/, Prospero’s Books, Dr T and the Women, Prêt-à-Porter, East is East, Inception, Now You See Me, The Tourist, The Nightmare Before Christmas, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron. Of course Matrix (Part 1), The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Narnia, Avatar ... Mrs. Davis, Succession, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Meet Joe Black, All of Us Strangers /Red, White and Royal Blue/ Call Me by Your Name...

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Honduras, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Russian Federation