Hello there, bonjour!

I've made Ottawa🇨🇦 my home for 20+ years and love the city. Currently living in a conveniently-located apartment in Centretown, about a 15-minute walk from Parliament Hill and close to many points of interest.

Have a day job writing government speeches.🖊 I also host a weekly progrock/jazz music program at the local community radio station, CHUO 89.1 FM.🎙 (www.facebook.com/lavillachuofm)

I'm usually available on evenings and weekends. Also like to run when the weather is nice 🏃 but I’m a passionate indoorsman when it gets cold around here 🥶.

What else—I can recommend where to hear the best live music 🎶 in town.

Most of all, I'm ready to host you!

Hosted CS guests from: 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇳🇨🇱🇫🇷🇨🇦🇬🇧🇲🇾🇦🇹🇵🇱🇩🇪🇧🇪🇲🇽🇨🇳🇸🇰🇳🇱🇰🇷🇸🇪🇧🇷🇹🇷🇻🇳🇾🇪🇮🇹🇪🇸🇨🇭🇦🇷🇷🇴🇨🇿🇷🇺🇵🇭🇫🇮🇹🇼🇦🇺🇬🇷🇫🇴🇸🇮🇨🇴🇮🇷🇩🇰🇩🇿🇨🇷🇮🇪🇦🇿🇪🇨🇱🇻🇺🇬🇹🇭🇯🇲🇰🇿🇸🇬🇳🇿🇳🇬🇷🇸🇯🇵🇬🇪🇩🇴🇧🇭🇮🇲🇮🇱🇹🇳🇺🇾🇵🇪🇴🇲🇨🇩🇧🇬🇭🇳🇧🇳🇮🇩🇵🇹🇳🇴🇭🇺🇲🇦🇸🇩🇳🇵🇲🇹🇦🇱🇲🇰🇪🇬🇱🇧🇦🇪🇵🇰🇨🇺🇱🇹

Surfed with CS hosts in: 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇫🇷🇬🇧🇧🇪🇫🇮🇦🇹🇭🇺🇭🇷🇷🇸🇧🇬🇹🇷🇷🇴🇩🇰🇳🇱🇸🇪🇦🇱🇲🇪🇲🇰🇬🇷🇸🇮🇸🇰

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Sabina Lindgren introduced me to the CS community back in 2016. Sabina is a veteran couchsurfer and all-around wonderful human being based in Sweden🇸🇪. Having now experienced the joys of Couchsurfing, I'm keeping the positive vibes going as a host here in Ottawa, and hopefully as a guest too the next time I'm out travelling.

Check out Sabina’s great profile! https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/sabinalindgren

Interests

• cats
• books
• running
• politics
• reading
• minimalism
• jazz
• guitar
• geography
• history
• languages
• couchsurfing
• craft beer
• radio
• hospitality
• maps
• ramen
• flags
• vinyl records
• railways
• progressive rock
• balkans
• duolingo
• raki
• halfmarathon
• kanji
• eurail
• speechwriting

Music, Movies, and Books

Musical interests run the gamut from modern and classic-era progressive rock to avant-jazz, extreme and experimental metal, Scandinavian folk, early 70s soul, Glenn Gould’s Bach, and the Greek crooners. One musical artist I could not live without: Leprous

Happy to welcome all your musical recommendations!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I taught English in Japan🇯🇵 for three years, [2001-2004]. If you've done something similar, it would be fun to share experiences.

Sampled 38 craft beers in four days in Portland, Oregon🇺🇸 [2016]

Hitchhiked in Albania🇦🇱 and helped clean up the hiking trail at Dajti Mountain. [2021]

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a passion for the cuisine of Hungary🇭🇺 — I'll be happy to prepare for you my signature dish: pörkölt and nokedli. 🌶+🍅+🥒 =🥘 If you have a favourite recipe from home, let’s make it! 🍽

14 highly recommended adventurers and travel vloggers — all worth checking out:

James Leithart🇺🇸🇦🇱 https://youtube.com/c/JamesLeithart
Rick Steves🇺🇸 https://www.youtube.com/user/RickSteves
Eva zu Beck🇵🇱 https://www.youtube.com/EvazuBeckOfficial
Geography Now🇺🇸 https://www.youtube.com/GeographyNow
Bald and Bankrupt🇬🇧 https://www.youtube.com/baldandbankrupt
Eamon and Bec🇨🇦 https://www.youtube.com/EamonBec/
Syifa Adriana🇮🇩 https://www.youtube.com/SyifaAdriana
Alina Mcleod🇨🇦 https://www.youtube.com/AlinaMcleod
Drew Binsky🇺🇸 https://www.youtube.com/thehungrypartier
Nora Adventurism🇳🇱 https://www.youtube.com/Nora_adventurism
On Her Bike🇵🇱 https://www.youtube.com/onherbike
The Man in Seat 61🇬🇧 https://www.youtube.com/seat61
1 Bike, 1 World🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 https://www.youtube.com/1bike1world
Itchy Boots🇳🇱 https://www.youtube.com/itchyboots

What I Can Share with Hosts

What I Can Offer Guests:

- private room with deluxe airbed for two
- pull-out couch for two in a more open space 🛋
- shower/bath 🚿🛁
- balcony that gets morning and afternoon sun 🌇
- wifi📱

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Albania, Canada, Japan, Sweden