ABOUT ME

Foodie, traveller, photographer, hiker, gardener.
I run a travel website and have visited 115 countries

I was born in Wisconsin but I haven’t lived in the States since 2000. I lived in Scotland, England, Japan and now New Zealand for the last 15 years.

I love living in New Zealand but it is a long way away from Europe – try TWO 12 hour flights and flights are expensive so I try to balance out my travels.

I have done three long term travels of six month long. The first was Cairo to Cape Town in 2015. This was my first time on the African continent and it did not disappoint. 15 new countries and a ton of different safaris.

My second one was six months in South America and the Caribbean. I loved Brazil and Peru and Colombia and cannot wait to return someday. I also did a trip through West Africa going from Gibraltar to Cape Town which was rough.

My plan is to visit all 193 UN Nations someday. I’m not in a hurry to complete it. I have visit 35/54 countries in Africa and most of the Pacific Islands which are difficult to get to. Currently I’m trying to visit new and old places in Europe.

I have a travel website of my travel escapades if you would like to read more – www.nicolelabarge.com

I’m on couch surfing because I really think in order to know a place you need to know the people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to connect with the people of the countries I visit

Interests

All of the above

• writing
• cooking
• wine
• coffee
• reading
• traveling
• hiking

Music, Movies, and Books

I love movies but I’m also trying to read more. I just finished American Dirt and my favourite book is The Mockingbird. I love a great story

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swimming with humpback whales in Tonga

Teach, Learn, Share

I spent a year learning Spanish but I’m not sure how much I retained. I learned French years ago and I am surprised sometimes by what I know. I am not fluent in either sadly.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Lots of travel stories and mishaps along the way to visiting 115 countries. You can read more about it on my website www.nicolelabarge.com

Countries I’ve Visited

American Samoa, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, French Guiana, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Scotland, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Wales, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, United States