Hi! My name is Santiago. I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, on September 14, 1989. I lived in Chicago, USA, for almost two years, and I feel I got to know the city quite well. I am currently living in Connecticut doing my residency. I am married to Gustavo, the love of my life, and I am very grateful to the universe that ours paths crossed.I am a very easygoing guy, with an open mind to the world and its heterogeneity. I enjoy living new experiences, trying out new things and exploring this big wide world.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I recently joined Couchsurfing. I think it's just a great idea. It's such a great way of meeting new people while traveling and getting a twist on what would be a "normal" tourist trip: meeting people in their own cities will give the visitor a vantage point that they would not be able to get from regular tourism. I find that very interesting and an awesome alternative way to explore new places. Also, I love to learn about other cultures and I think the best way of doing it is spending time with people from those cultures, getting to know their lifestyle and sharing experiences. So basically Couchsurfing is an awesome community to be a part of. :D

Interests

Photography: I enjoy capturing images that are interesting to the eye, whether it's during my daily routine or on vacation. I love colors, lines, shapes and incorporating people in the pictures. Most of my favorite shots I post here: https://instagram.com/santografo/

Writing: I enjoy creating and writing stories since I was a teenager. I usually find inspiration in magic and science fiction, so I guess I would consider most of my writing magical realism. Also, I usually pair my pictures with texts, which I really like doing, since I feel adds a bit more depth to the image. Same link as before: https://instagram.com/santografo/

Traveling: I am an explorer at heart. I love traveling to places that are different from what I know and exploring every bit of them. I love discovering new cultures and meeting new people. I find every new experience adds a lot to my personal growth.

Music: I enjoy a variety of music genres which I think has to do with my curiosity for other cultures. I am very open to new sounds, so I really listen to a very wide range of styles, from salsa to fado and electronica. I love world music too, which again I think it's linked to my interest in different cultures.

• birds
• culture
• writing
• photography
• traveling
• socializing
• magic
• music
• world music
• science
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: as I stated before, I like a bunch of different music genres. Here are a few artists from the top of my head: My Brightest Diamond, Lisa Hannigan, Sara Tavares, Aterciopelados, Florence + The Machine, Carminho, Rokia Traoré, Shakira, Rubén Blades, Zoé, Hello Seahorse, Bajofondo Tangoclub, Chambao, Yelle, Shakira, John Mayer, Natalia Lafourcade, Los Paranoias, Helado Negro... I could probably go on for a while.

Movies: I enjoy watching movies a lot. The weirdest thing happens to me though: I can watch a movie and then after a few weeks forget about the details and maybe the whole plot... I only remember if I liked it or not. So whenever I watch it again is like watching a whole new movie! It has its good and its bad sides, but I like it that way. Fantasy, SciFi, mystery, animated and good horror are my favorite genres. A few good movies from the top of my head: Amélie, Azul y no tan Rosa, Budapest Hotel, Life Is Beautiful, Avatar, Frida, Beetlejuice, A Series Of Unfortunate Events, La Piel Que Habito, Batman (Returns, The Dark Knight Trilogy), The Matrix, Pan's Labyrinth, Elizabeth, The Lord Of The Rings (all three of them).

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One of the most amazing experiences I've had is standing on the edge of El Abismo (The Abyss), the end of a flat mountain (tepuy) in the border between Venezuela and Brasil, 3000 feet above the ground: all you can see beneath you is Amazon jungle all the way to the horizon, and you can hear the sounds of the rain forest coming out of it, birds, monkeys, eerie creatures. It was such a humbling moment, being so little and in front of that immensity. Spending the night up there was amazing too: the millions of stars twinkling against the black sky in the middle of the wilderness were a great end to an amazing journey.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I think I can share my own experiences, my background and my culture, so we can both learn a little bit from each other and get the best out of the Couchsurfing experience. I also always want to give back, so whenever I get a chance I will definitely return the kind favor to my host, opening my home and showing the best that my city has to offer, wherever I might be.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States, Venezuela