CURRENT MISSION

Impossible things I handle right away, the miracles have to wait a little longer ;). I also want to run a guest house in mountains.

ABOUT ME

I love traveling, because it helps me to meet fascinating people.
I like all kinds of sports, cycling the most, with some good music, oh yeah :).
I cannot imagine my live without friends, but I also like traveling alone.
I like nature and animals.
I'm always interested in history of places that I visit. After few days in new city I can already be a tour guide :).

PHILOSOPHY

We know ourselves only to the extent we have been tested.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first experience with couch surfing was not expected and preety interesting.
I was hitchhiking in Scotland for many months, people are so friendly there, that it never took me more than 5 min to get a lift. But once I wanted to go from Stirling to Perth (33 miles / 54 km) and I couldn't catch anything. Maybe because it was a high way... So I walked all the way. It took me more than 10 hours, but when I finally got there at midnight I couldn't find any place to sleep, so I sat on the bench in a quiet street and I stretched my legs. Then a little bit drunk guy came out from behind the corner, he came up to me and asked:
- It looks like you really enjoy sitting on this bench, why?
- I just walked here from Stirling and I sat here for a first time from 10 hours, my legs are grateful to me :)
- You really walked 33 miles?? Wow. Where are you from?
- I'm from Poland.
- So where are you going to stay?
- I don't know yet, I will figure out something soon.
- You can sleep at my place, I have free room with bed.
- You don't even know me, how can you invite me to your house after exchanging a few words with me?
- I just know people. I'm James.
- Nice to meet you James, I'm Leszek.
- La shik?
- Le shake
- Ok, Le shaikh, let's go.
Not thinking much, I agreeded and we walked to his home. He put a bottle of old scottish whisky on the table and we talked for a few hours untill the bottle was empty. Next day after I walked around all city I wanted to go back by bus to Highlands, where I lived and worked, but unfortunately I missed the last bus. So I called to James:
- Hi, I missed the coach, can I stay one more night at your place?
- Are you kidding me? Sure you can!
I bought a bottle of polish vodka and herrings in oil and when I came I said:
- Yesterday you teached me how to drink whisky, so today I will teach you how to drink vodka :).
And so again we spent many hours on talking and drinking.
James is amazing person, he is over 50 year old theatre actor. When we met he just just came out of the trial.
This is how I discovered couchsurfing and learned that you can meet many interesting people through this.

Interests

mountain hiking, road cycling, people, new cultures, chess, travel books

• animals
• books
• acting
• running
• coach
• drinking
• chess
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• sports
• history
• tourism
• hitchhiking
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Paulo Coelho books are my inspiration, especially "The Whitch of Portobello".
"A fortune-teller told me" by Tiziano Terzani.
"Tales from Nowhere" by Lonely Planet

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I traveled alone to Scotland and stayed there for about 8 months. I worked in hotels and I was hitchhiking aroung the country, hiking in mountains, cycling. That was trip of my life, I met many fantastic people. I survived there a snow storm on the top of the montain with broken leg. After 5 hours sitting in -20C and wind, Mountain Rescue found me and gave me an air lift with helicopter. I had some hallucinations there that I will never forget.

Teach, Learn, Share

I finished a course for a Warsaw Guide, but don't have proffessional license, I'm showing this city to friends by taking them for a trips in my free time.

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Poland, United Kingdom