VISITING

Of course, with over a million members, anything could happen, and for many, that’s the beauty of it all. Couchsurfers can find themselves beating paths well off the tourist trail, eating local delicacies in family homes, or having it large with a whole new circle of friends. Others meet the love of their life, find themselves grappling with xenophobic Venetian wrestlers or stumble into town on the day of a local couch-surfing meeting and meet scores of fellow travellers at once.

Ruben Tapia from Esplugues del Llobregat has been involved with the project since 2005. He’s one of the organisers of the July event and a Barcelona City Ambassador. One of his most treasured memories is of hosting a girl from Russia who had never seen the sea before. “It was fantastic to see her face light up when she saw the Mediterranean for the first time” he said. For him, hosting is all about giving surfers an authentic experience, steering them away from tourist traps, cooking local food and showing them the ‘real’ Barcelona.

For anyone thinking of hosting, there are no minimum requirements, other than perhaps an open mind and a generous spirit. Be it a tiny interior flat in the city centre or a luxurious masia in the hills, the important thing is to be honest. Surfers appreciate knowing exactly where they’ll be sleeping, whether they’ll be sharing with chain smokers or pet owners and if they are going to be turfed out early when the host goes to work.

Experienced Couchsurfers are keen to point out that the project shouldn’t be just seen as a free alternative to hostelling. In fact, few things invoke their wrath more than the idea that someone is free-loading and not interested in getting to know the people or places that they are visiting.

Franciso Carmona, a country ambassador for Chile, sums up the feelings of many. “It’s about showing people that the world isn’t as bad, intolerant or untrusting as everyone thinks” he said. “When surfers contact me, I have the sensation that they are friends. I might not have met them yet, but they’re still friends.”

To join the Couchsurfing project or for more information, go to: www.couchsurfing.org. If you get involved, you might just find that the whole world starts to feel like home.