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My First Couchsurfing Experience

Posted on December 2, 2016February 3, 2018 by Chantel @ Voyaging Vagabond

Kidnap, burglary, attack-free, sorry to disappoint guys. But it does include a hell of a good time!

Posted in Where I've BeenTagged backpacking, berlin, couchsurfing, digital marketing, Europe, funny, germany, inspiration, international, lgbt, travel, travel stories, Travel Tips, wordpress, writing, writing 201611 Comments

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The outdoors does not discriminate. . . . The fresh air is not reserved for one person. The sun touches all faces the same way. The dirt under you shifts no matter how you step. The outdoors is calling and I urge you to go. . . . . Being here I'm finding more opportunities to explore on my off days and this breathtaking view is a mere 20 minute walk from home. I've made a promise to myself to try to spend at least thirty minutes in nature everyday. Just to give my eyes a rest from a screen and to let my mind wander with the soundtrack of Peniche's noises in the background. . . . . I know there are people in this world that think something about them holds them back from spending time outdoors. But I cannot stress how untrue that is. There is a serene place in this world for you no matter how many times you may have to pause and take a break before you get there. . . . . So let me pass this little note from Mother Nature....come back. She wants you to visit more often. She wants to use the little wonders she offers to help you find a stillness that can really bring some good to your life. . . . No matter your skill level, don't ever let an insecurity hold you back from going outside. . . . **Side note** Sorry to all my New England homies that can barely spend 5 minutes outside without freezing. Spring will be here soon!!! 😬 . . . . . #discoverearth #portugal #peniche #visitportugal #visitpeniche #theglovelwanderer #travelinclusivity #mylpguide #optoutside #rei1440project #travelbug #scenicview #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces #aroundtheworld #landscapelover #adventurethatislife #adventureisoutthere #exploremore #adventureculture #goexplore #travelwithme #traveljunkie #welltravelled #travelinspiration #peoplewhoadventure #keepitwild #stayandwander #passionpassport

So my last post was a super sexy shot. . . . and damnnn was I nervous to post it. I mean, I LOVE that shot that Steph snapped during a rainy day in our Porto Airbnb. But part of me was like, "do I really wanna put myself out on the interwebs like that?" . . . . When in doubt, I extend a call out to my lady squad. I reached out to the fierce women in my crew, sent them the pic and told them how I was feeling. Asking "was this too much?" . . . Que the resounding empowering messages. Each and every word that I needed to hear to give me that final zhush. . . . Which reminded me how important it is to surround yourself with women who bring positivity into your life. The type of women that lift you and help you in those moments when you feel weak. . . . Having a squad of down chicks who tell you like it is is important and I'm forever thankful for mine. ❤ . . . . #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenempoweringwomen #womeninspiringwomen #upliftingwomen #uplifting #strongwomen #strongertogether #babessupportingbabes #travelinclusivity #lisbon #lisboa #plussizetravel #plussizetravelblogger #plussizeblogger #portugal #visitportugal #visitlisbon #bopo #bopowarrior #neonlights #confidentlybeautiful #confidence #amtb #huji #hujicam #hujifilter

📣🗣 Maybe if we saw more fat chicks in their underwear it wouldn't be such a big deal when we see fat chicks in their underwear. . . . I meaaaannnnn, I'm jus' sayin'. ☕ . . . I am SO over thinking that I can't feel sexy or thinking that there should be any shame to loving my body. Ya know what? More people would feel that way too if there were more bodies like this being seen. . . . For too long I thought my body wasn't okay because I never saw anybody with my body. My body in a bathing suit, my body in lingerie, my body being praised. How are you supposed to build confidence with that stacked against you? I'll tell ya what, it certainly ain't easy and it takes a hell of a long time. . . . But maybe I can make it easier. For you. For someone who may have my body. For that person looking at their phone seeing their body. Seeing a woman whose arms look like theirs. Whose stretchmarks look like theirs. Whose rolls look like theirs. Then the kicker, instead of this woman feeling shame, honey she is feeling prideee. . . . Now that right there is what I call a confidence boost. . . . I don't do this because I'm feelin' myself (okay let's be real, you know that's totally the case too 💁‍♀️) BUT I do this to let you know it's okay to look like you. Your body is beautiful. If we can normalize what real bodies look like then maybe we can see more real bodies. . . . Bodies like yours and mine, lookin' fine. 🔥🔥 . . . . . #fatgirlstraveling #travelinclusivity #plussizetravelblogger #plussizeblogger #plussizeandproud #plussizetravel #femmetravel #thetravelwomen #womenwhotravel #alternativecurves #fatbabe #honormycurves #aeriereal #aexme #psblogger #effyourbeautystandards #andigetdressed #gltlove #wanderlust #travelbug #amtb #wildwomen #whatfatgirlsactuallywear #bopo #bevisuallyinspired #bopowarrior #discoverunder5k #discoverbeauty

[Storytime] . . . 1 of the volunteers from my Workaway was leaving so he picked a small little restaurant nestled in the backstreets of Peniche called S. Pedro . . . . The family that owned the restaurant welcomed us warmly. The husband, Joaquim delighted over a special with fish so fresh he brought the fish head out to show us. Their daughter Carolina raced to the kitchen to prepare our order and out came plates of fresh shrimp with a sauce from the red peppers in their garden. Then a taste of fermented sardines, a bit of ginger from the wife, Anna, to help with our digestion. The smallest member of the family brought over salad. . . . Our sangria was done when our meals came & Joaqium remedied this by grabbing his wine and filling our glasses. The food was so good it was the only time the place wasn't filled with our chatter. . . . After dinner, Joaquim proudly came over with homemade ginjinha, a cherry liquor. They brought over flambayed bananas. The family sat talking with us, applauding my attempts to respond in Portuguese, giggling when I'd mess up but telling me they were so happy that I came back and was trying. We learned the history of Peniche, the strong ties to the fishing culture, showing us old pictures. They shared a binder of kind notes customers from around the world had left them. . . . More wine, cheese, olives, more laughing. Even facetiming my parents. Shots, laughs, selfies, tender moments where 1 of them would cup your face or place a hand on your arm. We left well after midnight, hours after we initially walked in. But not before Anna & Carolina took all of us girls to her clothing store to shop after hours. . . . All that and they only charged us for what we ordered. The sangria, shrimp and meals. I know every culture has their own kind of hospitality but Portuguese hospitality is something special. No matter who you are you're treated like family. An unspoken willingness to provide, no conditions required. If they have it, they want you to have it too. There's a pride in sharing & those moments of getting to know somebody & creating new relationships is worth gold to them. . . . It's really extraordinary.

How cute is this doodle that @27travels created for us?! . . . Social media often times gets a bad rap for being a toxic tool but that all depends on how you use it. If you use it to fill your feeds with like minded people who are putting good into the world then you'll see more pros than cons. . . . I'm thankful for this platform for helping me virtually meet some pretty incredible people which into lasting friendships and opportunities to celebrate their hard work. LIKE telling you guys that my girls Gabi and Shanna from 27travels are putting out a new doodle pack that will totally add some pizazz to your pictures like this one. 🌈 #27doodles . . . Any accounts that this platform has helped you find that you're super thankful for? Let me know in the comments so I can check them out! . . . . #lgbt #lgbttravel #gaytravelblogger #traveltogether #travelingcouples #coupleswhotravel #lesbiantravel #lesbianblogger #gayblogger #travelgirls #amtb #wearetravelgays #globalgaygirlgang #lesbiansofig #loveislove #lesbehonest #lgbtinfluencer #lgbtcouple #creativetravelcouple #couplelove #lgbt #bosnia #bosniaandherzegovina #sarajevo #visitbosnia #visitsarajevo #loveisfreedom #loveforall #coupletravelgoals

Happy Monstera Monday! . . . No deep thoughts, no important lessons. Just wanted to share these big bois because I'm crazy and miss my plant babies back in the states. . . . Any other plant lovers in here? If so tell me all about them. I wanna hear about new additions, new leaves, all that good stuff. . . . That means you too @biancakarina__ @thoajewelry @kaitvmaim @__adrianlee_ ! Tell me about your plants so I can be okay with not having any right now. 😭🌿🌿 . . . . . #monsteramonday #monstera #monsteradeliciosa #plantsofinstagram #plantsplantsplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantgang #plantlady #plantladyisthenewcatlady #plantladylife #plantstagram #houseplants #plantsmakemehappy #monsterafanclub #chickswithplants #girlswithplants #portugal #visitportugal #sintra #sintraportugal #penapalace #targetstyle #plussizetravelblogger #plussizeblogger #fatgirlstraveling #plussize #psootd

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The outdoors does not discriminate. . . . The fresh air is not reserved for one person. The sun touches all faces the same way. The dirt under you shifts no matter how you step. The outdoors is calling and I urge you to go. . . . . Being here I'm finding more opportunities to explore on my off days and this breathtaking view is a mere 20 minute walk from home. I've made a promise to myself to try to spend at least thirty minutes in nature everyday. Just to give my eyes a rest from a screen and to let my mind wander with the soundtrack of Peniche's noises in the background. . . . . I know there are people in this world that think something about them holds them back from spending time outdoors. But I cannot stress how untrue that is. There is a serene place in this world for you no matter how many times you may have to pause and take a break before you get there. . . . . So let me pass this little note from Mother Nature....come back. She wants you to visit more often. She wants to use the little wonders she offers to help you find a stillness that can really bring some good to your life. . . . No matter your skill level, don't ever let an insecurity hold you back from going outside. . . . **Side note** Sorry to all my New England homies that can barely spend 5 minutes outside without freezing. Spring will be here soon!!! 😬 . . . . . #discoverearth #portugal #peniche #visitportugal #visitpeniche #theglovelwanderer #travelinclusivity #mylpguide #optoutside #rei1440project #travelbug #scenicview #postcardsfromtheworld #postcardplaces #aroundtheworld #landscapelover #adventurethatislife #adventureisoutthere #exploremore #adventureculture #goexplore #travelwithme #traveljunkie #welltravelled #travelinspiration #peoplewhoadventure #keepitwild #stayandwander #passionpassport

So my last post was a super sexy shot. . . . and damnnn was I nervous to post it. I mean, I LOVE that shot that Steph snapped during a rainy day in our Porto Airbnb. But part of me was like, "do I really wanna put myself out on the interwebs like that?" . . . . When in doubt, I extend a call out to my lady squad. I reached out to the fierce women in my crew, sent them the pic and told them how I was feeling. Asking "was this too much?" . . . Que the resounding empowering messages. Each and every word that I needed to hear to give me that final zhush. . . . Which reminded me how important it is to surround yourself with women who bring positivity into your life. The type of women that lift you and help you in those moments when you feel weak. . . . Having a squad of down chicks who tell you like it is is important and I'm forever thankful for mine. ❤ . . . . #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenempoweringwomen #womeninspiringwomen #upliftingwomen #uplifting #strongwomen #strongertogether #babessupportingbabes #travelinclusivity #lisbon #lisboa #plussizetravel #plussizetravelblogger #plussizeblogger #portugal #visitportugal #visitlisbon #bopo #bopowarrior #neonlights #confidentlybeautiful #confidence #amtb #huji #hujicam #hujifilter

📣🗣 Maybe if we saw more fat chicks in their underwear it wouldn't be such a big deal when we see fat chicks in their underwear. . . . I meaaaannnnn, I'm jus' sayin'. ☕ . . . I am SO over thinking that I can't feel sexy or thinking that there should be any shame to loving my body. Ya know what? More people would feel that way too if there were more bodies like this being seen. . . . For too long I thought my body wasn't okay because I never saw anybody with my body. My body in a bathing suit, my body in lingerie, my body being praised. How are you supposed to build confidence with that stacked against you? I'll tell ya what, it certainly ain't easy and it takes a hell of a long time. . . . But maybe I can make it easier. For you. For someone who may have my body. For that person looking at their phone seeing their body. Seeing a woman whose arms look like theirs. Whose stretchmarks look like theirs. Whose rolls look like theirs. Then the kicker, instead of this woman feeling shame, honey she is feeling prideee. . . . Now that right there is what I call a confidence boost. . . . I don't do this because I'm feelin' myself (okay let's be real, you know that's totally the case too 💁‍♀️) BUT I do this to let you know it's okay to look like you. Your body is beautiful. If we can normalize what real bodies look like then maybe we can see more real bodies. . . . Bodies like yours and mine, lookin' fine. 🔥🔥 . . . . . #fatgirlstraveling #travelinclusivity #plussizetravelblogger #plussizeblogger #plussizeandproud #plussizetravel #femmetravel #thetravelwomen #womenwhotravel #alternativecurves #fatbabe #honormycurves #aeriereal #aexme #psblogger #effyourbeautystandards #andigetdressed #gltlove #wanderlust #travelbug #amtb #wildwomen #whatfatgirlsactuallywear #bopo #bevisuallyinspired #bopowarrior #discoverunder5k #discoverbeauty

[Storytime] . . . 1 of the volunteers from my Workaway was leaving so he picked a small little restaurant nestled in the backstreets of Peniche called S. Pedro . . . . The family that owned the restaurant welcomed us warmly. The husband, Joaquim delighted over a special with fish so fresh he brought the fish head out to show us. Their daughter Carolina raced to the kitchen to prepare our order and out came plates of fresh shrimp with a sauce from the red peppers in their garden. Then a taste of fermented sardines, a bit of ginger from the wife, Anna, to help with our digestion. The smallest member of the family brought over salad. . . . Our sangria was done when our meals came & Joaqium remedied this by grabbing his wine and filling our glasses. The food was so good it was the only time the place wasn't filled with our chatter. . . . After dinner, Joaquim proudly came over with homemade ginjinha, a cherry liquor. They brought over flambayed bananas. The family sat talking with us, applauding my attempts to respond in Portuguese, giggling when I'd mess up but telling me they were so happy that I came back and was trying. We learned the history of Peniche, the strong ties to the fishing culture, showing us old pictures. They shared a binder of kind notes customers from around the world had left them. . . . More wine, cheese, olives, more laughing. Even facetiming my parents. Shots, laughs, selfies, tender moments where 1 of them would cup your face or place a hand on your arm. We left well after midnight, hours after we initially walked in. But not before Anna & Carolina took all of us girls to her clothing store to shop after hours. . . . All that and they only charged us for what we ordered. The sangria, shrimp and meals. I know every culture has their own kind of hospitality but Portuguese hospitality is something special. No matter who you are you're treated like family. An unspoken willingness to provide, no conditions required. If they have it, they want you to have it too. There's a pride in sharing & those moments of getting to know somebody & creating new relationships is worth gold to them. . . . It's really extraordinary.

How cute is this doodle that @27travels created for us?! . . . Social media often times gets a bad rap for being a toxic tool but that all depends on how you use it. If you use it to fill your feeds with like minded people who are putting good into the world then you'll see more pros than cons. . . . I'm thankful for this platform for helping me virtually meet some pretty incredible people which into lasting friendships and opportunities to celebrate their hard work. LIKE telling you guys that my girls Gabi and Shanna from 27travels are putting out a new doodle pack that will totally add some pizazz to your pictures like this one. 🌈 #27doodles . . . Any accounts that this platform has helped you find that you're super thankful for? Let me know in the comments so I can check them out! . . . . #lgbt #lgbttravel #gaytravelblogger #traveltogether #travelingcouples #coupleswhotravel #lesbiantravel #lesbianblogger #gayblogger #travelgirls #amtb #wearetravelgays #globalgaygirlgang #lesbiansofig #loveislove #lesbehonest #lgbtinfluencer #lgbtcouple #creativetravelcouple #couplelove #lgbt #bosnia #bosniaandherzegovina #sarajevo #visitbosnia #visitsarajevo #loveisfreedom #loveforall #coupletravelgoals

Happy Monstera Monday! . . . No deep thoughts, no important lessons. Just wanted to share these big bois because I'm crazy and miss my plant babies back in the states. . . . Any other plant lovers in here? If so tell me all about them. I wanna hear about new additions, new leaves, all that good stuff. . . . That means you too @biancakarina__ @thoajewelry @kaitvmaim @__adrianlee_ ! Tell me about your plants so I can be okay with not having any right now. 😭🌿🌿 . . . . . #monsteramonday #monstera #monsteradeliciosa #plantsofinstagram #plantsplantsplants #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantgang #plantlady #plantladyisthenewcatlady #plantladylife #plantstagram #houseplants #plantsmakemehappy #monsterafanclub #chickswithplants #girlswithplants #portugal #visitportugal #sintra #sintraportugal #penapalace #targetstyle #plussizetravelblogger #plussizeblogger #fatgirlstraveling #plussize #psootd

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