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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 cafés are opening back up in Portugal. . . . Laaawwwddd do I miss starting my day a little slower and popping into a café. Time well spent sitting outside and people watching with a cappuccino. . . . . Where I'm from you grab your coffee via drive thru from Dunkin'. Your order is probably a hot regular or an iced caramel extra extra. Then you're off in your car onto the next task. Café culture just doesn't exist. It's more like get your caffine on the go because you have to quickly get to your to do list. . . . . But I like the act of walking into a local shop, ordering from a familiar face and sitting outside welcoming the day with some much needed caffeine. It reminds me to slow down a little. To not rush through moments, to just stop and enjoy it at that very second. Granteddd sitting down for a morning people watching session isn't still fully allowed and this is an old picture from February. For now I'm happy to settle with a quick masked convo with my girls that I haven't seen since February and a little takeaway. But I'm excited for this morning ritual to come back in the future. . . . . . #travelnoire #xotraveltribe #livetheadventure #girlsborntotravel #dametraveler #wearetravelgirls #starttheadventure #worldnomads #meettheworld #sheisnotlost #travelstoke #roamtheplanet #lonelyplanet #lpfanphoto #mylpguide #rickstevestour #wonderfuldestinations #suitcasetravels #passionpassport #inspiremyinstagram #pursuepretty #beautifulmatters #iamatraveler #girlaroundworld #travelbug #portugal #porto #visitporto #visitportugal
You know what my favorite middle finger to society is? . . . . Knowing how damn sexy I am. 🔥 People will really be shook seeing fat girls embrace their sexuality. Owning all the dips and curves of their bodies. Like since my body looks this way I'm not supposed to walk past a mirror and think "Bish you can get it." WRONG. . . . There's something powerful in recognizing that you are a force of your own straight up sex appeal. Rolls, stretch marks, blemishes and all boo. Embrace it. . . . Now I'm not talking about people fetishizing fat bodies. I'm talking about throwing on a sexy pair of underwear, posing in front of a white sheet and then staring at that picture you just took and thinking "YOOOO WHO IS THIS SEXY ASS QUEEN OUT HERE?!?!" That's right it's me. Own that shit. 💁‍♀️ . . . . . #thickthighssavelives #thickisthenewsexy #plussize #plussizefashion #plussizebloggers #plussizemodel #plus_isamust #celebratemysize #honormycurves #daretowear #alternativrcurves #inclusive #spreadlove #bodylove #bodypositive #bodypositivebabe #bopowarrior #portugalpictures #portugal #fatbabe #curvygirl #fatgirlstraveling #fatbabesdoingthings #everybodyisbeautiful #loveyourself #lovetheskinyourein #beautybeyondsize #biggirlswinning #bigarmnoharm #myquarantinebody
Finding happiness doesn't have to be some monumental moment. . . . . Whether you realize it or not pockets of sunshine show up everyday but it's up to you to recognize them. I look for what I call "small joys." Little moments that bring me inner peace and happiness. Here are a few small joys that helped brighten up my past few days. . . . 1. One of the neighbor cats (Mimi) will come into my room when I leave my window open. She comes and snuggles with me which reminds me how small my hostel bed is but I'm happy to make space for her. 🐱 2. I think I finally figured out the perfect amount of sugar needed to make a noteworthy homemade cappuccino. ☕ 3. I went for a walk in a new part of town and found the BEST cliffside spot to watch a sunset. 🌅 4. I realized I know all the words to Lil' Kim's "How Many Licks" and I think that's a fantastic skill to have. 🍭 . . . Times are hard right now. Some of you lost deals, your jobs (same girl,) trying to make ends meet or dealing with sick loved ones. But you still deserve to experience these small joys too. You don't need some life changing thing to happen in order to find your happiness. Just look for things that can bring a smile to your face each day to help you get through. . . . . What are some small joys that have happened these past few days that brought a smile to your face? 🌞
The other day I've realized this is the longest I've stayed in one place for 6 years. . . . . Which honestly feels wild. Right now I would have just finished visiting family in Madeira I haven't seen in 9 years and going to the Festa da Flor (Flower Festival) which has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager. I'd be hopping to Denmark to hang with some of my favorite Danish ladies. Then off to Slovenia to finally meet and snuggle my good friends' new babies. Capping off my time roaming through Central/Eastern Europe. . . . . The plan was to start in Croatia, to visit that island club with a pizza bar and spend the morning swimming in the turquoise water of Hvar. Making my way over to my favorite country, Bosnia and Herzegovina to explore it even deeper than I did 4 years ago before finally getting to Albania after years of hearing about its beauty from my Albanian homies. Maybe even hop over to Macedonia and Greece. Then returning home to a legendary welcome to watch some of my best friends marry their soul mates. . . . . Typing it all out it seems as epic as I was imagining in my head when I planned it. For now, I have to put all this on hold. To save the reunions, the extra long hugs, the dancing, swimming, exploring, learning, tasting, wandering, the introductions and the countless laughs I can imagine would have happened. I know you're like me and you had grand plans that had to be tucked away. Memories you were looking forward to making and smiles you knew you were going to have. . . . . But if you're also like me then you'll cherish it even more when it does happen. To remember this moment months or years from now when you had to stay put and you're reminded to never take these experiences for granted again. . . . . So here's to this lesson in patience we're all being dealt. Let's treasure the quiet, slow moments at home for now so we can value those big adventures later. . . . 📸 @jackiewhyy
The first time I went to Portugal I was 9. . . . . My mother grew up on the island of Madeira before moving to America. She lived under a dictatorship without running water and didn't own a pair of shoes until her family immigrated. Despite these humble beginnings she would boast about how marvelous her home country was. How the ocean gleamed from her window. How the island was covered in lush vegetation that grew everywhere. How the air was always sweet from the wild flowers and the scent would fill her home along with a breeze from the ocean. . . . . The first time we went back, she took me to Mercado dos Lavradores. A bustling farmer's market in the center of Funchal. The space is always beaming from the sun shining brightly in the courtyard. When I first walked in a woman was selling birds of paradise that she proudly claimed came from her family's garden. I had never seen a flower so colorful and dazzling. After that I would see them all over the island, like a symbol of added beauty to this already stunning place. . . . . These flowers always serve as a reminder to me of the place that runs so deeply in my blood. A place that looks more like a postcard than real life. They also remind me of the strength my parents have inside of them. The strength to leave everything they knew in the hopes for something better. The struggle they willingly accepted coming to a country where they didn't know the culture or language for a dream to provide more for their future families. . . . . I can't see these without feeling so grateful for all of their sacrifices and try everyday to live my life to the fullest potential to make every hurdle they overcame worth it.
Look Ma! I'm a covergirl! . . . . I am beyond excited to fill you guys in on some major news. @callmeadventurous came up with a travel zine for womxn by womxn and asked me to be her first covergirl! 😲🎉 . . . This zine is an incredible collection of diverse, strong voices and I feel so deeply moved and empowered after reading this first issue. I am so proud of Sam for creating such a stunning collection of experiences designed to inspire written by people whose voices are often left unheard. . . . When she first asked me to be her covergirl I'm not even gonna try to front I cried. I never thought I could call myself a covergirl. Covergirls didn't look like me. Then I saw myself on the front cover. My face looking back from this beautiful cover and it felt like a full circle moment for me. For a long time I thought there were things wrong with me because I didn't look like the girls in the magazines. I've totally learned since then that's not the case but now someone can be reminded that too by seeing someone that looks like them. The reason I started Voyaging Vagabond was to amplify our voices. To be seen as the confident, trail blazing womxn we are. . . . Now here I am, openly sharing my truths in the hopes that you can see yourself in me. That you can read my words and know that you can do it too. Whether it be loving yourself, spreading more kindness or truly believing in those wild dreams. Here I am standing tall and letting you know that you got this. This zine shows me this industry is changing and I'm so honored to be a part of that. . . . . So give it a read, link is over in my bio. I'll be dancing to Covergirl by @rupaulofficial in my hostel to celebrate Sam's new endeavor and this special moment for me. 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️ . . . . #fatbabesdoingthings #fatgirlstraveling #lgbttravel #queertravel #femaletravel #femaletravelbloggers #travelinspiration #travelinspiration #travelwithme #solofemaletravel #sheisnotlost #womenwhotravel #gltlove #girlaroundworld #girlslovetravel #girlstravellingsolo #wanderlust #wanderbabes #traveljunkie #travelgirl #travel #travelinladies #wanderwench #travelinclusivity #travelpictures #travelcouple

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The cafés are opening back up in Portugal. . . . Laaawwwddd do I miss starting my day a little slower and popping into a café. Time well spent sitting outside and people watching with a cappuccino. . . . . Where I'm from you grab your coffee via drive thru from Dunkin'. Your order is probably a hot regular or an iced caramel extra extra. Then you're off in your car onto the next task. Café culture just doesn't exist. It's more like get your caffine on the go because you have to quickly get to your to do list. . . . . But I like the act of walking into a local shop, ordering from a familiar face and sitting outside welcoming the day with some much needed caffeine. It reminds me to slow down a little. To not rush through moments, to just stop and enjoy it at that very second. Granteddd sitting down for a morning people watching session isn't still fully allowed and this is an old picture from February. For now I'm happy to settle with a quick masked convo with my girls that I haven't seen since February and a little takeaway. But I'm excited for this morning ritual to come back in the future. . . . . . #travelnoire #xotraveltribe #livetheadventure #girlsborntotravel #dametraveler #wearetravelgirls #starttheadventure #worldnomads #meettheworld #sheisnotlost #travelstoke #roamtheplanet #lonelyplanet #lpfanphoto #mylpguide #rickstevestour #wonderfuldestinations #suitcasetravels #passionpassport #inspiremyinstagram #pursuepretty #beautifulmatters #iamatraveler #girlaroundworld #travelbug #portugal #porto #visitporto #visitportugal
You know what my favorite middle finger to society is? . . . . Knowing how damn sexy I am. 🔥 People will really be shook seeing fat girls embrace their sexuality. Owning all the dips and curves of their bodies. Like since my body looks this way I'm not supposed to walk past a mirror and think "Bish you can get it." WRONG. . . . There's something powerful in recognizing that you are a force of your own straight up sex appeal. Rolls, stretch marks, blemishes and all boo. Embrace it. . . . Now I'm not talking about people fetishizing fat bodies. I'm talking about throwing on a sexy pair of underwear, posing in front of a white sheet and then staring at that picture you just took and thinking "YOOOO WHO IS THIS SEXY ASS QUEEN OUT HERE?!?!" That's right it's me. Own that shit. 💁‍♀️ . . . . . #thickthighssavelives #thickisthenewsexy #plussize #plussizefashion #plussizebloggers #plussizemodel #plus_isamust #celebratemysize #honormycurves #daretowear #alternativrcurves #inclusive #spreadlove #bodylove #bodypositive #bodypositivebabe #bopowarrior #portugalpictures #portugal #fatbabe #curvygirl #fatgirlstraveling #fatbabesdoingthings #everybodyisbeautiful #loveyourself #lovetheskinyourein #beautybeyondsize #biggirlswinning #bigarmnoharm #myquarantinebody
Finding happiness doesn't have to be some monumental moment. . . . . Whether you realize it or not pockets of sunshine show up everyday but it's up to you to recognize them. I look for what I call "small joys." Little moments that bring me inner peace and happiness. Here are a few small joys that helped brighten up my past few days. . . . 1. One of the neighbor cats (Mimi) will come into my room when I leave my window open. She comes and snuggles with me which reminds me how small my hostel bed is but I'm happy to make space for her. 🐱 2. I think I finally figured out the perfect amount of sugar needed to make a noteworthy homemade cappuccino. ☕ 3. I went for a walk in a new part of town and found the BEST cliffside spot to watch a sunset. 🌅 4. I realized I know all the words to Lil' Kim's "How Many Licks" and I think that's a fantastic skill to have. 🍭 . . . Times are hard right now. Some of you lost deals, your jobs (same girl,) trying to make ends meet or dealing with sick loved ones. But you still deserve to experience these small joys too. You don't need some life changing thing to happen in order to find your happiness. Just look for things that can bring a smile to your face each day to help you get through. . . . . What are some small joys that have happened these past few days that brought a smile to your face? 🌞
The other day I've realized this is the longest I've stayed in one place for 6 years. . . . . Which honestly feels wild. Right now I would have just finished visiting family in Madeira I haven't seen in 9 years and going to the Festa da Flor (Flower Festival) which has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager. I'd be hopping to Denmark to hang with some of my favorite Danish ladies. Then off to Slovenia to finally meet and snuggle my good friends' new babies. Capping off my time roaming through Central/Eastern Europe. . . . . The plan was to start in Croatia, to visit that island club with a pizza bar and spend the morning swimming in the turquoise water of Hvar. Making my way over to my favorite country, Bosnia and Herzegovina to explore it even deeper than I did 4 years ago before finally getting to Albania after years of hearing about its beauty from my Albanian homies. Maybe even hop over to Macedonia and Greece. Then returning home to a legendary welcome to watch some of my best friends marry their soul mates. . . . . Typing it all out it seems as epic as I was imagining in my head when I planned it. For now, I have to put all this on hold. To save the reunions, the extra long hugs, the dancing, swimming, exploring, learning, tasting, wandering, the introductions and the countless laughs I can imagine would have happened. I know you're like me and you had grand plans that had to be tucked away. Memories you were looking forward to making and smiles you knew you were going to have. . . . . But if you're also like me then you'll cherish it even more when it does happen. To remember this moment months or years from now when you had to stay put and you're reminded to never take these experiences for granted again. . . . . So here's to this lesson in patience we're all being dealt. Let's treasure the quiet, slow moments at home for now so we can value those big adventures later. . . . 📸 @jackiewhyy
The first time I went to Portugal I was 9. . . . . My mother grew up on the island of Madeira before moving to America. She lived under a dictatorship without running water and didn't own a pair of shoes until her family immigrated. Despite these humble beginnings she would boast about how marvelous her home country was. How the ocean gleamed from her window. How the island was covered in lush vegetation that grew everywhere. How the air was always sweet from the wild flowers and the scent would fill her home along with a breeze from the ocean. . . . . The first time we went back, she took me to Mercado dos Lavradores. A bustling farmer's market in the center of Funchal. The space is always beaming from the sun shining brightly in the courtyard. When I first walked in a woman was selling birds of paradise that she proudly claimed came from her family's garden. I had never seen a flower so colorful and dazzling. After that I would see them all over the island, like a symbol of added beauty to this already stunning place. . . . . These flowers always serve as a reminder to me of the place that runs so deeply in my blood. A place that looks more like a postcard than real life. They also remind me of the strength my parents have inside of them. The strength to leave everything they knew in the hopes for something better. The struggle they willingly accepted coming to a country where they didn't know the culture or language for a dream to provide more for their future families. . . . . I can't see these without feeling so grateful for all of their sacrifices and try everyday to live my life to the fullest potential to make every hurdle they overcame worth it.
Look Ma! I'm a covergirl! . . . . I am beyond excited to fill you guys in on some major news. @callmeadventurous came up with a travel zine for womxn by womxn and asked me to be her first covergirl! 😲🎉 . . . This zine is an incredible collection of diverse, strong voices and I feel so deeply moved and empowered after reading this first issue. I am so proud of Sam for creating such a stunning collection of experiences designed to inspire written by people whose voices are often left unheard. . . . When she first asked me to be her covergirl I'm not even gonna try to front I cried. I never thought I could call myself a covergirl. Covergirls didn't look like me. Then I saw myself on the front cover. My face looking back from this beautiful cover and it felt like a full circle moment for me. For a long time I thought there were things wrong with me because I didn't look like the girls in the magazines. I've totally learned since then that's not the case but now someone can be reminded that too by seeing someone that looks like them. The reason I started Voyaging Vagabond was to amplify our voices. To be seen as the confident, trail blazing womxn we are. . . . Now here I am, openly sharing my truths in the hopes that you can see yourself in me. That you can read my words and know that you can do it too. Whether it be loving yourself, spreading more kindness or truly believing in those wild dreams. Here I am standing tall and letting you know that you got this. This zine shows me this industry is changing and I'm so honored to be a part of that. . . . . So give it a read, link is over in my bio. I'll be dancing to Covergirl by @rupaulofficial in my hostel to celebrate Sam's new endeavor and this special moment for me. 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️ . . . . #fatbabesdoingthings #fatgirlstraveling #lgbttravel #queertravel #femaletravel #femaletravelbloggers #travelinspiration #travelinspiration #travelwithme #solofemaletravel #sheisnotlost #womenwhotravel #gltlove #girlaroundworld #girlslovetravel #girlstravellingsolo #wanderlust #wanderbabes #traveljunkie #travelgirl #travel #travelinladies #wanderwench #travelinclusivity #travelpictures #travelcouple

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