“Guatemala, New York City, Belize and Niagara Falls”
BY DUKE STOCKHOLM
Montreal, Quebec — Since the last post I’ve been in 5 countries! Yes, it’s easy to say if you’re in Europe, but 5 countries in America! Pretty cool, eh? I am currently licensed (and well practiced) at saying “eh” because I am in Canada, the land of maple, hockey and poutine (hmmm!).
Here are the highlights of the month:
* Guatemala: I climbed a volcano …yes, an active one! The volcano Pacaya is open to the public to climb, but up to a certain point. Fortunately me and fellow wanderer trey robson were able to go past that point thanks to a professional mountain climber that we happened to meet on the way up. We ended up face to face with lava, literally standing on what used to be red molten lava just a few days earlier; one false step and it was back in the red pool for me. It was a really scary experience and I’m not sure I’d do it again, but it was quite the thrill, and I’m glad I took the risk! We also had a great time visiting couchsurfers from Guatemala city and of course, had the pleasure to be hosted by Juan Carlos, active member and Ambassador!
* Belize: We didn’t really stay here, but we drove through it twice. Interesting and colorful city. small, low and ethnically diverse in population, and the only English speaking country in Latin America (that I know of).
* New York, USA: Finally, I visit the most famous city in the world! I haven’t been so impressed with a city since Moscow, and I think NY surpassed it by far. We spent one week staying with our Couchsurfing host, and couldn’t help doing the tourist bit: Staten Island Ferry, Times Square, Empire State, etc. I don’t normally like feeling like a tourist, but you sort of blend in with all of them in NYC, I really didn’t mind it that much this time. Met some great Couchsurfing members in a gathering in the Theater section of Manhattan.
*Niagara Falls, Canada: Yes, I was at the falls, twice. What a touristy place–but I got to go to a casino for the first time, and not only that–we won around forty dollars! Beginner’s luck.
And now, I’m currently in Montreal, sitting in the study of my host and new friend Rico, who is also a Couchsurfing Administrator. We’ve had great laughs, jammed the entire Pink Floyd “The Wall” album on the guitar, worked on making Couchsurfing a better place, one bug at a time, and had more food than I’ve eaten in 200 years (Poutine!). It’s not four in the morning and I have to get up at nine to be at a friend’s place for breakfast. It’s my last day in Montreal and there’s a lot of Admin work to do, sightseeing downtown in the afternoon, and a Hindi dinner in the evening. All in a day’s work for your average Couchsurfer. Good night! iT!
Read more about Duke’s adventures at http://dukes-travels.blogspot.com/.
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