COUCHSURFING- Santiago

Jasmin and I on "Da Couch"

Let's discuss Couchsurfing shall we?
When most people hear the word couchsurfing they are usually slapped with a not-so-fond image of a unemployed, lazy, dirty friend that stayed on their couch for what seemed like an eternity. "Dude, get a place already!!"
 That is not what the Couchsurfing I speak of is all about. Couchsurfing, best described on their website, https://www.couchsurfing.org/ is a community of travelers from around the globe that connect online to share experiences, hospitality, languages, adventures, and their couches and/or spare bedrooms.
I've couchsurfed several times in various countries but this was Aesha's first experience with the concept.                       First, we needed to make a profile. The profile is not unlike a FaceBook profile. You want to be honest, intriguing, and interesting to others. You can go to the Couchsurfing website and search Aesha Shapiro to find our profile if you are interested. Next, the lingo. There are two types of couchsurfsers: hosts and surfers. We needed to find the perfect host. It is a tiresome process reading hundreds of profiles and trying to find the best match for us as well as for the host. Hosts get reviewed by their surfers and can not remove a review, regardless if it is positive or negative. Also, hosts have the option to "up" their profile by paying a fee to get verified. Verification is not mandatory but I would never choose to stay with someone who is not verified. Verification consists of several background checks and it the safest way to ensure your host is honest and does not have ulterior motives...or felonies.
Why couchsurf??
Couchsurfing is not about a free place to stay. Yes, it is awesome to not have to pay for a hostel, but if you are surfing just for a free place to lay your head, you are missing out on what Couchsurfing is all about. It is an wonderful way to experience local cultures as well as meet new people, try new foods, share travel stories, and to get the inside scoop of the area.

Our experience

View from the apartment

We are the luckiest surfers on the globe. We simply could not be happier with our gracious hosts Javier and  David. We spent hours upon hours reading profiles before we selected these guys. They had tons and tons of marvelous reviews and not a single bad one. They are both engineers, world travelers, excellent English speakers, unbelievable cooks, and they genuinely love opening their home to fellow travelers. They are magnificent...and they even love Dubstep!! (For those of you who don't know, it's a type of gnarly electronic music.haha) I simply can not say enough fantastic things about these guys and their genuine passion for hospitality, but I'm sure going to try...

The Surf

Sunset from our room

If you have been following the blog you know about Jasmin, our adopted new best friend. If you haven't been following ..well shame on you. I kid, I kid. Jasmin is a kick ass chic from Germany and she has quickly become one of our favorite people. She only had one more night left on her trip and we dragged her to Santiago with us. She was completely ready to get a hostel but when David picked us up from the train station he insisted she stay with them as well. Awesome. That means the "Three Musketeers" would stay together. Brilliant.

Middle Eastern food...Chilean Style

 Their place is remarkable. Open layout with a sensational view of Santiago. Aesha and I were set up with our own private room and bathroom and Jasmin now gets the neon green couch, right next to Kendra. Kendra needs her own section so keep reading and you will find out all about her.
     We arrived in Santiago with ferocious appetites and these guys knew it. I love to try new and exciting foods and they hooked us up with what Javier calls "ethnic middle eastern food...Chilean style". I've never heard of such a thing but I rolled with it. Freaking unbelievable!!!!!

The Sheesha (Hookah)...and her name is Kendra
I've smoked hookah before when I was in Cairo, Egypt, but none as beautiful as Kendra. I don't smoke cigarettes. Never have, never will, but there is just something so enticing about Sheesha. It's smoked with flavored tobacco and it's actually an ingenious social tool. It brings people together and requires them to connect with one another. In a world that is dominated by electronic devices and mass media it was nice to stop and actually interact for a while. Not to mention, for a non-smoker, the buzz is incredible.

"Kendra"

Our first night was full of chistes (jokes), sheesha, phenomenal food, wine and music videos. Yup you heard me right. These guys certainly like their music videos. Exhaustion crept up on me and I surrendered early. The girls could be heard in cheerful spirits for hours.
     Jasmin had to leave the next day so we gave her a crash course on Santiago as we had already spent five days there. Our day was jam-packed and we tried to show her all of the hot spots that we knew of as well as follow Javiers itinerary. Somehow we ended up at this "Cafe" of sorts. It was a compilation of Senoras whipping up greasy food for tourists and locals alike. These broads sure know how to cook a Completo! I went out on a limb and ordered a Churrasco, not knowing what it was but hoping it was delicious. Oh ...it was...Was I actually a vegetarian for 21 years?????

Churrasco

Tres chicas locas

We cruised the city for hours, getting lost several times. We ventured back to the mall (of course), drank strange street drinks made with wheat, sipped our daily vino allowance, and had a blast doing all of it! Adios Jasmin!!! We miss your beautiful spirit already!
     It won't be long before we see Jasmin again. You see, she has invited both Aesha and myself to Oktoberfest in Germany this year. We will be there!!!! Ahhhhh yeah!

Yeah, that's right. I made this, and I'm a bad ass.

The Pasta
These guys sure know how to cook. The first night we gorged ourselves on homemade pasta. It was smothered in a delectable broccoli and garlic puree and was unlike anything that I have ever tasted. Delicious!!!! Thanks for all of the ambrosial food guys!!!!! The night before our departure David even baked us homemade chocolate chip cookies. Are you kidding me?

Attention all other couchsurfing hosts... you better step up your game if you want a chance to compete with these guys!!!

Second evening feast of sauteed chicken with a butter cream sauce and spiced rice

All good things must come to an end

 We want to thank our hosts David and Javier for their knowledge, laughter, hospitality, Kendra, "Chilean Reserve" Malbec, delightful intellect, mouth watering comida, insight to Santiago, music selection and videos, and most of all... introducing us to the "Game of Honor". A game which we will undoubtedly teach to others around the globe. One word. Hilarious.

You guys rock. Keep doing exactly what you are doing. You have made friends for life and are welcome in our homes anytime. Thanks again!!!!!- Love The Savvy Nomads