We exchanged a few friendly emails and phone numbers and a couple of days later, Rhia and I found ourselves waiting at a bar near his University anxiously guessing what he would be like and how it would all turn out. As we had only seen a picture of his teeth we were also predicting what he may look like and be wearing. I am pleased to say we were only right about his teeth and otherwise completely wrong.
A quick call on Rhia´s mobile, and there he was - our knight in shining armour, ready to let us crash on his couch. But not before a few familiarisation beers...
Lots of beer, a giant pasty and some revealing food conversations later we had basically planned a weekend based around food and booze with a couple of cultural bits inbetween. Perfect.
When we got to his apartment and found a very clean, spacious place with our own small room, we felt we had fallen on our feet.
Together we had a great weekend, Rhia and I entertaining ourselves inbetween Paulo´s classes, and the three of us quickly bonded together. It is amazing how couchsurfing works so well and it was such a rich experience staying with a local and learning more about the city.
Tiago was a great host and we couldn´t have asked for anyone better to break us in for our first time.
From the first couple of minutes there was a clear respect and trust invested in eachother and such a great experience has certainly converted us to this new way of travelling.
We are already perusing the profiles of future hosts and have requested a couch, at rather short notice, in Argentina this week.
We look forward to our next couch, but both shed a tear as we waved goodbye to our first, and most memorable, couch host.
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