“We followed this group of people, they were singing, shouting, dancing and playing their instruments down the streets at 3 in the morning,” Päivi Margna explains, “We followed them to this piazza where they stopped and danced, so we joined them.”
Päivi Margna had a unique experience the night before, first going to a couch surfing meeting where backpackers met and discussed their travels.
Later, she found herself in line at a secret bakery that led her into following a singing crowd of people down the empty, illuminated streets of Firenze.
“I want to see what else the world has to offer, experience different cultures,” Päivi Margna clarified ”That is what I would like to see.”
The 20-year-old is a first time back packer, although she has traveled her own country, Estonia along with Sweden and Finland
“Usually I travel with friends, or my family,” Margna expands “Italy has been so different from what I usually do.”
The difference being that she is doing it alone, and is not shy to try the online resource: couchsurfing.org.
“It is my first time I am traveling alone, my first time couch surfing and my first time back packing.”
Within the ten days that Margna has already spent traveling Italy, she has only had to get a room at a hostel once.
“Finding a host can be difficult, other times it’s really easy. In some cases, you wait half an hour to find a host.” Margna continued “In Pisa, I wrote a request two days before arriving and received only declines; so I got a hostel bed.”
Although a new user, Margna is not shy when it comes to utilizing the online resource.
Basically, couchsurfing.org offers an inner trust between travelers and locals. The website provides you with a profile and allows you to connect with strangers anywhere.
The strangers will welcome you into their home, provide you with a place to sleep and in return, you are well mannered and open minded.
“I like it because it gives me the opportunity to meets locals and not only to see the location from the tourist’s perspective, but from theirs.”
The inspired young woman plans to couch surf across Italy, making her way home in about a month.
“Back packing isn’t easy, but I have an urge to see what is outside. Estonia is small, and to me, it’s all the same so I have grown tired of it.”
