Couch Surfing in Brno!

So let me explain couch surfing to those couch surfer virgins out there. It is a way to meet engaging people, share a story, a meal or a home. I know many people might find the prospect of staying in a complete stranger’s house completely daunting but I urge you to give this a chance. It is an authentic experience and the free accomodation is just a bonus! So why couch surfing in Brno? Well it all started when Ciara and I went on a trip to the beautiful Cesky Krumlov, a medieval village nestled along the Vtlava river.  To our surprise this little town was completely dead, not a sinner in sight! We roamed the medieveal town on the prowl for any human interaction at all! Eventually we decided to chance a local night club or should I say shiote club. We were approcahed by two hefty bouncers who looked like they had consumed one dumpling too many, they asked us to pay some ridiculous fee into this barn of a nightclub occupied by some creepy locals. We admitted defeat and U-turned out of the shiotetclub only to bump into an American and this French girl. We started talking after recovering from the initial shock of realising that we weren’t the only humans in this village. We decided to go to a cocktail bar with our new found friends. The drink wasn’t the only thing flow as we immersed ourselves in conversation with our new friends. Aron explained to us that he was a couch surfing pro and had surfed everywhere from Dublin to a protest site in a tree house in Scotland. From that moment couch surfing sent a wave of interest in our direction. (Like the pun?)

Few months later we decided to go and visit Brno. (The second biggest city in the Czech Republic) I decided to email Aron about our day trip. Aron invited us to couch surf in Brno, we couldn’t resist the offer. We travelled with the student agency bus or free hot drinks and dvd bus agency. Although the film that we watched was rather weird. It was called ‘Venus’ and basically this OAP is infatuated with a girl young enough to be his grandchild! Anyways..two and a half hours later we arrived in Brno. Aron greeted us at the bus station and we went for some lovely Indian.Mmmmmm Naan bread! When our stomachs were satisfied we trekked on to the apartment. It was such a quirky apartment and we got to stay in the loft above the kitchen. It was so cosy and wait for it…. there even was a hammock! So Ciara, Aoife and I technically couch surfed while Emma hammock surfed through the air. Secretly jealous at the fact that Emma got the hammock I decided on a master plan to sway the hammock when she has had a few drinks. Mwhahhaaha   Sadly a bottle of wine sent me into a drink induced coma and Emma could sleep in peace.  That night we met Aron’s friends and went out  on the tiles. The drinking game ‘Rhyme or Reason’ was becoming too frustrating after a beaker full of the warm south. Brno has a great nightlife as the student population is extremely high. The night had a magical end as Brno became frosted with snow, the streets glistened and winked in a playful manner. Five snow angels later we were en route home. Unfortunately the weather was playing havoc with my coordination and I fell to the ground like sack of Rooster potatoes. Ciara watched on in amusement replaying the incident in her head over and over. Within a split second Ciara lost all balance and greeted the ground with a graceful thud. Karma.

The next morning we awoke to smell of American style pancakes that our lovely host had prepared. We all deserved a blue peter badge for not straying off the loft last night in our intoxicated states.We are officially couch surfers! Aron gave us a lovely tour of Brno and showed us what Brno has to offer.  The castle grounds were lovely and well worth the uphill trek. We randomly participated in a freeze mob on one of Brno’s main streets.Six minutes in a statue like state is surprisingly difficult especially when some chap decides to get into your personal space and document it all on his movie camera! Six minutes helped me to realise that I talk far too much and silence can be golden. It’s not my fault though I french kissed the aul Blarney stone…

The evening was fast approaching and  it was time to wave goodbye to our first couch surfing experience. (spot the pun) We thanked Aron and went on our merry way. Our journey back wasn’t exactly stress free as we were on the wrong bus, as a result I had to stand beside the toilet for part of the journey. I still managed to look glamorous though. Aoife and I got transferred to another bus, unfortunately Ciara was not aware of this situation. In a frantic frenzy Ciara ran down the student agency aisles like a grand national horse jumping over feet and bags at every turn. “STOP THE BUS” she shrieked! A silence descended. People gawked then giggled. The student agency host explained the situation to Ciara and then she did the walk of shame back to her seat.

Alas 2 and half hours later back in Praha. The adventures of the weekend were starting to take toll on our appearences, haggered and zombie like we hopped on the metro home.

In times where economic gloom and doom dominates our screen it’s nice to think that there is still good in the world. A stranger can welcome one into their home and treat you like an old time friend. Madonna reminds us how we are living in a material world but somehow it is nice to give something back. It costs nothing to show someone around your local town and share your home and stories.  You can’t buy an authentic experience like that ever! One tip we got about couch surfing was that if you plan to go to Italy their couch advertised may be in disguise as the other half of their bed! Ciara just informed me that the freeze mob from Brno is on Youtube, oh the joys of technology!

On that note,

Na Shledanou ,

Sarah Xxx