If someone tells me they are a Marine (once a Marine, always a Marine, you know), I am going to host them. My husband is a Marine and I have the utmost respect for them, and all military and veterans. This young man wrote last minute on Couchsurfing and asked if he could spend a night with us. He is a student at Bryant College and coming for a summer internship but his room isn’t ready yet. Of course, I said yes.
Shaun arrived about dinner time Tuesday. I was in the midst of a local pub crawl with my other guest Alice from France. We were at the Fleet Reserve Club, enjoying a perfect summer evening on the deck with some friends that we happened to run into. This is one of the greatest things about staying with a local. Neither Alice nor Shaun would be allowed into this private club without me, a member. We had a great time enjoying the priceless view of the harbor and roaring laughter with my friends – old and new.
Couchsurfers Shaun and Alice with Laurie at the Fleet Reserve Club
Later we walked up to my favorite ice cream place downtown, Annapolis Ice Cream at 196 Main Street. Eight consecutive years voted best ice cream in Annapolis – and they make all their own ice cream in house. They both LOVED it. As we were leaving I saw a group of Midshipmen walking down Main. I asked them if our friends could follow them to the yard (USNA) so they could walk around a bit. Shaun only had one night to see the tow and I had to leave with my daughter.
As my two guests returned home for the evening they informed me that one of the mids was a tour guide and offered them a private tour of the campus. Fabulous! My guests had an awesome and truly local, authentic evening. When I awoke the next day, Shaun had made us some of his favorite tea that he brought along and even left me two beautiful tea cups as a gift. Not sure if he knew that I love tea!
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