Editing Padova (section)

== Padova Couchsurfing ==

In October 2009 there are more than '''391''' CouchSurfers. Padova is the '''seventh''' Couchsurfing city of Italy, after [[Rome]], [[Milano]], [[Bologna]], [[Torino]], [[Florence]], [[Naples]], despite being the 14th biggest city of Italy.
Padova is home to a quite active hospitality exchange community (CS and HC) that hosts, organizes meetings and activities, takes care of this wiki page and of the related resources.

We prepared a '''[http://maps.google.it/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=117239858310981462557.0004379407965718ba896 Padova for Couchsurfers map]''' with the main monuments to see, places where to eat or drink, etc...

=== Meetings ===

Local '''meetings''' are usually held informally once or more times a week in presence of guests of the local members. Typical activities include meeting in the central squares to drink '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spritz spritz]''', the local cocktail and talk, '''pizza''' meetings or '''dinners''' at hosts' houses. Other CS/HC events include tours of the nearby cities with lunch/pic nics or attending at big and not big events in the Veneto area (such as for ''White nights'', free concerts and exhibitions). 

Ask to your host to keep you updated about local meetings through the local Yahoo! Group [http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/hcsveneto] or joining the local CS groups ([http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=228 Veneto], [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=1470 Padova]). You can also check the '''[http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=9o0tb8rrbkkfrkab6i0p90uphg%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Europe/Rome CS Veneto Google Calendar]''': the local community keeps it updated with all the upcoming events!
Also, it might be a good idea to contact one or two active members through CS to know if there is anything going on.

An almost '''regular meeting''' has been established on every '''Thursday''' at 19:30. The location varies from time to time, but it's always set in the center of Padova. Currently the meeting point is set at the fountain in [http://maps.google.it/maps?q=piazza+delle+erbe+padova&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&gl=it&ei=t7bFSvrBBM-vsAa7-93wDg&hq=&hnear=Piazza+delle+Erbe,+35122+Padova,+Veneto&z=16 Piazza delle Erbe]. Check the Padova group to be sure!

=== Italian Adriatic Surfing Network ===

Padova is a member city of the [[Italian Adriatic surfing network|Adriatic Surfing Network]], a network of CS members and cities located on the eastern cost of Italy with the aim to help and host those travellers who want to discover the eastern part of Italy and foster cooperation between the local communities.


=== Emergency Couch ===

You can contact [http://www.couchsurfing.com/people/tiziano Tiziano] if you find yourself in an emergency situation like your planned host is not reacheable, the hostel is full, or other similar situations (and not because you can't find a host ahead of time!). In that case, despite not being always available for hosting, he will try to help you finding an alternative solution. Please mention the fact that you have read this wiki page!

For a similar purpose, there is a group available for all the Veneto Region [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=11618 here].


=== Padova CS bike sharing project ===

From an idea of Milano CS, in order to promote urban cycling and the use of this wonderful way of transportation, some local couchsurfers would be glad to lend you their bikes during your stay in Padova. Just contact them and find an agreement, in case they don't need them, about when and where you could meet and take the bike. Hey, of course, everything is for free!:)

Here are the bicycle tracks in Padova: 
* http://www.padovanet.it/allegati/C_1_Allegati_5178_Allegato.pdf
* http://www.piste-ciclabili.com/comune-padova

Here is a list of some Padova couchsurfers that you could contact, in case you wanna know more about cycling around in Padova (and we also write the area where they live, in case you wanna pick up the bikes):

<gallery>
Image:tiziano.bike.jpg| [[:cs:tiziano|Tiziano]]: living in San Giuseppe / Palestro area, 5 minutes by bike from the city center, here is the [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=it&geocode=&q=Palestro,+Padova&ie=UTF8&z=15 map], has several old bikes to lend to guests and Couchsurfers upon request. Some of them need some repair, so you are welcome to fix them :)
Image:giuseppe.bike.jpg|[[:cs:giuseppe1970|Giuseppe]] can gladly give you some tips about cycling in Padova
</gallery>


* [http://www.padovanet.it/dettaglio.jsp?tasstipo=C&tassid=1693&id=9888 Parking & rent at the railway station]