THREE MONTHS LIVING ON BITCOIN IN EUROPE IN 2017

Introduction

Last year I had the opportunity to visit Europe for the first time. As an Argentine musician from patagonia, this is kind of a privilege; from September to December (2017), during the biggest price increase in Bitcoin’s history, it happened to me that, by chance, I decided to make the experience of live and travel using my btc little savings.

I have been interested in the cryptospace since 2012, when 1 bitcoin was around 30 dollars. By the time I managed to begin investing into crypto, it was mid 2013 and BTC was already more than $300. That same year, the price peek over $1000.

Years went by and I remain an involved believer in this technology and its politics and philosophical implications, but using it or reconvert it back again from crypto to the local fiat currency was not easy, so I saved it for times to come.

AND TIMES CAME

Using a BTC prepaid debit card you can rent a bike and tour at your own peace

From 2013 to 2017 we went into a glacial era, or whatever you want to call it. Chances are that if you are reading this you already know what happened (right?), the price kind of stabilized, BTC’s hype came and went . Beside paying for hosting and the most expensive coffee you will ever get in Argentina (talking to you bitcoffe!), it still remained rather difficult to spend BTC in Argentina.
Most of my friends and people to whom I enthusiastically introduced into bitcoin in those years remained or skeptic or had already forgot about the whole thing (Including believing it was already dead https://99bitcoins.com/bitcoinobituaries/).

People doesn't get it ... yet

So it is mid 2017 and I decided to go "meet The Europe". After a little search I found https://destinia.com and I used 0,4 BTC to buy a ticket to Spain.

I landed in Barcelona. One bitcoin was around 2700 US and by the moment I arrived the price triggered to 3500 US.
There I played gig concerts at a couple mythical underground and public places.

THE EUROPEAN "CORRALITO"

Old School, one of those underground places

On arrival I found that using a BTC debit card as I planned was not going to be easy. I met the European "Corralito" which prevented non european residents from riding too comfy on first world class financial services. (https://news.bitcoin.com/bitcoin-debit-cards-non-european-residents-visas-new-rules/).
Somehow I managed to use unverified accounts to use a virtual and a plastic debit card which allowed me to use my BTC and withdraw cash using regular (ubiquotous)ATMs.

don't ride too comfy folks!

Most big cities do have a couple of ATMs (machines where you can exchange from BTC to EURO). If you are lucky enough you will find one, it will be available, funded and working properly. In my experiences none fulfilled that. Instead I managed to get a visa debit card (you can try wirex ), and got it shipped to my uncle’s home in Spain.

A long walk searching for a BTC - ATM in Barcelona

Next I got my first gig outside Spain.

I bought a cheap flight and payed for hotels in London and Liverpool using this methods.
By the time I got into Germany I reached my unverified Euro account limit … ouch! .
Furthermore Localbitcoins doesnt work in Germany (WTF!), so in my search I found two rare places where BTC was directly accepted. One of them was rom77. It opens since 5pm but I found prices are rather high.
The other one was Leuchstoff Kaffebar (Siegfriedstrasse 19, Berlin). Nice place, they accept BTC but they were not that much into it since and I had taught them myself how to use their own (already installed and funded) wallet to accept my payment.
At my darkest hour of desperation if found Lieferando. They deliver food from 11.000 German restaurants, it worked flawlessly, and they accepted bitcoin directly.

Kafeebar, the best cafe I could afford with Bitcoin in Berlin

TO BE CONTINUED…

On December bitcoin touched 19000 dolars.
I did this whole trip being bank-less (proudly, since 2001’s argentinean "corralito" ).
We traveled visiting family, friends, meeting new people, sometimes being hosted, others using AirbNb and hotels.

I hope my story here serve as a testimony to others about this empowering, borderless, decentralized, uncensorable and amazing technology.

UPDATE
It is September 2018 now. I'm back in Argentina since several months now. The inflation grew way over 100% this days. As I have been automatically converting each income into crypto, I didn't get so much affected by it. You can try it too.

Support my work: BTC 3874259ftwdkEiocJCzVhJ16Tf4f25hpMx

Listen to my MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/album/3nOtfxrZGXJzNGaJl5FuCz

PHOTOS

Cat- Alunia

Room77 is a mythical place for bitcoin... but prices are high!

just thanks Ryan

An "original" Giacometti

I worked on the music production of Ersan Mondtag’s Die Letzte Station at Berliner Ensemble Theater , Thanks Diana Syrse!

Learning history in Berlin can be fun

People are scared of appearing in selfies...

Gaudi!

not Gaudi!

Deezer bikes!

Lots of these in London...

Exeter

In memorian to our friend composer-performer Natalaie Oram, we will miss you all!