Bonus points, for how long? Extra points, how was it? Additional points, why there and what did you do?
Nice try, NSA.
I’ve been to Ontario and BC, which should count as two countries, but it’s only 1. We really liked Niagara on the Lake, in Ontario, and went there a few times. It’s a nice area to bicycle, and you can make it all the way to the falls without getting on the roads much. I liked Vancouver just fine, but I was a kid when we used to go and would probably appreciate it more now as an adult.
I’ve been to Mexico several times; most times, just trips across the border with my parents, again, as a kid. I spent a couple of weeks in the Yucitan more recently, on Isla Mujeres. It was nice than I expected; most of the parting is in Cancun, so it’s more relaxed on the island. Nice place to visit if you have money and can stay in the best resort you can afford.
I’ve spent about a month in Bengaluru, India, and environs. Interesting, and the trip to Mysuru was both intensely depressing and amazingly beautiful. I was traveling for business, so was basically treated like a VIP: 24/7 chauffeur, 5-star hotel, everything. The chauffeur even drove me on the trip to Mysuru, which was a weekend personal trip. I was very careful most of the time, and avoided getting sick, which vastly impacted my enjoyment. Although I did once get on the back of one of my team member’s motorcycle to go to a little local restaurant, which I didn’t think much of, but when I told my boss, he was appalled.
I spent so much time in the UK, I can almost claim citizenship. Same for France. The UK was for two weeks every other month, for three years, on business; and then a couple of vacations; mostly around and about in England. My wife’s sister and her husband did two years as expats in Paris, and we visited then for a couple of weeks two or three times every year during that. I’ve spent a month driving around Provence, and a two week vacation in Normandy and the Loire Valley. I love both countries - London is a great city, and we seriously thought about buying a property near Bath; Paris is a bit too Big City for me, Provence is beautiful, and I’d happily own a cottage in the Loire somewhere.
I lived in Munich for two years, and would buy an apartment there if I could afford it. It’s my favorite place in the world. Bavaria is my soul-home. I tried for several years to find work there, somewhere, in vain - Regensburg is where I’m going to retire, if at all possible.
I spent a couple of weeks in Prague. Beautiful city, and I hope to go back one day for another visit. I wouldn’t live there, though.
Salzburg, Austria, is my second favorite city, and I’ve been about a dozen times. Again, I’d buy a place around there if I could afford it. Vienna is a wonderful city, with a lot to do. I find out a little strange, with a lot of Eastern European influence.
I’ve spent several weeks in northern Italy, mostly around Chiavenna. My third favorite place, although it’s a small town. German friends of mine owned a cabin in the Alps and we went there often, summer and in the winter for skiing.
I’ve driven through Switzerland a few times, and have been to the Swiss Alps twice on ski vacations. It’s like the whole county is Disneyland - very sanitized, very clean, very precise. It’s absolutely beautiful, but it’s far too tidy for me to want to live there. Bern is an exception; it’s such an amazing city; I’d live there, too.
I’ve been to Singapore a couple of times, for a couple of weeks each time. Beautiful, clean, and very safe. Actually, I really enjoy Singapore, but I think it’s best if you have a lot of money to spend. I wouldn’t enjoy it “on the cheap,” I think.
And I’ve been through the Dubai and Tokyo airports - both of Tokyo’s international airports, actually, which required a bus ride around the city, so I actually saw more than the airport. But I can’t say I saw much of them.
I’d equally live in Salzburg, Austria or Regensburg, Germany, with no hesitation. Munich would be third. Some town in Normandy, or Bath, England, fourth. Chiavenna or Bern, fifth.
Basically all European countries, all but five (South)- East Asian ones, the majority of African one as well as Australia and a few more.
The downside: A fair share them for less than 24h, often only for 45min. Oh the joys of working in retrieval medicine.
For example I have been to Greece multiple times…but I have never even seen even the Akropolis from the ground.
All in all, seven. Mostly for holidays or installation jobs. I like Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK.
Brazil: I am from here
Argentina (Buenos Aires): for a week when I was like 7, so I don’t remember it very well, but it was alright. It was the first time I’d ever felt temperatures lower than 10°C outside.
Never been to any country other than those. Traveling by plane is expensive and I don’t live near the Argentinian or Uruguayan border (I’m fairly sure they can be traveled between freely since they’re also in Mercosul)
Edit: also, I don’t speak any Spanish and mutual intelligibility isn’t very reliable
Canada, US, Iceland, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Italy, Slovenia, Austria
Stopped going anywhere new though and I just go to Iceland every summer now
I’m Canadian BTW
Why Iceland?
If it was me (personally) I would pick Egypt
I can’t get enough of it. The people are so friendly. You pretty much can’t get into trouble there - I forgot my camera equipment in a hotel lobby one time and it was still in the same spot 12 hours later untouched. Nobody even locks their cars.
I just rent a car and bring my backpacking equipment and just wing it every time. Aside from Reykjavik 101 the entire country is just amazing. I Iove not having an itinerary and just planning my adventure as the weather permits since that changes daily.
If you get a 4x4 you can travel via F roads (aka fucked up roads) and completely avoid the tourist crowd. Offroading in thorsmork in particular is just the most glorious thing a guy can do.
sounds like a cool getaway to rent a hut warm and scenic on a cliff or mountain just to enjoy yourself and focus on your stuff
I just sleep in a tent and warm up/clean up in hot springs. I’m a penny pincher though haha
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People’s Republic of China - I was born there, not much of a choice. Was there for approximately the first 10 years of my existence. Most of the time was spent around the Guandong Province. Went to Hong Kong (under PRC control) like once, or so I’m told, very fuzzy memories… [How was it: Serious Economic and Political issues at the time I left, so… not good 0/10]
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Seoul, South Korea (ROK) - Stayed for a few hours, at the airport, waiting for the connecting flight. Never entered into the country. I saw some noodles on the menu at a restaurant at the airport, and it was like 10,000 Korea Won or more, I was a kid that didn’t underatand different currencies and exchange rates, shocked me lol. (Probably like $10 to $30 USD) Other than that, don’t remember much happening) [How was it: Don’t remember much, the airport looked nice, so… 7/10 I guess, but I didn’t technically enter the country]
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United States of America - Been here ever since like I was around 10-ish. Here via Immigration Visa, I have since acquired citizenship. Lived at NYC and Philly, traveled around the NY/PA/NJ tri-state area when going back and forth between NYC and Philly. And went to DC once for a school trip. [How was it: Used to be like 6/10, now it’s 2/10]
Does it even count if you never went through customs? Also, depending on the flight paths, I might have also flew over Japan/Russia/Canada’s Airspaces… if that also counts 🤷♂️
(What does a flightpath from Seoul to JFK look like, anyways?)
I wanna to go to Canada, I’ve always heard it was a nice and friendly place, even friendlier than the US. But don’t wanna face customs issues when returning since… ahem fascist administration, so I guess it’ll have to wait 4 years… or more… 👀
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- Every state in the US (most in the form of being driven through back in the 70s), including Hawaii and Alaska
- Mexico over a dozen times, primarily Laredo
- Canada (for a day as part of a cruise)
- England and Scotland 4 times, including my honeymoon (about a month in total)
- Ireland (part of the aforementioned honeymoon, 4 days, including being in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day)
- This part gets a little weird… Italy, Austria, Switzerland, WEST Germany… all before the wall fell
- West Berlin then East Berlin, the latter being the first time I’d ever had a gun pointed at me (polizei)
- Hungary as part of a trip to find where my paternal grandparents had lived prior to coming to the US
- New Zealand for 2.5 weeks to see Hobbiton… as well as a wealth of natural beauty and KORORA
- US Virgin Islands (St John)
EDIT: also France for 6 hours via the Chunnel ;)
American here! I’ve been lucky to travel a bunch for work so some of the countries I’ve been to 10+ times for 1-2 weeks. Others are just for holiday.
Canada - only a few day trip to Toronto Mexico - one week but flying there tomorrow for a second week France - 10+ work trips Italy - 10+ work trips UK - weekend in London with the EuroStar from Paris Germany - a couple work trips China - one week Australia - two weeks Jamaica - two weeks Dominican Republic - one week
Three.
Holidays (overnight): 12 Norway, Scotland, England, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Paraguay
Day trip: 5 Denmark, Czechia, Argentina, Brazil, Poland
Student exchange: 1 Belgium
Work: 4 (1 unique) Luxembourg,FR AU CH
Volunteering work: 3 Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania
sum = 22; 19 in Europe , 3 in South America Loved them all.
Somewhere between 17-19, but only on the Northern hemisphere.
One thing I’ve learned is that humans are very much alike everywhere, both good and bad, but mostly in a good way. I will never understand racism or patriotism. Borders are artificial.
UK.
I’ve worked in: UK, Ireland, Spain (Marid and Barcelona), France (Paris), Italy (Milan and Rome), Germany (all over), Belgium (Brussels), Denmark (Copenhagen), US (New York and New Jersey), Canada (Toronto and Montreal)
On top of those I’ve visited: Japan (many times), US (many times), Sweden, Holland, Iceland, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, BVI, Antigua, St Martin, Barbuda
I’ve sailed in BVi, Antigua, Barbuda, Italy, Greece, and obviously the UK.
If I could, I would live in Japan, by far my favourite place
Australia Hong Kong Taiwan China England Wales France Spain Catalonia Germany United States New Zealand Thailand Singapore Kenya Papua New Guinea Indonesia
Plus a bunch of airports, of course.
- 2 decades: Netherlands
- 2 years: Belgium
- 2 months: Finland
- 2 weeks: Iceland
- 2 days: United Kingdom
- 2 hours: Switzerland
- Somewhere between 2 minutes and 2 seconds: Netherlands, Germany, Belgium all at once
- 6 years: Germany
- 6 months: France
- 6 weeks… this is getting tricky, Luxembourg is probably closest but not close enough to claim this tier
- 6 days: Poland
- 6 hours: Sweden
- 6 minutes: I give up
I didn’t realise it was a life goal of mine to spend 6 minutes in a country until this post, but now I’m not sure I can unsee this list. Maybe the Vatican is a good candidate for that? Italy can go in the 2 days slot, bumping UK up to 6 weeks another time. Germany will exceed the 6 years slot soon though, maybe I’ll need to visit all sixers to get bingo on a row of sevens instead. And where are we going for 7 seconds? Another tripoint, does that count?
