A few days ago I was moaning about how all my relatives have been to exotic places while all I’ve done is mistake the bidet for a urinal on a school trip to Paris. Bon Bon came up with the rather fetching idea of having a contest based on your own globe trotting endeavors. She even mentioned a prize, although I won’t be holding her to that.
So here it is. The chance to show the world how cosmopolitan or provincial you really are. As usual I want everyone participating. Even if the furthest you’ve ever been is the bottom of your garden at midnight in order to bury the body of the grandmother who used to lock you in the basement. Remember it’s not the winning that counts, it’s the making me feel like I have lots of readers taking part that matters.
I’ve found a nifty little web site that will mark all the places you have been for you on a map. However I can’t for the life of me work out how to make it so you can post the pictures in the comments section, so we’ll just have to settle for a list instead. If you want to give a bit of a commentary on where you’ve been so much the better, but it’s not compulsory.
So by way of an example here are both my and Kerry’s entries (complete with maps in order to give ourselves a unfair advantage):
Dan
Australia, China, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, United Kingdom, USA
Kerry
Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark , France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Morocco, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA
I’ve decided to ask Bon Bon to judge this one if she’s up for the challenge. I don’t know what the criteria will be but I’m hoping it will be the area covered by the countries – then my Australia will beat all the hundreds of piddly little European places Kerry has been to.
So roll up, roll up and have a go. It makes no difference if you’ve been to two different countries or twenty we still want to hear from you.
USA, Canada, United Kingdom and France
Besides the US & Canada….Spain, France, Turks & Caicos and Guatemala.
Well I’m with Kerry on the mostly European countries… Hong Kong (I was born there although only lived there for 3 weeks and 6 days until I was old enough to fly to the UK), Eygpt, Kenya, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Spain, Austria, Greece, England, Wales, Scotland, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Cyprus. Think that’s it.
United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
And Greg forgot Mexico on his list.
Lovin’ this one! Here is my two pennies’ worth:
UK, Tunisia, Algeria, Philippines, Singapore, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, India, Canada…
I think that’s about it…
US, Mexico, Italy, Vatican City (hey, it’s a real country)
Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, France,
Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, England, Scotland, Iceland, South Africa, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Grand Cayman, Haiti, Jamaica, Fiji, Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong (but only in transit)
Blimey Gus and Moms, that’s a fair few countries. Mind you you are cheating a little by counting England and Scotland as separate. If that’s the case then you can bung me down for Wales as well.
As for you Helen, like Kerry your army upbringing is an unfair advantage. I knew I should have made it a how many actors from Last of the Summer Wine have you seen (OK, so that will mean absolutely nothing to most people, but it’s a sitcom filmed in the village I grew up in)
United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas.
Well as we are too busy having a good time here in Mauritius to take the time to list the many countries we have both been to, we will catch up when we return. Kerry you forgot Gibraltar and Lichtenstein (remember all that border crossing so you could get passports stamped).
Gibraltar and Lichtenstein weren’t on the map as options so they had to be left out. Anyway, Lichtenstein sounds like a made up country to me.
Worked out how to add maps to the comments now (obviously). So if you do a list I’ll whip one up for you.
UK, France, Spain, Gibraltar, Croatia, Malta and that’s it
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, France,Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Singapore, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Belgium, Ireland, Yugoslavia (As was) Lichtentein, USA, Indonesia, Luxembourg.
I think That’s it.
Wales, Scotland ( I haven’t been to many places so have got to boost my score somehow) France, Spain, Cyprus, Lanzarote, Belguim, Gran Canaria, Jersey, Ireland, Kalymnos….and of course hell if you count M S last sunday morning.
Australia, UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sicily, Greece, Papua New Guinea , China, USA, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Tunisia, Cyprus, South Africa
wow…the responses here has been phenomenal! if i hadn’t been spending yesterday digging out of a blizzard, and frankly, if Dan would’ve given me more warning, i’d have offered up winning tips by now!
to avoid filling their comment section with a boatload of copy, please pop over to my site where you’ll receive not-at-all-secret insider information on how you can come out ahead!
Oh sorry about that. I’m an impulsive kind of guy. Hopefully people will come back and add a bit more.
Although looking a the criteria I’m pretty sure my Dad (Pa) might win this one. Hopefully he’ll pop back and give a short summery of his travels.
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My list is short. But I’ve read the instructions.
1. United States. Born, raised, schooled, have had about three dozen different jobs, one wife and–of course–Clare.
2. The Bahamas. Showed Clare and my wife the blue waters of the Caribbean for the first time.
3. Spain. Spent a summer during college. Drank in nearly every neighborhood in Madrid at nearly every hour of the day. Scaled a wall to go late-night skinny dipping in a private country club pool. (But don’t tell anyone.)
4. New Jersey. No prize will make me talk about that.
In a few weeks, I can add Mexico and the Caymans to my list.
I’ll be adding to this shortly but my list is rather long so it will take a while…
AD
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Well here I go(or went as the case may be), Jeannette has decided to stand down on this one as my trump card was the Falklands and all places in between.
Born in Scotland, ventured into England in my youth and have mastered the language now. Dropped into Wales on various occasions, especially since living in Gloucestershire.
Off to Hong Kong in the early 70′s stopping off on the way in Cyprus and Gan (in the Indian Ocean). Met Jeannette in Hong Kong which must be worth some points as otherwise there wouldn’t have been Kerry!
Returned to Germany and then into Holland, Belgium and France several times. Holidayed in Austria and crossed the borders and visited Switzerland & Lichtenstein so that our children could get their passports stamped (was this foresight on Kerry’s part regarding this competition?) Went on the military train via East Germany (a slightly down market version of the Orient Express but quite an experience) to West Berlin. The wall was still up so we crossed thru Checkpoint Charlie into East Berlin.
Back to the UK and then to the Falklands (and the medal to prove it). Luxury cabin on the QE2 (meant for 2 but shared by 6 – well there was a war on). Stopped off at South Georgia and then to the Falklands. Safely home via the Ascension Islands and Senegal.
Moved to Gibraltar where we hopped into Spain and Morocco several times.
And now the holidays! Can we count Lanzarote, Majorca and Minorca as separate? Greece and Turkey (did Jeannette really hijack that poor lad to get him to give her a spin on his scooter round the village square – or was I as drunk as she was?). More alcohol consumed in Southern Ireland.
Onto Malta/Gozo, where they really do drive in the shade – soon got the hang of it, the tip is get to a roundabout close your eyes and go, though it helps if your car has good brakes, which ours didn’t.
China and a trip through the gorges on the Yangtse before they are flooded and back to Hong Kong to celebrate our 25th anniversary (and my 50th birthday) sporting a bright green plastercast on a broken wrist – time to give up the 5 a-side football. Back to Cyprus to celebrate Jeannette’s 50th (the first visit was for work and she wanted to get that in because she is younger than me, but only just).
New York and a very special wedding! Great family trip to Prague – check out Dan’s video clip. Another birthday break to Portugal this time.
Now to spend the kids inheritance. Sri Lanka (the elephant ride at sunrise was something else) and then the Maldives – its not often Jeannette is lost for words but the place was stunning. This was the March before the Tsunami.
Dream of a lifetime visit to Egypt, and just back from Mauritius.
I know I have to thank the Army for the opportunity of going to a lot of these places – but I will do that in my acceptance speech if I win!
PS – I forgot Denmark – Legoland and the aeroplane rides, up their highest mountain – Himmelfart – Grinstead always being 14km from wherever we were and Kerry & Neil refusing to get out of the car when we got to Romo and the nudist beach!
wow, i’d have never agreed to this if i’d have thought about all the math involved! counting beyond 30 is quite challenging for me! fortunately, i went a few past that reading Grandad’s entry, and adding in his extra points, including being in countries i’ve never heard of…he is our official winner!
Dan, i believe Greg has your mailing address if you’d like me to ship the prize to you to hand over. if you have another suggestion, just let me know.
so, congratulations Grandad for coming in just under the gun! here’s what you’ve won! (cross your fingers for this link to work—)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/1000-Places-Before-Page-Calendar/dp/0761141839/sr=1-2/qid=1166418944/ref=sr_1_2/203-7562515-6563131?ie=UTF8&s=books
i hope it helps guide you to your next far away adventure!