A few days ago, I landed in Bahrain, setting foot in my 75th country. When I think back to who I was the very first time I traveled to a country outside of the US to today, I am a completely different person. Of course, the 27 years that have passed has something to do with it, but time is not the only thing that has changed me, travel has also changed me. I went from a small-town kid who was scared to get on an airplane back in 1996, to a confident solo traveler, visiting nearly 50 countries on my own.
I have made it a personal goal in my life to do more of what I enjoy, and what I enjoy is seeing the world. Many people aren’t into counting countries, but for me, it’s a way to motivate myself to visit somewhere I wouldn’t normally consider, add those extra days onto a work trip, or to step foot on an entirely new continent.
I decided to go through and make a note about each country I have visited so far, mostly to prove to myself that all the memories I have collected from across the world were worth the time away and money I spent getting there. As I started, I was shocked how quickly I could recall details from my travels – from local experiences and funny antidotes to the food I still remember and dream about in my sleep. As the memories came flooding back, I realized then and there that it was all worth it. Every moment spent planning an epic adventure, to only have it rain the entire trip, every plane ride, dollar spent, annoyance of a cancelled flight, laughs with best friends, sharing an unforgettable experience with someone you love, everything.
The memories I can recall below stay with me even today, so my final words of wisdom – take the trip, it’s always worth it.
Oh, and the below is all text, so grab some coffee and get your reading glasses ready…. and if you want to see photos of all my travels, check out my IG – @coriswords, my other favorite hobby is taking pictures 🙂
Europe – country count: 50/50
Albania – I only stayed in Tirana but I wish I would have gone to the coast instead. Albania is supposed to be the “new Croatia”, but I can definitively say that was not the vibe I got from Tirana….at all. The highlight was when I was standing in front of 5 men sitting in plastic chairs, chain smoking outside the “bus terminal” asking which public bus went to Podgorica. After minutes of my hand signals and gestures, eventually one took my money, one took my luggage, and another ushered me onto an empty bus… where I sat for an hour. I was pretty sure they just wanted to get rid of me and put me on the bus heading to Moldova instead, but sure enough, my luggage and I both made it to Montenegro in one piece (and in the meantime, I had an unforgettable trip on said public bus). Note to self – always trust strangers. Second note to self – never record an insane Albanian bus trip on Snapchat where it will disappear forever, always use your phone camera when these types of situations present themselves.
Andorra – Quick daytrip from Barcelona, and I nearly lost my breakfast on the bus from all the winding roads. Not much to do or see (I got lost and wound up getting trapped in someone’s garden while trying to find the perfect spot for a selfie) but two fun facts: 1) Andorra la Vella has the highest elevation out of any European capital city; and 2) it is the only country where the official language is Catalan.
Armenia – Loooved it here and is high on my revisit list – great food, wine, and local brandy (try Ararat, it’s soo good! They also do tastings in the airport, you’re welcome!). I walked around Yerevan for two days and the mountain views were quite nice, as were the markets with the heaps and heaps of local spices. My fondest memory though was when I landed and was immediately questioned for 15 minutes by a very annoyed immigration agent as to why I had a stamp from Azerbaijan in my passport. Apparently, they are not the best of friends due to a longstanding territory dispute, and while they will not deny you entry, they do like to give you a hard time — just make sure to say, “Azerbaijan is the worst place you have ever been and that you almost died from food poisoning when you were there”, and you’ll be fine 😉
Austria – I have been a few times, mostly to Vienna (go to the top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral – worth the climb, and also try one of my favorite Austrian beers, Stiegl) but I really loved the charm of Hallstatt, even if it was overrun with tourists (and I was there in the off season!). Solid country and still have some places left there that I want to go to – Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Tirol, in particular.
Azerbaijan – See “Armenia” above – “hated it and got food poisoning”. Kidding, kidding… but I did meet a local who took me for coffee, dessert, and hookah. Had a great time but would suggest venturing out of Baku if you have more time than I did.
Belarus – This was the first place I have visited that reallllly felt like it was still trapped in Iron Curtain, Communist Eastern Europe – I could almost see the tanks rolling down the wide, flag lined streets. At the time of my visit, you didn’t need a visa and only had to show proof of health insurance and hotel arrangements on arrival, times have changed since then and it’s not the best destination to be in these days. Had a nice time in Minsk though – weather was great and so was the borscht.
Belgium – Good chocolate, waffles, and beer – very stereotypical, but also very true. Really beautiful, historic square in Brussels, but kinda boring and I don’t have the biggest desire to go back anytime soon, unless it’s to Ghent for its Christmas market.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Also another, “I met a local story” — met someone at the airport in Boston en route and he agreed to show me around Sarajevo (side note, we were also on the same flight back to Boston and he gifted me some Bosnian cheese!). We did a lot of drinking and eating in the city (I particularly remember the burek and ćevapi, which is the unofficial national dish of Bosnia), then went to his cousin’s house (they were all super nice and talking openly about the war and religion) and did a lot more drinking…. I went straight to the airport afterwards, passed out on a bench and almost missed my flight to Croatia. The old part of the city was stunning, with a lovely mosque and cute little stalls selling local goods (I bought my Christmas stockings there!). One of the countries I wish I had more time to visit.
Bulgaria – Enjoyed Sofia, but it was wintertime, so I didn’t really get a good feel of the city. St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was impressive and something I still remember from all my travels.
Croatia – My final country in Europe! back in 2018. Because I didn’t have a ton of time, and I am a huge GoT fan, I spent all my days in Dubrovnik. Since it was November when I was there, it was very quiet, which made it way more enjoyable than dealing with the overwhelming crowds that are there in the summer. Would love to spend some time in lesser known, more local places near the coast next time. This is on our future summer plans list. P.S. Croatian wine is pretty amazing!
Cyprus – Met my Irish travel friend Reuben here (plus some of his friends and family) while he was celebrating his final country of Europe.. I had such a fun time, and this was one of the few trips I went on with other people. We ate, drank, did escape rooms, and laughed… A LOT. It’s more of a sunny, beach destination but one of the things I enjoyed most was visiting Nicosia – really gave a distinct sense of the Turkish influence in Northern Cyprus. As for the Greek parts of Cyprus, the food and wine were fantastic!
Czech Republic – Home to the people who drink more beer per person than anyone on Earth (for the 29th year in a row!). Also, home to Prague, a truly magnificent gem in Eastern Europe. Great city to get lost in, enjoy a local beer (or 7 – remember, always do as the locals do!), or to just soak up all the historical sights. From Prague Castle and Charles Bridge to brewery tours galore, it’s one of my favorite cities in Europe. If you have the time, definitely swing over to Cesky Krumlov for small, city cozy vibes or Karlovy Vary for a day at the spa!
Denmark – Ahh, our little neighbor to the south 🙂 I quite like Copenhagen; it’s considered to be the capital of cool in Scandinavia and really is the epitome of hygge. My favorite trip there was one of the times I went to visit my childhood friend Brooke (also see “Morocco” below!). We strolled around the city shops and then went to an outdoor hot tub place on the water called Copenhot. We spent hours catching up, laughing, and sipping champagne from our private wood heated hot tub overlooking the city. Afterwards, we got crazy and jumped into the channel before eating our weight in street food. An absolutely perfect day!
Estonia – I have been to Tallinn twice (both times in the winter) and the last time I was there, Rune and I planned a trip to visit the city’s Christmas market. When I tell you our long weekend was like a Hallmark movie (minus the plaid shirt and peppermint lattes), I am not kidding. Handsome Scandinavian man whisks away a clueless, smiley American to a picturesque town in Europe for some eyerolling miscommunication, followed by romance, love, and 40 cups of super strong local gløgg, as snow gently falls on them while they kiss under a perfectly lit Christmas tree. For real…that’s how it was. Rune would probably tell the same story but would say that I am an idiot for telling him the winter hat he bought while we were there looked good even though he had it on backwards the whole time (it was the gløgg’s fault).
Finland – The happiest country in the world…or so they say. Have been to Helsinki three times – happy, maybe? Strange (but in a good way), definitely. Last time I was there I met a local friend who insisted we go to a public sauna. I have heard many, many stories of Finns and saunas, and most of them start and end with “we were all naked in the sauna..” so I was a bit apprehensive, but went anyway. Luckily for me, not all the stories you hear about Finns are true … people were actually wearing bathing suits and not chugging lonkeros. After nearly sweating to death for an hour (I am the only one that kept insisting we did not need any more steam), we jumped into the VERY cold water (this was in October and the water temperature was about 45° F), not once, but three times back and forth (I was told very pointedly by strangers that if I didn’t jump in I was a giant pussy). Afterwards to warm up, we dug into some of the best fish soup I have had in my life. So come to think of it, I was pretty happy when I was there visiting. Well played, Finland!
France – Good ol’ France – cradle of democracy (my phone autocorrected democracy to demons, guess that could be accurate as well), destination of unmatched architecture, and home to some of the best food and wine on the planet. I have been to Paris a few times and also to Nice, but I have this love/hate relationship with France. Part of me thinks there are a million better places to visit (and that are way less expensive), while the other part of me has this dream road trip that goes from Paris to Bordeaux to Biarritz, and then to San Sebastian (in Spain). New idea, maybe I should buy a chateau for €50,000 like they do on TV…
Georgia – I absolutely loved Tbilisi and always recommend Georgia to anyone looking for a European destination that is a little more off the beaten track. The food (try khachapuri adjaruli!!!) and wine are fantastic (plus they also have local brandy!), and the mountain regions are beyond stunning. I stayed at a small boutique hotel in Tbilisi that was in the perfect spot for city exploring. I always try to find a local hotel when I travel because the character is almost always worth the extra effort it takes to find it vs. taking the easy way out and staying at a chain hotel. This is the one place in Europe I would choose to go back to first.
Germany – My very first European country and the country in Europe I have been to the most. From visiting friends in Köln (waay too many stories to tell in this post), to the laid-back vibe of Berlin, to the charming cities in Bavaria, Germany is a great country to visit, any time of year (and P.S. you don’t have to go to Munich during Oktoberfest, visit the smaller cities instead – you’ll thank me later).
Greece – Now to my favorite food destination in Europe. I love everything about Greek food and would go back just for that. Unfortunately, I have only been once (Athens (blah, was not impressed) and Santorini (very impressed)), and every year we talk about going for vacation but then I start complaining about the blazing heat and the crowds and Rune decides he values his life more than the beach, so we don’t go…. but we really should. I went in May, and for me, it was the best time to visit. Shops are opened (do not go to the islands off season, almost everything will be closed), weather is pleasant, and the summer crowds have yet to arrive.
Hungary – Also another country I wish I had spent more time in. Budapest was amazing and I am desperate to go back (also high on my list are Lake Balaton and wine country). A great, inexpensive place to travel to and the perfect first country to visit in Eastern Europe for anyone looking to branch out from the classic European countries like the UK, France, Italy, etc.
Iceland – Iceland is a special place. Did you know it’s the only country in the world with no mosquitos? Did you also know if you live in Boston, it’s a super easy, long weekend trip (4.5hr, direct flight)? Highly recommend a visit – a few days or a few weeks. I have been twice and loved both trips – from hiking and riding on Icelandic horses, to jumping in geothermal pools and seeing the Northern Lights, Iceland is pure (expensive) magic.
Ireland – I’ve only been once (Dublin) and should probably visit again soon. I have planned quite a few trips all over Ireland for clients at work and have some really great itineraries just waiting for me to book a flight. 2024 goals maybe?
Italy – Okay, so I know I said Greek was my favorite food, but I forgot about Italian. I have been to Italy 6 times, and it never gets old. The history, the culture, the wine! the food! (Bologna is the best for food btw). I always tell this story about my first major memory from traveling and it happened on my first trip to Rome in 2001. I was in college, and I remember taking the subway to the Colosseum (this was after I tried plugging my American hair dryer in a European socket without a voltage converter and it blew the power out of half the shitty hotel we were staying at), walking up the stairs and right across the street was this massive, 2,000 year old structure that I had only read about in my history books. It was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. It made me realize how important it was for me to travel and really see the world for myself. I will never forget how I felt that day. Italy can literally change your life.
Kosovo – Also a daytrip, but this time from Macedonia. Took the local bus (easier and less eventful than in Albania) and spent a few hours in Pristina. Not much to see or do, probably better spent talking to locals since Kosovo is a bit of an interesting country dilemma. Smuggled some local beer with me for the bus ride back – I figured it was fine since I was the only person on the bus back to Skopje.
Latvia – Have been to Riga twice and LOVED it! Such an inexpensive, easy long weekend trip from most places in Europe – people should really take advantage! Riga has a beautiful old town that is perfect for getting lost. On my last visit, I went with 2 friends and Rune, and we had the absolute best time. This was one of those trips that made me so happy to know that I have some travel buddies who are always up for a trip anywhere in the world – you know who you are 😉
Liechtenstein – Yet another daytrip, this time from Switzerland. I was on my way to a wedding in Germany but had to cross Liechtenstein off my list, so stayed one night in Zürich and rented a car to get there (it’s a little over an hour’s drive). Not much to see other than a few castles sprinkled here and there, but it’s a beautiful drive from Zürich (I rented a Mini Cooper — first time driving one and it took me 30 minutes to figure out how to start the car in the airport parking lot), so if you want to get out and visit a new country from Switzerland, here’s your chance!
Lithuania – Often overlooked in the Baltics, it’s the least visited country of the three (although the largest in size and population), but still offers a great overall Baltic experience. On my first visit to the area, I did Latvia, Estonia, and then Lithuania, and it was a perfect way to compare the three Baltic countries. I’d say Vilnius is a little less cozy than Riga or Tallinn, but still plenty to see and do around the city (highly recommended Gediminas Tower for the best views over the city).
Luxembourg – I found myself stranded in Germany for a few extra days after the New Year due to snow in Boston, so I took full advantage and went on the train down to Luxembourg from Köln for the day. It was grey and gloomy, so it honestly wasn’t the best experience. I imagine it is nicer in the summer, but for me, not much of a reason to go back, although I do hear they make some pretty decent wine there….
Malta – I stayed in Cospicua (one of the Three Cities in the historic center) and fell in love with the country’s history and all the small alleyways with their colorful bay windows and balconies. My best memory from Malta was sitting on a crumbling wall, watching the sunset over the harbor while enjoying a local beer.
Moldova – Wellll, this country is not high on my revisit visit list, so the funniest part of my trip was when I left. As we prepared to board the shuttle bus to the plane, I was taken aside and questioned by airline staff as to why I was in Moldova and what I was doing there. Confused, I answered that I was there as a tourist, just checking it out. They looked at me like I had lost my mind (it was winter after all) but let me go. Once I was on the bus, a college-aged girl approached me and said she overheard what I was saying and questioned my sanity as well – saying “why would you ever come to Moldova? That’s so weird”. Probably should have listened… (kidding, kidding – I have nothing against Moldova!)
Monaco – Went here from Nice when I was in college. Tried to be fancy and go into a high end casino (denied due to dress code), went to another one and was let it … put some money on black in roulette and won.. immediately left and spent it all on alcohol. Sounds about right…
Montenegro – One of my absolute favorite places I have been to in Europe. I had this dream to stay at the Aman Sveti Stefan and knew if I ever made it to Montenegro I would stay there, no matter the cost… so I did. While I was there, I was treated like royalty (pays to travel off-season, I was literally the only guest so I was upgraded to the best room at the hotel, had special meals made for me by the chef, the full attention of the staff and the absolute best experience ever), went on private day drips to Perast (amazing) and Kotor (super cool), explored neighboring fishing villages on foot, and just relaxed outside by the beach. This trip included some of the best days I have ever had in my life, so it was an absolute dream.
Netherlands – I have just been to Amsterdam, which is probably the same for most people who have been to the Netherlands. I did enjoy my time there, but kinda meh about going back. Been there, done that kind of feeling. BUT, if you haven’t been, there are some fantastic museums in Amsterdam that should be visited by all (Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum) Even if you have a long layover at Schiphol, you can easily take the train directly into the city and explore for a few hours before flying out.
North Macedonia – I really enjoyed Skopje – especially the old bazaar and fortress (and did you know Mother Theresa is from Skopje? She has a small memorial house that’s opened to visit as well). It’s a strange place with random statues everywhere (mostly of Alexander the Great, their hometown hero), but I love strange and would also love to go back. The food was great (very Greek) and everyone I met there was really happy to see tourism increasing to their country.
Norway – Ahh, finally we get to my new home. I cannot say anything bad, or Rune will make me eat lutefisk every night for the rest of my life…. but I do actually love Norway. It’s such a beautiful, spectacular country (do yourself a favor and go to Geiranger!!!). If you need Norway tips, shoot me a message, always happy to help (but you must bring me some Tito’s from the US in return — that shit’s expensive here!)
Poland – Way back when my little sister turned 21, we took a trip to Europe (Berlin, Krakow, Prague, and Vienna). That trip to Krakow is the only time I have been to Poland, and I absolutely loved it. It was October but still nice enough to sit outside in Market Square with a plate full of pierogies and local beer. That trip, including our visit to Poland, was one of the best vacations I have ever taken, for many reasons. Oh and do yourself a favor, if you’re in Krakow, pay a visit to Auschwitz. Given what’s going on in the world today, it’s more important than ever to remember what has happened in the past.
Portugal – This was my second attempt at visiting Portugal. I was planning a visit to Lisbon and the Azores in 2017, but after my passport and wallet were stolen (see “Burkina Faso”), I decided to fly home to Boston instead. BUT, I did eventually make it to Lisbon a year later. I’m not sure what I was expecting but I was overwhelmed with how much I enjoyed the city. It reminded me so much of San Francisco, with its cable cars and steep, hilly landscape, but much, much prettier. Red rooftops, sea views, beautiful handmade tiles on the buildings, and amazing food — I would love to go back and add Porto into the mix.
Romania – Similar to Bulgaria — I went in the winter, was super cold and snowy so I cannot report much other than I had some really good local wine and saw someone running naked down the street during a bachelor party (the rest of his party was dressed up in costumes). Would love to visit Dracula’s castle on my next trip.
Russia – Obviously I was here before the recent war, but I cheated a bit and took the visa easy way out. Back then you could get a visa on arrival if you took the ferry from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, which I did (the only rules were you could not stay longer than 3 days, could not leave St. Petersburg and had to take the ferry back). St. Petersburg was everything I thought it would be (amazing), and I had always dreamed of going to Russia, so it was an epic experience. I would love to do the Trans-Siberian railroad from Moscow to Mongolia someday so would be nice if Russia would behave themselves in the near future.
San Marino – This was an easy daytrip from Bologna, Italy (train to Rimini, bus to San Marino). I really recommend it if you have some extra time in Italy. Cute, cozy, and nestled in the mountains, it’s a great place to spend the day wandering around, popping into small, local shops. Afterwards, find a restaurant, sit outside with a local beer, and enjoy the unforgettable views!
Serbia – One of my stops on the Bulgaria/Romania trip during the winter — no snow when I was there, but it was a little bit of a gritty place. I went to Belgrade and walked A LOT – lots of churches and an impressive fortress make up the best sights in the city.
Slovakia – Bratislava was a quick trip from Vienna — the capital cities are only an hour apart, so very easy to visit both. I rented a car (I also drove to Hallstatt on this trip – see “Austria”) and it was a nice, straightforward drive across the border. It’s a small city but quite cute. My favorite area of the capital was the Old Town — complete with a ton of local shops and outdoor restaurants and cafes.
Slovenia – One of my favorite European countries. I adored Ljubljana (cobblestone streets, shopping, cafes, and a beautiful castle) and would love to spend more time around the country, visiting Bled and Portoroz as well. If you are looking for an ultimate road trip – Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro would be it!
Spain – I am super embarrassed to say this, but I have only been to Barcelona…once. It was amazing (the food…. omgggg) and I have a list of other places I want to visit in Spain (hello, Seville!) but have yet to go. I should do better 😦
Sweden – I have been to Stockholm twice (it’s lovely), but Rune and I recently went to Visby in Gotland for my birthday and let’s just say – it. was. awesome. !!!! A bit of a pain to get to, but absolutely worth it. We drove 6hrs to Stockholm then took a 3hr ferry. You can fly from Stockholm but the flights are pretty expensive. It was probably one of my favorite places in Scandinavia. We also had fantastic weather, which always helps in this part of the world!
Switzerland – One of the first European countries I have been to and have now been back a few times since (Bern, Basel, Zürich). Absolutely stunning scenery, great cheese, and chocolate (obviously), and immaculate cities. Would love to spend more time here, but when you live in Norway, you go to places that are less expensive than where you live, not more expensive. Sorry Switzerland!
Turkey – Went here with an ex — we broke up afterwards. Wouldn’t recommend. Just kidding… we went to Istanbul, cool city with a lot of history but waaay too crowded for me. Not a huge fun but probably more enjoyable with the right person 😉
Ukraine – This one is a little sad for me. I spent a few days in Kyiv and it’s really heartbreaking to see the city being bombed and attacked. I wish I had spent more time there because I may not get that opportunity again in the future. I do have great memories from my visit, and I am thankful I had the chance to at least see the city before war came knocking on its door.
United Kingdom – Have been to London a few times, around up to Scotland twice, and then to some other random places in England on the way back down. Really enjoy Scotland, and of course, it’s one of the easiest countries for us poor, language deprived Americans to visit if you can read English (I say “read” instead of “understand” English because some of the accents there are very questionable). It’s also home to a lot of my favorite things: impressive history, Harry Potter, the English bulldog, Colin Firth, and countless literary heroes (not a favorite but worth mentioning), oh and, YNWA.
Vatican – If you have been to Rome, you have probably been to the Vatican… but if for some reason you have been to Rome and not to the Vatican, the Pope (and I) are very disappointed in you. Even the outside of the Vatican is impressive, but what’s even more impressive is seeing the Sistine Chapel with your own eyes.
Africa – country count: 5/54
Benin – See “Togo” below for the first part of this story…….Denied a tourist visa at the border of Togo and Benin, sat for hours until they took pity on me and issued me an entry visa, spent two nights in Cotonou, got food poisoning, flew to Senegal.
Burkina Faso – Let’s see, got robbed (passport, wallet, money, and phone all taken), had to get an emergency passport at the US Embassy (was a massive pain in the ass), and ate camel for the first (and only) time. Overall, a solid representation on what NOT to do when you travel. Side note: the police found my stolen bag in a ditch and returned it to the Embassy in Ouagadougou. The Embassy ended up sending it back to me in the US – open the bag and found my Chanel wallet there, Chanel sunglasses there, passport, and all of my credit cards. Cash and phone were the only two things missing.
Morocco – I met my friend Brooke here for a few days after I was travelling to Barcelona. We had such a great time in Marrakesh until we went to the hammam. We were basically stripped naked and put in a steamy, marble room together. We are American, we don’t do naked, and definitely not with someone else. As we “relaxed”, the steam dissipated, and a lady walked in. She was there to scrub us from head to toe, and then hand wash our hair…..one at a time. Together. Naked. At one point as Brooke was getting water poured on her from a wooden ladle, we made eye contact and just started laughing. Sometimes that’s the best (and only) thing you can do when you’re naked in a room with someone.
Senegal – Had a 40,000hr layover in Dakar, no phone (stolen in Burkina Faso), no book, no stores open in the airport so literally had nothing to do. I wandered around for many hours taking mental pictures (again, no phone, and thus no camera), went back to the airport and flew home to Boston. I imagine Senegal is a lot more enjoyable than the experience I had.
Togo – The country I never intended on visiting. My friend had the brilliant idea to buy a one-way ticket to Togo from Burkina Faso that had a stopover in Benin. We would simply disembark in Benin and save some money since it was cheaper than a one-way from Burkina Faso to Benin. Well… we got off the plane but on the bus to the terminal they checked our tickets and forced us back on the plane because we had tickets to Togo and not Benin. We caused a huge delay for the flight since my friend felt the need to argue with airline staff, the pilots, and crew (he’s a travel superstar and is the only person to visit every country in the world, TWICE), so who was I to argue? So, we did this walk of shame back on the plane with everyone hating us for causing a delay. We land in Togo and….detained at the airport on arrival for the spectacle at the airport in Benin, driven to a local police station, interrogated by the police, almost got arrested, but after many, MANY hours we were released. We then had to pay a taxi to drive us 5hrs hours back to Benin. Good times there in Togo…
Asia – country count: 12/44
Bahrain – My country #75 and the last of the GCC countries on my list. Three things I didn’t know about Bahrain until a few days ago: it’s an island; it’s connected to Saudi by a series of bridges (15.5 miles long in total); and its capital is Manama (I thought it was just Bahrain, oopsie). While I would say there is less to see here than the other GCC countries, it seems more “real” than Dubai and Doha. Less of a city to show off in and more of a place to actually live (not for me, I hate the sun and sand, but others may like it).
Israel – Went on a marketing trip here in February of this year. Politics aside – great food, people, wine, sightseeing, and history. Really enjoyed my visit and happy I was able to experience this part of the world, especially considering what is going on now.
Japan – I have been to Japan twice – Tokyo & Kyoto both times. Tokyo is fun to see but Kyoto is the real showstopper of the two. Both times I have been, I am always planning another trip back. I would really recommend going to Kyoto during the shoulder season because it can get PACKED! My first time was in December, and while it was a little chilly out, it wasn’t nearly as crowded as it was when I was there in June. Walk through Nishiki Market in Kyoto and visit all the weird areas and cafes you can in Tokyo! My funniest memory in Tokyo was breakfast sushi at the fish market with Jen where she guilted me into eating a giant chunk of sea urchin (I nearly vomited it up at the table) and in Kyoto when I was stopped by a class full of middle school students and quizzed on how much I knew about Japan (very little as it turns out, and they thought it was hilarious).
Kazakhstan – Interesting fact, I have been to Astana, yet Astana no longer exists. In 2019 the capital city of Astana changed its name to Nur-Sultan. This is one of the weirdest countries I have been to. It was like they decided to plop a city down in the middle of nowhere, in this massive country (top 10 in the world for size), build some strange buildings here and there, plus a giant mosque, then just decided to call it a day. Not much culture, not much history and barren tundra all around. That being said, as I mentioned, I love weird places so would probably go back.. but to Almaty, supposedly a lot cooler than Astana… oh sorry, Nur-Sultan.
Kuwait – I had some mixed feelings about visiting Kuwait. Growing up in the 90s in the US means that the First Gulf War was in full swing and was something we heard a lot about in school throughout the years. I didn’t really know what to expect and honestly, being that close to Iraq made me a little skittish (I don’t know why, just this weird feeling – oh and while I was here, two rockets hit the US Embassy in Baghdad – no casualties but still). Kuwait is more conservative than all the other GCC countries, minus Saudi. It’s a completely dry country (no alcohol at all — not even in Western hotels) and many women here are wearing full burkas. I ended up walking about 8 miles (these cities are not built for pedestrians, so I was pretty impressed I made it that far) visiting all of the top sights. I can honestly say I really enjoyed my two days here and was pleasantly surprised overall. Kuwait City is a decent sized city, but not flashy at all. It has a lot of history – past and present – and everyone I met was very nice and helpful. Better than expected, and right behind Oman as one of my favorite places in the Middle East.
Malaysia – I had a quick meeting in Kuala Lumpur so wish I could say more about my time in Malaysia but as I was just there for 36hrs, I will leave you with this: it was humid AF and sooo much traffic in and around the city. I was told by our office in KL that I should have gone to Borneo instead, next time I will take their advice.
Oman – LOOOOOVED it. I only had a few days that I tacked on after a work trip to Dubai, and it was not enough. Muscat is stunning and I am desperate to go back to see what’s outside the capital city. Nice people, great food (I didn’t drink alcohol when I was there, but they do serve it at Western hotels), and honestly, an overall fantastic place. Skip the UAE, come here instead!
Qatar – I was pleasantly surprised with Doha. Most cities in the Middle East are not pedestrian friendly, which can be said about Doha as well, but the bonus in Qatar is that the Ubers are super cheap. I ended up seeing A LOT because I could get from place to place quickly, and without spending a lot of money. My favorite area was the Mina District – filled with colorful buildings nestled next to the water, it was the perfect place to wander and stay out of the afternoon sun.
Saudi Arabia – This was a very interesting experience for me as a woman. Saudi Arabia has been pushing the “tourism card” over the past few years, seeing what it has done in the UAE, so it’s quite easy to get a visa (online and mine was approved in like an hour) but it’s definitely not a country for everyone. I just had two days in Riyadh (would have preferred Jeddah, but did not have enough time and Saudi is a BIG country), which were….interesting. I did cover my hair and wore loose fitting, modest clothing (you don’t have to cover your hair, fyi – I just didn’t need any more attention than I would already get being a solo, female traveler), but I got some looks. I felt totally safe walking alone, no one bothered or harassed me, and I even had two ladies in full burkas approach me to ask where I was from, if I was enjoying my visit and then welcomed me to their country. I’m glad I took the time to visit and would recommend Saudi as a destination to anyone who has a desire to travel to countries well off the beaten path.
Singapore – Awesome food – chili crab, yes please! Unfortunately, I did not have the same trip as shown in Crazy Rich Asians, so that was a bit disappointing.. but I did mention the chili crab, right? I had it 3 times in 2 days.
Taiwan – I only spent a few days in Taipei but will be going back again in May. I was pleasantly surprised with the food, people and all the shops I visited. Everyone was very friendly, and it was very easy to get around. I particularly enjoyed the daytrip I took to Jiufen. Excited to go back and spend more time there to get a better feel for the country.
UAE – Have just been to Dubai and it’s a very strange place. Miami and Vegas with an Arabic twist? Seeing a super city in the desert (with the tallest building in the world to boot) that has basically popped up out of nowhere to become this global destination powerhouse is pretty insane. Oh, and the amount of money in this country, also insane.
Oceania – country count: 1/14
Australia – Had my first visit down under this year – a week in Melbourne for work plus a few days in Tasmania for fun. I had a really long internal debate about Sydney vs. Tasmania for my side trip and am really glad I went to Tasmania. While I did not see any Tasmanian devils when I was on the island, I did go from eating local oysters and sipping rose, to snow and nearly freezing to death on Mt. Wellington, all in one day. Australia is diverse, ya’ll.
North America – country count: 7/23
Barbados – One of the very first islands in the Caribbean I have been to (and also the only time I have ever been on a cruise ship). I remember thinking how beautiful the beaches were and the water, I mean, it is literally crystal clear. I was in college when I was there, and back then I loved the sun, so it was heavenly. If I was there today, I’d be hiding in the shade under a palm tree with a portable fan blowing in my face.
Belize – My mom and stepdad invited me along on a trip to Belize a few years ago. I had never been and was really excited to go. We stayed at a small resort on the beach and had to take a very small plane to get to the town. The colors of the water and jungle from the flight over were spectacular, same with the sunsets on the beach. Really beautiful, relaxing destination. We had a great time until my aluminum suitcase rolled off the bedroom balcony, landed on a coffee table below and smashed it to smithereens.
Canada – My first visit to our friendly neighbor to the North was to Montreal when I was in college (have been a few more times since), but one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to is Banff. The colors, the mountains, the views… they literally can take your breath away, eh?
Jamaica – I have been to Jamaica twice (no idea where – both times were family trips) and the first time all I remember was that we went on a visit to some waterfalls and caves with a few of the hotel staff. We show up at this random place in the jungle, to a back entrance with a chain fence. No entry, no actual sign of where we are. We are all looking at each other thinking this is a terrible idea but go along anyway. Once we get into the caves, we are told to swim around, check out the crevasses, relax and enjoy. We left all our belongings on the side as we reluctantly climb into the water. My stepdad was called away from us by the staff and my sisters and I were making contingency plans if one of us was to get kidnapped. Clearly, we survived, so if someone invites you into some random caves in Jamaica, trust me, it’s legit…maybe. On my second visit we jumped off a cliff. Safety clearly is not top of mind once the Red Stripes start flowing..
Mexico – A few visits to both coasts – I overwhelmingly prefer the West (Punta Mita is quite amazing), but overall, not a massive fan. Maybe would like to see Mexico City someday but I have other places I want to visit so not in a hurry to return.
St. Lucia – Stunning island. In my opinion it has more character and topography than most in the Caribbean, which makes it unique. Would love to go back, but it’s soooo far (and too hot).
USA – The mother and fatherland.. what can I say that hasn’t already been said a million times over about the US – it’s the best country in the world to some, not so much others. I have been to 45 of 50 states and need to get this country wrapped up at some point! (In case you were wondering, my missing 5 are: AK, AL, LA, MS and ND. I am going to AL in April, so down to 4).
South America – country count: 0/12
This is embarrassing … that is all.
In conclusion……
If you made it to the end, you are either a speed reader or love travel as much as I do, so THANK YOU! And if Rune did not read all the way through, then he is dead to me, and I am currently taking applications for a new husband.
Promise to write more in 2024 as I have some really great adventures planned to some new, exciting destinations! May even make it to South America this time 😉
conquering continents 