Tell us about the countries you have visited.

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Originally Posted by DickZ

It will have links to show pictures of most of the places discussed in the story. Here's a test to make sure the links will work in this forum - this test link shows (I hope) Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square.

I see that sometimes the link works, and sometimes it doesn't. If it doesn't work for your first attempt, you might want to try again later.

http://www.opentravelinfo.com/files/..._0.preview.jpg

Or try this one: http://mishuna.image.pbase.com/u42/d...599430.002.jpg

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I was so disappointed by St Basil!! It's so small and it looks like made of plastic... I was so excited about going to see the Red Square but I didnt think much of it.:sick:

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Originally Posted by Niamh

:lol: I always find it odd when people write london instead of England. Its like the checkin area in the airport. One of the Areas is for Aerlingus flights to London, The UK, and Germany....I've heard a few people saying stuff like, "I didnt know london was a country in its own right!":p
But if we are talking cities... I've been to a good few...
BTW Shalot, I really like the new avatar. :nod:

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I think he meant the city but don't tell me, in Italy and I think Spain too, people seem to equate London with England, so that they ask me "so, how are things in London?" or "When are you going back to London?", when I'm nowhere near London. That drives me mad :flare: :crash:

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Originally Posted by ClaesGefvenberg

Traveling is definitely one of my favourite pastimes. It also connects well with some other interests of mine: Languages and photography. Besides, I'm generally interested in people and different cultures.

I had to give this some thought. I think this list is fairly accurate, but I may have missed a few:

Norway, Denmark, Finland, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Spain Italy, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Thailand, Kenya...

I have enjoyed them all for different reasons, so I will refrain from naming any favourites. I will however tell you about the most gratifying trip: When I was a child I dreamt about going to Africa to see the wildlife there. I honestly never thought it would happen. In the 60's, going to Africa as a tourist was considered nigh on impossible unless you happened to be filthy rich, which I am not... And yet, I have been there, and found it even more impressive than I thought it would be. To top it all I also met some increadibly nice people.

Yes, fulfilling your childhood dream is very gratifying... I recommend it ;)

/Claes

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I never thought I would get to go to Africa - I never even dreamed about it, in the first place! But as it has turned out, I have been there 7 times already in the past 10 years! And it is a great experience everytime. Africa is majestic and grand! I have been to Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad; and Morocco and Tunisia in the north. Perhaps my most extraordinary souvenir would be going on a 20-minute crossing of the Niger River in a dug-out canoe in pitch darkness at 2 o'clock in the morning... something that I'd rather my mother not know!

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Originally Posted by Niamh

:lol: I always find it odd when people write london instead of England. Its like the checkin area in the airport. One of the Areas is for Aerlingus flights to London, The UK, and Germany....I've heard a few people saying stuff like, "I didnt know london was a country in its own right!":p
But if we are talking cities... I've been to a good few...
BTW Shalot, I really like the new avatar. :nod:

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I put London because it was the only place in England we went. And instead of putting Holland, I had Amsterdam when I first typed it, but then I realized that we went to some other city and while we were there (of course I don't remember much about that because I was so tired and irritated during that part of it after being dropped off in the middle of some bird infested square after 24 hours of no sleep whatsoever. But, yes, I know London isn't a country :lol:

Currently I live in - Italy
Before that, I lived in - Russia, Croatia, Hungary; the latter for quite a short period of time when I was younger so it is perhaps inutile to count it

I have visited multiple times - Hungary, Austria, Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, France, Slovenia
I have been to once - Switzerland, Greece, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Germany, Holland, I might have missed a few but those come to my mind

About the countries... what to tell... except for the worn-out cliché that each of those places is unique in its own way?
Out of all the cities I have been to, I tend to love Budapést the most, there is something special about that city... Followed by Wien and Herakleion.

I desperately want to go to Israel, but my parents are set quite against it ("When you are legally an adult and make your own money..." :rolleyes:), and I would love to go to Greece again, I love that country and the people.

Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada -- all great.

I haven't been to many countries outside the US:

Mexico
Canada
France
Senegal (very briefly, I had to leave earlier than planned - I intend to go back someday).

Most significantly - I lived in Cameroon for 4 months through a study abroad program while I was an undergraduate. It was the most amazing experience ever of my whole life . . . etc, etc, etc. :D I get very nostalgic about it - it was 5 years ago, and I will still go on and on about Cameroon if someone asks me about it. :p Sometimes I still even have dreams that I'm there. Perhaps I should go back, but it felt so stressful and unsafe (also I was in the city), that I don't really want to go back. Too much corruption and uncertainty - plus traveling as a young woman in west and/or central africa is something else (the stories I could tell!)

And to anyone who hasn't already graduated from college (university) and is thinking about doing a study abroad or exchange program - my advice is DO IT. No matter what country you are interested in going to, you will have an amazing and unique experience. It is one of the best opportunities you might ever have to travel and really experience another culture. I guess that advice is mostly for Americans - I don't know what university and study abroad and all that is like in other places.

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Originally Posted by Pensive

Why not? Small countries (or places) can hold a great amount of charm too. :) And let us decide about it being boring or not after having read something about it. :p

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Ok sure. it was really cool. everything looked really crumbly and old in the capital but the farms and beaches were so beautiful. me and my family went to the beach and it was so beautiful and different from the dreary American beaches. Everything was colorful, most of the men were dashing and people weren't shy at all. ♥ the people were so complimentary! I plan to go back soon. Oooh and the farms and forests were beautiful too. all green and pretty!
(I'm stopping now before i write a whole essay about it :rolleyes: )