Tell us about the countries you have visited.

[Pensive]

I love tourism. I think that many people does. Have you ever been out of your country? How did you find the world outside? Did you enjoy or did you hate that experience?

I think that it will be interesting to hear about the countries you have visited and your views on the culture/people/way of living there.

[Logos]

And have you travelled Pensive?

I've been very fortunate to have travelled so much and I plan on doing a lot more in future

I've driven across the United states twice and visited most of the states except Alaska, driven across Canada twice and been to all the provinces except the Northwest Territories and Labrador. I've been to Cozumel and Cancun and Mexico city, and to Europe many times including The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic and Austria.

I love travelling by train in western europe, it's so easy to get to places, but it is usually by car that I have travelled, then you can stop when ever or where ever you want and you get to see all the little places along the way. I will go to Australia and New Zealand someday, and hopefully make it to Argentina, Greece, Scotland, England, St. Petersburg Russia, Singapore, and Japan too.

I guess what I like best about travelling is spending time with people, seeing what their life is like, eating what they do, doing the usual things that they do. Visiting landmarks, museums, going to concerts and restaurants is important too though

[Pensive]

And have you travelled Pensive?

I've been very fortunate to have travelled so much and I plan on doing a lot more in future

I've driven across the United states twice and visited most of the states except Alaska, driven across Canada twice and been to all the provinces except the Northwest Territories and Labrador. I've been to Cozumel and Cancun and Mexico city, and to Europe many times including The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic and Austria.

I love travelling by train in western europe, it's so easy to get to places, but it is usually by car that I have travelled, then you can stop when ever or where ever you want and you get to see all the little places along the way. I will go to Australia and New Zealand someday, and hopefully make it to Argentina, Greece, Scotland, England, St. Petersburg Russia, Singapore, and Japan too.

I guess what I like best about travelling is spending time with people, seeing what their life is like, eating what they do, doing the usual things that they do. Visiting landmarks, museums, going to concerts and restaurants is important too though

Nope, I have never been out of my homeland (country) but I have been to other cities.

It is great that you have travelled so much. By the way, which country fascinated you the most?

[Riesa]

Hi Pensive,
Logos, You've been everywhere! How fun, I also love to travel. Once those kids of mine get a little older, I plan on doing it more too!!!
The places I've visited:
(not counting the US). France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England,
Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Argentina and The Bahamas.
Every place is of course interesting in it's own way, but the place that is most beautiful to me is Mexico. I wish to go to Scotland, Italy, Istanbul, Greece and Cuba; though I would never turn down a trip anywhere! The best thing about traveling is sloughing off stereotypes or generalized ideas of a place and replacing it with actual experience.

[Themis]

So far I've been to Belgium, England, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Turkey. (Edit: I forgot about Tunesia)

I loved the time spent there. Especially in Portugal and South Tirol. Life in Portugal is very different from life in Austria. In certain ways it seems easier and of course, they got the sea!
Though, what I liked best was Südtirol (South Tirol) which is offically part of Italy. It's the most beautiful area in the world. Very much like home, like North Tirol which is still part of Austria, but in so many ways better.

[Virgil]

Goodness some you are very well traveled. My trips abroad are quite few. I have taken several trips to Italy, and they have been extensive trips, so I've seen most of the country north of Naples. What's different about Italy from my experience the US is how distinct each region is from each other. The only other trip abraod was to London and the major cities of Scotland, both of which I enjoyed very much. My wife is hooked on going to Italy (she loves it, especially Florence) so when we talk of a vacation outside the US, she undoubtedly gravitates the discussion there.

Places we've talked about going, but haven't had the chance yet are Spain and Greece, but the whole mediterranian coast fascinates me. I could swear in a previous life I was a Greek sailor. I would like to see Israel too if peace ever came to the region. But my wife and I have family spread out across the US, and so we wind up coupling a family function with a vacation journey. And we tend to go to National Parks too.

BTW, I have an opportunity for a business conference in Berlin at the end of May. I haven't decided whether to go, but, in the event that I do go, does anyone who's been to Berlin have any advice on how to spend a day if I was able to break free. Or how about evenings? How hard is it to get around without knowing any German?

[kilted exile]

lets see now, I have been all around the UK (with the exception of Northern Ireland); driven through France on the way to Spain (watersports holiday, and trip into Barcelona to go on a tour of the NouCamp) ; been to Austria skiing (stayed in Salzburg); been to Turkey (saw Pammukale, and went on a boat trip around some wonderful bays); been on a cruise through the fjords in Norway (spent a couple of days in Bergen); and of course Canada where I am now.

There have also been a couple of flying stops watching football(in night before game, left morning after) in Holland and ......amazingly Estonia in 1996 - where the game never ended up taking place. I did not get a chance to explore these places.

The next trips I plan to take are going to be inside Canada as I have yet to leave Ontario. This summer I plan to go by train out east and then take a ferry to Nova Scotia. Then next summer the plan is to explore in a westernly direction out towards BC.

[Pensive]

Wow, It is really great to see a lot of places like that. *smiles*

Kilted, Virgil, Riesa and Logos, You guys have really travelled a lot, you have been on many pretty places and may you get the chance of travelling more and more. (if you do like tourism)

I have noticed that most of you have never been to Asian countries...

[Koa]

Yay! As the official traveller of the forum, I feel the need to contribute...
Countries I've seen:
England (just England, not the rest of the Uk - I've been there several times and I love it and I hope to live there at least for a while sooner or later).
Germany (just a week and not to any major city, just one day in Stuttgart)
France (school exchange to Angers with only one day in Paris; quick trip to Grenoble and Chambéry with my parents)
Czech Republic (actually, just Prague)
Hungary (I lived there for 6 months in an university exchange programme... I adore the country and Budapest, although I didnt live there, is my favourite capital together with London...)
Russia (one month in Moscow in a language course last summer - an incredible experience, such a different, unique place...)
Finland (kinda exotic...)
Estonia (well, two days in Tallinn...lovely city...)
what else...let me think...
Oh! Serbia and Bosnia... (I'm fascinated by Eastern Europe and the Balkans, I've been to Belgrade and up to Sarajevo while I lived in Hungary, cos I lived close to the Serbian border)
eheh I've been also for a few hours in Romania cos my Hungarian place was close to Romania too...
Austria as well, though I don't really like it...

I think that's it...well that's a lot but as Americans always note, it's realitvely easy to travel in Europe as we have so many countries so close... I love travelling, that's the only thing I spend a lot of money on, and I like to have the chance to actually live in places and not just be a tourist... Actually, travelling is my drug, I feel just so much more alive when I'm somewhere far from here...

[Dixie Chick]

I live in the USA and have visited 46 of its states.

Also been to:
Canada
Mexico - love the people
Panama
England
Netherlands
Germany
Denmark
Sweden
Belgium
Luxembourg
France
Switzerland - a favorite - love the Alps
Italy - my heritage - much family in the Dolomites
Croatia
Serbia
Macedonia
Greece

I want so much to go to South America and everywhere else that I have never been plus return to all the places I've been.

So many places, so little time, so little money... ;(

[emily655321]

*sigh* I wish I could go places like that. The main problems are money and language. I've travelled enough (Scotland for a year, Italy for a week, Paris for a week, and stops along the way) to know that I hate going anywhere I can't communicate intelligibly. Or at the very least, read the signs and order from a menu. I don't want to be one of those Americans who takes ten minutes to order a meal, all the time referring to a travel guide's list of key phrases. I don't want to be one of those people, ever. But that problem is unlikely to arise, simply because it's hard enough to afford just living in my own country, let alone Transatlantic plane fare, hotels, the time off from work... ugh. I'll never see the world.

The idea of travelling within my own country, though—"seeing America," as they say—bores me sick, but I'm determined to force myself. I know there will be points of interest once I get there (wherever "there" is), and it's the greatest extent of travel I can financially manage at my age. Also, New England is getting really boring. I've been to New Mexico (when I was eight), so at least I've got the Southwest done with.

[Virgil]

Emily - I wouldn't worry about not speaking the language, at least not in Italy. I've been amazed at how many people speak english, and the number seems to increase with every visit. Also, I happen to enjoy "seeing America." It may not offer the ancient culture of european cities but we make it up with intense, magnificent nature. Consider some of the things my wife and I have done: hike through Utah's Arches, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons National Parks, drive up the California coast, mule ride down and up the Grand Canyon, explore the Hawian Islands. And there are a few cities worthy of mention: New York, San Diego, Washington D.C, Seattle, Boston, San Franscisco, Chicago (though I've never been there).

[Virgil]

Italy - my heritage - much family in the Dolomites
(

You're a fellow Italian-American! Yay.

[Xamonas Chegwe]

I think this is my complete list - but I think I might have missed 1 or 2.

Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Cyprus
Egypt
England
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hong Kong
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Libya
Malta
Norway
Scotland
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Tunisia
Turkey
USA
Wales
Yugoslavia

[Pensive]

Koa, Chick, Xamonous, You have really visited a lot of places.

Koa, you are very right. It is easier to travel in Eurpion countries because they are very closer to each other.

Xamonous, You have also visited a lot of places. I am amazed. You have even visited Siri Lanka.