The Countries You Have Visited Thread [Archive]

Fwapper

06-17-2007, 20:36

This is the thread where you can sing of your awesome escapades to far off lands... or just tell us about a trip to Scotland. :whip: :D

There are no rules... apart from the normal ones of course :P Just try to keep things remotely interesting.

You can count small places (like Mallorca) that are owned by bigger places (Spain) as a seperate 'country' just to confuse people... :D

So go ahead and post a list with some kind of short description of why you went to each country :) I'll start...

The Netherlands
I didn't have much choice about this one. I was born there...

The Canary Islands
Not much choice about this one either, but I have been informed that it was the location of my first haircut. How sweet...

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland :D
My home, and a rather good one at that.

The Republic of Ireland
Memories about here are rather vague as I was about six. Oh well...

Portugal
My main memory about Portugal was having some really excellent 'Stone Steak.' Try it if you have the chance.

France
I've been skiing here a couple of times, and hung around in a Brittany caravan park once... oh yeah, and I visited the Mont san Michel once. Pizzas there are ridiculously over priced...

Tunisa
Mostly great: camel riding, nice weather, good food... however my sister nearly got raped and I was robbed of a Dinar by a man on the beach :( ... OK I know they're only worth 50p...

Grand Cayman
First ever Scuba diving holiday. Brilliant stuff. 26 dives in 10 days, and nothing to Junior rescue diver at the same time :) *smug look*

Chile
Just a skiing holiday. Not very good as almost all the slopes were closed.

Argentina
Same skiing holiday, but weather was worse :( Some great off-piste stuff though...

The United States of America (ex-British colony, you've probably heard of it)
Lots of sunning myself, screaming on roller coasters, a bit of skiing on Mammoth mountain... and thats about it.

The United Arab Emirates
Great stuff: Driving round dunes in a four-litre Landrover screaming like a maniac, and doing a lot of sitting round in hotels while my cousin did business stuff :(

Italy
Only a brief visit here, it was on the way to...

Switzerland
Where I did a 220 metre bungee jump. *shakes at thought*

The Maldives
Another incredible Scuba diving holiday at the 'Soneva Fushi' resort... good times...

Bonaire
This was just a refuel stop on the way to...

Peru
Did a gruelling 5 day trek from the middle of nowhere to Macchu Pichu. Definitely worth it though... even with the mosquitoes :(

Belgium
School trip around war memorials and battlefields.

Egypt
Scuba diving in the Red Sea :)

Mallorca
Lazing round in a crappy resort full of drunk people :(

*wheezes from effort*
Right, now it's your turn...

Husar

06-17-2007, 21:16

I'm envious, makes it harder to answer...

Anyway,

1. Gran Canaria almost drank there, was saved by my loving mother, well, I was four then IIRC.

2. France, nothing special really, a mission(in the christian sense) in Metz

3. Switzerland, same thing as France, only in some swiss town.

4. South Africa, headquarters of those missionaries.:laugh4:
Well, here we got to see quite a lot of interesting things and despite the church service held everyday, it was pretty much like holidays.:2thumbsup:
I'd like to make some private holidays there one day.

5. Netherlands, rather boring holidays at the beach and my dad's family lives there, oh and I've seen hookers in Amsterdam...

6. Austria, been there in 10th class, Vienna was quite interesting, but not overwhelming either

7. Czech Republic, well, our excursion in 12th class was to Prague, was quite a bit more interesting than Vienna. Also seen hookers here...and a MiG 27 on a podest somewhere in the outskirts when we drove by in the train...

8. Germany, oh well, born there and living there, surprisingly can't remember seeing any hookers here...

9. England, mostly in the southern parts, thus not GB, London is big and nice, have to go there again one day.

10. Belgium, well there's a stone near Aaachen and you can around it and be in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany within a few seconds.:laugh4: We also drove through Belgium a few times.

I'm surprised I got 10 together, definitely need to visit more countries in the future if possible.

Strike For The South

06-17-2007, 21:18

1. Mexico..you can buy drugs there

InsaneApache

06-17-2007, 21:26

lol

Brown or white? :inquisitive:

Kralizec

06-17-2007, 21:27

Uh, it's spelled "Mallorca" and it's not a country, neither is Gran Canaria ~;)

Netherlands (home)

United Kingdom been to London once, cool city. Tasted Indian food there for the first time.
Belgium lived in Zeeuws Vlaanderen (on the border with Belgium) for 5 years when I was a kid, so I've been there plenty of times. Four years ago I've been there again and visited Waterloo.
France Been to Paris, the Mont san Michel, the Normandy graveyard, etc...
Germany I visited Germany plenty of times: multiple times with my parents, with a high school trip and two times for skiing. I'd have to say Berlin is one of the more interesting European cities. The architecture, Checkpoint Charlie and the remaining wall pieces allow you to actually feel a bit of the DDR atmosphere.
Austria for a vacation with my parents a long time ago, and skiing. I've been to Vienna once but I don't recall much of it.
Italy been to Venice, the two things I remember most of it are water and street salesmen.
Denmark had to go through Denmark to get to Sweden.
Sweden been there for a couple of days with a couple of friends, near Gotheberg. It was fun but way to short to really see anything.
Czech republic been there once with my parents, but I was 5 or 6 so I remember almost nothing specific.
Spain (specifically, Mallorca) went there a year ago with a couple of friends. Swimming, sailing, driving around the island (that part...turned out not so well), great night life, cheap cigarrettes (the only darn thing that was cheap).....

This summer vacation I'm off to Italy again, spending a couple of days in France before getting there. Should be fun, and not as expensive as my last vacation :wall:

Bijo

06-17-2007, 21:28

There is a vague remembrance telling me there has already been a thread of similarity, but this recollection is possibly false.

Netherlands

Belgium

Germany

England

Surinam

Unites States of America

Czech Republic
...and possibly more which I don't recall at the moment.

I am not one who seeks to visit many countries. However, there is a number of nations or general areas I would not mind visiting:

The Middle East
The North Pole
The South Pole
Asia (especially North and South Korea)

Fwapper

06-17-2007, 21:29

Nice list Husar. Do your 'missions' involve looking out for hookers at all or am I just jumping to conclusions :P

Fwapper

06-17-2007, 21:32

Uh, it's spelled "Mallorca" and it's not a country, neither is Gran Canaria ~;)

Got me there... I'll just make a slight alteration to The Rules and say that little islands owned by bigger countries can be included... and spelling mistakes are forgivable :P

edit: Sorry about the double post.

Motep

06-17-2007, 21:43

I have gone to Germany! But I cant remember...it was when i was in de womb....*mumble grumble*

Husar

06-17-2007, 21:53

Uh, it's spelled "Mallorca" and it's not a country, neither is Gran Canaria ~;)
I know, but I made it for the same reason Fwapper explained. Had I said Spain, it would've sounded more like Madrid or anything on the mainland.

Nice list Husar. Do your 'missions' involve looking out for hookers at all or am I just jumping to conclusions :P
No, the missions were more the "no sex before marriage" kind of thing with church service twice a day. I more or less stumbled across the hookers and didn't engage in anything with them, eyecontact at best, were I looking for them, I would probably find a lot here in Germany, that's why I'm surprised I cannot recall seeing any here, I live here after all.

I also meant to click bold for the country names, but I must've been mentally absent since they're all in italics.:laugh4: :oops:

Fwapper

06-17-2007, 22:04

No, the missions were more the "no sex before marriage" kind of thing with church service twice a day. I more or less stumbled across the hookers and didn't engage in anything with them, eyecontact at best, were I looking for them, I would probably find a lot here in Germany, that's why I'm surprised I cannot recall seeing any here, I live here after all.

Oh well I was close... sort of...

Quid

06-17-2007, 22:06

Ok, here it goes...

1. Switzerland - Place of birth.

2. Liechtenstein - School trip (very vague memories. And not because I was too young to remember).

3. Germany - Alle Jahre wieder...

4. Austria - Went to Vienna, and mainly around the Lake of Constance.

5. Italy - Rome, Venice, Cavalino (camping), Riccione (BMX WC)

6. France - Paris, Bordeaux, Bonnieux (BMX WC), and some other place for the BMX EC).

7. Belgium - Brussels; went there on a school trip and ended up in the hotel room for most of it due to illness.

8. Holland - Had a stop-over in Amsterdam and went strolling through the streets

9. Sweden - Had a girlfriend from there. Went to visit frequently especially Stockholm.

10. Finland - Again, a stop-over. This time in Helsinki. Didn't really see much.

11. Spain - Had a two week holiday at a friend's place in Barcelona. Also, been to some other place as a kid (dont' remember). The only thing that points to a holiday in Spain was me having a pee somewhere in a dark alley...

12. Greece - Rhodes, and some other islands. Again, I was too young to remember much of it. I do remember that I was fascinated with all the ancient ruins...and some donkey ride.

13. The UAE - Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah. My first ever stay in a five star hotel. Quite the exprience.

14. Israel - Went there when it was relatively quiet. Lots of history. Saw Nazareth, Tel Aviv, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Masada. Great memories. Swam in the Dead Sea.

15. Japan - Lived there about 18 months mainly in Okinawa. A fantastic place for diving and generally enjoying a very quiet lifestyle. Also been to Fukuoka, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Chiba. Have lots of friends there.

16. England - Studied there for 5 years. Must probably rate among the best times of my life.

17. Wales - Again, studied in Cardiff. Great citiy for students and rugby.

18. The USA - New York for a weekend, Atlanta (meh), Miami, Orlando (Disney, yay)

19. Bulgaria - A few years back now but that was my last proper holiday. Was near Nessebar. An excellent little ancient town with relics dating back 2000 years. The town still looks like it's stuck in Byzantine times. Brilliant.

20. Zimbabwe - Had friends there until there were forced to move to New Zealand because of the political situation there. A very beautiful place.

21. Kenya - Yeah, not bad. I don't remember much but it was good.

I sort of feel that I have forgotten a few. Probably have but I reckon this should do for the moment.

Quid

Strike For The South

06-17-2007, 22:07

lol

Brown or white? :inquisitive:

both oh and tequlia. My dad brought 20 bottles back one time and said it was only 7 american dollars.....I love Mexico:beam:

Csargo

06-17-2007, 22:08

America. :shame:

Motep

06-17-2007, 22:09

America. :shame:

I know...it sucks not to go anywhere...

Fwapper

06-17-2007, 22:17

That's quite the list Quid...

Quid

06-17-2007, 22:21

That's quite the list Quid...

I think it's a great thread so I thought I might as well contribute to it. It's actually interesting to see where people have been.

Quid

Fwapper

06-17-2007, 22:27

Indeedy it is... maybe after a few hundred posts I will combine them all into one uber-post of the travels of all the orgers!... or maybe not :P

Louis VI the Fat

06-17-2007, 22:32

France
Belgium
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Germany
Switzerland
Austria
Poland
Czech Republic
Hungary
Bulgaria
Greece
Italy
Spain
Portugal
United Kingdom
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
USA
The Bahamas
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Tunisia
Morocco

I was within ten meters of Slovakia once. I should've crossed the border just to add it to the list.
Most trips have been with my parents. The North African ones with some Americans I met, the South African were with my ex-girlfriend.

Louis VI the Fat

06-17-2007, 22:33

Quid, we lead parallel lives!

3. Germany - Alle Jahre wieder...
Me too. :shame:

4. Austria - Went to Vienna, and mainly around the Lake of Constance.
Me too.

9. Sweden - Had a girlfriend from there. Went to visit frequently especially Stockholm.
Swap Sweden and Stockholm for Denmark and Copenhagen, and it's: me too.

12. Greece - Rhodes, and some other islands. Again, I was too young to remember much of it. I do remember that I was fascinated with all the ancient ruins...and some donkey ride.
Me too

18. The USA - New York for a weekend, Atlanta (meh), Miami, Orlando (Disney, yay)
Me too: New York for a weekend, Miami, Orlando (Disney, yay).
Plus California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia.

19. Bulgaria - A few years back now but that was my last proper holiday. Was near Nessebar. An excellent little ancient town with relics dating back 2000 years. The town still looks like it's stuck in Byzantine times. Brilliant.
Me too again!

20. Zimbabwe - Had friends there until there were forced to move to New Zealand because of the political situation there. A very beautiful place.
Me too. ~:mecry:

Strike For The South

06-17-2007, 22:33

I dont see TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Motep

06-17-2007, 22:37

I dont see TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Texas doesnt count, as its only a state

(and it sucks)

Fwapper

06-17-2007, 22:42

You could of course go and make a 'What states have you been to thread'... if you really wanted to :P

In any case, I've been to California, Florida and Nevada.

Orb

06-17-2007, 22:43

UK (Scotland, England, Wales)
USA
France, many times
Italy
Greece

Quid

06-17-2007, 22:55

Tristuskhan

06-17-2007, 22:56

1 Soviet Union, before it disapeared: Ukraine, Georgia and southern Russia.

2 China, all along the Yellow River then to Kashgar.

3 Mongolia, nothing special there but the best three months in my life.

4 Turkey, Galatia and Cappadokia, all alone, great trip and very nice people.

5 Netherlands: Friesland when you are stoned is... odd and refreshing.

6 Inner Morrocco.

7 I crossed a bridge and walked for half an hour in Germany, looks much like Alsace...

8 Went to visit friends in Switzerland twice, that's a pity since I live less than fifty kilometers away....

And I plan to go back in Mongolia, but it won't be soon....

Fwapper

06-17-2007, 22:57

Parallel lives with a Frenchman. Now, that's scary. Next thing you're going to tell me that we have actually met or I am you or you are me or we are we or...oh, never mind...:laugh4:

Quid

Maybe you are long lost brothers, separated at birth, who then have huge and identical adventures completely separate from eachother...

or maybe not :P

Quid

06-17-2007, 23:00

Maybe you are long lost brothers, separated at birth, who then have huge and identical adventures completely separate from eachother...

or maybe not :P

Maybe I should speak to my parents and adoption. I have a friend who keeps on telling me that I am adopted but then he is Irish...he would say that...and he smells. :laugh4:

Quid

Gawain of Orkeny

06-17-2007, 23:05

Hmmm lets see not a very long list

Canada
Phillipines
Japan
Nam
Okinowa

Beirut

06-18-2007, 00:36

:canada: Canada (One trip in-country was 11,000 Km. Cool.)
:unitedstates: USA
:costarica: Costa Rica
:jamaica: Jamaica (45 minutes on the runway refueling, never left the plane.)

Gawain of Orkeny

06-18-2007, 00:43

Canada (One trip in-country was 11,000 Km. Cool.)

Dont you live in Canada? Or are you still just visiting? :laugh4:

Crazed Rabbit

06-18-2007, 00:43

Born in the USA.

Visit Canada every so often. Nice aquariums and skiing.

And seeing as how some of our states have bigger economies than most of Europe, I've been to:
Washington,
Oregon,
California,
Idaho,
Montana,
Wyoming,
Wisconsin,
Minnesota,
Colorado,
Illinois,
Ohio,
and Arizona.

Crazed Rabbit

Gawain of Orkeny

06-18-2007, 01:01

Born in the USA.

Visit Canada every so often. Nice aquariums and skiing.

And so then you should have stopped there. Thats a topic for another thread. So Ill start it :laugh4:

Beirut

06-18-2007, 03:12

Dont you live in Canada? Or are you still just visiting? :laugh4:

Assuming my mortality is still intact, I'm just visiting. :cool4:

Gawain of Orkeny

06-18-2007, 03:50

So where then are you really from.......No......Dont tell me.......Beruit? :laugh4:

Ice

06-18-2007, 04:50

Well, after my eurotrip I was going to start a thread, but I have never got around to it. Guess I'll just include it here.

*Cracks fingers*

Well Domestically I've been to:

Virgina (DC Area too) I was born there
Pennsyvlania: Lived there for a while.
Michigan: Where I currently reside
North Carolina: Emerald Isle Beach
South Carolina:Myrtle Beach
Florida:Orlando: Disney World!
Ohio: Drove Through
Maryland: Various Places, Annapolis
New York: New York City!
New Jersery: Drove through

Alright Internationally:

Canada: Windsor and Toronto. Both great cities.
Mexico: Cancun. Breath Taking beaches and jungles
Aruba: Great little touristy Island. More of a desert though.
Curaco: A Netherlands Antilly island. Like Aruba, but more industrial.
St Thomas: American Virgin Island Absolutely beautiful island. Best tropical Beaches ever. I visited St. John also from St. Thomas (Ferry ride)
St Martin: Smallest island to be divided between two countries (Dutch and French). Like St. Thomas, but less nice.

Alright for the European Continent:

France: Paris. I went was nice. I saw all the sites and ate some French food. Some people were extremely rude, but other were very kind. I had mixed feelings. I really liked the louvre.

United Kingdom: I visited London. Another very nice city. I found the people friendlier then the French people from Paris. The pound made everything expensive though.
Belgium: Brussels and Brugge. Brussels was very nice. I loved the war museum. If you are ever there go. It is very cool. Brugge was also nice. I enjoyed the small town medieval atmosphere. I also remember getting trashed with some very attractive American girls.
Netherlands: I LOVED Amsterdam. It was one of the best cities I've ever been to. The red light district was pretty cool (No I didn't receive any services there). I did visit some coffee shops and sat around laughing eating chips for a few hours. :beam:. I also enjoyed the biking lanes they had set up in the city. Everyone seemed to know English and was very friendly.
Germany: I visited Frankfurt, Munich, and Koln. (Sorry I don't know how to make the dots (I know the word for them, I just don't want to butcher the spelling)). Koln was cool. I was only there for 2 hours waiting for a train. The church was nice. Frankfurt was cool. I saw where they printed the Euro and the only building that surived allied bombings during the war. It was very industrialized. Munich was fantastic. I saw the English Garden and the Hopfbrahouse (yeah I know spelling). It was amazing I drank 2 liters of GOOD GERMAN BEER! It was the best beer I've ever had.

Wow, that was long. If you want to know more any of the above, I'll gladly share.

Strike For The South

06-18-2007, 05:00

Pfft Cancun? Dude thats not Mexico:laugh4:

scotchedpommes

06-18-2007, 06:10

For those of us who just love the variety of colours, or are otherwise tired of
processing multiple names immediately:

:hungary:
:yugoslavia: [:slovenia::croatia:]
:austria: [Good for shopping during public holidays.]

:belgium:
:netherlands: Gronigen.

:scotland:
:england:

:denmark:

:france:

:luxembourg:
:germany: Trier.

Ser Clegane

06-18-2007, 06:51

Germany - born here, living here

German Democratic Republic ("DDR") - hey - it was a separate country ~:) Made a scooltrip there in 1987

Netherlands - multiple trips, mainly to Amsterdam and Utrecht. As a matter of fact I am in the Netherlands right now (close to s'Hertogenbosch this week)

Belgium - short trips to Brussels and Antwerp

Denmark - vacation while I was a kid, made a short visit there recently

Norway - work-related for a week near Oslo

UK - been in London for a couple of days

France - various trips to Paris (for fun and work-related)

Portugal - Lisbon, two trips to Algarve

Spain - once traveling through Spain en route to Portugal, weekend in Barcelona

Switzerland - multiple trips to Zurich and Basel

Austria - recent trip to Austria

Hungary - Balaton and Budapest (almost 20 years ago)

Czech Republic - weekend in Prague

Italy - trips to Rome, Florence and Milan + several vacations when I was little (do Vatican City and San Marino count as separate countries? ~;))

Greece - two times on Crete

UAE - one week in Dubai (quickly passing through Oman during a trip - but I would not really count that :laugh4: )

USA - multiple times: 6 montths as an exchange student near Seattle in 1986, vacation trip in the West (Washington State, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona), trip to Texas(!) to visit friends. Shorter visits in New York, Chicago, New Jersey, Atlanta, Florida (near Tampa)

Canada - short trips in the area of Vancouver during my 1986 stay in the US (visited the EXPO in 1986)

Japan - vacation a couple of weeks ago

Vietnam - vacation last year

Cambodia - visiting Angkor

Thailand - Bangkok for a couple of days when traveling to Vietnam

Australia - vacation a couple of years ago

Singapore - business trip and private trip when traveling to Australia

Strike For The South

06-18-2007, 07:12

How did you like TEXAS!

Stig

06-18-2007, 07:24

Holland, I live there, hey

Germany, two stones away from where I come from

Belgium, gah little to do :hide:

France, same as Belgium

England, London is great, Canterbury was full of weirdo's

Austria, nice mountains

Italy, small people, and no-one speaks English

And I have the suspicion I'm forgetting a country

:netherlands: Gronigen.
Good boy ... best city in the country

Ser Clegane

06-18-2007, 07:54

How did you like TEXAS!

I actually liked it quite a lot - we visited San Antonio which was quite some fun (The Alamo ~:)) and drove around the countryside quite a bit (unfortunately the bluebonnets weren't blossoming quite as much as they were supposed to).
We also attended the wedding of friends which was very nice.

"Stonehenge II" was a bit of a disappointment though :inquisitive:

Ice

06-18-2007, 07:54

Pfft Cancun? Dude thats not Mexico:laugh4:

Cancun Area, Strike. I drove about an hour south and trust me, that was the real Mexico. The poverty was at the minimum or worse then the Mexico you've seen.

Strike For The South

06-18-2007, 08:31

Cancun Area, Strike. I drove about an hour south and trust me, that was the real Mexico. The poverty was at the minimum or worse then the Mexico you've seen.

Have you ever had 50 tiny mexican children running around you going "chicle chicle chicle chicle chicle?>???"

Strike For The South

06-18-2007, 08:31

I actually liked it quite a lot

Who doesnt?

Fwapper

06-18-2007, 08:47

United Kingdom[/B]: I visited London. Another very nice city. I found the people friendlier then the French people from Paris. The pound made everything expensive though.

Must be hard for you now that £1 is worth $2... Of course for us lucky Brits everything is cheap :cheerleader:

naut

06-18-2007, 08:54

Hmmm, a few places:

Australia, I migrated here.

China, in and around the former area of Hong Kong.

England, pretty much everywhere, used to live there.

Fiji, pretty nice, smells though.

France, Paris, Calais, and the south.

Germany, die Autobahn ist wunderbar.

Italy, very nice.

Luxembourg, lots of cobblestones.

New Zealand, both North and South Islands, beautiful place.

Portugal, I love Portugal, best holidays happened here.

Scotland, Edinburgh only really.

South Africa, visiting family and safari's - if you do one thing in your life it must be a safari in the Kruger National Park.

Spain, great for shopping.

Switzerland, a really lovely place, I love the mountains.

United States of America, California.

That's all I can think of now.

Ice

06-18-2007, 08:57

Have you ever had 50 tiny mexican children running around you going "chicle chicle chicle chicle chicle?>???"

No, I thought it best not to step out of my jeep and talk to the locals. :sweatdrop:

Ice

06-18-2007, 08:58

Must be hard for you now that £1 is worth $2... Of course for us lucky Brits everything is cheap :cheerleader:

It was absolutely terrible. I was paying around $6 for a bottle of water at one point. I wanted to cry.

Fwapper

06-18-2007, 08:59

That's a pretty good mix ya got there Rythmic.

Fwapper

06-18-2007, 09:03

It was absolutely terrible. I was paying around $6 for a bottle of water at one point. I wanted to cry.
If you had to buy petrol over here you would have cried. It's £1 a litre, 4.50 litres in a gallon, so thats $9 a gallon.

doc_bean

06-18-2007, 10:58

0. Belgium: Live there

1. Netherlands: been there lots of times

2. France: Paris, Bretagne, Normandy

3. Germany: a few trips with the parents

4. Austria: been a couple of times, to Vienna last time

5. Slovakia: passed through, quick stop in Bratislava

6. Hungary: twice with the parents, once with the girlfriend

7. Liechtenstein: don't really remember why I went tthere...

8. UK: London.

9. Denmark: passed through on the way to Norway (and back), spent a little time on the beach there

10: Norway: went there last year

11: Sweden: passed through on the way back from norway, stopped in Gotenburg

12. Spain (Tenerife): senior trip in High school

13: Malta: went with the parents

14: Cuba: 'senior trip' in uni

15: Luxembourg: almost forgot this one, went there on a trip with the parents once, and probably passed through a couple of times too

macsen rufus

06-18-2007, 11:37

See the sig...

(as we're also counting islands etc Spain includes Galicia and Andalucia on the mainland plus Gran Canaria and Ibiza)

King Henry V

06-18-2007, 11:57

England: Born there, visited my grandparents in their cottage in Dorset when I was little. Good times. Now, since they've moved to Austria, I don't go there so often.

Switzerland: Came here when I was 3 weeks old (my parents already lived there, my mum just wanted me born in England). Lived there ever since.

Germany: Was christened here, used to visit my German grandparents during the Easter and October holidays in a town in Bavaria called Senden, not far from Ulm. A place with absolutely nothing to recommend itself: not history, no scenery, no nightlife. Otherwise, I visited Berlin, Köln, Hamburg, Munich, Dresden, Leipzig (the family visiting circuit), castles and palaces here and there, and Berchtesgaden (now that was beautiful).

France: I only live 20 minutes from the French border, and my mum used to own an apartment in Nice. Only visited Paris once (when my main interest was getting to Eurodisney as soon as possible) but would love to go again. Otherwise various school trips to Brittany (now that was fun), the Auvergne, the Jura, Strasburg and most recently, a boat trip on the Canal du Midi with friends (mega fun).

Italy: Visited Florence a couple of times, otherwise I was in Sienna, Venice, Milan and Stresa on Lago Maggiore only once. Also a day trip (and booze cruise) to Ventimiglia and San Remo when on holiday in Nice.

Austria: Since my grandparents now live in Vienna, I spend about a quarter of the year there now (every holiday my mum and I go off to visit them). Lovely city, would so like to live there when I'm older. Otherwise I've been to Salzburg and the Salzkammergut region, Innsbruck for a couple of days, and the Neusiedl "lake" (more of a muddy pond, you can practically walk across it) in which I fell.

Lichtenstein: Pass through every time I take the train to Austria, does that count?

Monaco: Since I used to go to Nice quite frequently, a holiday there would invaribaly include a trip to Monaco and an evening spent in the Hotel de Paris or the Monte Carlo Grand (or whatever they want to call it nowadays).

Denmark: Went to Legoland (Yay!)

Czech Rep.: Visited Prague when I was two, would really like to go back one day.

Slovakia: Evening trip to Bratislava once, since Mum was navigating we got there too late to see anything. Pretty town, great argentinian steak house (one of the best steak I've ever eaten). Not all that cheap for Eastern Europe.

Poland: I stared across it from the German side of the Oder, but didn't actually get across.

Sweden: I fell asleep. Not on my list of places I really want to visit again.

Hungary: Been there three times so far, once to Budapest, which was a bit run down, with some evidence that many buildings had been decorated by that renowned duo, Schmeisser and Kalashnikov. Great food, nice wine, very reasonable (in some places).

Belgium: Went to Brussels once when I was little, Glimpsed the Waterloo lion from the car and went to a puppet theatre in Brussels (saw the Three Musketeers) which was nice. Would soooo love to visit Flanders.

America: First time I went I stayed in Boston and New York, found Boston nice and historical, New York less so, I didn't get into the Statue of Liberty but I did go to the top floor of the World Trade Centre (that's something to tell the grandkids). Second time I was in Florida (Disney! Yay!) and took a cruise from Tampa that went round the Gulf of Mexico, so I also visited New Orleans on the way. Nice if you're American and aren't really used to old cities, but when you're from Europe, well.....

Mexico: Saw Cozumel and visited the ruins of Tulum during a cruise (see above).

So there you go. The world seen by me so far.

I of the Storm

06-18-2007, 12:09

Germany: live there, doesn't count really

Czech republic; Slovakia; Poland; Hungary; France; Denmark; Italy; The Vatican; Spain; Great Britain; Republic of Ireland; USA; Canada.
Oh, and Holland, I seem to recall somehow...:beam:

SwordsMaster

06-18-2007, 12:52

Heh, Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Portugal, France, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Italy, Vatican, Andorra, Morocco.

drone

06-18-2007, 15:53

USA - born, raised, still living here

Mexico - a few quick visits when I was younger
Bahamas - took a cruise through the islands
Canada - been skiing in Whistler-Blackcomb twice, flying through Vancouver
England/Scotland/Wales - lived in England for a couple of years, various excursions across the whole island
Austria - flew into Innsbruck, skiing in St. Anton
Switzerland - flew into Geneva, skiing in Zermatt
France - Paris sightseeing

I've driven through the People's Republic of Massachusetts, but I don't count that! ~D

Antagonist

06-18-2007, 16:35

The places I have been... the wonders I have seen... are actually quite limited in number. *sigh*

United Kingdom
England - I was born there, visit London fairly regularly, and occasionally Manchester. Little experience of the rest. I thought of myself as English until I was about 7, then abruptly changed internal nationality, it's a disturbing experience.
Wales - Passed through it regularly in times passed on peregrinations between the British Isles, haven't been there recently. I recalled Holyhead as a terrible place, Cardiff as nice.
Northern Ireland - Pass through fairly regularly. It's okay, Belfast is a nice city if you can get away from its sinister reputation.
I've never been to Scotland, though I've always been curious.

Republic of Ireland - Lived in Dublin for quite a while now. Wasn't keen at first, but it's grown on me.

Germany - I have a large number of German relatives but I've only visited once. I enjoyed it a lot but don't recall it very well.

France - I've never actually been to France, but have travelled through it several times. Nice food, haven't stayed long enough to develop a more detailed impression.

Spain - I've never been to mainland Spain, only to the Balearic islands. They're nice enough when they aren't basically England.

Portugal - Best holiday ever, and it's extraordinarily cheap. I haven't been outside the Algarve though, probably not a perfect impression.

Italy - My family always seems to holiday in Italy for some reason.

Switzerland - Again, only been through here. Beautiful scenery, can't comment on the people or activities.

Austria - Skiing there is great, but then again I've never ski'd anywhere else.

Cyprus - I always imagine it as the quintessential Mediterranean place, even though it's probably not. Very relaxing place if you avoid the most touristed areas.

Greece - Technically I've been there, but I never left the airport and it was night, so I have never glimpsed the wine-dark sea and sunny olive-groves of Hellas.

United States of America - Visited quite often when I was a child, and always received a really hospitable welcome. I haven't visited in almost a decade though.

Also, I was once booked to go on a week-long whistle-stop awesome-things-only tour of Northern Europe and Scandinavia, but the guy who has arranging it got sick and cancelled. :no:

Antagonist

Quid

06-18-2007, 17:41

Switzerland: Came here when I was 3 weeks old (my parents already lived there, my mum just wanted me born in England). Lived there ever since.

Didn't know you were Swiss (and English, I presume). The only time I spent in your canton was during my military service (Bure). It rained for 3 weeks. Was not an enjoyable experience. But then, apparently, it's either dusty or rainy over there...

Quid

Conradus

06-18-2007, 18:23

Belgium, live there

France, been to Paris for a week, some short trips in the north

Germany, went to Cologne for a day

Netherlands, some short trips and Amsterdam for a day

Uk: spent some days in London

Italy: went their two times, a week in Roma, and 5 days in the South.

scotchedpommes

06-19-2007, 00:39

:netherlands: Gronigen.
Good boy ... best city in the country

My brother used to live there; can't say I saw enough of the rest of the country
to allow for comparison. You do manage decent Indian food there, though.

Evil_Maniac From Mars

06-19-2007, 01:07

1. Germany - Didn't have much choice in the matter. :laugh4: I love it here though.

2. Canada - Beautiful, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec. :canada: Rules.

3. Costa Rica - Hot. Rastafaris! Good chorizo. Beaches. Rediscovered Canadian Ginger Ale. :2thumbsup:

4. Austria - Salzburg. Big castle, rained, overall nice.

5. USA - A couple airports, a bit boring, airports, decent pizza I suppose, airports smelled funny, especially Miami.

6. The Netherlands - Amsterdam. It's OK.

Togakure

06-19-2007, 02:27

Japan -born here. Moved to USA when I was very young. Returned for visits a couple of times.
USA - raised and living here, California mostly. My heart will always be here, but my Soul yearns for Japan.
Canada - Visited Thousand Lakes area (beautiful); gigged in Kitchener outside of Toronto (beautiful)
Mexico - Juarez, Ensenada - horrible border towns visited on days off while gigging on the road

Haven't gotten around much out of the states. But when you live in a place like Northern California, there really isn't a need to spend wads of cash to go somewhere else. There is so much to do, so many cool places to go, the weather's nice ... I MISS California!

Fwapper

06-19-2007, 09:32

Is anyone off somewhere exciting this summer? Do send a postcard... or just post... on the forum...

...

OK it wasn't funny

King Henry V

06-19-2007, 10:19

Didn't know you were Swiss (and English, I presume). The only time I spent in your canton was during my military service (Bure). It rained for 3 weeks. Was not an enjoyable experience. But then, apparently, it's either dusty or rainy over there...

Quid
I'm not Swiss, as I have not applied for Swiss nationality and I don't think I ever will (military service does somewhat deter me, but mainly it is because I do not love Switzerland - respect and admire it yes, but love it, no). BTW, I live in Geneva, a proper city, not the Jura (my geographic location is a reference to the fact that the Alps and the Jura come very close to each other near here, seperated only by the Rhone).

CountArach

06-19-2007, 11:20

Well I live in Australia, and I have been to America and a day trip to Mexico as part of that trip.

Lorenzo_H

06-19-2007, 11:25

I have been to these places:

Isle of Man (where I live)
Fuerteventura
Spain
USA
Italy
France
England
Scotland
Ireland

And surprisingly, that is all. Note that I am an American, Italian and British citizen. It's funny to think that I have never been south of the equator.

Lorenzo_H

06-19-2007, 11:27

Is anyone off somewhere exciting this summer? Do send a postcard... or just post... on the forum...

...

OK it wasn't funny
Going to the USA in a week. Yaya baby!

Ronin

06-19-2007, 11:35

I´ve been to:

Spain - basically just a second class Portugal :laugh4:
England - Nice...London is cool for shopping
Scotland - Really liked edinburgh and the highlands area...specially near Inverness....stayed in a very cool victorian style hotel...the views were amazing.
Italy - Slept one night in Rome because the airline screwed up a connection flight....didn´t see enough to have an opinion....all I can say is that I never been to a country were the customs officers were so hot! :2thumbsup:
Israel - Been there twice on work........the strip clubs are first class! other than that....:juggle2:

Sigurd

06-19-2007, 12:12

Europe:

:sweden: - Sweden – several times (Goteborg and Stockholm and the small places in between)
:denmark: - Denmark – Several times (Aalborg and Copenhagen)
:finland: - Finland – twice (Turku and a place I forget up north)
:lithuania: - Lithuania – once; a one week trip with a choir (Kaunas and Vilnius).
:germany: - Germany – twice (Köln, Hamburg, Brexbachtal and Bonn)
:netherlands: - Holland – several times (drove through and layovers at Skiphol)
:france: - France – once (took the ferry over from Dover and drove through to Belgium)
:england: - England – several times (London, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool and Carlisle).
:scotland: - Scotland – several times (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Dumfries, Shetland [Lerwick, Scalloway, Brae and Sumburgh] , Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Paisley and the smaller places that would be too many to list i.e. Dunoon and Gourock)
:belgium: - Belgium – once (drove through and ate in Antwerp )

The rest of the world:

:norway: - Norway – born, bred and still living.
:unitedstates: - USA – twice (LA and Florida)
:newzealand: - New Zealand – once on layover (Auckland)
:australia: - Australia – Several times (lived 1.5 years in Brisbane)
:singapore: - Singapore – several times (mostly layover)
:malaysia: - Malaysia – once on a one night layover… got to see Kuala Lumpur.

Fragony

06-19-2007, 12:25

Antwerp is in Belgium ~;)

macsen rufus

06-19-2007, 13:08

Antwerp is in Belgium

... he only said he ate in Antwerp. Not so keen on the cuminkaas and stropfwaffel diet, maybe? :laugh4:

Sigurd

06-19-2007, 13:32

Antwerp is in Belgium ~;)

I am soooooooooo embarrassed!!!! :shame:.
My father always talked about Antwerpen (he was a sailor when he was young) I always assumed it was Dutch.
Now that I look at a map it is indeed in Belgium and you have to sail into Holland to get there by boat.

I shall update my list.

Quid

06-19-2007, 14:16

I'm not Swiss, as I have not applied for Swiss nationality and I don't think I ever will (military service does somewhat deter me, but mainly it is because I do not love Switzerland - respect and admire it yes, but love it, no). BTW, I live in Geneva, a proper city, not the Jura (my geographic location is a reference to the fact that the Alps and the Jura come very close to each other near here, seperated only by the Rhone).

Ah, I see. Been to Geneva twice in the 80s in a summer camp (good fun). Have not been there since.

I don't really know what my feelings towards Switzerland are, either. I suppose, I am somewhat glad to be living here as opposed to some other places. In terms of livings standards nothing I have seen beats this place.

The army is not such a big deal. What comes after is much more a waste of time (all the repeating courses). With a bit of luck I will be out of it by the end of next year. About bloody time.

Quid

Craterus

06-19-2007, 19:06

England
Scotland
Wales
France
Spain
Portugal
Germany
Italy
Greece
Switzerland
U.A.E
U.S.A
Belgium
Oman

Ragnor_Lodbrok

06-19-2007, 19:31

I've somehow visited Switzerland for the sole reason of living there and being born there.
Mallorca: To my defence i have to say that I was three years old at the time in question. And it was several kilometres away from the coast and thus not really close to Ballermann and any other drunk Germans visiting "Malorka".
France: Alsace and Savoy
Germany: I've been there!
Portugal: Lisboa and Madeira, which isn't only a beverage.
United States: South West.
England: I've only been to London.
Wales: I'm able to pronounce "Llan" HA! Plus the castles are nice.

Omanes Alexandrapolites

06-19-2007, 20:28

I'm not really a great traveler myself - I much prefer to stay on land, I'm terrified of flying. However, I do still go visiting foreign countries, just I don't go exploring very often.

UK - it's not exactly the best place in the world, but I was born here, my family live here and, I still live here. Although living here is borderline satisfactory, I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Lanzarotte - I first went here at the age of three, apparently. Its a pleasurably warm place, if you can excuse the black-sands of Puerto del Carmen. It's also a pretty good place for day exclusions to the other islands, although I only did this once - Fuerteventura, the island which I selected, was almost freezing. On the other hand, the beaches were spectacular compared to most of the places which I saw on the coast line of Lanzarotte.
Greece - Possibly the best place I went too - definitely much more interesting for tourists than most. It was an amazing experience, the UK lacks any truly glorious classical architecture. As a final note, the food was even better than that of Lanzarotte, typical Greek cuisine is simply stunningly rich in flavor and complexity.That's it really.