I realise that many people reading this will be well on their way to many, many more than thirty countries (and well done you!) but for me this will be a milestone, and considering I've worked full time since the age of 19 I don't think it'll be half bad going. I've got another six countries to go before I hit 30, which sounds like a lot in 9 months, but I feel like it's achievable - bring it on!
Anyhoo, I've decided to sumarise the 24 countries I've visited so far (in alphabetical order, because I'm a big geek) and yes, I do count the home countries separately - deal with it! I've used the Hostelworld travel map to answer those tricky "is it a separate country" moments, and this is how my list looks so far...
ANDORRA
I've been to Andorra twice, both times for skiing/snowboarding holidays. This is ridiculous as I'm not a fan of participating in sports, and I have NO balance or coordination. However, Andorra has great apres ski, and LOTS of pretty men in boarder gear (they don't call it MAndorra for nowt)
AUSTRIA
I took a train to Vienna when staying in nearby Bratislava. I only stayed for a day, but I packed as much into that day as humanly possible. Self led walking tour of Vienna: tick.
AUSTRALIA
My first big trip, and the longest I've done to date. 3 months with my best mate Polly after we finished college. 2 naive 18 year olds who spent the entire time getting drunk in Sydney - cultural it was not, but it was amazing, and I don't regret a second of the "wasted" opportunities to explore more of the country. I'll be back.
CANADA
I went with my Gramma to visit some family when I was 16 and had the long Summer holiday after exams. I went to Niagara Falls, and had my first "wow, travelling is AMAZING!" moment.
COLOMBIA
Another family trip, with my parents and brother to visit our friends who live over there. We stayed in Medelin and visited Cartaghena, and I loved it.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Long weekend with my friend Reg in Prague. Fun, but didn't live up to the "totally amazing, beautiful city" hype... maybe I expected too much?
ENGLAND
That's where I live, innit?! It totally counts though... and I have explored a LOT of it!
ESTONIA
3 night stay with my parents and "Uncle" Pete on our "Gutter Tours 2010" trip to Helsinki. We got the ferry over, and it was a huge contrast to Finland. We watched the World Cup Final on a big screen in the centre of Tallinn, and went to this excellently named place...
FINLAND
Part One of the aforementioned "Gutter Tours 2010." The name's a long running family joke I won't bore you with, but Finland was NOT boring... we boiled in ridiculously hot sun and got drenched in a torrential downpour, all the while paying huge amounts of money for beer, in an attempt to emulate the "fearsome drinkers" our guidebook had told us Finland was famous for.
FRANCE
France seems to be the traditional holiday destination of the British, and I spent many a happy Summer holiday there with various family friends (my parents always palled up with friends and their children for holidays, which us kids enjoyed as we could all play, and the grown ups enjoyed as there were more people to take turns at staying sober and therefore more evenings they could get drunk and not be classed as irresponsible parents). I also once got inappropriately touched up by the man in the Tigger suit at Disneyland Paris, but that's another story...
GERMANY
My first trip to Germany was a brief and traumatic one as a rep for work, but my second visit - to Berlin, this February, was a much happier experience all round. I still have plenty of Germany to explore, and hope to go back again soon.
INDIA
I went with my mom, on a volunteer tour of Kerala which included a jam packed itinerary of elephants, houseboats, cultural shows and city tours as well as volunteering at a special needs school. I LOVED it, and I wrote a more detailed blog here
ITALY
Well, Sardinia actually... but apparently that doesn't count as a separate country so I can't add another one to my list when I visit Milan in October - boo. I went with my family, for a week, it was pleasant - that's all I remember. Ooops. It's where my "jumping on the beach" photo which I use for my profile shot pretty much everywhere was taken though, so that's cool.
MONACO
This one DOES count as a separate country, hurrah! I am a big F1 geek, so I loved walking the track and seeing all the famous sites from the race. We spent an afternoon there when I was 16, and I spent the entire time imagining going back there when I was older, prettier, richer... and married to Michael Schumacher. I'm still waiting.
POLAND
I went to Krakow for 5 days, and I can't recommend it enough. Here's why
PORTUGAL
My first time in a plane, aged two and a half, with my parents. I've also been back recently, twice, to Baleal Surf Camp in Peniche, which is as ridiculous as the snowboarding holidays, but I loved it. Very relaxed, friendly and picturesque.
SCOTLAND
I went to Scotland for the first time just after my brother was born. My dad and his friend Hugh went to climb a mountain, and I cried because I was worried they wouldn't come back safely. That was it until recently, when my friend Katie had her Hen Do in Edinburgh. I've been back twice since - most recently for The Fringe comedy festival last month, which was brilliant.
SLOVAKIA
I went to Bratislava for 4 nights, because the flights were £36 return. Bargain or what?! Bratislava was fun - I stayed in a great hostel, got drunk with some Irishmen and explored all of the sights. Oh, and had an expensive cocktail at the top of a building that looks like a UFO.
SOUTH AFRICA
Have I mentioned it much on here? Yes? Oh...
SPAIN
Another of those "British families on Summer holiday" destinations, and also home of Ibiza (which rather disappointingly doesn't count as a separate country, and neither does Mallorca - boo!) where I have had many, many amazing holidays. I love Ibiza, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Ir really is A Lovely Island
THAILAND
Polly and I had a 6 night stopover in Bangkok on our way to Australia way back in 2002. We were a little wet behind the ears and really didn't make the most of it. I need to go back, and go further into Thailand than just the Khao San Road...
USA
A family weekend in New York City can hardly be described as "America: done" but I had a fun time and did all the touristy things - Central Park, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty... it's a start :)
VIETNAM
I spent a month volunteering in Hanoi, and it was my "happy again" trip. I wrote a blog post about the volunteering, and had many more adventures along the way. It was fantastic.
WALES
Ahhh, Wales. I've been to Wales on family holidays, boozy gig weekends, and for weddings. Always have a good time, and have plenty of fond memories of my times there.
So there you have it! 24 down, 6 to go...
Bring. It. On.
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