Monthly Archives: December 2016

Guatemala – 103rd Country

By |2019-07-06T13:36:28-05:00December 31st, 2016|Categories: Counting Countries 193 Countdown|Tags: |

To see where I have been so far, check out my map as I count down the final 93 countries on the road to all 193 UN countries.  Guatemala is my 103rd country.    Check out the best 193 travel books to read!  The plan for Guatemala was to spend New Year’s Eve in the colonial town [...]

20 Best Photos From 2016

By |2021-04-12T15:09:45-05:00December 23rd, 2016|Categories: Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Photos|

20 Best Photos From 2016. Ok, I lied. There are 35 photos that I wanted to share with you from 2016. Just too many great memories. Armenia I have been here almost too many times to count.  By far one of my favorite countries to visit.  Here is Khor Virap Monastery at the foot of Mt. [...]

My Visit To Aleppo

By |2021-04-16T13:42:23-05:00December 20th, 2016|Categories: Asia, Must-See|Tags: , , , , |

My Visit To Aleppo.  The dated bus rumbled down the highway. My head lazily leaned against the window, the sun tanning my face. Next to me sat a Syrian soldier. I had just spent the day visiting Krak des Chevaliers and Ma'loula. Krak des Chevaliers is an extremely well-preserved 12th century Crusader Castle. And Ma'loula is [...]

Honduras – 102nd Country

By |2019-07-06T13:36:48-05:00December 18th, 2016|Categories: Counting Countries 193 Countdown|Tags: , |

To see where I have been so far, check out my map as I count down the final 93 countries on the road to all 193 UN countries.  Honduras is my 102nd country.    Check out the best 193 travel books to read!  I decide after Christmas to visit three Central American countries over New Years.  With [...]

Rick Shaver – 81 countries … and counting!

By |2019-07-06T05:35:37-05:00December 13th, 2016|Categories: Podcast|Tags: , , , , |

[Download .mp3] Rick has managed to travel the world while raising a family heading an international marketing firm! Rick was inspired to travel by his globe-trotting grandmother and a visit to the World Expo as a child.  He spent over a month in Bucharest during Ceaușescu reign in the early 1980s.  And during a 6 month [...]

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland’s Remote Settlement

By |2021-04-16T16:58:18-05:00December 11th, 2016|Categories: Europe, Unique Experiences|Tags: , , , |

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland's Remote Settlement.  Ittoqqortoormiit, try saying that three times fast.  Ittoqqortoormiit is one of the most remote settlements in Greenland.  Less than 500 settlers live here.  Approximately, 55,000 people call Greenland home and it is the world’s largest in the island.  The majority of the citizens live on the west coast of the island.  And [...]

Being Thankful In Klong Toey, Bangkok

By |2021-04-16T16:56:14-05:00December 4th, 2016|Categories: Asia, Unique Experiences|Tags: , , , , , , |

Being Thankful In Klong Toey, Bangkok.  White streaks of the sun pierced the open door of the simple cement structure and illuminated the simple interior.  A crumpled elderly woman sat on the white tiled floor near the edge of the door surrounded by empty plastic bottles.  The cramped house was a singular room in addition to [...]

A Year In Review: 2016

By |2019-05-28T10:22:37-05:00December 3rd, 2016|Categories: Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, Must-See, Off The Beaten Path, South America, Unique Experiences|Tags: |

It was a busy and rewarding year!! I covered a lot of ground, some of it old, but plenty of new. In 2016, I traveled to eleven new countries; including: Cuba, Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Iran, Bulgaria, Iraq, Eritrea, Honduras, and Guatemala. This brought my country count to 103. A great feeling to finally have crossed [...]

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