Eight Days In Mauritania, An Agenda, Part II
Sample Itinerary Mauritania. This is the second part of my trip to Mauritania. To see the first part, check out sample agenda Mauritania. Ben Amera Ben Amera is the third largest monolith in the world. The first two that claim that record can be found in Australia. Ben Amera rises over 630 meters (over 2,000 feet). A monolith is a geographical feature comprised of a singular giant rock. It is pretty cool. After a lazy breakfast at Zaida’s Auberge, the gear was packed, and we were back on the road in our trusty steed, the pickup. Around lunch, we arrived in Afar, one of Mauritania’s larger towns, which is tiny. I eagerly whipped out Tripadvisor to check out the restaurant options. I wanted to avoid another meal of goat stew. I fell into mild depression, when Tripadvisor produced zero dining options. I settled on a coke and took a brief walk through the market. One local offered her hand in marriage at one of the vegetable stands, but I politely declined. We headed back on the road [...]
The Assyrians Of Armenia
Assyrians in Armenia. I have visited Armenia every year since 2003. I have seen a lot of changes, and many for the better. Money has poured in. Infrastructure has improved greatly, whether it is roads, hotels, restaurants, and tour providers. With the improved infrastructure and positive media, I have seen tremendous growth in tourism. The vast majority of tourists, of course, are all visiting the same sights (and rightfully so, they are fantastic). There is Noravank. Khor Virap Tatev Monastery. All must-sees. But if you have time, no matter where you are, it is always great to peel back a layer of that onion. While enjoying an Armenian barbecue (khorovats) on a lazy and warm Saturday afternoon in a dacha outside of Yerevan, my friend Aspet gathered my attention. Aspet, who is a double threat, he is both an Armenophile and historian, informed me that this dacha was located in the Assyrian village of Arzni. And that is quite interesting for the fact that Armenia is a quite the homogeneous nation. Over 98% of this diminutive population [...]
Palle Bo … Re-Invented Himself At 50
Palle Bo … Re-Invented Himself At 50 Palle has traveled to 80 countries On today’s episode, I welcome Palle Bo to Counting Countries. Palle and I have met twice over the last couple of years, once in Manila and once in Chicago, but today is the day where we made it official with an interview. Before I introduce Palle, I am reminding you that Counting Countries is now partnered with Patreon. Patreon is a platform that allows patrons, that’s you, to support creators, and that is me creating Counting Countries. I have been extremely fortunate to be be able to create this podcast and be able to meet so many interesting and compelling travelers, but I have also spent a tremendous amount of time and some money creating this podcast. So for example, some benefits are extended interviews. Some Patrons are able to listen to an exclusive additional 20 minute interview with last month’s guest, Petro. Or a five minute update from Fabio Cao, from former guest, who has finished every country in the world. And a [...]
Visiting The Principality Of Sealand
Visiting Principality Sealand. How many countries are there in the world? Well, it depends on who you ask. If you are standing in the General Assembly, they will inform you there are 193 sovereign countries as recognized by the UN. But the debate is just getting heated. There is another group of countries that walk and talk like a country but are not recognized by the UN. There are affiliate links in this post. Two of the best known in this category are Taiwan and Kosovo. They have all the trappings of a sovereign nation; like borders, currency, national anthems, armies, and visas, but mostly due to political issues are not recognized by the UN. Some lesser known countries in this category also include Abkhazia, Transnistria, and Somaliland. There is another category of micro-nations that fall somewhere between striving for legitimacy and novelty. The Free Republic of Liberland was founded by a libertarian in 2015 in a patch of uninhabited and unclaimed land between Croatia and Serbia. There is the new micronation that is in the [...]
Eight Days In Mauritania, An Agenda, Part I
Sample Agenda Mauritania. Mauritania is a big boy, the 11th largest country in Africa. It is bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on its other borders; Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, and Senegal. Mauritania is primarily a desert country with 90% of its land found in the Sahara. These areas were originally settled by the Berber people, an ethnic group found in Northern Africa. France began the process of colonization in the late 19th century. Mauritania became an independent nation in 1960. Less than 5 million people live in Mauritania with nearly the entire nation being Sunni Muslim. Arabic is the national language with Hassaniya being the local version. French is also spoken by many, making it a useful language when traveling. Mauritania is a poor country despite being rich in natural resources. Iron ore contributes over 50% of its exports. Most people still rely on agriculture and livestock to subsist. Slavery was not outlawed until 2007 and still unfortunately exists currently. It is estimated that 2% of people live in slavery today. I was [...]
Hotel Casa Khaldi Is The Worst Hotel, Ever
Hotel Casa Khaldi Worst Hotel Chefchaouen. The trip did not get off to a good start. CTM, a well-known bus line in Morocco was sold out. I turned to TripAdvisor and found Morocco Trek Safaris who offered a transfer, door-to-door transfer in four hours, from Fez to Chefchaouen for triple the price. Unfortunately, a higher price does not translate to a better service, in fact, the ride took nearly six hours and the bus refused to drop me off at my hotel. I expressed my disappointment to Morocco Trek Safaris but their response was an uninspiring “its only reasonable to be so late because there are other people on the bus”. Odd justification I thought. A company that provides transfers was not comfortable with transporting more than one person. Talk about the bar being set low. I dragged my bag to Hotel Casa Khaldi which was located next to the Medina. This was a compact hotel with only a dozen rooms or so, with a welcoming courtyard designed in a pleasing traditional Moroccan style. The [...]