How many countries you have visited?

zagfles

NineDeuce wrote: »

I bet the people who complain about immigration have only been to Benidorm....

And have thought about retiring there

PeacefulWaters

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Well they aren't on the list from the UN or the US State department - or the wikipedia list of sovereign states - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states

I'm going to back away. It might be me who's wrong!

Robisere

I got bored at 26, but I was a Merchant Seaman and also had 12 years Army Service. I have also holidayed in many European countries and once (unforgettably) in Canada, which I rate as the friendliest country with the friendliest people. That's not always a combination: friendly people do not always live in a friendly country.

Forgot to add that I discovered one simple fact: ordinary working folk are more or less the same all over the world, certainly all the ones I met. Most want the same things: peace, enough of a wage to provide for a family and a quiet life with no disasters. It's the politicians (elected or not) who screw up the world.

martinthebandit

NineDeuce wrote: »

I bet the people who complain about immigration have only been to Benidorm....

...and I bet you would loose your bet.

Ballard

I've only travelled for pleasure and am fast approaching 50 (in years and countries), not including countries where I haven't left the airport. I doubt that I'll get to 100 before I croak it but you never know.

Tarry

France, Belguim, Ireland (Northern and Republic), Germany, Scotland, Wales (if Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales count) and Jersey.

[Deleted User]

zagfles wrote: »

Damn, just short of the 41-100 category, even counting countries which no longer exist

More travel geekery - how many languages do you know how to say "thank you" in (without looking it up)? Anyone beat 20

Erm. English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hebrew

But I've got google translate, so lots more!

I think I need to teach my kids how privileged they are to do the travel they do.

zagfles

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Erm. English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hebrew

But I've got google translate, so lots more!

I think I need to teach my kids how privileged they are to do the travel they do.

Google translate and such apps are great but you're not going to use it to look up "excuse me" if you need to get past someone or "thank you" when someone holds a door open for you etc.

I always try to learn at least a few words of the language of the countries I visit, mainly the pleasantries eg good morning, hello, goodbye, excuse me, please and thank you, sometimes "how much" and the numbers. But the only one that seems to get burnt into my memory is "thank you" as it's the most used I guess. Can think of 20 languages at the moment...

[Deleted User]

Well, I managed to understand and have a conversation with a lost Romanian person in Luton airport once - using google translate. It was frankly amazing.

I guess the majority of the countries I've been to have been in Europe, and English/Spanish/French/German/Italian thank yous will do for many many places.

zagfles

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Well, I managed to understand and have a conversation with a lost Romanian person in Luton airport once - using google translate. It was frankly amazing.

Yes, and these apps where you can point the camera at text eg a menu and it will translate it.

I guess the majority of the countries I've been to have been in Europe, and English/Spanish/French/German/Italian thank yous will do for many many places.

Most of mine are European too, and of course most people will understand "thank you" or "excuse me" but I think you always get a better response/service if you make the effort to learn a handful of words of the language so you can exchange pleasantries.