What countries besides your own have you visited?

[RalphyS]

Chase and Ana had a discussion in the Chavez-thread about how visiting other countries could or might make you more broad-minded about the situation of the respective nations and its citizens.

I do agree that travelling as well as other ways of gathering knowledge about different cultures will beneficially change your views of how to interpret things seen by people living in other countries.

So therefore I was wondering which nations the regular writers here have been to.

I've been to:
The Netherlands (home)
Belgium
Germany
Sweden
England
Scotland
France
Spain
Switzerland
Austria
Italy
Croatia
Slovenia
Czechy
Crete (Greece)
Turkey
Kenya
USA (Florida, New York, California, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Arizona, Utah, Nevada)
Canada
Mexico
Brasil
Aruba
Sri Lanka

[Ana4Stapp]

Honestly I think that this thread must be in chat o rama...because most members dont even came here...(theres just you, Chase and me posting regularly-- and sometimes Eusebio).

Maybe in July Ill visit Europe (Portugal, Spain, France) or U.S. Maybe...

[Chase]

Well, being on this side of the Atlantic... it's much more difficult to visit other countries. The size of European countries are similar to U.S. or states... some bigger, some smaller. I have only been to more than half of America's states and Mexico. But in the fall, I'm hopefully going to be going to Sweden... and from there I'll see as many countries as I can.

[Ana4Stapp]

Well, being on this side of the Atlantic... it's much more difficult to visit other countries. The size of European countries are similar to U.S. or states... some bigger, some smaller. I have only been to more than half of America's states and Mexico. But in the fall, I'm hopefully going to be going to Sweden... and from there I'll see as many countries as I can.

Hope your visit helps you to change your biased opinions about every place outside America...:rolleyes:

Oh...no its not a thread to provoke you ...its just to post our replies to Ralphy's question...sorry but I couldnt resist...
lol

[eusebioCBR]

Honestly I think that this thread must be in chat o rama...because most members dont even came here...(theres just you, Chase and me posting regularly-- and sometimes Eusebio).

Maybe in July Ill visit Europe (Portugal, Spain, France) or U.S. Maybe...
I want to post as often as possible, but time doesn't always permit. I try to put as much thought as possible in my posts here, I don't want to give easy emotionally charged replies.
Now I have gardening to do, will it never end? :D

[Ana4Stapp]

Chase and Ana had a discussion in the Chavez-thread about how visiting other countries could or might make you more broad-minded about the situation of the respective nations and its citizens.

I do agree that travelling as well as other ways of gathering knowledge about different cultures will beneficially change your views of how to interpret things seen by people living in other countries.

So therefore I was wondering which nations the regular writers here have been to.

I've been to:
The Netherlands (home)
Belgium
Germany
Sweden
England
Scotland
France
Spain
Switzerland
Austria
Italy
Croatia
Slovenia
Czechy
Crete (Greece)
Turkey
Kenya
USA (Florida, New York, California, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Arizona, Utah, Nevada)
Canada
Mexico
Brasil
Aruba
Sri Lanka

Hey Ralphy since you visited lots of countries Id like to know which of them you liked the most? Tell us about your impressions (good or bad) ;)

[Steve]

In the US I've been to the following states:

- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Indiana

and I'm from Wisconsin :)

Outside the US I've only been to Paris, France.

[Chase]

Alright, I'm from California... since, people are posting what states they've been to, I'll share my trips as well.

I've been to:
Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire.

Aside from California, my favorite state would have to be Massachusetts.

[JulieCitySlicker]

In the US I've been to the following states:

- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Indiana

and I'm from Wisconsin :)

Outside the US I've only been to Paris, France.

Haha! Thats a great list Steve:D Sorry,no flying for me. Especially not over no freaken oceans:eek:

[The Lithium]

Norway
Denmark (couple of times)
England (London 4 times, saw AB there once)
Frace (Paris 3 times, saw AB there too)
Spain, (2 times)
Germany
The Netherlands
Belgium
Italy
Croatia
Greece
And I live in Stockholm, Sweden

Think that is it, yeah...

[Steve]

I'm going to create a new thread asking this same question in Chat-o-rama. I figure I could move this there, but maybe this thread will go into a different tangent regarding politics or something... so I'll leave it here. :)

It'd be interesting to hear where the rest of the board has been!

[RalphyS]

Hey Ralphy since you visited lots of countries Id like to know which of them you liked the most? Tell us about your impressions (good or bad) ;)

Well Ana, the most beautiful country, naturewise, I have been too is undoubtedly the USA, the enormous diversity of places like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and other canyons, Death Valley, the coast line between LA and San Francisco. I also like the wideness and the feeling of freedom that you have there as a tourist, riding with a rental through wide open places, starting in the early morning in the California mountains at a temp of -/- 6 degrees celsius and in the afternoon crashing in Death Valley at over +/+ 50 degrees. New York is also a one of a kind town, very impressive.
On the other hand in the USA and especially in the cities, you notice an enormous lack of cultural history in comparison to Europe. Cities that are built in horizontal and vertical lines and also the enormous kitsch-effect, the enormous amount of commercialism, the lack of 'natural' centers of cities.
I don't know if it's the right description, but there is also a lot of 'fakeness' in the States, people, who act friendly, but it seems a jobtrade, not a natural thing, and in conversations with Americans, I also almost always recognized an enormous lack of knowledge and even disinterest in anything not American ("You're from Holland, is that in Minnesota?").

The other country I want to especially mention is Kenya. The week that I spent of safari was probably the best vacation I ever had, the exceptional fauna of Africa is something I will never forget. What also sticks to my memory from Kenya, but not in a good way, is the poverty!! I've been to other third world/less developped nations like Mexico, Brasil, Sri Lanka, Turkey, but nowhere was the poverty as striking as in Africa. If you have seen that, well I won't say you will never complain again, but you sure feel blessed (and this from an atheist) for being born on the good side of the track (world). If you've been to places like this, you know that there does have to be some redistribution of wealth on this planet, but this is also extremely difficult, with the inherited corruption in countries like that.

The friendliest people I met in Turkey, the most arrogant in France, in Sweden the people were almost 'raw', very much living 'carpe diem', also you experience great differences between people from sunny countries and those who regularly have to deal with rain or even colder temperatures. Not only do southern people live more on the streets, but they are much more laid back, appointments are made on a maybe-basis, when I have the time I'll come by. In Western Europe and the USA we live by the book, in this case not the bible, but our agenda's, we plan things, we are a lot less spontaneous, not only on a day to day basis, but also on the long run. I've met people in other countries, who worked for a year, took free for a time, and when the money was gone, went back to work. Well that's just some of my impressions, maybe one more thing, the spirituality of budhism on Sri Lanka also made a big impression on me, not that, in your face attitude of Christianity or islam, but trying to find your own Zen, letting go of the materiality of the west. I am not a religious person, but this did appeal to me.

Also very nice places to visit: Scotland's highlands and Edinburgh, Croatia (a paradise on the mediterranean), Paris and Berlin (very impressive cities), the Alps in central Europe, Rio de Janeiro (although the guides told us that the Brasilian cities criminality was something to be very worried about, same applies for Kenya's capital Nairobi, as well as San Francisco by night), San Francisco, Vegas (the ultimate kitsch), diving in Floridean waters, Sea World, the waterfalls of Foz de Iguacu as well as the USA and Canada, the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the Pantanal in Brasil.

[uncertaindrumer]

Wow, Ralph. Are you rich or do you travel for your work... Because I mean... I know traveling between countries is a gazillion times easier in Europe but, WOW...

Anyway, you cracked me up with your "Is that in Minnesota?" quote. Absoluely true, unfortunately. Thanks to our oh so wonderful public school system, Americans are generally clueless.

I'll tell you, the Grand Canyon is amazing. I see it in postcards, and it is so big it looks fake. I see it in person, and it is still almost fake looking in its gigantic-ness. Yep. It needs its own word to describe it.

[Bridge of Clay]

wow Ralphy! What did you think of Brazil? Honest opinion, I don't want politically correct answers! hahaha

I'm from Brazil and I've been to Paraguay and USA. I'm not sure if when I went to Paraguay I also spent some time in Argentina, coz I was just a lil' kid back them. I gotta ask my parents! LOL!

[Chase]

I love living in California for the reasons that you described Ralphy. In Southern California, you can literally drive to the beach, the snow, and the desert all in one day. And yes, the Grand Canyon is one of the most amazing sights this country has to offer. It's really magnificent.

I have my favorite places in this country. My favorite cities are San Diego (my hometown), Boston, Providence, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The most beautiful states are (that I have been to): California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island (New England in general), Utah, Arizona (simply because of the Grand Canyon), Virginia, Florida.

The nicest people are by far in South. Lousiana has the nicest people I have ever met in this country. Californians are different depending on which part of the state you're in. People from Northern California are very open, liberal, and expressive. With the exception of L.A., people in Southern California are more conservative, patriotic, and traditional. New Englanders are an interesting bunch. They're rude to certain groups of people. They tend to be friendly towards Californians, but I know that they get rather annoyed with people from the deep South. Virginians are nice and simple. A part of my family are from there and have lived there since the 1730s. You could classify them as hillbillies... but they're a nice bunch. They still represent the old "Southern Democrat" political mindset. People in the Midwest seem to be down to Earth. Los Angeles probably is the weirdest city simply because they are so many types of people. New Yorkers (and people from New Jersey) seem to be the most tough. Followed by Bostonians... then folks from Philadelphia.

I think some groups of Americans are less cultured than others. It really depends on where you go. Cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston have a lot of culture. Granted, I think that Europeans are the most cultured bunch of people. But look at the difference. Most Americans, if the leave the country, will most likely either go to Mexico, Canada, or Jamaica. Making a trip to Europe is less likely to happen. If you were to say talk to someone from Little Rock, Arkansas... compared to someone from San Francisco... you'll be able to see how knowledgable certain Americans are regarding Europe and its geography. I know the geography, history, and politics of Europe because I find it interesting and I've studied it pretty extensively. But, you know... much of the American mentality is due to the fact that were bordered by two massive oceans, and two fairly weak (not as people, just economically and militarily) neighbors (Mexico and Canada).

Commerce is the center of most of America's major cities. That includes industry and production... as in the case of cities like Pittsburgh. Here is San Diego, are center was industry and manufacturing for a while (probaly from the 1940s to 1950s). But now, the military (the Navy in particular) is a major influence on the city's democraphics. Tourism is also a part of our city... thanks to the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, beaches, weather, and sporting events. On the East Coast, however, (specifically in New England) the center of most of the towns is a church. That's due to the historical significance of religion to the city's settlers. I love seeing the influence that Europeans have had on American cities though. The architecture in San Diego owes alot to the Spanish (and to the Portuguese to an extent). Boston is obviously heavily influenced by the English. Once the Dutch lost control of New Amsterdam to the English... the city was renamed New York. Because of its history, there is still a Dutch influence... and recently a wall was discovered under a demolished building that was erected by the Dutch. Interesting stuff.

[Ana4Stapp]

Well ...Sounds interesting what Ralphy, Stephen and Chase commented here about americans having no knowledge about what is non-american...honestly I must admit I had the same impression...especially about Latin/South America..

I dont remmember exactly who...but one of your presidents (Reagan , Bush 1...I dont know...) started a speeche during his visit to Brazil with something like ..."here in Bolivia..." LOL

But I have to say that Chase's knowledge about Brazil, including politics... REALLY impressed me a lot...;)

PS: Seeing all those countries you mentioned here makes me want to travel soon...too soon... Hey I NEED a passport!!!!! lol :D

[Ana4Stapp]

With the exception of L.A., people in Southern California are more conservative, patriotic, and traditional

Wow...You definitely belong to the place you live in...:rolleyes:

lol

[uncertaindrumer]

Why? Chase isn't conservative. He favors massive amounts of spending on questionably needed wars. ;)

[Ana4Stapp]

Why? Chase isn't conservative. He favors massive amounts of spending on questionably needed wars. ;)


Well he's conservative about the social issues (and thinks that Im too liberal in this issues...) like gay marriage for example... but of course his big characteristic isnt this...:rolleyes:

Btw the word conservative fits better to the other people here....:rolleyes:

[RalphyS]

wow Ralphy! What did you think of Brazil? Honest opinion, I don't want politically correct answers! hahaha

Well Brasil, we landed in Rio de Janeiro and stayed for one night at a hotel on the Copacabana and climbed the Sugarloaf, where we got stuck in the cablecar. Rio is a very impressive city, beautifully located with the hills in the back and around and the magnificent beaches.
We travelled to Sao Paulo, which I found quite the opposite. I gathered you are a citizen of this city and I'm sorry, but I think it's maybe the ugliest city I've ever been too, a very polluted river, which is more like an open soeer (sp?), the city itself looks like a big lego box erected. We were warned both in Rio, but specifically in Sao Paulo to be carefull in regard to pickpockets and one of our troop got robbed nonetheless. The center was also very quite in Sao Paulo in our hotel's area in the center at evening. We were told that's because people are afraid of criminals. Because of this we had little interaction with the inhabitants, except for our guides.
Later we visited this round pyramid cathedral in SP and the second largest catholic church in the world, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, especially the latter was impressive.
Next we went to Curitiba, a nice country site, we visited the botanical gardens and some outdoortheater, nice, but not very special.
What was very special were the falls of Foz de Iguacu, which we visited both from the Brasilian and the Argentinian (on top) site, I've seen a few waterfalls on my travels, but so far these are the most beautiful.
Very impressive was also the big dam, that we visited on the border with Paraguay. I recently saw a documentary on National Geographic about it, a true technical waterpiece, alas the floodgates weren't open during our visit.
Next we went to Bonito or Bonita in a mosquito ridden hotel, where we went swimming/snorkling in a nearbye stream. I had a good time.
Another high point of our visit was the trip through and the stay in the Pantanal. I had never heard about Capibara's before, strange animals, piranha-soup I didn't like, holding the tail of a Anaconda was funny, the lit eyes of the crocodiles in the night boattrip were an experience too.
From there we travelled back towards the ocean through some unimpressive cities, and we stayed in Santos for 2 days, which had a very nice botannical garden and a great beach.
What stuck from Brasil was the rain! You think of Brasil, as that sunny country were everybody is running around in thongs on the beach, but we had a lot of rain (downpours at times) during our fortnight roundtrip. Also the huge distances that had to be covered, large amounts of times in the bus, the evening dinners were mostly very entertaining and cozy, the guides were very friendly, I'm sorry we didn't get to know the people better.
Oh yeah, and I remember also that we went to this coffee house for export coffee, which was way better than all the coffee we got in Brasil itself.

Some pictures we took in Brasil (http://ralphys.tripod.com/Ralphy3.html)

[Ana4Stapp]

Well Brasil, we landed in Rio de Janeiro and stayed for one night at a hotel on the Copacabana and climbed the Sugarloaf, where we got stuck in the cablecar. Rio is a very impressive city, beautifully located with the hills in the back and around and the magnificent beaches.

YESSSSSSSS! ;)

We travelled to Sao Paulo, which I found quite the opposite. I gathered you are a citizen of this city and I'm sorry, but I think it's maybe the ugliest city I've ever been too, a very polluted river, which is more like an open soeer (sp?), the city itself looks like a big lego box erected.

Hahaha...here in Rio we think the same, Ralphy....lol :D

[Bridge of Clay]

bleh, Rio sucks.

[uncertaindrumer]

Well he's conservative about the social issues (and thinks that Im too liberal in this issues...) like gay marriage for example... but of course his big characteristic isnt this...:rolleyes:

Lol, I was joking obviously. I knew what ya meant.

Btw the word conservative fits better to the other people here....:rolleyes:

Meh. I am conservative morally but economically and politically I am generally a bit to the left.

[Ana4Stapp]

Meh. I am conservative morally but economically and politically I am generally a bit to the left.

I dont remember saying your name here...:rolleyes:

LOL

[uncertaindrumer]

Bah. I knew who you were talking about. lol

[Ana4Stapp]

Bah. I knew who you were talking about. lol

:D
lol

[Lunar Shadow]

Lets see hmmm


Canada (2x)
Mexico (3x)
Barbados
Dominica
Antigua
St. John
Pueto Rico (2x)
Dominican Republic


as far as the USA goes it is easier to list the states I have not been to
Hawaii
Alaska
Montana
Idaho
North Dakota
South Dakota
Florida
Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnisota

I have been to every other State except the ones listed above so I have been to 40 of the 50 states