Charting my course

In 2013 while lingering over a few beers in Havana, I set myself the goal of visiting every country in the world. While I was at it, I planned to visit a lot of other places that seem like countries although they aren’t.

I started with a list of the 193 members of the United Nations. To this list, I added more than 100 islands, territories, enclaves and autonomous regions that are distinctly different from the sovereign states that own them. While I looked forward to adventures in faraway places with strange-sounding names, I knew I had a long journey ahead of me.

As I start 2024, my globe trotting is almost done. There are only five countries I haven’t visited: Belarus, Libya, Iran, Yemen and the Republic of Congo.

I’ve postponed visiting these countries hoping that their visa requirements would be relaxed — but they haven’t been. So, in the coming months, I’ll need to arrange guides and tours, submit my passport to consulates, and (hopefully) be approved by immigration officers.

Please follow this blog and wish me luck for my adventures. Meanwhile, I’ll maintain a world map of the 180+ countries I’ve visited so far. As always, feel free to share this travel blog with your friends and family. Send suggestions or questions by email or post something in the comment section below each chapter.