Thirty

We just got back from a great week in Japan! I feel the need to commemorate this occasion because Japan makes my total countries visited so far a nice even number... THIRTY. I know that's not a huge amount compared to a lot of my travel-loving counterparts, but I am pretty proud of what we have done while living overseas. Here is the rundown...

Pre-Expat
1. Spain - I was born and spent the first 9 months of life here. Don't remember a thing, but I must count it because it is the place of my birth and that's pretty important. ;)
2. USA - I have lived in Florida, California, Washington, Hawaii, Virginia, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. I have visited (that I remember) Maryland, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and of course, DC.
3. Canada - A business trip took me to Toronto, where I discovered foreign countries don't have to be that different from America.
4. Italy - Our honeymoon was spent in Venice, Florence and Rome!
5. Vatican City - Also a part of our honeymoon... hard to avoid when you're in Rome.
6. Germany - We flew in and out of Munich for our honeymoon and were able to spend a couple of days seeing the city. Little did I know I would live in the country four years later and explore every inch of the place.

While we lived in Germany...
7. Austria - First visited Salzburg and Innsbruck and then had a great anniversary trip to Vienna.
8. United Kingdom - London, York, Bath and Winchester, England and Aberdeen and Peterhead, Scotland, to be exact.
9. Poland - Again, I visited before I lived there. This visit was solely to purchase Polish pottery in Bolesławiec, but while living there, we ventured out to many charming places.
10. Liechtenstein - We were in 4 countries in one day during one of our trips and this small country was one of them.
11. Switzerland - Also part of that 4 countries in one day trip. Then we were able to really explore it over several days just this past year, going to Bern, Geneva, Gruyères, Lucerne, and Zurich.
12. Netherlands - I had to see the tulips in spring, so after visiting Amsterdam, we went to the amazing gardens in Keukenhof.
13. Belgium - Combined with the Netherlands on one of the best road trips we had. Brugge is a must see.
14. Czech Republic - I was seven months pregnant when we visited the stunning Prague.

While we lived in Poland...
15. Ukraine - Up to this point, this was the poorest country I had ever visited. It was very eye-opening to see the former Soviet cities of Lutsk and Lviv.
16. France - A country I once vowed to avoid, we actually went into this country during one of our road trips in Germany (we ventured into a city called Bitche), and then spent 10 fabulous days in Paris, the Loire Valley, and Normandy over Christmas one year.
17. Slovakia - Part of the fantabulous 2-week road trip we took down Central Europe, we visited Bratislava...
18. Slovenia - Then we visited Ljubljana...
19. Croatia - Then we visited Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, and Plitvice Lakes...
20. Hungary - And finished it off in Budapest.
21. Ireland - After a cruise to Greece and Turkey was dismissed due to work requirements, we "settled" for a week driving around this lovely country. We drove to Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Bunratty, the Cliffs of Moher, near Dublin (never actually went into Dublin), Kilkenny, Blarney, and Cork.

While we lived in Thailand...
22. Thailand - We've explored a few of the major places and seen several amazing beaches in this tropical wonderland.
23. Cambodia - Definitely a country I never thought I would say I've been to, but Siem Reap was one of the best destinations ever.
24. Indonesia - Bali, anyone?
25. Australia - I finally made it to Sydney, a dream of mine since childhood. And we also swam in the Great Barrier Reef.
26. New Zealand - We drove all around the South Island, visiting Kaikoura, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Milford and Doubtful Sounds, and Queenstown. We also visited Auckland on the North Island. Absolutely, the most gorgeous place I have ever seen in my entire life. Bar none. Just don't let your kids climb trees there.
27. Maldives - An unforgettable trip with just my wonderful husband. It is perfection.
28. Malaysia - Well, we visited Legoland in this country. But that counts.
29. Singapore - The fun capital of the world. Clean, tons to do, and awesome.
30. Japan - So full of history and beauty. I could totally live there. We visited Kyoto, Hiroshima and Tokyo.

Some other country number tidbits:

• My daughter is 9 years old and has been to 25 countries: all the countries above except Spain, Canada, Italy, Vatican City, and Maldives.
• My son is 6 years old and has been to 21 countries: all the countries above except Spain, Canada, Italy, Vatican City, Netherlands, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic, and Maldives. Although, I was pregnant with him when we visited Netherlands, Belgium, and Czech Republic, so technically he was there. ;) And really, he's only driven through Austria, but I'm counting it because we ate a meal there... and I was pregnant with him when Brent and I went to Vienna.

I am truly aware of how blessed we have been with the opportunities set before us. And so thankful!