In August 1991, I traveled to Europe with my Mother for the first time, on a typical Taiwanese all-inclusive package tour. - Arriving in London, England on a the longest flight I had ever had (at that time, 13 hours was long for me, now it is "average"), London and England become my first European city and country.
That was not a good trip at all. We visited 10 countries in merely 3 weeks; we ate in Chinese restaurants almost every meal; many group members in that tour were wealthy but uneducated - they acted quite obnoxiously (like today's tourists from China). At the same time, my mother was neurotic and constantly had nervous breakdown. It wasn't a good trip.
However, I have since been in love with Europe. It is a relatively small continent with so many different languages, cultures, and cuisines (and yes, there used to be so many different colorful bills and coins that confounded me!). After that trip, I started to learn French and German, and later, started to learn to read Cyrillic. It is an opposite to my own culture and background. And I like the exotic and sophisticated feel of Europe (Well, "exotic" may be more often used by Europeans to describe us Asian :P)
And, I have been to Europe more than 20 times since then.
After visiting Moldova/Transniestr in 2011 and the Caucasus in 2012, I practically had been to every country on the Continent. Every of them, except two.
For me, Belarus is too complicated to visit, with expensive visa fee and not much to see (I thought); while the remote Faroe Islands seems interesting. However, the high cost of visiting turned me away and I continued to delay my visit.
Until 2014.
The 2014 International Ice Hockey Championship opened the door for visa-free regime to Belarus (even the window is only one month); while later in the summer, a family trip on a luxurious cruise, mainly taking my Mother to Iceland and Norwegian fjords, afforded me an opportunity finally to set foot on Faroe Islands.
Yes, now I have reached what I call "Europa Grand Slam" (中譯 "歐羅巴大滿貫")
Well, it took me a very long 23 years to achieve this. However, it is better "late" than "never."
Now, I can move on to reach my "South America Grand Slam," "North/Central America Grand Slam," and "Caribbean Grand Slam." ;) Fortunately, there are fewer countries in Americas than in Europe :P
The list of European countries/autonomous territories I've been to, in chronological order.
1 England, United Kingdom (1991)
At one of my favorite spot in my European Country No. 1 - British Museum in London, England. (This picture was taken in 2014, not 1991 XD)
2 France (1991)
3 Belgium (1991)
4 The Netherlands (1991)
5 Germany (1991)
6 Switzerland (1991)
7 Leichtenstein (1991)
8 Austria (1991)
9 Italy (1991)
10 Vatican (1991)
11 Denmark (1993)
12 Sweden (1993)
13 Norway (1993)
14 Finland (1993)
15 Scottland, United Kingdom (1993)
16 Greece (1993)
17 Wales, United Kindom (1993)
18 Monaco (1993)
19 Czech Republic (1995)
20 Spain (1995)
In Ronda, Andalusia, Spain. They may fail to defend their "World Champion" status in World Cup this year, but Spain is always among my Top Countries (This was also taken in 2014, not 1995)
21 Russia (1997)
22 Gibraltar (1998)
23 Portugal (1993)
24 Andorra (2002)
25 Turkey(2005)
26 Slovakia (2005)
27 Hungary (2005)
28 Poland (2005)
29 Serbia (2006)
30 Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2006)
In front the Old Bridge of Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2006.
31 Bosniak-Croat Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2006)
32 Monenegro (2006)
33 Croatia (2006)
34 Slovenia (2006)
35 Albania (2006)
36 Lithuania (2006)
37 Latvia (2006)
38 Estonia (2006)
39 Ukraine (2006)
40 Romania (2006)
One of the main Painted Monasteries in South Bucovina, Romania. Romania is one of the most interesting and underrated countries in Europe.
41 Bulgaria (2006)
42 Republic of Ireland (2006)
43 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (2006)
44 Luxembourg (2006)
45 San Marino (2007)
46 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2007)
47 Kosovo (2007)
48 Iceland (2009)
49 Republic of Cyprus (2009)
50 Turkish Republic of Cyprus (2009)
51 Malta (2009)
52 Moldova (2011)
53 Transniestria (2011)
54 Armania (2012)
55 Georgia (2012)
56 Azerbaijan (2012)
57 Svalbard, Norway (2013)
58 Greenland (2013)
59 Åland Islands, Finland (2014)
60 Belarus (2014)
By reaching Belarus in May 2014, I have been to every sovereign state in Europe.
61. Faroe Islands (2014)
Taking a stroll in the oldest part of Toshavn, Faroe Islands. I reached "Europa Grand Slam" in Faroe Islands in June 2014.
==> Europe Continent-Wide Gram Slam Achieved!!!
