A travelogue listicle for BLE

Eleven Countries In Which I Have Spent Time And What They Were Like

I have been around a bit

Photo by Tom Barrett on Unsplash

I guess I should start at the beginning.

I have it on good authority that that is, indeed, a good place to start.

1. South Africa (SA):

The land of my birth, way back in 1954, where I have spent most of my life and brought up a family. I think most of us know that the country has faced (and still is facing), many challenges. I don’t want to dwell on those. I can start off by saying that they have the friendliest people on the planet, despite those challenges.

Main attractions:

> Cape Town: A city that has been named on many lists as the best city in the world to visit

> Table Mountain: An iconic landmark almost synoymous with SA

> Kruger Park: Arguably the most well known Big 5 safari park in the world

> The Exchange Rate: If you visit SA with Pounds, Dollars or Euros you are in for a treat. Example: £2,000 will buy you a two week stay at a 4 or even 5 star hotel, full board and lodging.

A word of caution, though. Plan carefully. Do some research to avoid going (or being led into) the “wrong” places. Avoid taxis and be aware that even some GPS’s have been known to direct traffic into crime “hot spot” areas.

2. Other African Countries:

I have spent time, living and working in six other African countries:

> Zambia: I spent a year there and it was no fun. The levels of poverty were to be seen everywhere. The other expats were miserable but the local people were amazingly friendly. A trend I have seen in many Africa countries

> Namibia: On the West Coast of Southern Africa. A beautiful country with a growing Adventure Tourism economy. Same exchange control benefits as SA and well worth a visit

> Botswana: A small country bordering SA. Largely dependant on diamonds for it’s economy. Famous for the teeming wildlife in The Okavango Delta. It is well organised and an “emerging” economy. Well worth a visit for the adventuring tourist.

> Zimbabwe: Another troubled nation, bordering SA to the North. I spent three years there, many years ago, before the regime change. I will keep it simple. I would not go back, if you paid me

> Liberia: I spent a year there and, once again, was simply staggered at the levels of poverty. The country has suffered Ebola, Corruption (somewhat endemic in some African countries) and a lengthy and bloody civil war. And it shows. Not recommended

> Burkina Faso: I spent five years in this West African country. It is located in the Southern part of the Sahara Desert. So, extremely hot, all year long, with a monsoon season that borders on terrifying. The small nation also seems to be on the up and up with a new military government, led by a young captain. Very volatile at the moment with a lot of moving parts. A very interesting case study in “getting things done”. As far as visiting goes, suffice it to say that “extreme caution is advised”

3. European Nations:

I have lived in a few European Nations way back and currently.

> Scotland: About 100 years ago, when I was eight years old and my brother was ten, my Dad landed a job with a Swedish company and was sent to Sweden for two years of training. So my Mom decided that we would spend those two years with our grandparents in Scotland. We fucking loved it.

Two youngsters having a blast in the snow with our two Uncles, both around twenty years old. Did we get up to any mischief? You bet. But, as an adult, I try very hard to avoid Scotland, mainly because I am now “cold averse” (in my dotage). But, if you are not a wimp like me, you might enjoy it. My daughter loved it when she went on a Kontiki Trip a few years ago.

> Sweden: After a year my Mom had had enough of being a “widow”, so my Dad arranged for us to join him in Sweden in a small town called something like Sorg Bakon. I have no idea how to spell it, so I have gone phonetic. Did we enjoy that? Fuck yeah! No school for a year. A huge frozen lake nearby where drivers used to practice their “ice driving”. TV with no age restrictions. Gotta love the Swedes. But, sadly, we had parents that were on the ball. So we had to try to sneak-peak from the bottom of a staircase. Ruined it really. So, no fun there. Highly recommended for a visit though, if you can afford it.

> Ireland: More recently, my wife and I spent a week in Ireland, and loved every minute of it (after we recovered from the jet lag, that is). I was invited to a job interview there and sadly was not successful. But I would move there in a heartbeat if I could.

> England (I know, not strictly European): My current abode and place of work. England is a mixed bag for me. It gave me the opportunity to work and the NHS is really great. On the other hand they chased my wife away after we had agonised over the visa requirements for 12 months, and went to considerable expense to get her here. So, I may show some bias. The country certainly has it’s challenges currently. I think it is safe to say that Politics here is in a shambles. Some would say that is an understatement. The economy is much the same. Brexit was, in my view, a complete fuck up and the country is crying out for a new Margaret Thatcher, or at least someone who knows WTF they are doing.

But if you like old shit, like London, with Big Ben, and The Houses Of Parliament, and museums, and art galleries, and the Tower Of London, and Buckingham Castle and…wait, where was I? Just nodded off a bit there. Sorry.

Oh yes. If old stuff is your thing, then England is your place.

Thank you for spending some time with me and thanks to Deanna Bugalski 💋 for encouraging me to get this story done. Love you Queen D!