Are you a country-counter?

Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine.

I am a self-confessed list lover. Which may also explain why I’m obsessed with counting countries.

If the thought of this is something you loathe – then this might not be the post for you. In fact, sadly, I might not be your sort of writer. But if you’re interested in adventures. Intrigued about what number I’m on. Or maybe you’re even a country-counter too. Well, then I might be the girl for you!

Trying to visit every country in the world (or as many countries as I can) is not a challenge I’m trying to complete quickly. I’ve given myself the whole of my life. And I’ve just done my country Number 50!

My dear friend and colleague Tracey @livinginthecity on Instagram is a country counter too (she’s beating me - on 76 at the mo!). She says that in order to tick a country off you have to do three things.

1.     Stay the night

2.     Do something cultural

3.     Eat something local

I love this little list.

I’ve just come back from a mini break in Monaco (one of the smallest countries in the world – that feels a bit like France but different).  Three blissful nights on my own – prior to the tsunami that is coming at me because it is now just two weeks away until my new book is launched to the world. I’m a bit obsessed with Princess Grace of Monaco (did you know that she was the movie star Grace Kelly?) I only know this myself because of my  twentieth century history teacher – Desert Island Discs. I love her episode, recorded in 1981 with the show’s creator Roy Plomley. I visited the cathedral where she got married to Prince Rainier, and lies resting after the car accident that took her life in 1982 (the year after she appeared on DID). Rainier never married again. I love that about him. I also went to the casino – of course. And swam in the sea  - ditto. And I ate baguette with runny cheese, and pinsa (which is basically pizza – Monaco’s so near Italy there’s lots of food influence from there too). So tick tick tick on Tracey’s list. Country 50 conquered and counted.

Princess Grace of Monaco & the Cathedral where she got married, and is buried.

PS. I’m thinking Liechtenstein for country 51. Anyone been? Top tips gratefully received!

PPS. ‘Lists of Love’ is a new reader-supported publication by me. At the moment all my subscribers (paid and free) are receiving weekly posts to celebrate its launch. But from the end of March only paid subscribers will receive weekly posts, and free subscribers will receive monthly roundups. So if you love receiving ‘Lists of Love’ in your inbox weekly, please consider going paid (and buying me a monthly cup of coffee and half a doughnut – see my About Page for what that means). But if less is more, then I hope you’ll stay on as a free subscriber. In the words of Bob Dylan - either choice makes me feel your love! For all subscription details see here.