My unexpected Basque Country adventure was surprising, spontaneous and satisfying. A country often forgotten by backpackers, many succumbing to the fact that it’s been swallowed by the Kingdom of Spain. After my previous 5 trips to Spain, it was the political and cultural differences of flambouyant Barcelona (Catalonia), dreamy Donostia and inspiring Valencia that gave…
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Recently I had the honour of becoming the first ever tourist to visit the Empire of Austenasia, which declared independence from the United Kingdom back in 2008 and is a small country of 75 residents. After crossing the border from the English town of Carshalton into Wrythe, capital of Austenasia I was greeted by Emperor…
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When backpacking in the Vatican City State, I decided to get a full grasp over what on earth this mini-country within a country is all about. It has to be one of the oddest places I have visited and so I decided to do a complete Vatican City Tour with Walks of Italy. Visiting the…
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Have you ever had your passport stamped in Frestonia? Have you ever received a letter in the post with a stamp of the nation of Frestonia on it? If so, I’m mildly jealous. But also aware that I was too young (or not born) when the self declared republic of Frestonia was declared back in…
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Finland is world famous for the sauna, so after arriving by ferry into Helsinki and I met up with my backpacking friends Sofia and Karoliina after a gap of over 5 years when we partied together in Sydney while staying at Chilli Blue Backpackers. The whole thing seemed to fit in so spookily together and for…
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My recent adventure backpacking in Italy saw my return to this country for the first time since my Venice trip in 2009. It was a long overdue visit to a country I have dipped in and out of some six times now on my journeys. However, I hadn’t yet been to Rome and it made…
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On one of my recent adventures I became the first tourist to visit Wrythe, Austenasia’s capital. Having crossed the border from the town of Carshalton in London, England I was greeted by Emperor Jonathan I and given a guided tour of the capital. Here are the top 8 sights in Wrythe, capital of the Empire…
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On my landmark milestone week where I crack my 100th real life country to have visited, I decided on a few other quirky adventures on the way, this involved visits to see my friends and family on route as well as a few small nations, unknown countries and disputed regions. I was very enthusiastic about my visit…
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I love quirky records on my travels. You may have read that I drank in the southernmost Irish Pub in the world in Ushuaia, the highest Irish Pub in the world in La Paz and the southernmost hotel in Australia. So on my recent trip back to Birmingham, my top mate Lock In Lee and…
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The route to my 100th (FIFA recognised) country couldn’t have been more bizarre really. To spice things up, and in true fashion of the way this journey has gone, I decided to visit a few small countries/micronations on the way. My fascination for disputed regions, breakaway republics and self declared nations possibly comes from the fact…
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