Thursday Thirteen #8

(This image provided by Samulli.)

I realized that I've dropped the ball on this lately, but I figured I'd get back into participating in the Thursday 13. Before I give this week's list, I should explain something. My dad has always loved traveling, especially to Europe. Before he met my mom, he used to spend his summers taking groups of students to Europe for weeks on end with People to People. So when my brother and I got old enough to appreciate it, the family started traveling. By the time I went to college, I had been to Europe 3 times...but I'd never been further west than Indiana. :)

So this week's list is 13 Countries that I've Visited.

1. England: This was the first European country my parents took us to, and it's the country I've visited the most often.

2. Ireland: When I was 15, I actually went on a missions trip to Ireland, so I stayed there for 7 weeks that summer.

3. Italy: I've been here 3 times. I really love Rome and Venice, but my favorite might be Assisi.

4. France: I've been to Paris twice; I'll admit it's not my favorite place. I'd be willing to try it again, though. :)

5. Germany: In 2000, I had the chance to go to Oberammergau to see their Passion Play. It's a pretty cool experience.

6. Austria: It's been awhile since I was last here, but I remember really liking Vienna.

7. Belgium: I'll admit I don't remember much about Belgium. I do remember getting some really good chocolate, and I remember driving near Flanders Field.

8. Liechtenstein: I literally spent about an hour in this country once. But seriously...the place is tiny. The entire country only has an area of 62 square miles.

9. Holland: I think I was only here once. Here's what I remember about Holland...windmills, a cheese factory, the Anne Frank attic, pictures of marijuana leaves on T-shirts.

10. Switzerland: It was in Switzerland where I first went to a snow-covered mountain in July. I threw snowballs at my dad. :)

11. Canada: I've been to Niagara Falls and Toronto with my family. I also went a couple times to Quebec to stay with a friend of mine in high school, and Shawn and I have gone just inside the border of British Columbia for rugby.

12. Mexico: My friend Leanne used to live in El Paso, Texas, and she and her husband worked as missionaries, building houses in Juarez, Mexico. I went to visit Leanne a few years ago, and she took me to the building site. It was eye opening to see the living conditions just south of the U.S. border.

13. Jamaica: We spent a week in Ocho Rios on our honeymoon! It was awesome, and we'd love to go back!