40 x 40 - The Countries (Painfully) Ranked

My incredible friend and travel partner, Meg Garlinghouse, and I had a contest to see if we could both hit 40 countries by age 40.  Goal achieved and I am still trying to add one a year.  My cousin in London is hitting hers this year - almost congrats Erin.  I am up by one for a total of 42 (so I can do one of my top 10 again this year!). The basic rule is that you have to touch foot on ground and airline layovers don't count.  Principalities and city-states do count.

Here is my running list of countries sorted (this will be re-ranked a million times) by favorites.  Please forgive me if your homeland is bottom of the list.  And some are far down cause I have not spent much time there.  For instance, I am sure I would love Canada, but I have only been to Niagra Falls - so forgive me, Canadians.  And my top 10 were tough to rank cause I love them ALL.  Debates welcome!

1. U.S. (Just for California alone)
2. Italy
3. South Africa
4. Vietnam
5. Spain
6. Mexico
7. Japan
8. Croatia
9. Argentina
10. France
11. Chile
12. Australia
13. Jamaica
14. United Kingdom
15. Cambodia
16. The Netherlands
17. New Zealand
18. Zanzibar
19. Greece
20. Brazil
21. Guatamala
22. Hong Kong
23. Switzerland
24. Belize
25. Thailand
26. Ireland
27. Portugal
28. Germany
29. Turks and Caicos
30. Switerland
31. The Philippines
32. Belguim
33. Czech Republic
34. Uruguay
35. Tanzania
36. The Vatican
37. Indonesia
38. Canada
39. Singapore
40. New Caladonia
41. Adorra
42. Korea

Only 205 to go:  http://www.listofcountriesoftheworld.com/

Comments

[Bostonita]

I noticed Peru isn't on this list - you should really go there next because i guarantee it would make its way to at LEAST the top 10. Delicious food, amazon jungle, inca mountains, beaches with the longest waves in the world, endless sand dunes... its a biggie.