One of the most interesting aspects of having a blog that is truly international is the fact that the readers are…well…truly international! It’s an amazing fact to know that TSTO blogs like this are read in more than 110 countries around the world. Yes, there are surely “pockets of extreme tapperage” going on in certain locations (New Jersey as Blog Central comes to mind), but there is far more to this particular update than meets the eye at first (or even second or third) glance.
There is a certain irony that we are being tasked to send travelers across the globe in our games while actual world travel is becoming a “bit more complicated” to put it nicely. But as always, we will leave the politics to other radicalized sources of propaganda (FaceBook), and celebrate the amazing diversity of players/readers we have here.
I will let far greater minds than mine make the point of how travelling the world helps you find compassion and understanding of those you may fear or otherwise not understand. The Dali Lama has an amazing piece on this very thing…
I do believe that most of our bias against other cultures comes primarily from fear and ignorance. And, there is nothing better than actually traveling to a different place to experience their lives and culture, to help you realize that no matter where you are in the world, we have far more in common than the minutia that separates us.
To me…one of the most amazing “FREEMIUM” prizes was the globe. Every tap is a reminder of some place the Simpsons have traveled to, or experienced an event in which they related to international travelers or visitors (and yes…Kang and Kodos are both visitors while attaining permanent residence status in our Springfields).
I sat for an entire hour spinning the globe…and gobbling up the facts it spit out. It may have repeated the cycle…because I also went into a deep trance in my mind (something that happens more and more with old age) as I played a mental game of “I’ve been there…” or “I want to go there!!” as the globe spit our random Simpsonian Facts.
As simple as the Simpsons seem to be…with a fairly limited cultural pallet from the head of the family (“do they have Duff in India??), Homer and the family really get around! I am not sure why the TSTO writer/programmers chose to go to France, Japan, Brazil, Denmark, and Italy…but Homer and company have clearly been to what seems like hundreds of other locations around the world (or…like I said…I dozed off and kept repeating cycles).
There are countless places I want to go…but was equally surprised to realize how many places I HAVE been to. My list includes…
- 42 of the 50 United State (just missing a couple of random Eastern Seaboard states and two in the deep South)
- England
- Scotland
- Ireland
- The Netherlands
- Germany (West and East)
- France
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Czechoslovakia (before it was split up)
- Italy
- Spain
- Poland
- Canada (several flavors thereof)
- Mexico
And at the top of my Bucket List of WANNA GO THERE…
- Africa (Uganda where we do our work for Buyijja)
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Chile
- Argentina
- Antarctica (before it melts)
- Greenland (before it melts)
- Brazil
- China
- Japan
And then I start the “Well…if I am going to go all of the way to Japan, I might as well go to Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam…” And then started feeling guilty for the countries that didn’t make my “A List.”
But you get it.
I have never felt more strongly about the feeling that the world needs far fewer borders…and far more cross-cultural exchange of ideas than at this point in history. I have never felt more strongly that lifting up the lowliest of nations in the world only strengthens our overall chances for happiness and survival. But, then again…I’m old…and tired…and very afraid of returning to a time when nothing felt stable, or safe, because we allowed our fears and ignorance to overtake our compassion and common sense.
Whoa. Wait a minute. It’s just a game. Right? And with the tap of our padular divices, we can go anywhere we want. Right?
But even more important, is getting out in the world…to be part of the greater community of humanity. Tell us where YOU have traveled in your lifetime…and where YOU Would like to visit!
You know we LOVE to hear from you! Especially those from far-off lands (which is kind of a relative statement…as anywhere but “Here” is far off!).
How fitting! Been in SoCal messin’ around with the fam on a fantastic road trip so far 😁 Went to Universal Studios yesterday and not a single wait for ANY ride!!! WHAAAAAAA?!?! Little bit a rain scared everyone off and we had the park almost all to ourselves. Found this gem on the Star Walk today and thought some of y’all would appreciate it.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2c01z37f7j4kzgk/Photo%20Feb%2018%2C%2010%2035%2004%20AM.jpg?dl=0
Nice… my back yard is pretty nice, eh?
Absolutely a great place to visit. Just like the Bay Area, you guys can keep your freeways. I’ll take the Foothills for now until I can get some oceanfront. Just got into Mission Viejo to stay with some friends for the last leg of the trip. Maybe hit a few beaches tomorrow. Really wished I hadn’t of brought that storm down with us 😂 damn sinkhole in Studio City was right next to our hotel.
Who’d have ever thought that SoCal would be getting WAY more rain than Oregon? We had sun today… and I even had sun on Friday in Seattle. Weird weather for sure. As far as the traffic?? I am a small city bumpkin. HATE the traffic in most of the Cali cities…and Seattle…and Portland. Our “rush hour” in Eugene is about 20 minutes long.
I’m from Brazil and have been to USA (3 times. New York, Miami an San Francisco) Argentina, Chile, Italy, Switzerland and France.
Want to go to Japan, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
From Yorkshire, England 🇬🇧 Holidays to France x3, Germany x2, Greece, The Gambia, Egypt x4, Kenya x2, Tanzania, Morocco, Tunisia, India, Sri Lanka, Cuba, USA (New York x2, Nashville x2, Las Vegas, San Francisco), Canada (Niagra Falls, Kingston, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver), Turkey x2, Spain x5, Majorca, Menorca, Corsica, Scilly, Tenerife, Belgium. Closer to home: Scotland many times, Wales, Northern Ireland (Derry & Belfast), Ireland (Dublin), Guernsey. We went to Derry one year for Halloween 👻🎃.
This year Crete & Spain, and perhaps Derry again.
Really want to go to Jordan (Petra).
Nashville again in 4 years time for the CMA Fest 50th Anniversary 😊
Just love travel…
Hi im from Macedonia and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the globe gave information about my country as well and I even sent Bart today to my home town 🙂 I traveled through most of Europe and from the far destinations to Thailand,Cambodia and Vietnam, and I plan on visiting Japan and the US(if allowed :-).This was a great post Patric and when I saw the globe I knew your post wasn’t far behind.
Travel is fun and very enlightening. I have been to all the states except Maine and Alaska. Lived in the Midwest and West Coast.
Travel outside the United States includes Israel, Egypt, England, Denmark, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Columbia, Caribbean and Canada.
Hope to get to in the future other parts of Europe, South America and Asia.
Thanks for the post, nice to know more about those who read the blog.
If I could travel I wish the Supersonic planes would come back. Especially for us travelers that can not sit on a plane for longer than 5 hours. Just think if we built this plane and we could get from West Coast of California and go to Asia in a few hours of course without busting the average travelers budget which is another thing. Why does it cost so much if said plane was back in the Airports there are some of us that truly would love to travel far places but a few things block that from happening.
Thanks guys that liked my comment. I’ve got a question the future towers that used to turn on that looked awesome are not working al the time does anyone know if there is a way to turn the lights on the buildings as I’ve tried everything I can think of but they are not turning on. Plus my plane has dispeared it’s no longer at my Airport. And the new news building in a friends town showed the billboard lit up but mine is blank.
Never had an opportunity to take the Supersonic and did what they did before planes took a ship across the Atlantic to Europe. Was amazing & would do in again to get to another part of the world. Good luck with travels
What a lovely post!
We moved a lot when I was young and we had lived in 5 states and I had gone to 4 different schools by the end of second grade (not military, just blue collar oil field). Things did settle down and I’ve been fortunate to visit 33 states. My goal is to visit all and we’re planning Alaska next year (and Canada while we are at it). I have spent the least time in the Northeast/East coast.
Internationally, I’ve been to Mexico, the Bahamas, Scotland, Italy, and London Heathrow airport (but that doesn’t really count). I’d love to visit more, but time and cost are limited. Someday….
I’m enjoying this event as imaginary travel time and I’m expanding my EPCOT/EFCOT countries. Any building ideas for Mexico besides Johnny’s? I’m guessing Brazil might bring something I could use. Kinda wish I had gotten the Sombrero building during the Wild West event now.
Been to all US states except ID, IN, KY, NY, PA, NJ, DE, and NH, the western states are my favorites (and home) thanks to the high mountain hiking!
Outside the US my job has taken me to several interesting places in the Pacific Ocean region: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Australia, Japan (from Sapporo to Iwakuni, love it all!), Guam, Taiwan as well as Mexico and Canada.
On the more oddball side, I’ve spent a month on a Chinese research ship in the equatorial Pacific Ocean as well as a research icebreaker in the Bering Sea where I got to spend time in Dutch Harbor and the remote St. Paul Island.
Always wanted to get to Europe and it’s looking like I’ll get that chance in a few months (Portugal). Also hoping to get another continent with a chance for a trip to Argentina in a couple years along with a chance for a trip to Tasmania. Gotta say, my job isn’t too bad 🙂
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit a lot of countries and even to work abroad for over 13 years. It’s wonderful to see the sights and experience different cultures and there are an awful lot of places I’d still like to visit, Iceland, New Zealand and Canada would top my list. But what I love most is to drink in the variety that exists in and around the UK. There is so much beauty practically on my doorstep that I yearn to spend some time in and that takes precedence, for me, before I venture further afield.
Hi, nice post Patric,
I am from the UK but spent time living in the USA and Canada as a child, also got married in the USA (Key west). I have visited (in no particular order) Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Mexico (very briefly). Belgium, Holland, Ireland.
Bucket list – Iceland, New Zealand, Japan (would love to go there for the next Olympics!).
I agree with very much with Patric’s sentiment. Travelling can really make the world a beautiful place rather than a scary place. Travelling helps us to understand that difference is a good thing rather than a dangerous thing, and cultural diversity strengthens and enriches us all.
I was born in New York (in Sleepy Hollow!), so of course I’ve visited Canada a few times.
When I was young my parents went to work at a school in India, and I’ve had itchy feet ever since. We travelled west on the way and visited Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. While in India we visited the neighborinos Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. On the way home we borrowed a VW van and drove around France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, East Germany (when it existed), Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and of course little Lichtenstein. Then we continued west back to New York, so I’ve circled the globe, gaining myself one day (or did I lose one? I can never work that out!)
As a young adult I went back to work at the same school in India and met my wife, from Northern Ireland. We now live in England, and together we’ve visited Northern Ireland (of course), Scotland and Wales (part of the UK but considered different “countries” around here), Finland and Sweden. My three children all have both US and UK passports.
I’ve never been in the southern hemisphere, never been to Africa, and I’d love to go to China one day. I’d also like to revisit Japan as an adult.
Great travel post Patric, makes me want to travel all over the world, lack of real funds the problem, this year I have booked a cottage in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, would love to visit the states one day
Hello from Australia, My husband and I are avid travellers and as career teachers, we believe that seeing the world with its natural beauty and fascinating cultures is the best education you can have in life. I have been to:
America – 3 trips
– USA (25 states)
– Canada
5 Caribbean Islands and Puerto Rico
Europe – 4 trips
– UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, San Marino, Vatican, Monaco, Andorra, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Greece
Asia – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, China
Oceania- New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa,
The Cook Islands are my happy place. The people are very laid back and welcoming and the islands and water are largely unspoilt. My favourite one day of travel would be in Switzerland in the mountains near Interlaken.
Mustn’t forget my own country which we continue to explore and enjoy whenever possible. Hope you all get to come and visit some day.
Spain, Holland, Germany, Belgium, gran canaria, Turkey, england, Ireland, Scotland, the Shetlands, not many really, would like to go to new Zealand, USA, Antarctica, Iceland, Japan and China, missed out on the great wall, not enough donuts :(, happy weekend everyone and my neighbiurs
Do you still have the map where you hav pinned a lot of use (among me)? Maybe it is time for a 2.0 version.
Thanks for the heartwarming post Patric. Native from CA and have lived in 3 other states, FL, AL, & HI & glad to be back living in CA. Have driven across the US twice & up & down both coasts. Have been to the Caribbean & Caracus. I will make it to Europe someday! Acceptance & love is what it’s all about!
I started this event late.
Anyway I can still get the Globe?
I´m from Estonia and I have been to Austria, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom
Probably forgot something.
Not a big world traveller here, but my home province of Ontario has so many diverse day trip destinations that I enjoy exploring with my family.
I have been to NY and Florida in the US and the Bahamas a little further abroad. Would like to go to Europe some day.
Swap you Ontario for Edinburgh Scotland haha
A friend of mine just became the first clown to preform on all 7 continents with Antarctica being the last. (people who are very close to age 60, like me, tend to post or say whatever pops in their heads)
I haven’t been able to get out of the country other than Quebec, Tijuana (only a few hours), and a few Island stops on a cruise. I dream of going everywhere! A few from the top of my list:
Morocco
Prague
Germany
Uruguay
Bali
Vancouver
As far as the US I’ve been to a few places, almost every state on the East Coast (just missing S Carolina), Austin, Chicago, Phoenix, Vegas, LA, San Diego, San Fran, Long Beach, Seattle and Portland- my heart is still there, I just loved everything about that city. Some day I’d love to move there.
Checking in from Pattaya Thailand. Travel frequently for business. So far, have connected to this webpage from Thailand, America, Japan, South Korea, China, and Canada. Will soon be traveling to Europe and the Middle East. My TSTO browser history is a pretty good international trail.
I’m from New Zealand (yay) and have been to Australia, Greece, Italy and United Arab Emirates 🙂 would love to go back to Greece again. Up on the list for destinations would be Scotland, Switzerland, Iceland and parts of the USA (if we are welcome to by the Donald haha)
In Canada, aside from being born and raised in Ontario, I’ve been to Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Islands. 4 provinces and 3 territories to go.
For my neighbours to the South, I’ve now been to 20 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana (just last weekend), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Aside from these two, I’ve had the pleasure of traveling to another 41 countries. In North America I’ve been to Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Sait Lucia, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago. In Europe, to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and The Vatican. In Africa, to Egypt and Senegal. In Asia, to India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Thailand, and United Arab Emirates. In Oceania, to Australia. Have not had the pleasure to visit the continents of South America or Antarctica.
Top on my travel list is Peru. Want to see Macchu Picchu very badly. Would love to make my way from Peru to Brazil and Argentina, and then hop on a ship to Antarctica. Within North America, I’d love to go to Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada and Las Vegas, Nevada in the US.
One of my favourite apps is “Been”. It tracks all the countries and US states you’ve been to. One of my favourite websites before I travel is “Travel Buddies”, as you can find people to meet up or travel with.
If any fellow addicts want to travel together, let me know. Seeing as how I just went to Scandinavia over Christmas break, I probably can’t afford to go anywhere until August, but always good to have some plans.
As for me, I’ve only been to 11 of the 50 states (I know, pretty sad right?!), Austria (multiple times to visit close relatives), Germany, Italy, and Romania (also for family, a few times).
My top picks for where to go next are Australia, England, France, India, Peru, Spain, UAE, and the rest of the United States.
Actually…you’d be surprised at how few have been to more than 10 states.
Very true, this was my husband until we married and I’ve dragged him all the way to the Atlantic Ocean and even over the Pacific. Many people we grew up around never traveled even to neighboring states.
Yes the globe is fun! Enjoyed it with the flight tasks for Norbert & tracking now at 98 percent correct for the tasks.
Paris,Germany,Netherlands,all over Mexico(around 16 times),numerous United States,Cuba(before US allowed),Costa Rica ( before it got tourist wrecked),surfing illegally in Panama,Mallorca(beautiful and inexpensive for Europe), all over native Canada and now off to Malta in April!!! Any tips?
I’m french and I traveled to Germany (Berlin… I hugging LOVED this city, Munich and countless othr places incuding the Neuschwanstein castle, Bayern, The Black Forest…), Italy (Pisa, Venice and Sicile), Greece (roadtrip by bus all around the country with the school), Belgium (Bruges, Brussel), Luxembourg, the Nederlands (roadtrip up to Amsterdam, awesome city, awesome country, awesome people), Canada (Montreal, Quebec, Queenston and surroundings) and the United States (Niagara Falls, New York City, Philadelphie, Washington DC and surroundings).
Loved both of these countries, their… hugeness blew my mind. Oh boy are these countries huge.
Now for the places I still want to go to if I find the courage (and money) to do it on my own:
I’ve always wanted to visit the United Kingdom but for some reason never got the chance to do it, and going to Italy without visiting its capital or Florence always seemed like a missed opportunity. And to complete the “tour de France” I still need to visit Switzerland (without just passing by) and Spain… okay Portugal, don’t be sad, I’m counting you too.
Very cool! Sounds like you get it!
^^
Why can’t we all just hug, huh? ❤ Race, sexuality, gender, preference, religion etc – nobody should be treated differently because of it 👋.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/93/50/fc/9350fcec28fca145162194cc90a199d8.jpg
So true…
I want to see Cuba now that I’m “allowed” to go (I’m from the US)
Whoa….I forgot that one! I want to go there too!