Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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About | Countries | Tours | Trips | Bucket List – Done | Bucket List – To Do | Airport Lounges | Flight History

Travel Categories:
Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27

  • Destination: France

    Established: Treaty of Verdun – August 843, Republic – 22 September 1792
    Population: 67,076,000 (2020 Estimate)
    Religion: 57.5% Roman Catholic, 35% Non-religious, 3.5% other faiths, 3% Protestant
    Language: French
    Capital: Paris
    Order of Visit: Tenth
    First Visit: 24 April 2006
    Last Visit: 08 July 2006
    Next Planned Visit: 7 December 2026
    Duration: 18 Days
    Times Visited: 1 (2006, planned 2026)
    Highlights: Chateau De Versailles, Climbing the Eiffel Tower, Disneyland Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral, Moulin Rouge, The Louvre, Arc de Triumph, Auguste Rodin’s House, Sacre Coeur Monument, Night bike ride along the Seine River, Promenade des Anglais, Beaches at Cannes, The Palace of the Popes (Avignon) 
    Places Visited: Avignon, Cannes, Paris, Nice
    Planned to Visit: Strasbourg
    Frances Journal Entry
    First Published: 02 January 2010 | Updated: 31 July 2026

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  • Destination: Germany

    Official Name: The Federal Republic of Germany
    Established: 1871 (German Empire), West Germany and East Germany 1949, Reunification 1990
    Population: 83,166,711 (2019 estimate)
    Religion: 31.7% Protestants, 31.2% Roman Catholics
    Language: German
    Capital: Berlin
    Order of Visit: Thirteenth 
    First Visit: 11 May 2006
    Last Visit: 09 April 2024
    Next Planned Visit: 01 December 2026 to 06 December 2026
    Duration: 23 Days (includes 8 days for planned 2026 visit)
    Times Visited: 4 times (2006, 2013, 2024 and 2026)
    Visit Highlights: Heidelberg Castle, Attending a World Cup Football Match (Munich), Fruenkirche Church, Glockenspiel Clock, Beer Gardens, Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin Wall, Hitlers Bunker, Bebelplatz (infamous book burning site), Reichstag Dome, Berlin Bomb Bunker
    Places Visited:Berlin, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Munich,
    Planned to Visit: Duesseldorf, Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Mainz, Speyer
    German Journal Entries
    First Published: 01 January 2010 | Updated: 21 July 2026

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  • 2026 World Trip Updated

    New plan: Christmas Market – Cologne, Germany

    I unexpectedly had to make new plans for my upcoming world trip commencing in November 2026 (see Trip Plans). Trafalgar contacted my last month and advised that thir Best of Greece tour in December wasn’t going ahead. I was very dissappointed to say the least.

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  • Health and Wellness: Stage 3 Commences

    Seven months into twelve month health and wellness focus I can see success is in sight

    After completing both Stage 1 (01 November 2025 to 09 April 2026 i.e. 160 days) and Stage 2 (10 April 2026 to 13 June 2026 i.e 65 days) it is now time to create and commence the final Stage 3 of this one-year plan.

    The major goal of Stage 1 was getting to a Body Mass Index under 30 (for me that is 91.7 kgs) and Stage 2 was a BMI under 25 (76.4 kgs).

    I now need to create Health and Wellness Stage 3 goals to focus me between today and 10 November 2026.

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  • Health and Wellness: Stage 2 Complete

    After 224 days, commencing 1 November 2025, today 13 June 2026, I’ve completed Stage 2 of my Health and Wellness plan having achieved a body mass index reading of 24.9 (considered healthy) so I’m no longer medically consider overweight / fat.

    I’ve made a significant investment in myself during this time starting with a blood pressure (BP) reading of 156 over 102 (stage 2 hypertension) and a weight of 127.1 kgs.

    Today (13 June 2026) however my BP was 115/76 (normal range) and weight is 76.4 kgs (normal for males 175 cms height).

    This investment should hopefully pay off with more enjoyment of my post retirement years (see Transition to Retirement)

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