World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Official Name: Republic of Belarus
Established: 25 March 1918 (Independence from Russia)
Population: 9,408,400 (2020 estimate)
Religion: 48.3% Orthodox Christian, 41.1% atheist, 7.1% is Catholic
Language(s): Belarusian, Russian
Capital: Minsk
Order of Visit: Twenty-Third
First Visit: 16 July 2006
Last Visit: 17 July 2006
Duration: 2 Days
Visit Highlights: Dour and gloomy Minsk
Places Visited: Minsk
Belarus Journal Entry
Official Name: Russian Federation
Established: Duchy of Moscow (1283), Monarchy abolished (1917), Russian Federation (1991)
Population: 146,748,590 (2020 estimate)
Religion: 70% Russian Orthodoxy, 15% No religion, 10% Islam
Language(s): Russian
Capital: Moscow
Order of Visit: Twenty-First
First Visit: 09 July 2006
Last Visit: 16 July 2006
Duration: 8 Days
Visit Highlights:
St Petersburg; Peter and Paul Fortress, Pushkin Palace (Summer Palace), Petredvoert (Tsar Peter the Great’s summer residence), ballet performance – Swan Lake, Yusupov’s Palace, St Isaac’s Square and Cathedral, the amazing Hermitage and it’s art collection.
Novgorod; Millennium Monument, Kremlin Fort and St Sophia Cathedral.
Moscow: Metro Rail system (really it is stunning), Red Square, Peter the Great Statue, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, St Basil’s Cathedral (very colourful), Borodino Panorama Exhibition, The Kremlin (in particular Kremlin Armoury Chamber), Russian White House
Places Visited: Novgorod, Moscow, St Petersburg
Russia Journal Entry
Official Name: Kingdom of Spain
Established: January 1479 (First constitution 19 March 1812)
Population: 47,431,256 (2020 estimate)
Religion: 61% Roman Catholic, 35% No religion
Language(s): Spanish
Capital: Madrid
Order of Visit: Twenty
First Visit: 28 June 2006
Last Visit: 26 October 2012
Duration: 12 Days
Visit Highlights:
Barcelona – Bustling Las Ramas, Placa de Catalunya (beautiful fountain), Borri Gothic sector, tapas bars, flamenco dancing (2006).
Madrid – The crazy Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, excellent Museo Nacional Del Prado, bullfighting, flamenco dancing (2012).
Burgos – the amazing Cathedral. San Sebastian – beautiful beaches and tapas bars.
Segovia – Alcazar (castle), Cathedral and ancient and magnificent Aqueduct.
Avila – the walled city.
Places Visited: Avila, Barcelona, Burgos, Madrid, San Sebastián, Segovia
Spain Journal Entries
So with the COVID19 pandemic now having a chance of being under control sometime in the next 12 months, and assuming a working vaccine, I’ve started considering future trip ideas.
I was thinking of going ‘off the beaten path’ somewhat, already iconically on a former major trading route – The Silk Road. This would also allow me to experience and see some of the impact the old Soviet era have in these areas.
The countries I’m looking at visiting are:
My home State Victoria (Australia) on 27 November just completed 28 days without any new COVID-19 cases or deaths and we now have no known active cases at all. It has been a very rocky long road to get to this stage and a very hard winter we lots of learnings and self reflection over the past 8 months.
Nathan's Insights 