I finally hit 50 countries and it kind of snuck up on me

I was sitting in a cafe in Medellin updating my spreadsheet (yeah I'm that person) and realized I just crossed 50 countries. It caught me off guard because I stopped counting after 30 a few years ago. I remember when I first started this life back in 2016 I told myself I'd be happy with 10 countries total. Now I'm booking a bus ticket to my 51st and I can't help thinking about how different my travel style is now. Back then I was all about checking boxes and rushing through places to see the main sights. These days I spend 3-4 months in a spot like Mexico City or Lisbon just to feel what daily life is really like there. The number feels weirdly hollow compared to the memories of random friendships and stupid mistakes along the way. Has anyone else had a milestone that felt bigger before you hit it?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim.sandra5d ago

It caught me off guard because I stopped counting after 30" - that line really got me. I lost count around 25 and actually had to go back through old photos to piece together a rough number for my own map. Still not 100% sure I got it right, but the funny thing is I care way less now about the total than I do about that one time I missed a bus in rural Bolivia and ended up sharing lunch with a family that didn't speak a word of English.

riverp375d ago

Yeah @kim.sandra I feel that. The exact number stops mattering after a while. It's those random moments that stick with you way more than any tally. Like I can't even remember what country number 18 was, but I'll never forget that night in a tiny Moroccan village where I got lost and some old guy just grabbed my hand and walked me to a guesthouse without saying a word. Completely agree with you on that Bolivia story too being the real treasure. Those are the things that actually change how you see the world.