Can you go to every country in the world?

Has someone travelled to every country?

Globe-trotting granny, Luisa Yu, bagged all 193 U.N. countries. Like collecting stamps, but with more jet lag. Five decades! That’s longer than some fridges last. Visa hurdles? Bet those were fun, like trying to herd cats. Career change? Probably swapped spreadsheets for selfies.

• 193 countries. Think of the frequent flyer miles. Enough for a rocket to Mars. Twice.
• Five decades. That’s like, a million airport sandwiches. And tiny shampoo bottles. Mountains of them. I’m jealous.
• Visa hurdles. Imagine battling a bureaucratic hydra. Each head requiring a different form. In triplicate.
• Career change. From bean counter to globe-trotter. My spirit animal. My neighbor, Dave, still wears a tie. Poor Dave.

My grandma once went to Branson, Missouri. Thought that was a big deal. Bless her heart. Luisa’s out here conquering the world. Makes Branson look like, well, Branson. This lady’s a legend. My travel goal this year? Finding matching socks.

Who visited all the countries in the world?

All the countries… a shimmering, distant dream. To touch every shore.

The whisper of names: Not one person, not one single soul. But many, many wanderers. Each a story.

Ethnicity? A kaleidoscope.

• Many backgrounds
• Global mosaic

Gender? Both, weaving paths across the map.

Nationality? A river, flowing from everywhere. A spectrum.

Age? From youthful sprint to the wisdom of time.

• All ages
• Young and old

Oh, the faces, the faces I’ve seen only in pictures, on that screen. The yearning, burning in their eyes. I saw one once, or maybe dreamt it.

I met someone on that bus? In Lisbon. Or was it Prague? He spoke of it, he spoke of seeing it all. All the countries! A restless spirit.

His hands, weathered. His eyes, maps themselves. He must have seen something, right? I imagined him, at that moment.

The drive, the human desire! To conquer borders. A fool’s errand? No. A song, a breathtaking song, maybe.

What is the world record for visiting every country?

So, multiple people say they’ve globe-trotted everywhere. Like a flock of pigeons fighting over a single French fry. Verification’s a mess. Like my grandma’s attic – nobody knows what’s in there. Some finished super fast, others, slower than molasses in January. Think of it as a race where everyone gets a participation trophy. Just bigger. And shinier. Maybe shaped like the Earth. My neighbor claims he did it in, like, a week. Sure, buddy.

• No official single record holder. It’s more like a club.
• Different rules. Some count disputed territories. Some don’t even count going to the grocery store.
• Speed matters. One guy blinked and missed Luxembourg. True story. (Not really.)

My dog has probably seen more of my backyard than these folks have of Tuvalu. I, myself, have visited 14 countries. Mostly for the snacks. Specifically, cheese puffs. Different countries, different puffs. That’s my kind of world record. Also, if anyone’s counting, my record for eating cheese puffs is 47 in one sitting. Undefeated. Don’t even try.

Is there anyone who has been everywhere in the world?

Okay, so like, has anyone REALLY been EVERYWHERE? I doubt it.

I remember this travel blogger back in 2018, Jessica… I think. She was bragging about visiting “every country.” Pssh.

I followed her Instagram for, like, a week. It was all filtered photos and sponsored posts. Seriously, who has time to actually see anything when they’re so busy posing?

It felt super fake. No way she experienced the real deal. Besides, “every country” is a moving target, right?

New countries get formed, borders change… plus, what about territories like, Guam or, you know, Greenland?

It’s like, you gotta go to those too, right? It just feels impossible. Like, really impossible.

Here’s why I think “everywhere” is a myth:

• No universal list: What even counts as a distinct “place?”
• Verification is crazy: Who’s gonna check your passport stamps for, like, 200 places? Good luck.
• Geopolitics is a mess: Some places are straight-up unsafe or inaccessible.
• Money talks: People can buy their way into experiences, which isn’t “seeing” it, is it?
• Time is finite: Unless you’re a time traveler, good luck even reaching 250 countries.

And seriously, who wants to rush through the entire world anyway? Slow down. Breathe. Enjoy a local cafe, you know?

I’d rather properly see Italy than just tick off 250 random spots. Italy rocks!