Has someone travelled to every country?

What is the world record for visiting every country?

Multiple claimants exist. No definitive record. Verification methods vary wildly. A frustrating mess, really.

• No single, universally agreed-upon record holder. The system’s flawed.
• Individual claims abound. Timeframes differ. Proof? Debatable.
• My cousin, Graham, visited 193 in 2023. Impressive, but not official. He kept a meticulous journal, though. Proof? His journals.

This whole endeavor highlights human fallibility. Glory is subjective. The pursuit itself, more meaningful perhaps, than the prize. Also, Graham needs a better stamp collection. He lost some in Portugal. Irrelevant. Perhaps.

How many people travelled the whole world?

465… that’s the number. 465 souls, they say, who’ve touched every corner of this earth, by the close of 2023. Feels so small, doesn’t it? A tiny flicker in the grand scheme of things.

Now, January 2024… 3 more wanderers added to the list. Funny how numbers can feel so…final, yet so incomplete.

My grandfather, he never left our village. He always said everything you needed was right there. I wonder…did he miss something? Is there something wrong with me?

• The allure of the unknown: Is it a thirst, a restlessness that drives some to cross borders, chase horizons? I feel something, that’s it.

• The weight of experience: What do they carry back? Are they lighter or heavier for seeing it all? What do they do after all this?

• The echo of footsteps: Do they leave something behind, or just take pieces with them? Can my existence make a difference to someone.

Maybe it’s not about seeing everything, but about seeing something truly, deeply. Maybe it’s about leaving an impact? I should try to. Is that even possible? I still think it’s too much.

Has anyone sailed all the way around the world?

Man, that’s crazy. I was glued to the news in 2016, following Coville’s attempt. Forty-nine days! Unbelievable. I remember thinking, wow, that’s insane. The sheer loneliness, the constant pressure.

The ocean, the endless blue. I can’t even imagine. I’ve sailed a bit, myself, on Lake Michigan, small stuff. But the open ocean? Nah. Totally different beast. That level of commitment, that kind of dedication… It’s inspiring, and terrifying. My heart pounded watching the updates. Those guys are warriors. Seriously.

Those speeds, too. Fifty days! Imagine hitting those speeds day in, day out, across an entire ocean, battling the elements.

• Francis Joyon: A legend. Twice, he did it. Amazing.
• Ellen MacArthur: She’s a total rockstar. So brave.
• Thomas Coville: His 2016 run was incredible, a record-breaker. His earlier attempts? Still impressive as hell.

The risk, the physical and mental toll… it’s staggering. Just thinking about the sheer stamina required blows my mind. The repairs, the constant vigilance… it’s not just skill, it’s superhuman endurance. These people are different. They’re exceptional.

Is there anyone who has been everywhere in the world?

Been everywhere? I doubt it.

It’s a funny thing, wanting to conquer the world.

Seems impossible, doesn’t it?

I mean, verification is a nightmare.

Places change so fast. Like my old street in Philly. Gone.

Did it even exist?

• Proof? It’s elusive. People say they’ve done it, but do they have pics of Bouvet Island at midnight?
• I saw a documentary once. This guy claimed to have been to North Korea. Looked staged. Fishy.
• The world keeps shifting. Borders change. Governments fall. How can anyone keep up? Remember Yugoslavia? It’s like chasing a ghost.
• My bucket list? Smaller. Just want to see the Redwood forests. Seems more achievable.

Maybe the point isn’t about ticking off boxes. Just seeing what you can.

Yeah. That’s probably it.