v/d Z visits Syria, country 73

Forgot the attachment; see previous post! -s

v/d Z visits Syria, country 73

v/d Z in Syria (country 73) moments before trying a freshly roasted cashew in Damascus in January!

Honorary Past President Presents Honorary Future President!

Fellow country clubbers,
It is a slow saturday morning in London, and so I started reviewing my traveling spreadsheets. And whups...I found that I had not posted an update on my trip to Uganda a year ago. So I think this might take me up to 93 countries -- slow and excrutiating progress towards the elusive century, but progress nonetheless.
Let me also take this opportunity to thank our secretary, who manages to keep our country club on life support. Let us all renew efforts to breathe life into our club, and our blog.
Finally, I post a photo of my newborn son (Kaue) and his father on the day of his birth, overwhelmed with both terror and joy, in equal measure. He is 2 months old now, and has bagged his 2nd country already, and is acquiring his 3rd passport. During his travels, he is meeting the beverage requirement via his mother, and gets particularly giddy during a breastfeed while Flavia is sipping a glass of oaky Argentinian Malbec. If Kaue keeps up at this rate, he will pass the century mark when he is 8 years old. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Happy and safe traveling in 2008 and beyond.
DANA

One Uninterrupted Year in Tanzania

I might have established a club record of some sort. I have been in one country without ever leaving, for 12 months. This is something that I last did in 1985.

However, we did manage a PSI-alumni mini reunion in December. Chris Brady, Tim Manchester and myself managed to throw down a few beers at the Tanga Yacht Club. 

v/d Z Middle East Hat Trick: Now at 74 countries!

v/d Z reports via SMS visits to Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Ties Bob K for the lead in the region. Already the most prolific traveler in the club, he has now visited 25 countries since joining the club.