Two dozen countries and a dozen friends

When we first left on this world journey and people asked us what we would miss most about traveling, I said T. would most miss the washing machine. I was wrong. Laundry has been a breeze everywhere. What we've most missed is the obvious—people we know.

We started in England and if you count that, which I do, we’re now in our twenty-fourth country. In many of those countries we’ve met lovely people and made new friends, but didn’t know a soul when we got there. This was true for a long stretch of Europe and then almost all of our travels in Africa and Asia. 

This is not normal, and it makes me appreciate the folks we do know even more. Especially now that we’re in Australia and have spent most of our visit so far in the homes of family and friends. Here's a shout out to those we've visited, starting in country...

#1. England

Before we left, we stopped in Derbyshire to catch Uncle Eddie and some of T's cousins. Tony momentarily stopped dancing for this picture.

2. Wales

We stayed with T's sister and brother-in-law in the principality of Wales. They were kind enough to fly out to Mauritius and meet us later (see #15).

3. Ireland

It is impossible to overstate the welcome of T's cousin Bernie in Donegal!

4. France

5. Spain

Our friends Kim and Ibon (and their daughter Kailani) made us very welcome at their bar in the Basque Country. They were too busy working to have their picture taken, though--so we caught up with them again here in Sydney!

6. Italy

T's cousins Fiona and Gianmarco have already made this blog for cooking one of my top 10 food experiences. Here they all are with Sebastian in Genoa.

7. Slovenia

8. Austria

9. Hungary

10. Czech Republic

11. Germany... I told you we went months without knowing anybody!

12. Holland

13. Tanzania

14. South Africa

15. Mauritius

Caz and Paul made my top 10 experiences too. Swimming with dolphins when they visited us from Britain.

16. Thailand

17. Laos

18. Myanmar

19. Vietnam

20. Hong Kong

Thank God for Watty, whom we've now hung out with on three continents. We didn't have a single friend in southeast Asia, but a hop to the northeast brought us the best local host, the best sights--oh, and the best Chinese food.

21. Cambodia

22. Malaysia

23. Singapore

24. Australia

Finally, the comforts of home! We've been here before and know people everywhere. We stayed with T's sister Gez and Dave, Jake, and Georgia near Melbourne.

Just before becoming dual citizens!

I first met Johanna, an Adelaide native, when we worked together in London. This time, she (and Joe) showed us the best of Melbourne.

T's brother Steve, Sue, Bryony (and Alex, Myra, James and Cassie) made us at home near Hobart.

Catching up with Flick, last seen at our place in London!

It's only fair that I have a few relatives here too. We were glad to visit cousins Jim and Liza in Sydney again.

Jim and Liza made us welcome on our first visit four years ago.

And what can I say about Kim and Garry? We met them the last time we were here, through T's friend Jo, but didn't know them well when they came over to Ireland and Britain the next year. After a week in our house, we were best mates. Good thing because we are wearing out their welcome this time!

Garry and Kim in a slightly colder northern February

No visit to Queensland, of course, would be complete without catching up with Jo and her son, the surfer Joel Parkinson. What a lovely family. Seeing the former world champion on a poster in Singapore just made us look forward to our visit more.

Joel in the Billabong store

We'll have to get an updated picture on our return to the Gold Coast.