Let’s be realistic.  I’m probably not going to visit every country.  I don’t even WANT to visit EVERY country (I mean, I’m cool if I never visit Chad or Uzbekistan).  BUT there are certainly ones that I’d really like to visit and if I ended up just making it to every continent, I’m doing pretty well!  So here are the countries I want to visit for my 101 Things to Do Before You Die, listed in priority:

1. New Zealand (obviously that’s getting ready to be checked off)
2. Sweden/Norway (I desperately want to stay in a Ice Hotel and maybe check off #32 See the Northern Lights)
3. Antartica (they offer cruises there and you can get off the boat and see penguins!)
4. Kenya (I want to do a safari and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro)
5. Greece (I was this close to going my Senior year of college.  I paid my deposit on September 7, 2001.  The next week changed international travel for awhile.  BUT a group still goes every other January and they are always looking for chaperones…)
6. Japan (My friend Heather lived there and taught English as a Second Language for 2 years and I never took advantage of having a place to crash and a person that could give me all the “must-see” places to visit)
7. Peru (Machu Picchu)
8. Brazil (Maybe during Carnivale? and to see Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janiero)
9. United Kingdom (Deep down, I’ve always been terribly fascinated with all things British/Irish/Scottish-sorry Wales-and I think I could easily spend a month here)
10. Germany (Ditto about all things German.  AND I’ll get to brush off my incredibly rusty German.  At least I already know how to swear-Scheisse!)
11. Russia (Kremlin)
12. Australia (Ayer’s Rock, Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef)
13. Spain (Running of the Bulls in Pamplona!)
14. China (Great Wall)
15. India (Taj Majal)
16. Egypt (Pyramids)
17. Cambodia (Angkor Wat)
18. Turkey (Hagia Sophia)

I can hear it now: you mean, no France?  Yeah, never really felt the need to visit France.  And Canadia isn’t on the list either, but I figure I’ll visit “North Montana” eventually.  And if I don’t, am I really missing anything?

So what other countries should I put on my list?  These are definitely my top 18 but I’m open to adding others.