Countries you have visited

[BlaRo]

I love how nonspecific this map is. Sure, I've been to Cancun, it's clearly the same as trekking through Baja California or cliff jumping in Matacanes. Same with China vs. Tibet, Canada vs. Quebec, or the same problems all large and diverse countries share. Maybe if I take the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok, then I can say I've truly visited Russia. And I will, eventually.

I really should visit Mexico more. Too bad I don't speak Spanish.

[NooDle]

seems many people went to BELGIUMS before.
Which I find strange...

[Peter3hg]

Originally Posted by NooDle

seems many people went to BELGIUMS before.
Which I find strange...

They just love their waffles, muscles and Joan Claude van Dammes.
I have been to Belgium but accidentally (seriously).

[ioynerien]

Originally Posted by NooDle

seems many people went to BELGIUMS before.
Which I find strange...

Despite having one of the world's ugliest coastal lines and being a "drive-through"-country, Belgian has plenty to offer to visitors (including a lack of National pride amongst it's inhabitants )


Some info about the rich Belgian cultural heritage:

City
Antwerp, Brugges, Brussels, Ghent,... All historical important cities.

Painting
Brueghel, Jordaens, Van Dijck, Rubens, James Ensor, René Magritte, Paul Delvaux, are just some of the famous Belgian artists.

Literature
Belgium has a rich literary tradition. Maurice Maeterlinck was awarded the Nobel Prize early this century, and who has not heard of Georges Simenon's immortal brainchild, Inspector Maigret. Other famous names include Emile Verhaeren, Charles De Coster, Henri Michaux, Hendrik Conscience, Guido Gezelle, Hugo Claus, etc.

Comics
The names of Belgium's comic strip heroes speak for themselves: Tintin, Willy and Wanda (Suske & Wiske / Bob et Bobette), Spirou and Fantasio, Blake and Mortimer, Nero, Lucky Luke, the Smurfs, Thorgal, XIII and Largo Winch. These are the creations of artists Hergé, Willy Vandersteen, André Franquin, Edgar P. Jacobs, Marc Sleen, Morris, Peyo and Jean Van Hamme.

Sports
Belgians are world champions in motocross and judo. Tennis has become popular with the success of Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters (this will however fade away since both have quit)
Lance Armstrong, the famous American cyclist who has partially matched Eddy Merckx’s feats, living Belgian legend in cycling, also has a base in Belgium.

Cuisine
Belgium is the country with consistently the highest number of Michelin stars per capita. It offers more than 1000 beer varieties from 150 breweries.
It is also an award-winning paradise for chocolate, vegetables and seafood.


Some more information:

- Size: a geographic area about equal to that of Maryland
- Government type: a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
- Located at the heart of the world’s most highly industrialized regions.
- The 1st country to undergo an industrial revolution on the continent in the early 1800s.
- One of the founding members of the European Community.
- An economy specialized in the importation of raw materials and semi-finished goods that are further processed and re-exported.
- The 4th exporter of goods worldwide (percentage of GDP).
- By far the world’s largest diamond center.
- The 2nd largest petrochemical center in the world.
- The world’s leading exporter of synthetic carpets.
- The 1st manufacturer of cars per capita in the European Union.
- The world leader in the processing of cobalt, germanium and radium.
- Renowned worldwide for its restaurants, chocolates, beers, biscuits and endives.
- Highest density of roads in the world.
- Highest density of railroad network in the world (with a total of 2,534 miles).
- A great complex of navigable waterways that includes the Meuse, the Scheldt and the skein of canals (with a total length of close to 1,000 miles that link the main industrial areas with the ports and neighboring countries).
- Antwerp: Europe’s 2nd largest seaport and among top ten of the world’s seaports.
- Brussels National Airport: 20 million passengers per year.

PS: sorry for this