Dear Virgo,
Here are the listings – so far – of the countries I’m visiting on the current trip. It’s far from complete and I’ll add to it as we go, but I figure you’d appreciate a snapshot of the moment.
Keep in mind a few things. First, my judgments are in some circumstances based on a very limited time spent in these places. Second, these are sweeping generalisations in any case, and reflect not only my narrow experience but also my ideas, taste, personality, and conception of the world – none of which are perfect. I don’t refute anyone else’s experience and would hold another list with inverse findings to be equally valid, if either list has any validity at all. Third, some of these country labels circumscribe vast areas, huge populations, and remarkable diversity; just because I tried on the shoes in one part, doesn’t mean they fit the whole. I’ve tried to rectify this by dividing Paris from the rest of France, and by separating the Basque Country from France and Spain. Perhaps more division will become necessary with retrospect and experience, but the buck has to stop somewhere; otherwise, I’ll end up slamming my holy gavel on every person I meet.
Corruption
1. Senegal
2. Guinea-Bissau
3. Mauritania
4. Morocco
5. The Gambia
6. Spain
7. The Basque Country
8. France (excluding Paris)
9. France (Paris only)
Bureaucratic Bullshit
1. France (Paris only)
2. France (excluding Paris)
3. Spain
4. The Basque Country
5. Morocco
6. Mauritania
7. Senegal
8. Guinea-Bissau
9. The Gambia
Hustling
1. Senegal
2. The Gambia
3. Morocco
4. Mauritania
5. Guinea-Bissau
Not applicable: Spain & France
Friendly & Welcoming
1. The Gambia
2. Guinea-Bissau
3. The Basque Country
4. Morocco
5. Mauritania
6. Senegal
7. France (excluding Paris)
8. Spain
9. France (Paris only)
Naturally Captivating
1. Morocco
2. Guinea-Bissau
3. Senegal
4. The Basque Country
5. Spain
6. France (excluding Paris)
7. The Gambia
8. Mauritania
9. France (Paris only)
Fascinating Cities
1. France (Paris only)
2. Morocco
3. Spain
4. France (excluding Paris)
5. The Basque Country
6. Senegal
7. The Gambia
8. Guinea-Bissau
9. Mauritania
Road Quality
1. France (excluding Paris)
2. France (Paris only)
3. The Basque Country
4. Spain
5. Morocco
6. Mauritania
7. Senegal
8. The Gambia
9. Guinea-Bissau
Expensive
1. France (Paris only)
2. France (excluding Paris)
3. The Basque Country
4. Spain
5. Morocco
6. Senegal
7. Mauritania
8. Guinea-Bissau
9. The Gambia
Style of Food
1. The Basque Country
2. Morocco
3. France (Paris only)
4. Spain
5. France (excluding Paris)
6. Senegal
7. The Gambia
8. Guinea-Bissau
9. Mauritania
Quality of Food
1. France (excluding Paris)
2. France (Paris only)
3. The Basque Country
4. Spain
5. Morocco
6. Senegal
7. The Gambia
8. Guinea-Bissau
9. Mauritania
Demanding of Cadeaux
1. Senegal
2. Mauritania
3. The Gambia
4. Guinea-Bissau
5. Morocco
Not applicable: France & Spain
Number of Police/Military/Customs Checkpoints
1. Mauritania
2. Guinea-Bissau
3. The Gambia
4. Senegal
5. Morocco
Not applicable: France & Spain
I'll update these lists as we add more places to our belts. So, if you think up some other categories, let me know and I'll try to fit them in.
Until then,
QM
