Top 10 Countries

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I was tooling around my Google Analytics site (shows how many visits/views my website receives, demographics, etc.) a while back and happened to notice (for the very first time) that there was a list of the top 10 countries that my readers were from.  I was intrigued!

So, I thought I would give a big shout out and thank you to all of my readers and your country in reverse order, beginning with number 10 and ending with number 1!

Ready!  Set!  Let’s Go!

Wait!!!  Hold it!!!  Mexico came in at 11 and I have visited her so many times, that I had to include her!  Is that OK?

My Top 10 Countries

11.  Mexico (I had to add you)

I’ve visited you several times – Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas will always stand out in my mind because of the friendly people and wonderful food.  We always try to find out where the locals eat because it’s usually the best places to dine.  I’ll never forget when we were having lunch one day and I ordered guacamole.  We were at a small, local place and the owner’s little boy ran across the street to purchase a fresh avocado from the market.  It was the best guacamole I have ever eaten.  Oh, and I can’t leave out our dining experience at Mi Casa in Cabo and watching the sweet little lady make homemade tortillas.  Now, I’m hungry for authentic Mexican food and it’s very early in the morning.   Muchas gracias to all of my friends in Mexico!

10.  France

Oh, France, how I long for you!  I love everything about you and in my dreams, I own a pied-à-terre in Paris!  You are known for your food,  very rich culture, wine, restaurants, Paris, literature, history, art and so much more. No, I’ve never met you, except in movies, pictures, recipes and House Hunters International.  But I feel as if we are old friends.  And some day I will plant my feet upon your soil!   Merci mille fois for reading my blog!

9.  Croatia

According to lonelyplanet.com, “Croatia’s rare blend of glamour and old-fashioned authenticity make this Europe’s ‘it’ destination, where beaches and sunshine vie for attention with cultural treasures, ancient architecture and time-tested folk traditions.”  I’ve never visited you, but you had me at Europe, beaches and sunshine.  And to all of my Croatian friends, hvala!

8.  Germany

I always think about Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) when Germany comes to mind.  I’m a pastry loving girl and anything with strudel on top is my kind of food.  I’m also pondering that maybe my top 10 countries list could turn into a bucket list.  Schönen Dank, Germany!

7.  New Zealand

Hello to all my kiwi friends and what a beautiful place to live!  Did you know that New Zealander and Nobel Prize Winner, Ernest Rutherford is known as the father of nuclear physics for his orbital theory of the atom?  I just had to add that fact because my maiden name is Rutherford.  Maybe I’m related? 🙂  Thank you very much, New Zealand!

6.  Phillipines

I’ve noticed that all of my top 10 countries are beautiful places!  Of course, the Phillipines is an island and you know how much I love islands!  And to my Filipino friends, salamat!

5.  India

I’m just so touched that all of you take the time to read my blog!  When I think about India, I always think about great spices, naan (bread), curries, and Aarti Sequeira, one of my favorite chefs on Food Network.  By the way, I want her wooden spice container.  I haven’t been able to find one like it, but I will.  I will.  dhan’yavāda, India!

4.  Australia

I would love to travel down under and visit Australia and New Zealand!  One of my favorite musicians hails from Australia – Kieth Urban.  Be still my heart.  And to all my Australian friends, Ta!

3.  United Kingdom

Hello,  England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales!  Oh, how I want to visit you all!  In case you don’t know, I’m part Scottish and Irish.  I even gave my youngest daughter, Caitlin, an Irish name.  You, United Kingdom, have always been on my bucket list of places to visit.  I will get there one day.  I will.  So, go raibh maith agat (Irish), Thenk ye (uncoly) (Scottish), diolch i chi (Welsh), and to my England friends, thanks!

2.  Canada

I’m singing O Canada in my head!  I just love your national anthem.  Here’s a fun fact:  Canadians consume more macaroni and cheese than any other nation.  No wonder I like you so much! 🙂  Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food.  And now I get to practice my very limited French vocabulary:  Merci and thank you!

1.  United States

I love to travel and I would love to visit every one of the top 10 (11) countries of my readers, but as Dorothy said at the end of The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.”  And I thank all of my US friends for following me!

If your country did not make the top 11 list, that simply means that you need to share my blog with more of your friends.  And I sincerely thank you for being a friend of my blog.

Now I’m going to ask all of you readers to comment, even if you have never commented before.  It’s simple:  I just want to know what country you are reading this from.  If you are not a blogger or don’t have a website, just leave that space blank in the comment section. So, give a great big shout out to your country!

(And if I completely screwed up “thank you” in your language, please forgive me!)