Who Can Match All The Capitals To Their Countries? True World Travelers Can

There are 195 countries in the world. Each country has a national capital. Each country can also have dozens of states, and each of those states has its own capital as well. Whether you’re a world-traveler, geographer or someone with too much time on your hands, it’s a lot of work to get everything right. Given that people are traveling more and more these days, it’d be good to know a thing or two about the places they’re spending time and money on.

We’re touching on major vacation places, countries of global importance places that travelers should visit but may never have heard of, and a couple of wild cards just to keep things interesting. Oh, yes, and of course, maybe some places people should just skip altogether. We’re just trying to help.

Admittedly, there are a lot of tropical and scenic locales on this quiz. I’ve never been one for cold weather, and I’ll never quite understand people who choose to vacation in these frozen tundras.

Outside of the vacation spots are important countries that people should know about anyway. Of course, we couldn’t use all 195 nations. Sorry about that, but it’s probably for the best.

Question 1

Brazil

When some people think of Brazil, they think of soccer. However, I live in reality, and I care about baseball and (real) football (and I in no way consider the XFL to be football, either real or even imaginary) and hockey. So, when I think of Brazil, I think of neo-noir masterpiece Max Payne 3. Fun fact: I purchased Max’s Hawaiian shirt. Love it. Quality fabric. Anyway, I also think of Rio de Janeiro when I think about Brazil, but for reasons, I will not go into here.

Question 2

Colombia

And when I think of Colombia, I think of Cartagena. Of course, I won’t go into my reasons for that either (ahem). Colombia boasts some of the most beautiful landscapes, beaches, and architecture the world over. The sturdy craftsmanship has allowed their buildings to age well and committed upkeep has allowed them to still be in use and withstand modernization. Their cuisine is world class, their coffee is the stuff of legend, and it’s said the Zika is lovely this time of year as well.

Question 3

Tanzania

sm-mon-3-23-intro-tanzania

Not to be confused with Tasmania, Tanzania is a sovereign African state. It is also one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the region with over a hundred languages being spoken. It’s quite a feat for a space so small. Of course, you’re probably more aware of Tanzania than you think. It ends up playing second fiddle to its neighboring icon: Mount Kilimanjaro. You have to imagine there are plenty of citizens just hoping there aren’t plans for a sequel to Pompeii (both the natural and cinematic disasters).

Question 4

Maldives

maldives-tours-trips

People come from all over the world for the picturesque and Edenic beaches. We see the pictures all over social media and on offer for incredible trips. Look, the Maldives is rife with a unique beauty that is well worth the difficulty in getting there (but seriously, it’s a bit difficult to get to). Tourists have turned the small, previously ignored island into a beloved destination, and have made it one of the richest and economically viable countries in the region.

Question 5

Norway

Norway

The history and the architecture are nice and all. You really need to take the time to hike up Trolltunga, look at icebergs, pay tribute to Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner —there’s an entirely new group of Viking-descended people to discover, speak to, and hear all about their interesting history. It is quite the beautiful, and extremely wealthy place to go and visit and it's no wonder why so many people have wanted to either visit or even move to this beautiful country.

Question 6

Australia

kangaroo-hopping

Ah, Australia. Where the desert takes up most of the country and is too hot to live in any way. Where the land is riddled with all matter of snakes, scorpions, spiders and all other things that can poison and eat you. Where kangaroos attack your dogs, the surrounding ocean is full of predators, it’s illegal to defend yourself, and they censor video games. Truly a new Eden. Well, at least the Opera House is nice. And The Leftovers had a really good season that took place in Australia. Now let’s play some Knifey-Spoony.

Question 7

Cyprus

To my eternal surprise and equally measured disappointment, this nation was not named for hip-hop group Cypress Hill. Okay, I’ll level with you. The only reason I chose Cyprus was so I could force a Cypress Hill joke. Should I be proud of myself? Probably not. But I am anyway. From what Wikipedia tells me, the area has seen more than its fair share of political upheavals over the last thousand years, including a few coup d'états (god, I love any opportunity to use that term). Things have evened out now.

Question 8

Saint Martin

Saint Martin, nestled comfortably in the Caribbean, is a 20-mile island with fewer than 40,000 people. Its diverse population allows for an exciting cuisine, though finding a job outside of something tourism-related is nigh impossible. Since the island is small and not agriculturally capable, almost everything is imported (read: expensive). And even paradise can be dangerous. It’s a magnet for hurricanes and was struck brutally by Irma in 2017. But look at the beaches and resorts! You get your money’s worth.

Question 9

Saint Thomas

Saint Martin is a straight shot of 120 miles to Saint Thomas, which may be even more beautiful than the previously island. The beaches are slightly larger; the amenities are more exclusive, and, most importantly, there seems to be the most amazing beaches. While the larger population may, at first glance, make you think the island is more crowded, there is still a great sense of space and a great variety in culture and food. I sincerely want to move there and live like Hemingway in Florida.

Question 10

Jamaica

That’s right, more angel-white sands and crystal blue waters. Since 1980’s fall of the People’s National Party, Jamaica has become a major vacation spot. Known for its tropical beauty, exciting cuisine, and endless exploration possibilities, there’s always something new to see and experience. And speaking of Jamaica, remember when Kofi Kingston first debuted in the WWE, and Vince McMahon had him put on a Jamaican accent, even though it was clear as day that he was from Boston? Yeah. Me neither.

Question 11

Monaco

To Catch a Thief

I love Monaco. I’ve never been there, but I love the movie To Catch a Thief, which takes place there. Cary Grant defined charming-cool for his time (and eventually passed the baton to the likes of Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman). Grace Kelly, meanwhile, has a timeless beauty that borders on perfection. Here’s a funny bit of trivia: Grace Kelly, who starred in To Catch a Thief in 1955, married Rainier Grimaldi in 1956. Grimaldi was the prince of Monaco.

Question 12

England

tower-bridge-homepage-image

Oi mate, you got a license for that butter knife? Oi mate, you got a license for that TV? Oi mate, you got a license for that meme? Oi mate, you got a license for that haircut? Oi mate, you got a license for that joke? Oi mate, you got a license for that self-defense? Oi mate, you got a license for that free thought? Oi mate, you got a license for that journalism? Oi mate, you got a permit for any of these licenses?

Question 13

French Polynesia

Do you go to fusion restaurants? Like Korean-Portuguese? It’s always great, right? Well, French Polynesia is an entire society based on that idea. The food, the culture, the architecture, it’s all mixed into one another. While the Polynesian culture and history is the more dominant one (and, indeed, one worth investing some time into exploring), it’s where the two cultures meet—my god, the food—that you see the dividends of experimentation and embracing the unknown.

Question 14

Japan

They gave us anime. Take that as you will. I’ve never been that big a fan of it myself. I watched Dragon Ball Z as a kid but never kept up with it as I got older. I still do love Cowboy Bebop and Gundam Wing. I tried to get into other Gundam series—Iron-Blooded Orphan, Seed, G Gundam, 00—but they just didn’t work for me. I do, however, like the original (except for the ending of the final movie) and 8th MS Team.

Question 15

China

A friend of mine taught English in China for a while. He first traveled over there not knowing Chinese (which struck me odd, but whatever) and ended up ordering a meal at a local restaurant. The process was difficult as neither the owner nor my friend knew the other’s language. The owner seemed hesitant about adding a spice, but my friend persisted. “I’m the Caribbean,” he said. My friend told me later that the spice was so hot that his tears hurt his eyes. He otherwise enjoyed the meal.

Question 16

France

Ahh, cheese. Ahh, fish. Ahh, art. Ahh, wine. Ahh, surrendering. But seriously, they have great food. We covered this vaguely in the French Polynesia entry, and I’ve mentioned in another mad rambling my interest in the wholly immoral but undoubtedly provocative ortolan bunting meal, which comes from France. I, of course, originally heard about it on the wonderful and sadly cancelled series Hannibal, and I will never forgive NBC for that cancellation. Or for firing Dan Harmon. Community season 4 was terrible. We all know it.

Question 17

Georgia

So nice they had to name it twice. This time, rather than the state in the US, we’re talking about the eastern nation. This minor former satellite of the Soviet Union has managed to be a central player in several international incidents, mostly due to its ongoing feuds with Russia. I suppose it’s hard for a parent to let go of their kids. Due to complicated political shenanigans, Georgia’s government is split into two controlling areas outside of the purview of the capital.

Question 18

Canada

Say what you will about Canada, but they’ve given us William Shatner, Kenny Omega, and Chris Jericho. Sure, it’s far too cold there for me to live—I’m rather reptilian like that—but Canada is still rather beautiful. I enjoy Tim Hortons. The Guardian is saying that the chain is going down, but it’s the Guardian, so that means it’s probably doing landmark business. I spent some time in Saskatchewan once, but for legal reasons, I won’t go into any further details.

Question 19

Ghana

ghana

Ghana is warm, so it has a leg up here. It also has a vast array of rivers; natural tributaries that feed into each other and stretch throughout large swaths of the country. Ghana’s exciting and beautiful and diverse geography, along with its temperate weather, Ghana is a magnet for tourism. Apparently, it’s so nice there that people decide to stay. Ghana has some of the largest diversity of spoken languages on the entire African continent.

Question 20

Egypt

I will not make a “denial ain’t just a river in Egypt joke.” I just barely have cobbled together enough dignity to keep from doing this. Egypt is definitely more of dry heat, whereas I’m used to humidity. Couldn’t tell you which one is preferable to the other, but I’m still open to traveling over there. Like any mark, I am interested in seeing the Pyramids in person, if nothing else. Hey, did anybody else read that article that said Cleopatra wasn’t at all that pretty? Poor Mark Antony (the Roman soldier not the singer).

Question 21

Italy

My grandparents (or great-grandparents—I’m never quite clear on that) came over from Italy. I myself have never made the pilgrimage to the Boot. No real interested in some kind of personal epiphany and I doubt I’ll feel some kind of ethereal connection with my ancestors. Cinque Terre sounds pretty nice, though. And I wouldn’t mind eating Italian food straight from the source. Remember when Tony and co. went to Italy on The Sopranos. I bet I’d be Paulie Walnuts. “Commendatori!”

Question 22

Chile

If asked to describe Chile in two words, I’d say “Under appreciated beauty.” Take a look at pictures of Torres del Paine, Grey Lake, Grey Glacier, or Lake Pehoé—have you ever seen water that blue? Amazing. And, I have to say, Chilean wine is pretty damn good. Of course, it should also be noted that Chile has had a tumultuous political history. While it still has some strange constitutional rules, it looks like things have calmed down; no more communists.

Question 23

German

The German language doesn’t sound too welcoming, but the Germans are welcoming to a fault. Plus, the food is based mostly on meat, so I feel well-sated. If they could just move the country, somehow, to somewhere closer to the equator, I’d probably visit again. Known for their incredibly well-made cars, their well-made planes, and their well-made, well, everything, Germany is quite the industrial place. The people are tall, usually, blonde, and incredibly kind. Their sense of humor is not known for being the best, but that's because it's always function over beauty for them!

Question 24

Netherlands

I have every plan on spending the rest of my life in this capital city. There’s very little regulation on the things that I like, but really it's more about personal freedom. Personal freedom is one of the most important freedoms, though we, as a culture have been undermining it for decades at this point. But in this area, there’s still a chance. A place to have fun. So, if I find out I’m dying, I’m booking a one way either here or to Cali, Colombia.

Question 25

Russia

This country is the largest country in the world. Mostly covered in ice and snow, it has it's own beautiful side and so much to offer in terms of history, and yes, even culture. The colourful buildings don't seem to be at the forefront of your mind when thinking of Russia, but they are, in fact, breath-taking. There's an overshadowing of sadness and loss, and a bit of bad press, but all in all this place is worth the visit, for the literary history alone.

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