Monday, May 7, 2007

Geographica: Europe
What am I supposed to do about the United Kingdom? Do I count England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland as "countries"? None is itself a sovereign state, but then again there is no doubt I'll count Monaco, which isn't exactly entirely sovereign itself. Bugger it. Also, I am not counting Russia or Turkey. Both have toeholds in Europe, but the majority of their lands are in the vastness of Asia.

Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
Ireland
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Finland
Denmark
Germany
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Belgium
France
Monaco
Andorra
Spain
Portugal
Italy
Vatican City
San Marino
Switzerland
Liechtenstein
Austria
Slovakia
Czech Republic
Poland
Lithuania
Latvia
Estonia
Belarus
The Ukraine
Moldova
Romania
Bulgaria
Greece
Albania
Macedonia
Serbia
Montenegro
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Slovenia
Hungary
Malta
Cyprus

Cyprus is another tricky one. The island is closer to the Asia Minor part of Turkey, clearly establish above as being part of Asia rather than Europe, then Greece. But, the majority population is Greek and Cyprus has been admitted into the European Union, to which Turkey is an candidate, but, let's be honest, Turkey will only ever accede to the EU over France's dead body.

Tomorrow: Asia.

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