Brazil is a country full of surprises. Did you know, according to US News & World Report, that we are among the best countries for solo travel? This is because we excel in hospitality, climate, and stunning scenery. See more below:
• Spain: Several independent kingdoms united in 1492 to form the Kingdom of Spain, a cultural mosaic that continues to shape the dynamic identity of the modern nation. Spain comprises much of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Portugal on the southwestern edge of Europe. It also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and two enclaves in North Africa.
• Italy: Italy is a country in southern-central Europe, whose boot-shaped borders extend into the Mediterranean Sea. The country’s historic cities, world-famous cuisine, and geographical beauty make it a popular destination for over 40 million tourists each year. The nation is home to Mount Etna, the highest and most active volcano in Europe, and hosts two countries within its borders – Vatican City and San Marino.
• Greece: Located in southeastern Europe, Greece as an independent nation is young, having existed since the 19th century. Its civilization, however, is one of the oldest and most influential in history, credited with creating the concept of democracy, as well as the ancient Olympic Games, and laying the foundations of Western thought in science, arts, and philosophy.
• New Zealand: British and Polynesian influences run through picturesque New Zealand, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia. The first Maori settlers ceded sovereignty to British invaders with the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, and European settlers flooded the country. Today, 70 percent of Kiwis, a common term for New Zealand inhabitants inspired by a native flightless bird, are of European descent. A sense of pride has resurfaced among the Maori, the country’s first settlers who now represent about 14 percent, as grievances over land are being addressed more openly.
• Australia: The Commonwealth of Australia occupies the Australian continent. The country also includes some islands, most notably Tasmania. Indigenous peoples occupied the land for at least 40,000 years before the first British settlements in the 18th century.
• Portugal: Projecting into the Atlantic Ocean on the edge of the Iberian Peninsula and flanked by Spain to the east, Portugal is a nation with an outward-looking perspective. Its history is steeped in discovery and exploration, beginning with early leaders who, after expelling Celtic and Moorish settlers in the 12th century, focused on building their kingdom beyond continental borders.
• Netherlands: Situated on the fringes of Western Europe, the Netherlands is a coastal plain dotted with windmills characteristic of its development around water. Three major European rivers – the Rhine, the Meuse, and the Scheldt – flow through neighboring Germany and Belgium to the bustling ports of the nation.
• Ireland: The Republic of Ireland is an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean, separated from Great Britain to the east by the Irish Sea. Nicknamed the Emerald Isle for its well-watered pastures, the country is known for its rich cultural traditions, lively pub scene, and its struggles for independence. The country comprises five-sixths of the island of Ireland – the remaining sixth is Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. After a bloody struggle for independence and civil war in the early 20th century, Ireland became a republic in 1949.
• Brazil: Occupying half of the landmass of South America, Brazil is the giant of the continent – both in size and population. Brazil’s history is filled with economic turbulence, alternating between booms and crises, and its culture is a melting pot that has traditionally welcomed the world. Brazil is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
• Switzerland: Switzerland, officially called the Swiss Confederation, is a small country in Central Europe made up of 16,000 square miles of glacier-carved Alps, lakes, and valleys. It is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and has been known for centuries for its neutrality.
Source: USnews.com