Your favorite Country (of which you are a non-native or resident)?

Watching the World Cup of so very early in the morning got me ruminating on the various countries playing and how different they are (Cameroon vs. Germany for example).

I have visited many different countries (and liked most of them) and have to say my favorite is: (drumroll please. . . . .)
Canada!

Great people, beautiful country, wonderful environment, home of Tim Hortons, Strange Brew and birthplace of Hockey. And home to one of my favorite-ist places on the planet-- Montreal. While not a very controversial choice- I like what I like.

So there you have it. You guys and gals are pretty cool, on average. So rave a bit about your favorite little garden spot of a country which you are not a native of, or a resident of.

Australia!!!

I’ve never been there, but I want to. People with cool accents, the crocodile hunter, the outback, as far as I can tell one of the highest concentrations of hot women with cool accents in the world, good beaches…yeah, I think Australia would be fantastic.

The only thing that would give me pause is that the whole place is a deathtrap. I think every single animal there has the potential to kill you. Brown snakes, taipans, fierce snakes, funnelweb spiders, white tail spiders, box jellylfish, blue-ringed octopi, even freaking platypi!

In fact, Australia scares me now. I changing my answer. I like Spain. Only been to Barcelona, but I absolutely loved it! Nice beaches, hot women…

Why the Emerald Isle of course. I’ve wanted to go back there since the moment I stepped onto the plane in Dublin to leave. Great people, beautiful Lush countryside(all the rain is good for something you know), and incredible history to boot. Not to mention a three-nil result today!

Aww, so close!

:: shakes fist ::

Damn you, Spain, stealing our hot-beaches-hot-women angle!

Australia. Spent a year there, plan to emigrate.

And you might want to ask a mod to edit the spoiler from your post, 5-HT!

Don’t forget paralysis Ticks!!

This is tough because to choose one does not mean you’re not completely taken with the others.

I adore all of Great Brittain, Australia and Canada but regarding the OP will go with Greece. Wonderful climate, the epitome of a tourist’s heaven, friendly people and a tasty, healthy diet. How can you tire of sailing through the sunny Medditerranean to classical sites and drinking Heiniken?

Admittedly though, I’ve not yet seen New Zealand.

I would have to say Italy is my favourite country and I had the best time when I was there, hope to make it back there sometime soon!

My sincerest apologies, i forgot not everyone is watching this live.

mods

please relegate that portion of my post to spoiler space!

You took mine! I was going to say Canada, too.

S’okay, 5-HT, I was getting the result live, but I know some posters (like Airman Doors) watch them later and have been caught out recently).

Who cares if they just got booted from the World Cup?

France!

As you may see, I live in Switzerland, and although it’s the German part, it’s has a good view of France. I come from Britain, so traditionally I should hate the country.

However, I admire the country’s history, especially it’s radical thinking, something which I believe it retains today. It is well developed and maintained in comparison to some of it’s neighbours, and has both a pro-European and international view on things. It also has a considerable amount of power, especially being on of the ‘UN Five’. The French, can be a little arrogant, but I like the way they try to be a little different. The arty culture found in many of the cities, and the land’s history adds to the appeal. The climate isn’t as tropical as I’d like, but it has some Alps, and Mediterranean coast.

If only I could speak the language…

If the French had any consideration, they’d just give up their language and start speaking English.

Italy-- never been there, but i’ve seen pictures! How can you not love a country that gives us Fiats, Ferraris, Ducatis, Lamborghinis, LaVerdas, Moto Guzzis, Aprillas and more that i cant think of now. Plus the lovely coast, the hot babes, the great food and vino, the blatent male-chauvenism and machismo and a somewhat lax work ethic. Yeah, Italy is the place for me!

Italy gave us mascarpone, grand opera, Galileo Galilei and Pierluigi Collina. For that, it is a nation dear to my heart.

Greece is beautiful, laid back and blessed with wonderful climate, history and food.

I’ve never been to Iran, but I’ve seen photo of some of the most breathtaking countryside. Persian food is sublime, and Iran/Persia has a long tradition of poetry and art.

I’ve never met a Brazilian that I didn’t like lots and lots and lots. Brazil must be pretty great, seeing as it produces all those wonderful crazy Brazilians. And those jolly little nuts.

Definitely Italy! It’s got gorgeous scenery! (If Venice weren’t already invented, who could ever think of it?) It’s got beautiful people! It’s got history up the ying-yang! And it’s got the best food in the world! What more can you ask for?

I’ve never been there but there is something about Finland that really interests me. Several great bands are from Finland and in the message boards for those bands I met several on-line friends. They all seem like really cool people. The photos I have seen of the country are absolutely beautiful. Interesting history as well.

England, land of fierra.

Japan.

One look at films of their cities and…WOW!
All those 1930’s visions of the “cities of tomorrow” came true. In Japan.

Finland is great - or was back in 1994-95, 96, and 98. The countryside, the people, the culture, sauna, salmiakki, makkara - I like it all. Well, everything except the tax rate.

Second to Finland is England - primarily the villages (since that is where I spend most of my time). I also have to say that since my wife is English.