Travel trivia and some travel videos

I had to share these fun videos I found while searching for information for our next trip to Europe in 2014. Click on the bold text to launch the videos.

BTW need to find a way to warn the French that Dick will be visiting them next year. Maybe Jerry Lewis can help by acting as an ambassador. Well it is a thought.

Schengen- what is it all about? - When planning for our trips to the EU and the rest of Europe one thing we need to keep in mind is the time limit that Americans and many other non-Schengen travellers are obligated to follow. The US is considered an Annex II country and thus Annex II nationals (except for New Zealand citizens) can enter the Schengen Area as a whole for pleasure or for business without the need to apply for a visa for maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period (which entails considering the 180 day period preceding each day of stay).

The Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries, which includes 22 EU and 4 non-EU states, that have abolished passport and immigration controls at their common borders. It functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy.

Two of the non-EU members, Iceland and Norway, are part of the Nordic Passport Union and are officially classified as states associated with the Schengen activities of the EU. Switzerland was subsequently allowed to participate in the same manner in 2008. Liechtenstein joined the Schengen Area on 19 December 2011. De facto, the Schengen Area also includes three European micro-states, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City, that maintain open or semi-open borders with other Schengen member countries. Two EU members – Ireland and the United Kingdom – have negotiated opt-outs from Schengen and continue to operate the Common Travel Area systematic border controls with other EU member states.

The remaining four EU member states, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, are obliged to eventually join the Schengen Area. However before fully implementing the Schengen rules, each state must have its preparedness assessed in four areas: air borders, visas, police cooperation, and personal data protection.

Schengen Area

The European Union Explained - But wait isn't the Schengen area the same as the EU? Well not really.

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The EU operates through a system of supranational independent institutions and intergovernmental negotiated decisions by the member states.

Now to add to the confusion remember the 4 non-member of the EU?
Four non-members of the EU, but are members of EFTA – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland – participate in the Schengen Area while three European microstates – Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican – can be considered as de facto parts of the Schengen Area as they do not have border controls with the Schengen countries that surround them.

Schengen Area visa lists

  Schengen member states

  Other EU members and special territories of EU and Schengen members

  Visa-free access to the Schengen states for 90 days in any 180 day period (which entails considering the 180 day period preceding each day of stay), although some Annex II nationals can enjoy longer visa-free access in some circumstances (EC 539/2001 Annex II)

  Visa required to enter the Schengen states (EC 539/2001 Annex I)

  Visa required for transit via the Schengen states (EC 810/2009 Annex IV)

  Passport not accepted

  Visa status unknown

Countries inside Countries: Bizarre Borders - In case you were wondering who are the microstates in the Eu and who are the other micro-countries, click the link and watch the video ;-)

Guaita Castle, San Marino

Now for some fun. Here is an example where you will be able to see different sovereign nations.

The Coolest Keyhole in Rome - This link will take you to a very impressive glimpse in Rome where you will get to see 3 different sovereign states- Italy, The Knights of Malta, and the Vatican. To see this view you need to head to Rome's Aventine hill to the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of Malta

The view through the keyhole

I had written about this in one of my earlier blogs but this was a cute video that explains the relationship that the Netherlands has with some islands in the Caribbean.

Holland vs the Netherlands - The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as "Holland", although North and South Holland are actually only two of its provinces. 

The Binnenhof, Den Hague

The History of English in 10 Minutes  

English was not really my first language but it is the one the I have spoke the longest and is one that confuses me to this day. While at University a required course was called English, it was taught as Grammar and Literature. Many may remember our professors teaching us the epic poem Beowulf. How was the language used in the poem ever considered English?

First page from the poem Beowulf