To the 71 countries and territories I have visited I must add one more,Crete.

Was there about six years ago when cruising the Med on the Queen Elizabeth, or was it the Queen Victoria?Near the port came across a tiny shop with the most  enchanting window display - jewellery of all kind,nothing too fancy,nothing too glittery,I walked inside this  treasure trove of unusual items.A silversmith sitting, working on a necklace.I said good-morning and smiled, he smiled back.You have the most beautiful shop,but I do not want to buy anything, I just would like to look around, may I,please?Yes, of course.There was nothing I did not like. Did you  make everything yourself, I asked. Yes.  You are a master craftsman,I said. A set of silver earrings and a ring I liked the most, there was something childlike about them, the beauty  was in  the design, simple,yet utterly exquisite.I could not take my eyes off them. Why don't you buy them,suggested the craftsman.It is too expensive for me,oh, they are worth every  cent, but I do not have enough money.I must have been in the shop good 10 minutes,then thanked him and walked out. About twenty meters down the road I felt a touch on my arm. It was the shop owner., These are for you, they have been waiting for you.he said and handed me a box containing the earrings and the ring.Pay me what you can, he added.I  knew at that very moment I could not insult him and  say no.He wanted me to have his creations,because  he could see how much I appreciated his work,he knew I would always  treasure what he had  put his heart and skill into. I emptied my purse into his palm, about 40 euros.  People can be infinitely kind.

I must add one more country to the 70 I have visited already,

it is Montenegro.Years ago, while at university, I spent two weeks in Petrovac. Not giving it much  thought any longer I have kind of presumed Petrovac is in Croatia,it is, in fact,in Montenegro. After the political and territorial changes in Yugoslavia, Montenegro is now an independent state.

There are 195 countries in the world,

Taiwan is not officially recognized by all, so this would bring it down to  194.
The United Nations has  193  member countries and 2 non-member observer countries ,The Holy See and The State of Palestine.
The Travellers Century Club  lists on 01.01.2018            327 countries and territories.
There are 1400 people worldwide registered with    The TCC,   who have visited at least 100 countries.

Today,1.1 2020, I can say with some pride, that I have now been to 89 countries.