| |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Albania |
|
| Capital: |
Tirane |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
3.4 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
70 male, 75 female |
| Religion: |
Muslim 70%, Greek Orthodox 20%, Catholic
10% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Albanian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
New Lek |
| Per
Capita: |
$1740 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
|
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
| Useful
Websites: |
|
|
|
|
 |
Andorra
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Principality
of Andorra |
|
| Capital: |
Andorra la Vella |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
64,000 |
| Life
Expectancy: |
|
| Religion: |
Catholic 86% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Catalan |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
French franc, Spanish peseta |
| Per
Capita: |
$8,956 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
From the 13th century Andorra has been
co-governed by the French and Spanish. Skiing and duty free
shopping have made this country a big tourist spot. |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
| Useful
Websites: |
|
|
|
|
 |
Belgium
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Kingdom
of Belgium |
|
| Capital: |
Brussels |
Other
Major Cities: |
Brugge |
| Population: |
10.1 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
72 male, 79 female |
| Religion: |
Catholic 75% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Dutch, French, German |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Belgian franc |
| Per
Capita: |
$25,820 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
austria was invaded during both World
Wars. Still tense along the French and Flemish borders |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
| Useful
Websites: |
|
|
|
|
 |
Bosnia
and Herzegovina |
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
The
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
| Capital: |
Sarajevo |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
3.5 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
69 male, 75 female |
| Religion: |
Orthodox Catholic 31%, Roman Catholic
15%, Slavic Muslim 40%, Protestant 4% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Serbian, Croatian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Bosnian dinar |
| Per
Capita: |
$1540 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Yugoslavia was a blend of Muslim,
Croats and Serbs but dissolved into war in 1992-1995. Yugoslavia
dissolved into war in 1992. The countries of Slovenia, Croatia,
Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were formed. The country
of Serbia and Montenegro was formed from the remaining area
of Yugoslavia.
Sarajevo was host of the Winter Olympics
in 1984. |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
|
|
|
|
 |
Bulgaria
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Bulgaria |
|
| Capital: |
Sofia |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
8.8 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
68 male, 75 female |
| Religion: |
Bulgarian orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%,
Jewish 1% |
| Government:
|
Democratic |
| Language(s): |
Bulgarian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Lev |
| Per
Capita: |
$2,130 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Ruled by the Turks 1396-1878
1908 became a kingdom
1947-1989 communist rule |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
travel-bulgaria.com
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Belarus |
|
| Capital: |
Minsk |
Other
Major Cities: |
Brest |
| Population: |
10.1 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
|
| Religion: |
Russian orthodox 60%, Roman Catholic
8% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Belorussian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Byelorussia ruble |
| Per
Capita: |
$2,160 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Formerly part of the USSR, reluctantly
went independent in 1991
1986 Chernobyl explosion in Ukraine
has affected environment |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
|
|
|
|
 |
Croatia
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Croatia |
|
| Capital: |
Zagreb |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
4.5 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
68 male, 76 female |
| Religion: |
Roman Catholic 77%, Slavic Muslim 1% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Croatian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Kuna |
| Per
Capita: |
$5350 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Part of yugoslavia that exploded into
war in 1992. |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
mint.hr |
|
|
|
 |
Czech
Republic |
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Czech
Republic |
|
| Capital: |
Prague |
Other
Major Cities: |
69 male, 76 female |
| Population: |
10.3 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
|
| Religion: |
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%,
Other Catholic 2% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Czech |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Czech Koruna |
| Per
Capita: |
$6740 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Long time protests against Russia
include the Prague Spring of 1968 and finally the "Velvet
Revolution" of 1989 which lead to the fall of Communist
USSR
Vaclav
Havel, a playwright previously jailed for political writings
and Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, was elected
president in 1989. |
| Fun
Fact: |
Milan Kunder among several known literary
figures, hails from Prague |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
czechcenter.com
a-zprague.cz
pragueiguide.com |
|
|
|
 |
Estonia |
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Estonia |
|
| Capital: |
Tallinn |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
1.5 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
66 male, 75 female |
| Religion: |
|
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Estonian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Kroon |
Per
Capita: |
$4,960 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Part of the baltic states under USSR,
Estonian are actually Finno-Ugric and the language is similar
to Finnish |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
visitestonia.com |
|
|
|
 |
Faeroe
Islands |
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Faeroe
Islands |
|
| Capital: |
Torshavn |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
47,310 |
| Life
Expectancy: |
73 male, 79 female |
| Religion: |
|
| Government:
|
Self governing territory of Denmark |
| Language(s): |
|
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
|
| Per
Capita: |
|
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Due to the Gulf Stream current these
islands actually have a mild climate for their latitude. |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
| Useful
Websites: |
FaroeIslands.com
puffin.com/travel |
|
|
|
 |
Finland
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Finland |
|
| Capital: |
Helsinki |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
5.1 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
71 male, 79 female |
| Religion: |
Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox
1% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Finnish, Swedish |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Markka |
| Per
Capita: |
$27,000 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Ruled by Russia from 1908-1917
Joined EU in 1995 |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
| Useful
Websites: |
thekingsroad.com
finland-tourism.com
hel.fi/mato (Helsinki) |
|
|
 |
France
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
The
French Republic |
|
| Capital: |
Paris |
Other
Major Cities: |
Nice, Aix en Provence, Brest |
| Population: |
60.1 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
73 male, 81 female |
| Religion: |
ROman Catholic 90%, Jewish 1%, Muslim
1%, Protestant 2% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
French |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Franc |
| Per
Capita: |
$23,470 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
|
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
| Useful
Websites: |
franceguide.com
francetourism.com
officialcities.org/france
paris.org |
|
|
|
 |
Germany |
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Federal
Republic of Germany |
|
| Capital: |
Berlin |
Other
Major Cities: |
Bonn, Munich |
| Population: |
81.6 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
72 male, 78 female |
| Religion: |
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
German |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Deutsche Mark |
| Per
Capita: |
$25,580 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
|
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
| Useful
Websites: |
germany-tourism.de
lodging-germany.com
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Gibraltar |
|
| Capital: |
Gibraltar |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
28,000 |
| Life
Expectancy: |
72 male, 78 female |
| Religion: |
|
| Government:
|
British territory |
| Language(s): |
|
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
|
| Per
Capita: |
|
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Located at the southern tip of spain
the British have maintained military base and lately off-shore
banking has grown |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
gibraltar.gov.gi |
|
|
|
 |
Greece
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Hellenic
Republic |
|
| Capital: |
Athens |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
10.5 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
73 male, 78 female |
| Religion: |
Greek Orthodox 98% (duh!) |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Greek |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Drachma |
| Per
Capita: |
$13,700 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Birthplace of the modern Olympics,
Athens hosted the 2004 summer games |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
gnto.gr
athensguide.com |
|
|
|
 |
Hungary
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Hungary |
|
| Capital: |
Budapest |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
10.1 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
65 male, 74 female |
| Religion: |
Roman Catholic 68%, Calvinist 20%,
Lutheran 5% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Hungarian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Forint |
| Per
Capita: |
$6330 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
|
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
| Useful
Websites: |
hungarytourism.hu
gotohungary.com
|
|
|
|
 |
Iceland
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Iceland |
|
| Capital: |
Reykjavik |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
300,000 |
| Life
Expectancy: |
75 male, 80 female |
| Religion: |
Evangelical Lutheran 96% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
icelandic |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Icelandic krona |
| Per
Capita: |
$30,810 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Gained independence from Denmark in
1944 |
| Fun
Fact: |
Iceland has over 200 volcanoes and
geysers. In Iceland people heat their house with hot water
from thermal baths and have to pay for cold water |
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
iceyourist.is
arctic.is
reyjavik.com
|
|
|
|
 |
Ireland |
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Ireland |
|
| Capital: |
Dublin |
Other
Major Cities: |
Belfast, Galway, Killarney |
| Population: |
3.6 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
71 male, 77 female |
| Religion: |
|
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Irish, English |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Irish pound |
| Per
Capita: |
$26,900 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Northern Ireland still remains under
British rule and remains a tension point for independence
Dublin's economy is the fastest in
Europe in the last 10 yrs. |
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
ireland.travel.ie |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Formal
Name: |
|
|
| Capital: |
|
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
|
| Life
Expectancy: |
|
| Religion: |
|
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
|
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
|
| Per
Capita: |
|
| 20th
Century Recap: |
|
| Fun
Fact: |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
|
|
|
|
 |
Latvia
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Latvia |
|
| Capital: |
Riga |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
2.6 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
65 male, 75 female |
| Religion: |
|
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Latvian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Lats |
| Per
Capita: |
$4070 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
Independence from USSR in 1991
|
| Fun
Fact: |
Only 52% are ethnic Latvians |
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
latviatravel.com
|
|
|
|
 |
Liechtenstein
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Principality
of Liechtenstein |
|
| Capital: |
Vaduz |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
30,630 |
| Life
Expectancy: |
66 male, 73 female |
| Religion: |
Roman Catholic 87%, Protestant 8% |
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
German |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Swiss franc |
| Per
Capita: |
$31,000 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
|
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
|
|
|
|
 |
Lithuania |
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Republic
of Lithuania |
|
| Capital: |
Vilnius |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
3.7 million |
| Life
Expectancy: |
67 male, 76 female |
| Religion: |
|
| Government:
|
|
| Language(s): |
Lithuanian |
Hello
|
|
Goodbye
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| Currency: |
Litas |
| Per
Capita: |
$4490 |
| 20th
Century Recap: |
One of the Baltic states that gained
independence in 1991 from USSR
Russia finally withdrew in 1993 |
|
| Fun
Fact: |
|
|
| Must
see sights/landmarks: |
|
|
| Useful
Websites: |
tourism.lt
|
|
|
|
 |
Luxembourg
|
|
| |
| Formal
Name: |
Grand
Duchy of Luxembourg |
|
| Capital: |
Luxembourg |
Other
Major Cities: |
|
| Population: |
400,000 |
| Life
Expectancy: |
71 male, 78 female |
|