Meet the first woman to visit every country on earth

This woman is just a few steps away from becoming the first woman to visit all 196 countries in the world. Fifteen countries in 40 days, to be exact.

Cassandra De Pecol is coming to the final frontier of her journey, Expedition 196, having visited 181 countries, starting with the Pacific island of Palau in July last year.

The 27-year-old has to tick off the final few in just under six weeks in order to break the Guinness World Record for fastest person to travel to all Sovereign States plus an additional 11 countries.

She writes on the blog of her expedition website, “As a young woman, I’d always dreamed to travel to as many countries as possible and make our world a better place. It bothered me though, that I could never figure out how to ignite this inner fire and make it happen.”

After years of travelling, living abroad, transforming herself into a sustainability consultant, achieving her Master’s degree, and even being filmed in a jungle in Panama for a channel, the young entrepreneur bought a large map of the world and began to plan her trip.

“Now, almost two months and 18 countries in, my priorities have shifted for the better. I want nothing more than to give myself to the lives of others and our world.

“The initial goal of traveling to every single country is not nearly as meaningful as was at the start. Looking into the eyes of the youth and hearing them realise their potential and limitless possibilities through listening to me speak — this is what I live for.”

Although the trip costed an estimated $200,000 dollars so far, it has been almost entirely funded by sponsors. It’s also carefully designed to fit into the parameters of sustainable and eco-friendly tourism.

De Pecol, from Connecticut, U.S, is also travelling as an Ambassador for Peace and Global Citizen via the International Institute for Peace through Tourism.
— Source: www.indy100.com