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27-Year-Old Woman Becomes The First Female Ever To Visit Every Country On Earth, Here’s How She Did It
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27-Year-Old Woman Becomes The First Female Ever To Visit Every Country On Earth, Here’s How She Did It

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Recently we told you about Cassandra De Pecol, a 27-year-old traveler from Connecticut, US, who was aiming to become the first woman to travel to all 193 sovereign states (plus Kosovo, Taiwan and Palestine). Well guess what? She’s just done it, and not only that, she officially holds the record as the fastest person to do so after breaking the previous record in over half the time!

Cassie’s epic adventure, which was called Expedition196, took a total of 18 months and 26 days. She set out on July 24th, 2015, and she finished on February 2nd, 2017. Her journey cost her an estimated $198,000 USD (£160,000), a sum which was largely covered by sponsors, but as she wrote on Facebook, “despite what you may think, this Expedition has not been easy.” She was traveling on behalf of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism, and part of her trip was spent meeting politicians and students in order to promote the institute’s primary goal of “mobilizing the travel and tourism industry as a leading force for poverty reduction.”

So what’s next for this inspirational globetrotter? Well, she’ll soon be off on another adventure, this time to Antarctica, and then in June she’ll be launching a course to teach people how to find the funding to pursue their very own dreams of traveling the world. Needless to say, our names are already on the list!

More info: Cassandra De Pecol | Expedition196 | Instagram | Facebook | IIPT

Cassandra De Pecol just became the first woman to travel to every country in the world

She’s also the fastest woman to travel the globe after breaking the previous record in over half the time!

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Her epic adventure, which was called Expedition196, took a total of 18 months and 26 days

Cassie set out on July 24th, 2015, and she finished on February 2nd, 2017

She visited 193 sovereign states plus Kosovo, Taiwan, and Palestine

She was inspired to undertake her epic journey after backpacking through 26 countries in her late teens and early 20s

When she came home she ended up burning herself out working two jobs and 85-hour weeks

One day she drove to the office supply store and bought a large map of the world, which she pinned to her wall

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“After staring at it…with a childlike sense of wonder, I decided to quit one of my jobs and start drawing lines connecting every country in the world to one another”

During the planning of her around-the-world trip, she received an endorsement from the International Institute of Peace Through Tourism

She became their Ambassador for Peace and promoted the institute during her travels

Although she only spent a few days in each country, sightseeing wasn’t a primary objective of Cassie’s trip

Much of her time was spent meeting tourism officials and politicians and speaking with university students

The institute’s goal is to mobilize the travel and tourism industry as a leading force for poverty reduction

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Her journey cost her an estimated $198,000 USD (£160,000), a sum which was largely covered by sponsors

“As a young woman, I’d always dreamed to travel to as many countries as possible and make our world a better place,” she wrote on her website

“It bothered me though, that I could never figure out how to ignite this inner fire and make it happen”

“I became terrified as I envisioned myself at 80 years old, having not lead the life that I wanted while working towards making someone else’s dream a reality”

“Through a great deal of work, I was able to make this dream a reality”

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“Despite what you may think, this Expedition has not been easy,” she wrote on Facebook

She’ll soon be launching a course to teach people how to find the funding to pursue your own dreams of traveling the world

Watch the video below for more info:

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gehtdichnixan avatar
Gehtdich Nixan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh c'mon, the same posting again? But wait, I can feel it! The world is now a better place because this women showed the poor people they will never have the same opportunities like rich (and good looking) people! It's okay if she wants to break the record for her own satisfaction and well, if there are companies/organisations who are dumb enough to give money for this trip instead of spending it for things which last or really matters, it's fine. But do you really have to post it every few month again?

powerrose avatar
Rose Symotiuk
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eh, the headline to this could also be Conventionally Attractive Young Woman Gets $200k of Sponsorship Money to Visit Every Country.

mathieu_fumey avatar
Matt Ress
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Inspirational globetrotter ?!! Seriously ?!! She's just a instagram tourist to me ... posing for pictures rather than getting to know people and their culture.

primorannapromjenu avatar
jzwadlo avatar
James Zwadlo
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one with the ''Although she only spent a few days in each country, sightseeing wasn’t a primary objective of Cassie’s trip'' is almost definitely fake so i doubt how real the rest are

Load More Replies...
kf_samandari avatar
.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Peace Through Tourism?" What a DA idea. Her visiting each country for 10 min. at a time does nothing. Where are the multiple postings about Peace Corp. volunteers, Doctors Without Borders, etc.? Not impressed.

djoz91 avatar
Mathieu Ozan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's promoting peace and sustainability, staying few days in each country. Isn't something wrong here? I mean do they (she, staff, sponsors...) really believe that these 2 notions are quick things. Or do they only want to impose their point of view. I don't get it. I understand the will to beat a record, but as it's said in other comments, I disagree with this one, in the way that a travel is about discovering, meeting, learning, listening, sharing... At this rate she's staying in the surperficial view, peace and sustainability included. Sadly this is how the society is evolving, reflected in the social medias, a check list of "I did", "I've been"... This article is a real sadness.

jerry-mathers-73 avatar
Jerry Mathers
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My problem with this article is that it is made to sound like it's about some higher cause, when in fact, it seems to be about this girl's career. She did a stint on the "Naked and Afraid" TV show. She had some travel opportunities in her late teens/ early 20's which suggests that she has access to people that can afford to send her on these trips. Yet what is being presented is this person that was holding down 2 jobs and had an epiphany so she went out and made her dreams happen. It just doesn't jive. What is needed here is context. Did she come from money? How does a 25 year get a plan to travel world and then come by the means to do so. You say she is an ambassador, how did she become this? How did she travel? Where did she stay? In other words, she does this great adventure, claims it was harder than I think (that's some hardship I can live with), she off to Antarctica and then is offering a course telling people how they can find funding to do it. This looks like an ad to me.

gavinkoh108 avatar
Godspeed
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blonde with abs and butt cheeks visits the whole world. Makes some envious, makes most irritated. Was this really a message of hope and inspiration, or self promotion. Lines are very grey, though it does feel more like the latter. If this was fat, bald man with poor hygiene visits the world and promotes, will be still be reading this? Will it be posted or read at all?

violainelb avatar
Violaine LB
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like to hear more about her meeting officials and promoting peace... She claims it was all for a great cause, but if that's so important, why not talk about it more? Why not show pictures of things she is trying to fight, like poverty? It's all too pretty.

yaman_yamaner avatar
Yaman Yamaner
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How many times more, do we have to see this post wo any meaning to any of us? And the post says wrong: she has not visited all the countries in the world. The map indicates she has visited South Cyprus. What about North Cyprus, which is another country? Anyway. We again wasted our time for some s**t. The same s**t. At least, i did. Shame on me.

mickael_royer avatar
Mickaël Royer
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not travelling, a travel is not a race!!! 2 years for all the countries, that the time I spent for visiting 6 countries!!!!! That just give fake picture of the travel, and make other people doing same b******t!!!!

iudith_gd avatar
Iudith Coman
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

maybe she did get to pass through all the countries but the picture in the cave looks like a really bad photoshop. really really bad ....such a shame..I was so close to believe this article...

serciyilmaz avatar
Sercan Yilmaz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there is an app you can pin your your countries and cities btw. "lifepinner"

paalcollens avatar
P Collens
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'First female ever?' BOLLOCKS. This kind of arrogance makes enemies, not friends. I lived with an Italian girl in the 1990s who had been to every country. So, no.

thomas_okeefe avatar
Thomas O'Keefe
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, did your Italian friend document her travels? Does she have the passports to prove her claim or is it just something she said? If you can't prove it, it didn't happen. If she can prove it, she should stand up and tell the world. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of BS.

Load More Replies...
paalcollens avatar
P Collens
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'First Female Ever?' BOLLOCKS. I was friends with an Italian girl in the 1990s who had been to every country.

yourprofessor6 avatar
Glenn Prosser
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although this article features a photo of a New Zealand $20 bill, I rang everyone here, and no one recognises her. Was she wearing sunglasses and a fake wig, or, is she telling fibs?

katfish8880 avatar
Timothy D.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wasn't this post already made about another woman? Maybe i'm misinterpreting one of them, but I could have sworn this already happened.

atlantike avatar
Arty
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it was the same girl, a few month back...she "almost" there...now she has finished. Yup, we really needed the reminder...or not ;)

Load More Replies...
grisellelugo avatar
Griselle Lugo
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Extraordinary achievement for such a young, brave and beautiful woman! Inspiring!

christina_battons avatar
Christina Battons
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s very cool to visit every country in the world. I also love and want to travel, but, currently, I can’t do it due to my work. Moreover, Cassandra had a noble mission. And I am sure her trip brought a ton of value not only for her but also for a society.

nehebkau0455 avatar
Šu Ma
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you go girl (again, if you get the chance, 'cause you already went :') )

michel-m-prins avatar
Michel M. Prins
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

She has my respect for being incredibly passionate about a goal that includes seeing pretty much everything this planet has to offer. Money well spent, in my opinion!

atlantike avatar
Arty
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"seeing pretty everything this planet has to offer"...in 19 month? yeah...right...

Load More Replies...
christianhill avatar
Jonathan Eatsalot
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Isn't being White awesome? You get to do all these great things! #whiteprivilege

chrismagenis7 avatar
Chris Gen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How does what this one specific individual did equate to white privilege? I think white privilege may well be relevant commentary on other posts, but not this one

Load More Replies...
gehtdichnixan avatar
Gehtdich Nixan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh c'mon, the same posting again? But wait, I can feel it! The world is now a better place because this women showed the poor people they will never have the same opportunities like rich (and good looking) people! It's okay if she wants to break the record for her own satisfaction and well, if there are companies/organisations who are dumb enough to give money for this trip instead of spending it for things which last or really matters, it's fine. But do you really have to post it every few month again?

powerrose avatar
Rose Symotiuk
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eh, the headline to this could also be Conventionally Attractive Young Woman Gets $200k of Sponsorship Money to Visit Every Country.

mathieu_fumey avatar
Matt Ress
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Inspirational globetrotter ?!! Seriously ?!! She's just a instagram tourist to me ... posing for pictures rather than getting to know people and their culture.

primorannapromjenu avatar
jzwadlo avatar
James Zwadlo
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one with the ''Although she only spent a few days in each country, sightseeing wasn’t a primary objective of Cassie’s trip'' is almost definitely fake so i doubt how real the rest are

Load More Replies...
kf_samandari avatar
.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Peace Through Tourism?" What a DA idea. Her visiting each country for 10 min. at a time does nothing. Where are the multiple postings about Peace Corp. volunteers, Doctors Without Borders, etc.? Not impressed.

djoz91 avatar
Mathieu Ozan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's promoting peace and sustainability, staying few days in each country. Isn't something wrong here? I mean do they (she, staff, sponsors...) really believe that these 2 notions are quick things. Or do they only want to impose their point of view. I don't get it. I understand the will to beat a record, but as it's said in other comments, I disagree with this one, in the way that a travel is about discovering, meeting, learning, listening, sharing... At this rate she's staying in the surperficial view, peace and sustainability included. Sadly this is how the society is evolving, reflected in the social medias, a check list of "I did", "I've been"... This article is a real sadness.

jerry-mathers-73 avatar
Jerry Mathers
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My problem with this article is that it is made to sound like it's about some higher cause, when in fact, it seems to be about this girl's career. She did a stint on the "Naked and Afraid" TV show. She had some travel opportunities in her late teens/ early 20's which suggests that she has access to people that can afford to send her on these trips. Yet what is being presented is this person that was holding down 2 jobs and had an epiphany so she went out and made her dreams happen. It just doesn't jive. What is needed here is context. Did she come from money? How does a 25 year get a plan to travel world and then come by the means to do so. You say she is an ambassador, how did she become this? How did she travel? Where did she stay? In other words, she does this great adventure, claims it was harder than I think (that's some hardship I can live with), she off to Antarctica and then is offering a course telling people how they can find funding to do it. This looks like an ad to me.

gavinkoh108 avatar
Godspeed
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Blonde with abs and butt cheeks visits the whole world. Makes some envious, makes most irritated. Was this really a message of hope and inspiration, or self promotion. Lines are very grey, though it does feel more like the latter. If this was fat, bald man with poor hygiene visits the world and promotes, will be still be reading this? Will it be posted or read at all?

violainelb avatar
Violaine LB
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like to hear more about her meeting officials and promoting peace... She claims it was all for a great cause, but if that's so important, why not talk about it more? Why not show pictures of things she is trying to fight, like poverty? It's all too pretty.

yaman_yamaner avatar
Yaman Yamaner
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How many times more, do we have to see this post wo any meaning to any of us? And the post says wrong: she has not visited all the countries in the world. The map indicates she has visited South Cyprus. What about North Cyprus, which is another country? Anyway. We again wasted our time for some s**t. The same s**t. At least, i did. Shame on me.

mickael_royer avatar
Mickaël Royer
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not travelling, a travel is not a race!!! 2 years for all the countries, that the time I spent for visiting 6 countries!!!!! That just give fake picture of the travel, and make other people doing same b******t!!!!

iudith_gd avatar
Iudith Coman
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

maybe she did get to pass through all the countries but the picture in the cave looks like a really bad photoshop. really really bad ....such a shame..I was so close to believe this article...

serciyilmaz avatar
Sercan Yilmaz
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there is an app you can pin your your countries and cities btw. "lifepinner"

paalcollens avatar
P Collens
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'First female ever?' BOLLOCKS. This kind of arrogance makes enemies, not friends. I lived with an Italian girl in the 1990s who had been to every country. So, no.

thomas_okeefe avatar
Thomas O'Keefe
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, did your Italian friend document her travels? Does she have the passports to prove her claim or is it just something she said? If you can't prove it, it didn't happen. If she can prove it, she should stand up and tell the world. Otherwise, it's just a bunch of BS.

Load More Replies...
paalcollens avatar
P Collens
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'First Female Ever?' BOLLOCKS. I was friends with an Italian girl in the 1990s who had been to every country.

yourprofessor6 avatar
Glenn Prosser
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although this article features a photo of a New Zealand $20 bill, I rang everyone here, and no one recognises her. Was she wearing sunglasses and a fake wig, or, is she telling fibs?

katfish8880 avatar
Timothy D.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wasn't this post already made about another woman? Maybe i'm misinterpreting one of them, but I could have sworn this already happened.

atlantike avatar
Arty
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it was the same girl, a few month back...she "almost" there...now she has finished. Yup, we really needed the reminder...or not ;)

Load More Replies...
grisellelugo avatar
Griselle Lugo
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Extraordinary achievement for such a young, brave and beautiful woman! Inspiring!

christina_battons avatar
Christina Battons
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s very cool to visit every country in the world. I also love and want to travel, but, currently, I can’t do it due to my work. Moreover, Cassandra had a noble mission. And I am sure her trip brought a ton of value not only for her but also for a society.

nehebkau0455 avatar
Šu Ma
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you go girl (again, if you get the chance, 'cause you already went :') )

michel-m-prins avatar
Michel M. Prins
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

She has my respect for being incredibly passionate about a goal that includes seeing pretty much everything this planet has to offer. Money well spent, in my opinion!

atlantike avatar
Arty
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"seeing pretty everything this planet has to offer"...in 19 month? yeah...right...

Load More Replies...
christianhill avatar
Jonathan Eatsalot
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Isn't being White awesome? You get to do all these great things! #whiteprivilege

chrismagenis7 avatar
Chris Gen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How does what this one specific individual did equate to white privilege? I think white privilege may well be relevant commentary on other posts, but not this one

Load More Replies...
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