Borderlines.
Geography, history and geopolitics.
Award Winning Travel Writing
Borderlines is where ‘Prisoners of Geography’ meets travel blogging. This is Travel Tramp’s geopolitical column.
Learn how geography, politics and history shape the world around, as we answer deep travel questions from the road.
What makes a country a country? What’s the difference between a micronation and a microstate? Why did Transnistria declare independence from Moldova?
You can find answers to all these questions and more as I build a database of the world’s cartographic curiosities and geopolitical oddities.
Latest Border Stories
How Many Countries in North Africa? Everything You Need to Know.
How many countries are in North Africa? From Egypt to Western Sahara, here's how to define this cultural, geographical and geopolitical region. Traditionally defined by the Sahara Desert that sweeps south towards the tropics that lie at the heart of the African...
Is Serbia a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Is Serbia a country? What happened to Yugoslavia? Is Kosovo part of Serbia? Here's everything you need to know about Serbia's sovereign status. When I first visited Serbia back in 2015, I remember an older relative asking me if Serbia was still part of Yugoslavia...
Is East Timor a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Is East Timor a country? When did East Timor become independent from Portugal? How long did the Indonesian occupation of East Timor last? Here's everything you need to know about East Timor's geopolitical status. In Dili, there's a moving museum that tells the story -...
How Many Countries Are in Central America? Everything You Need to Know.
How many countries are in Central America? How is Central America defined? How many countries in Central America speak Spanish? Here's everything you need to know! When I first visited Central America, I remember being distinctly underwhelmed as I crossed the border...
Is Mexico a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Is Mexico a country? When did Mexico become independent? Is Mexico in North America? Here's everything you need to know about Mexico's geopolitical status. Officially known as the United Mexican States, Mexico is without a doubt a sovereign nation. Flanked by the...
Is Guatemala a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Is Guatemala a country? When did Guatemala become independent? What languages are spoken in Guatemala? Here's everything you need to know about this Central American nation. Is Guatemala a country? This seemingly straightforward question opens the door to an...
Is El Salvador a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Is El Salvador a country? This might be the smallest state by area in Central America, but it's very much a sovereign country. From government to population, here's everything you need to know about El Salvador. Is El Salvador a country? This question might appear...
Is Belize a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Is Belize a country? What was British Honduras? Where even is Belize? And what's the deal with the border dispute with Guatemala? Here's everything you need to know. Despite its relatively small size and somewhat ambiguous geographical positioning, Belize is a...
How To Cross The Border From Sarpi To Batumi (Turkey To Georgia)
Read on to find out exactly how to cross the Turkish border and travel from Sarpi to Batumi, Georgia! And don't worry, travelling from Turkey to Georgia is easy! As far as international border crossings go, Sarpi is a strange one. The Georgians have constructed a...
Is England a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
"There is a forgotten, nay almost forbidden word, which means more to me than any other. That word is England". Winston Churchill. Is England a country? Is England a sovereign nation? Could England ever become independent? Here's everything you need to know about...
richard@travel-tramp.com