greenland and denmark
 

Doing a cruise that includes Greenland and Denmark. In my counting of countries that I've visited do they count as one since Greenland belongs to Denmark, or can I count Greenland separately? Silly, lame question, I suppose, but I'd like to know. Thanks.

I would count them separately. The final count is up to you.

Technically, not separate yet, but I believe in the years to come you will be able to count them separately and that is what the Natives wish

That settles it. I'm counting it separately. Same goes for Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands. I think Canaries belong to Spain, Cape Verdes belong to an African country. Not sure about either, but my countries visited list is expanding. Thanks.

The Canaries are most definitely part of Spain, they do not count as a separate country, any more than the Basque region or Catalonia does. WHilst the are part of Africa geographically (and according to Fodor's too), they are politically an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Spain, just as Catalonia, Galicia, Andalusia etc are.

Cape Verde is a republic and a country in it's own right.

Greenland is an autonomous country of the Kingdom of Denmark.

For a full list of countries you need to go to the UN website.

Here is the Wikipedia entry listing all 206 sovereign states. Start ticking them off:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states

Thank you hetismij2.

Here's the website of the major group which keeps track of such superficial nonsense. http://travelerscenturyclub.org/

I note they consider Greenland separate from Denmark.

Whoop de doo.

Funny that the century club is not very strict on what they'll allow prospective members to include in their count of countries visited:

(from the website)
Although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from the parent country, either geographically, politically or ethnologically (see the Territory Status page for detailed criteria). After consideration as to how long one must have stayed in a country or territory to qualify, it was decided that even the shortest visit would suffice — even if only a port-of-call, or a plane fuel stop.

I could almost see them counting a layover where one switched planes but didn't leave the airport but if your feet don't even touch the ground that's REALLY pushing it! Just sayin...