20 countries before 21: P.E.I. man close to ambitious travel goal

A man from western P.E.I. is in Japan, country number 17 in a plan to visit 20 countries before his 21st birthday.

"It started when I did an exchange semester in Europe," said Nicholas A'Hearn of Tignish, speaking to CBC's Island Morning from Kyoto.

"I figured I should do 20 countries before I turned 21 and have to make any real decisions."

With his 21st birthday in January, A'Hearn has achieving that goal well in sight. Number 18 will be South Korea next week.

Highlights of his travels so far have been

• Communion at the Vatican.
• Champagne in a limousine in Budapest.
• Christmas Eve in Barcelona, followed by Christmas Day in Paris.
• New Year's fireworks in London.
• Camping under the Northern Lights in Norway.
• Exchanging gifts with a couple he kept meeting on the street in Tokyo.

A'Hearn is also taking pictures of newspapers and beer in all the cities he visits.

A'Hearn said he got a good start on his goal thanks to scholarships that sent him to Europe. He worked two jobs last summer to save up for the Asia trip.

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