Investment banker turned danger tourist Barry Hoffner has made it a goal to visit every country in the world. And he's only one short of the accomplishment.
"After high school, I wanted to go to Hawaii to surf, and my best friend wanted to go backpacking in Europe," he told The New York Post. "He won, and that trip changed my life."
The investment banker loves travel and spend years traveling to various countries. His wife, Jackie, also joined him on his travels. But tragically in 2017, she died after being killed by an elephant. Spurred on by his grief and love for travel, the former investment banker made himself a goal of visitng every country in the world.
"What began as a way to move forward became a way to feel again. I wanted to see that world not as headlines, but as people. I wanted to remember what it felt like to be fully alive," he told The Post. "I said to myself, 'I have to go to every country in the world. I realized that in doing so, I would have to go to places the world tells you not to go."
Visiting Every Country
Currently, he's only not visited North Korea. He hopes to visit the country eventually. Despite being an American, he said he never felt targeted even when visiting a country like Afghanistan.
"Truth is, I had a thousand good moments in places that I should have feared," he said. The traveler even celebrated his 63rd birthday in Syria. "It was one of the best birthdays I've ever had."
"Our minds go to the headlines, because that's what we know of a lot of these countries. But oftentimes, these places completely change your narrative," he explained to The Post. "Some of my deepest experiences have been in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. I can't recommend those places for everyone, but what I can say most of the beautiful moments in life come from pushing your boundaries."
