reading about the world

When Sam came home with an Interlibrary loaned Lonely Planet guidebook, I was confused. We aren't planning any overseas trips, and if we were, two weeks with one library book is not how I'd go about researching it. But then I read the title.

Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations.

Yes, this volume is dedicated to the lesser known micronations of the world. This does not include San Marino, Lichtenstein, or Tuvalu, but rather places like Whangamomona, Lovely, and the Republic of Molossia. Most of these are nations were created by an individual who has an issue with their prior land of citizenship. Some of them have existed for decades, others for just a few years. There's a mix of self-made emperors, kings, and princes in addition to some communes and communities. They range in size from an RV to backyard to a small island to a few hundred acres. All have some sort of crazy history. Some involve goats as presidents.

I'm two-thirds of the way through this book, and of all the places that accept new citizens, the place I would most like to live so far is Christiania, which is surrounded by Copenhagen, Denmark. It's the size of a neighborhood, and does not allow cars.

Anyway, I highly suggest this book, not for travel (although you can call ahead and get tours of some of these places) but because it's hilarious to read about how far people will go for real or for a joke to create their own nations. My new hobby just might be to collect coins and stamps from places like this.