NJ couple has been literally everywhere, 193 countries and more!

If you think planning a summer vacation is tough, think of what it must have taken to travel to all 193 United Nations member countries.

That's exactly what a Franklin Lakes couple did.

For accomplishing the goal of traveling to all the member countries of the U.N., plus 22 other territories, Angie and Robert Penna were named U.N. Grandmasters of Travel by the group Most Traveled People at a June conference near Lisbon, Portugal.

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The Pennas are among fewer than 400 individuals and one of 12 married couples who have documented reaching that goal with the "extreme travel" organization.

"We have traveled as a couple for the 56 years we have been married and enjoyed countless adventures together," Robert Penna said.

Now both retired, Robert Penna was Waldwick's superintendent of schools and Angie Penna was a principal in the Fairview Public School District. Their travels began long ago, when daughters Angela and Robin were children, and continue now, said the couple, each 81 years old.

"We are history buffs, and believe the only way to learn about it is to travel," Robert said. "The only change we made when traveling with our daughters was to visit less dangerous places. We found when we came home they were more appreciative of what they had and were more open to other cultures."

The Pennas say they each contribute strengths to their travel adventures.

"I'm the packer," Angie said. "Don't overpack. Carry your medications with you. And we check our bags. No carry-on. Bob is the planner. Hotels, transportation, guides."

Robert travels with his own cell phone, using WhatsApp to make phone calls and Wi-Fi to keep in touch. He always brings an international adapter kit to fit devices to the varying electrical systems in different countries.

Their history interests have carried them to remote corners of the planet in search of events real and legendary.

"The head of John the Baptist in the Great Mosque of Damascus, the Ark of the Covenant in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Holy Lance in Armenia. The burial place of Lazarus, who Jesus rose from the dead, reportedly fled to Cyprus, where he served as the first bishop of Kition," Robert said. "We hired a caravan in search of the lost city of Havilah."

Because their travel goals are so eclectic, the Pennas prefer traveling alone, hiring guides to serve as interpreters and drivers rather than being tied to the itinerary of a group tour.

"We don't do our own driving," Robert said. "The rules change from country to country. A driver in India told us the traffic laws are only considered suggestions, and that three things you need to drive there are a good horn, good brakes and good luck. In Sicily, the cows live on the roads. In Yemen, the driver was high all the time because they chew narcotic leaves."

Their adventures have been culinary as well as historical.

"We had dinner in Nepal, and our driver advised us that what we were told were pork and beef were probably goat and water buffalo," Angie said. "We had lunch with some hunter-gatherers in Botswana and the vegetables were caterpillars. They roasted the cocoons, which were crispy," she said.

The ultimate rule, Robert said, is don't drink the local water or ice made from it.

"Drink canned soda and bottled water, but only when containers come to you sealed so they cannot be refilled with contaminated water," Robert said.

Animals were also an adventure. Angie recalls petting a rhinoceros in Kenya, dancing with a gorilla, in a compound, who was fond of moving to a particular song, and sitting on the back of an alligator.

"I was assured the alligator had eaten recently so he was lethargic and would not consider me as lunch," Angie said. "The keeper offered to let me feed the alligator a live chicken on a string, but I declined."

Among their more memorable activities: fishing for piranha with their daughters in a dugout canoe on the Amazon, qualifying for reindeer-driving licenses in Lapland, and jumping overboard in survival suits from an icebreaker into the waters of the Gulf of Bothnia, between Finland and Sweden.

The Pennas found Italy, particularly Sicily, most enjoyable "because of the culture, rich history, friendly and accommodating people, great tourist infrastructure and cuisine," Robert said.

The Congo was among their least favorite destinations because of "the high level of crime, untrustworthy police and military, poor accommodations, threat of kidnap, poor sanitary conditions, bad food, and overall distrust of strangers," he added.

The Pennas happened to be in Afghanistan after the United States pulled its military out, and Angie experienced particular scrutiny, frequently stopped and searched for weapons despite being dressed in full religious garb. During a 2023 visit to Yemen, they encountered armed mercenaries, and Robert hired a separate bodyguard just for Angie.

"We had to stay together, be alert," Angie said. "We tried to be civilized, long sleeves, no jewelry or designer clothing."

Despite those incidents, Robert encourages seniors to get out there and travel, with the following caveats:

• If going with a group, pick one with seniors of a similar age. Mixed-age groups, particularly those with small children, are more difficult to keep up with.
• Arrange wheelchair assistance with airlines in advance.
• Check on whether a hotel has an elevator; if not, ask for first-floor rooms.
• Ask hotels about airport shuttle service, because taxis can be scarce and expect you to load your own luggage.

The couple also cautions travelers that Americans have a mixed foreign reputation, and they maximize their chances of success by reading up on the cultural, dress and behavior customs of the area they plan to visit. Maintain a "low profile" free of colorful clothes, sneakers or patriotic symbols. Also avoid wearing religious symbols such as crosses or Stars of David.

All this travel sounds exciting, but at what cost? Robert said they budgeted "creatively."

"I think being frugal in many areas made us save enough for each trip," Robert said. "When flying, go for the cheapest seats, and be careful when selecting a hotel. Pick one with good reviews that is not costly.  If you wish to travel extensively, save throughout the year and put your savings aside into your travel account."

Taking their own advice, the Pennas will depart on July 16 on their next adventure: fishing in the Faroe Islands between Iceland and Norway.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ couple has been literally everywhere, 193 countries and more!