Yes, someone has traveled around the world in 80 days. This feat was first accomplished by the fictional character Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne’s classic novel “Around the World in Eighty Days,” published in 1873. However, the concept of traveling the world in 80 days was not just limited to fiction, as many people have attempted and succeeded in completing this journey in real life as well.
One of the most famous people to complete the journey was Nellie Bly, an American journalist and adventurer who embarked on a trip around the world in 1889, inspired by Verne’s novel. Bly set out on her journey from New York City, and she completed it in just 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes, breaking the previous record set by another traveler, George Francis Train, who completed the journey in 80 days and 9 hours.
Bly’s journey was no easy feat, as she faced many challenges and obstacles along the way. She had to navigate through different time zones, languages, and cultures, and she had to make her way through some of the most remote and dangerous parts of the world, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Egypt, and Italy. However, Bly was determined to succeed, and she kept a detailed journal of her experiences, which she later published in a book titled “Around the World in Seventy-Two Days.”
Since Bly’s record-breaking journey, many other travelers have attempted to complete the journey in 80 days or less. In 2008, a team of three British men set out to complete the journey using only forms of transportation available in Verne’s time, such as trains, boats, and hot-air balloons. They succeeded in completing the journey in just 80 days, and their journey was documented in a BBC television series titled “Around the World in 80 Days.”
In recent years, technology has made it possible for travelers to complete the journey in even shorter times. In 2019, Swiss pilot André Borschberg and his co-pilot Bertrand Piccard completed a journey around the world in a solar-powered airplane in just 42 days, 16 hours, and 23 minutes, setting a new record for the fastest journey around the world by solar-powered airplane.
In conclusion, while Phileas Fogg may have been the first fictional character to complete the journey around the world in 80 days, many real-life travelers have followed in his footsteps and completed the journey in various ways and time frames. From Nellie Bly’s historic journey in 1889 to modern-day adventures powered by solar energy, the journey around the world continues to inspire and challenge travelers from all over the globe.
