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alorconsulting · 4 years

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Each year, my Husband creates a gift that shows more love for me as his wife than an acceptance speech co-written by George Clooney and Tom Hanks. Being a photographer, Bello takes countless photos. At the end of each year, he combs the archive selecting his favorites. Then, he shares them with me by printing a book as a Christmas present.

Bello captions each photo, I used his words to title this post. He summarizes 2014 at the front of the book and predicts happiness at the end of the book for 2015. His words are just as poetic, insightful, silly and playful as he is. Turning the pages, I cry like the smitten kitten I am, rediscovering and recounting our year together.

For us, 2014 was epic.

Muse by Paolo Ferraris Colors

In January

We started our year off flying to California on New Year’s Eve. We agreed as long as we were together we could ring the New Year in anywhere, even in the air. Thankfully, we landed in LAX in JUST enough time to rent a car… drive to Palm Springs… run into a store to buy some wine… check into the hotel… and luckily find one of the only restaurants open for dinner.

Walking into the Wolfgang Puck Pizza Bar at 11PM we realized we were the only customers, period. Full of New Year’s hats and streamers, they clearly planned for a party but found patrons just didn’t come out. At midnight we joined the jovial staff in a private party +2, yelling Happy New Year! We couldn’t have had a better end to 2013 or a more successfully unplanned start to 2014.

We spent the next 10 days exploring streets with no names in Joshua Tree. Driving through the Mojave onto Death Valley and all the way up to hug the largest trees on earth in the Sequoia National Park. Perhaps the best part, when we returned home, we raised a glass to the happy news that Bello’s green card was approved!

Private New Year’s Party in Palm Spring

Sequoia Nation Park

Death Valley Desert Sand Dune

Joshua Tree

Bello Working in Death Valley California

In February & March

We visited Bello’s parents at his childhood home in Torino, Italy. Each day we explored Northern Italy, sipping Barolo in Barolo, hiking the Alps of Bardonnechia to dine on Polenta Concia. We spent a little time in Briancón France where I was introduced to Raclette and life was never the same. My Husband–and I must stop here and say, I KNOW I’m a lucky Midwest American kid–decided it was time I saw Venice. Off we went to the floating city mid Carnevale, were fled the tourist in favor of the locals and cecheti.

Enjoying Polenta Concia in Refuge i Re Magi

Briancón France

Fresh baked and scrapped Raclette

Capturing Venice

Local Family Cicchetti

Delighted in Venice

Cheese and Charcuterie at Enoiteca Al Prosecco in Venice

In Love in Venice

April & May

Relatively quiet months for travel. In April, I was flown to St. Petersburg, Florida for a job interview. Bello joined me and jointly we decided this was an option, a life to decline, but an important trip we recalled with fondness. It got us talking about life, the future, what we wanted and where we wanted to live.

As a couple, we decided to prioritize freedom from corporate life and having the ability to travel more over our Manhattan lifestyle. Choosing to continue my efforts to work for myself and not sell out and go back to the well paid but highly stressful media world, we knew we were ready to make big changes. Moving to Jersey City in May, we cut our annual housing expenses nearly $20,000. With our new budget flexibility, we spent the rest of the year traveling as much of the world as we could.

Barcade in Jersey City

Contemplating a Life in Florida

Docks in Jersey City

June & July

To celebrate our dedication to freedom, travel we did, joining Bello’s parents in Paris to celebrate his Father’s 75th Birthday. I fell in love with Croissants and began to imagine our lives incomplete without living a Parisians lifestyle… at least for a while. We worked our way up through Bruges to Amsterdam stopping at the small towns of Ghent and Delft in-between. We wrapped the trip in Brussels with a Champagne toast at breakfast to celebrate the news, that Paolo Ferraris Colors had just that morning, sold another piece.

Returning home, I launched myself into a collaboration with a friends company to work as a contractor with a great title on the digital strategy for Cornell University Alumni Affairs. A monster project, I spent many hours working from home with every other week in Ithaca, New York. July was slower again, but when Bello’s camera went on the fritz and a repair location took him towards the water in New York, we figured let’s make a trip of it and ended up in Fire Island… why not they have beaches there!

Dreaming of Paris

Obligatory but Happy Eiffel Tower Shot

Fun with Mom & Dad

Beer Stop in Ghent

Cock’s Fresh Truck in Bruges

Nighttime in Bruges

Canals of Amsterdam

In Love, In Travel, In Life

Cheesy in Deflt

Fire Island… Why Not?

August & September

Now these two months were big travel months, even for us. We celebrated our first year as happy newly weds in Cartagena Colombia. The heat and humidity beat us into submission of a slow, leisurely, romantic pace. Morning explorations lead to Ceviche lunches and afternoon siestas. Oxtail dinners followed by sunset rooftop toasts became the slow dance of our days.

Domestically, we adopted our inner Goonies and found ourselves uttering “It’s TIME for an IPA!” each afternoon in Portland. They say “keep Portland weird” yet we found ourselves wondering, could this be a place we move to stay one day? Within a 90 minute drive you either hit one of the most beautiful costal areas of the US, wine country, Mt. St. Helen’s or Mt. Hood. If you stay in this mid-sized city, you can get anywhere in about 20 minutes and eat some of the best food around.

For my Sister’s Birthday, we swung a trip up to Gaylord, Michigan. Nothing beats the dreaded sense of aging better than watching your Sister toss her son full of giggles into the lake behind their house. Except watching your Husband take countless photos of your Niece and Nephew and know full well, he’ll soon make them a gift to your Sister to thank her for her hospitality.

Cartagena Colombia’s Walled City

Streets of Cartagena Colombia

For the Love of Heat

Sunset on the rooftop of Hotel Ananda

Goonies Rocks Cannon Beach Oregon

Oregon Coast

Crab Roll at Little Bird

Beer and Music at EaT Oyster Bar

Trillium Lake

Bright eyed Niece

Happy Niece and Nephew

Niece and Nephew at Home

Full of giggles

October & November

Travel slowed a bit in October, giving a break to focus on work. Bello’s parents came for a visit and being the good son he is, he took them for a mini-vacation in the Smoky Mountains. Meanwhile, I began to develop my client base and landed my first contract as a Strategy Consultant. Life began to breathe into the concept of truly being free, my Husband and I both working for ourselves, it found a pulse and a heartbeat. My fear of shifting security in a bi-weekly paycheck finally died.

My family also hosted these vagabonds in Columbus, Ohio. We sipping wine with my Mother at the kitchen table reliving our travels and dreaming of more to come, a delight. We sat with Dad, finding confidence and support in our decision not to have kids, a comfort.

When storms threatened in New Jersey, we flew south for the winter spending time with kindred spirits, a Digital Power Couple and fellow Nomads Ayaz and Val in Miami.

We love our family and they us. 2014 was a year full of support, wise words and laughter.

Mom & Sis

Sipping Barolo in Barolo

Bello on the Beach

Digital Nomads Ayaz & Val

Chillin’ in Miami

The Dads

December

We ended the year in a very atypical celebration of Christmas in Burma and New Year’s in Cambodia. It will take me months to fully appreciate everything I experienced on this trip. Pagodas of Gold, Burmese easy smiles, Monks… with cell phones and selfies, soup for breakfast so good you’ll realize your American granola bars are for chumps. Sunset on a Stupa, Inle Lake a city where fishermen move in beauty, learning Italian in Burma and Cambodia… from a local guide, bananas the size of my palm, sticky rice, gold, gold gold, beautiful ruin, entire families on bikes, boarding passes with no name. Spending one night in Bangkok and traveling for 2 days with 4 flights and a 6 hour drive… on a Cambodian road with pit stops by stalls where they sell fried tarantula… as a snack.

This trip was a tribute for my Husband to his parents, having years ago planned the trip. Sadly, the shifting political climate changed and their hopes were dashed. He wished for years to make it up to them and go, and so in this year when we freed ourselves from the corporate shackles, we did. I’m fortunate that they consider me not just their son’s wife, but family and brought me along.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Burma

Inle Lake

Pagoda Fields in Burma

Stupa Sunset

Burmese Ease

Burmese Taxi

Families on Wheels

Golden Pagoda

Christmas in Burma

Family of Explorers

Bello in Angkor Wat

Beautiful Ruin of Ta Prohm Angkor Wat Cambodia

Monks Posing for their Own Selfie

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Somehow through all the traveling we were able to work, grow closer and learn more about ourselves and ultimately each other. With a year like 2014, I couldn’t escape spending hours, days writing this blog, there was so much to be thankful for. Most of all, I’m thankful to one man, my present and my future, my Amore della mia vita, my Bello.

Amore della mia vita

Countless Outbursts of Genuine Happiness Each year, my Husband creates a gift that shows more love for me as his wife than an acceptance speech co-written by George Clooney and Tom Hanks.

#My Journey

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years

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7 Travel Books Worth Reading Right Now (and How to Get a Cheap Kindle)

I’ve been picking up a lot of random books in bookstores lately. This can often be hit or miss. I can’t count the times I’ve picked up books only to go “Well, that was terrible.” However, this current stretch has produced some wonderful books and, since it’s been a while since I’ve done a best-books round-up, I think it’s time again! I spend a lot of time on buses, trains, and planes and use that time to devour books so, without further ado, here are seven books worth your time:

1. All Over the Place, by Geraldine DeRuiter Geraldine, aka The Everywhereist, is a hilarious writer (and friend). This book chronicles her travels, anxieties, and relationship with her husband Rand (who is as cool as the book makes him out to be). It really is all over the place – but in a good way. Though I found the book to be less about travel and more about her relationship, it more than lived up to all my expectations. I’m a huge fan of Geraldine’s writing, wit, snark, and humor and this book delivered all of that. I mean who else can make a poop story so damn funny? If you love her blog, you’ll love this book. (And if you don’t know about her blog, well, read that too.) This book was wonderful and devoured it in a couple of sittings.

2. The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World, by Torre DeRoche I loved Torre’s first book, Love with a Chance of Drowning, about her cross-Pacific adventure with her then-boyfriend. I had the pleasure of getting an advance copy of her second book (and I loved it so much I even wrote a blurb for it!) Whereas the last book was an adventure into the world, this book is an adventure into the self. After meeting the lovely Masha at an event in NYC, Torre meets up with Masha in Europe, where they decide to walk the Via Francigena trail in Italy and then follow Gandhi’s walking route in India. Along the way, Torre encounters snakes, shamans, rude travelers, friendly strangers, and a universe seemingly trying to point her in the right direction. This book is just as fabulously well written and engaging as her first. I grew to love it more with every page — and I can’t recommend it enough.

3. Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World, by Joan Druett Auckland Island, located 285 miles south of New Zealand, is a place with year-round freezing rain, wind, and little food (but apparently a lot of seals). Simply put, it’s not a place you want to get shipwrecked on. Yet in 1864, Captain Thomas Musgrave and his crew did just that — and a few months later, on the opposite side of the island, so did the crew of the Scottish ship Invercauld. This well-written account of the how the two crews survived (and didn’t survive) was a wonderful juxtaposition on leadership, camaraderie, and coming together in crisis. It’s not a long book. It took me a few days to read but it was compelling, captivating, and an excellent reminder of the importance of keeping one’s composure in a crisis.

4. Dispatches from Pluto, by Richard Grant As a big fan of the state of Mississippi, I was really keen to read this book. The state is an often-overlooked tourist destination with eccentric but wonderful people; beautiful parks, rivers, and swamps; stunning architecture; and a complex and rich history for history buffs like myself. In this book, English writer Richard Grant and his girlfriend move to rural Pluto, Mississippi, to live a better life, escape the big city, lower their cost of living, and try something new. They learn to hunt, garden, fend off wild animals, handle snakes, and befriend interesting characters along the way. Grant dives into the contradictions of this state — from race relations and class to education, food, family, and everything in between. This book was incredible, nails Mississippi, and is a must, must, must read.

5. The Palace of the Snow Queen: Winter Travels in Lapland, by Barbara Sjoholm Barbara Sjoholm set off one winter to explore this arctic region — then spent two more coming back and learning about it more. In the process, she unearths the region’s rich history and dives into the tension between tourism, mining, and land use. Her book dives deep into the Samis, local indigenous population and their struggle to maintain their culture in the modern era. As a lover of all things Scandinavian, it was really nice to read about an area and people of the region not often given the attention they deserve. As much as I thought I knew about this region, reading this book taught me a lot – and showed me how much I still had to learn. Well written and insightful, you should definitely pick up this book.

6. The Not-Quite States of America, by Doug Mack The United States of America is more than just 50 states. There’s also the non-states of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In this funny, detailed, fact-rich book, Doug Mack explores these territories largely forgotten by the rest of the country, which play a more important role in our country than we realize. I had the pleasure of listening to Doug talk about his book in NYC, and he’s a wealth of knowledge — just like his book! This one of those travel books that expands your mind about the place you don’t really know. In many ways it reminded me of The Geography of Bliss in its approach. If you liked that book, you’ll like this book too!

7. The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca, by Tahir Shah Inspired by the Moroccan vacations of his childhood, Shah decides to buy a house in Casablanca. He moves his family from England in hopes of breaking out from the monotony of life in London as well as exposing his children to a more carefree childhood. I randomly picked this up in a bookstore and couldn’t put it down. Shah is an engrossing writer and I was glued to every word. While dealing with corruption, the local bureaucracy, thieves, gangsters, jinns causing havoc, and the hassle that seems to come with even the most simple interactions, Shah weaves a story that is simply one of the best I’ve read all year. It’s beautifully written and endlessly enthralling. You must go buy this book!

Finally, in partnership with Amazon, I have some Amazon Kindle discounts to give away. I don’t carry a Kindle (I’m old-school and like paper), but since the Kindle is a traveler’s friend, I think this is a good deal with sharing! If you’re looking to get a Kindle, you can save $20 off one of the bundles below with the code KINDLETRAVEL. The offer is good until 9/17/17.

Kindle Essential Bundle

Paperwhite Essential Bundle

Paperwhite Travel Bundle

That’s all for today! Happy reading!

And if you have suggestions, leave them in the comments, as I’m always looking to add books to my Amazon queue that I binge-buy on weekends!

The post 7 Travel Books Worth Reading Right Now (and How to Get a Cheap Kindle) appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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jakehallen-blog · 8 years

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Spring Break: UK + Ireland

Just when I thought I could sit down and relax, I was wrong! What a week it has been! You’re probably thinking, well it’s about time that we get to read another blog post. I know, I know, it has been ages! As the saying goes, good things take time. This applies to my absence from posting within the past couple of weeks. So let’s get right to it! As my fellow peers and friends jetted off to warm places such as Italy, Greece, and Spain, I, along with my good friend Bridget, decided to be different and I’m so glad we did. Bridget and I met each other during our freshman year of college at Fisher. We were ecstatic when we both found out that we were accepted into the AIFS Study Abroad program back in September. Fast forward to now, and we have awesome memories to share with you all regarding our week-long Spring Break trip to Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Wales. So we embarked on our 9-day journey by taking a 6-hour train ride from London to Edinburgh, Scotland. As I looked out the window when we arrived in Scotland, all I could see were hoards of sheep, and I mean a lot of sheep. Along with livestock were luscious green landscapes and seeing that reminded me of home, in other words, a nice change of scenery from the London cityscape. We arrived in Edinburgh around 7PM and stayed two nights at a church, which had been converted into a hostel. A hostel is a location, which provides inexpensive food and lodging typically for students or travelers who are trying to budget their money. To some this may not seem very appealing, it wasn’t to me at first but I eventually warmed up to it. While the sleeping arrangements typically had 4, 6, or 12 roommates, it was an awesome way to meet new people and learn about different cultures and experiences that others were able to share. At the Edinburgh hostel, Bridget and I met three high school students from Northern Scotland. They were very kind and gave us suggestions on sites to see. They shared their insight on Scottish culture, more specifically the education system. This conversation occurred mainly because they were high school students and wanted to know about our studies. So the next day we got up early and set out to explore the city. At our first stop, we visited the Elephant House Café which was where the famous Author of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, sat and found inspiration for the Harry Potter book series while she sipped on coffee and tea and stared out the back window, which faced the Edinburgh Castle.

Pictured at top: Me atop of Arthur’s Seat

Pictured: The Elephant House Café

Next, we visited a nearby cemetery of famous philosophers, writers, and poets who were born or resided in Edinburgh. The cemetery also inspired J.K. Rowling so much that she named some characters in the books after names on tombstones within the cemetery. As we walked down the Royal Mile, the main road of the city, we walked by a scarf shop where I decided to go in and buy a lambswool scarf to keep me warm for the rest of the trip. Every place I go I buy at least one souvenir specifically tailored to each city. One of Edinburgh’s major exports is lambswool and I’ve always wanted a nice scarf so I thought, why not. Next, we headed to climb Arthur’s Seat, the main mountain in Edinburgh, which was at one time a volcano and gets its name from King Arthur. The views of the city from the top were absolutely breathtaking and worth the exhaustion from the climb. Remember the scarf I bought prior, yeah, that beautiful accessory came off pretty quickly as I climbed the mountain nearly about to sweat to death and pass out. If anyone knows me well enough, they know that I tend to avoid lots of physical activity.

Pictured: View from Arthur’s Seat

Pictured: Bridget and me atop of Arthur’s Seat

We definitely got our steps in for that day and even trekked over to the castle to get an up-close view. An interesting fact about the castle is that a royal castle has been at that same location since the 12th century and archeologists have concluded that human occupancy of the location dates back to 2nd century AD. Needless to say, it is definitely an amazing place to visit for sure and I highly recommend it.

Pictured: Edinburgh Castle

Pictured: Scottish Bagpiper

Pictured: Edinburgh’s most expensive apartment building (my favorite in terms of architecture-I have expensive taste)

The next day we departed Edinburgh and traveled by plane to Belfast, Northern Ireland. We arrived in the evening and ventured out into the city to the main area where shops, pubs, and restaurants were located. We grabbed dinner and strolled the streets looking at the art sculptures.

Pictured: The Spirit of Belfast

We spent one night in Belfast at a hostel, which appeared to be an old college dorm building. Bridget and I came to such a conclusion due to the fact that one of Belfast’s largest University’s was directly behind the building we were staying in. Luckily, the room we stayed in only had two extra people. Our roommates for the night were two young men, one from France and the other from Switzerland. We talked with them for a while and actually learned that the French guy had recently moved to London and in fact lives only two tube stops away from us. As for the Swiss guy, we learned that he lived in a small village where most of the people who reside there only speak Swiss-German. At that point in the trip, I began to realize that staying in hostels is actually quite interesting. The next day we caught a bus to the picturesque Belfast Castle, located just North of the city. The original Belfast Castle was actually built in the center of the city but unfortunately burned down in 1708 and was later rebuilt in 1811 at its present location and was designed by a Scottish man.

Pictured: Belfast Castle

Pictured: Me in front of Belfast Castle sporting my new scarf

Later that day we journeyed down to the bay area and visited the Titanic Museum. The exhibit was incredible. I learned that at the time, Belfast was home to the largest port and ship export in the UK and most of Europe. During the Great Famine of Ireland, many people flocked to Belfast in search of work, ultimately building the Titanic quickly because of the influx of migrant workers.

Pictured: Titanic Museum (Titanic Belfast)

Pictured: Sign outside the Museum

After visiting the museum we headed to the train station where we boarded our train heading towards Dublin, Ireland. We arrived in Dublin around dinner time needed to switch trains in order to head to Galway, Ireland for a couple of days. Now remember, I usually do not like too much physical activity but somehow Bridget convinced me to walk 45 minutes from one train station to the other. Mind you, I had a 50lb duffle bag on my shoulder and it began to downpour halfway through the walk. It was then that I regretted not hopping in a cab to take me to the other side of town to catch the train. When we got to the train station I found a minute to breathe and also discovered a “Supermacs” which is the Irish version of McDonald’s. I thought to myself, ya know, I deserve to be rewarded with a crispy chicken sandwich, large fry, and a tasty coke. Even though I am abroad and have grown as a person, I haven’t changed at all! So we arrived in Galway in the later evening and headed directly for the hostel. We checked in and whipped open the door of our room and as if the night couldn’t get more stressful, we discovered that we would have to room the next two nights with an entire men’s rugby team. Oh my heavens did that room ever smell. On the bright side, we signed up for a tour the next day and had to get up early for to catch the bus. So at least we only were in the room to sleep and get ready in the morning. The next day we set out for the Cliffs of Moher. The tour lasted all day and our tour guide as amazing. A very intelligent older man who has been a tour guide for over 30 years taught us everything from the history of castles to the significance behind the concept of roof thatching on homes all across Ireland. We visited the first castle in Ireland but unfortunately weren’t able to go inside it because it was closed. Nevertheless, it was absolutely stunning.

Pictured: Dunguaire Castle

Pictured: Home with a thatched roof

We arrived at the Cliffs of Moher in the afternoon and had a couple of hours to walk around the cliffs. I, of course, needed a full-blown photo shoot and forced Bridget to take lots of photos of me on my camera. I got very close to the edge and even sat on it. I’m still here and alive so that’s a great sign.

Pictured: Cliffs of Moher

Pictured: Me atop of the Cliffs of Moher

Pictured: Galway Bay

While walking along the cliffs we talked with a guy by the name of Adam who was also on vacation and on the tour as well. We introduced ourselves and talked quite a bit throughout the remainder of the trip. We learned that he was in his mid-twenties, originally from Florida, and had recently moved to Germany to work as a mechanic for the U.S. Air Force. When we arrived back in Galway that evening we exchanged social media profiles. Later that night he messaged us and invited us to meet up with him for dinner, we thought why not. So we went and had a great time. We went to a local pub and I even tried Guinness for the first time. It was really good. I also had fish n chips for dinner. When we were finished Adam was so generous that he offered to pay and we politely tried to tell him that it wasn’t necessary but he insisted. It’s truly a great feeling to realize that there are still very kind people out there these days. The next day we departed from Galway by train back to Dublin to spend the next two nights in another hostel. While in Dublin we visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Trinity College, and even had dinner at the Celt Bar where there was live music. We also visited the Kilmainham Gaol, which was a prison that held leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising and also was the location of their executions. On a lighter note, during our last night in Dublin, Adam messaged us on Facebook and told us that he had just arrived in Dublin and had extra tickets to the Country to Country Music Festival which was going on that night. He offered them to us and didn’t expect us to pay him back. Once again he insisted we join him, so we did. It was an amazing time. The major performers of the night were the Zac Brown Band. If you ever get the chance to see them, I highly recommend, they were very good live. While at the concert we introduced ourselves to the group of people who stood next do us during the concert. We learned that the couple were originally from Sydney, Australia and had moved to London for work. The other two people in the group were from Germany and were clearly major fans of not only country music but also the band performing. We danced with them, jammed out all night, and had an awesome time.

Pictured: Dublin Castle

Pictured: Trinity College

Pictured: Me in the Irish Modern Art Museum Gardens

Pictured: Kilmainham Gaol

Pictured: St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Pictured: The three of us at the concert

Pictured: Performers at the Celt Bar

The next day we left Dublin and traveled by plane to Cardiff, Wales for our last stop on our trip. When we arrived I instantly got a feeling that I would adore the city. A small seaside city, Cardiff gained its wealth due to the major amounts of coal that were mined and exported there. The hostel we stayed at for the night was so charming that I also highly recommend staying there. Originally built as an office building the inside of the building has original staircases, dark wood molding, and eye-catching wallpaper. The entire place was decorated with antiques, so basically very similar to my taste in decorating. It clearly makes sense as to why I loved it so much. So the next day, Bridget and I decided to part ways because she wanted to visit the Doctor Who Museum and I wanted to visit Cardiff Castle and knew we wouldn’t be able to fit in both since our train left that night. I visited the castle and toured the inside of the Keep, or the tower on the hill which over looks the castle. Luckily, I was able to visit the inside of the castle, which was so incredible. The photos fail to give it justice but I absolutely loved it.

Pictured: The Keep

Pictured: Cardiff Castle

Pictured: The inside of the castle

In the afternoon, Bridget and I met up at Cardiff Bay and spend the afternoon there and grabbed some great food and took in the beauty of the parks and water. We also went inside of the Pierhead building, often referred to as the “Big Ben of Cardiff,” naturally, I adored it.

Pictured: Cardiff Bay

Pictured: Pierhead Building

Pictured: Me in front of the Pierhead Building

Reflecting on my Spring break adventure, I realize that I am beyond blessed and am so thankful to have such amazing opportunities to see this beautiful world and discover all that it has to offer. During my trip I often found myself thinking long and hard about all the things that make me happy and it is my hope that I can in return give back by making others happy in everything that I do. I enjoy sharing my adventures with everyone and truly appreciate the support and kindness that I have received throughout my life. I’ll keep on continuing to smile and I hope you do as well. Keep following along. Itchy Feet is on the move!! Much love. XX

#studyabroad #aifsabroad #springbreak #uk #ireland

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topfygad · 5 years

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The French Wars – Napoleon In Austria

For the Austrian Empire the French Wars, or Napoleonic Wars, experienced devastating effects. Before you stop by the Austrian money, get the story about Napoleon Bonaparte in Vienna, and where by to trace him.

Why Did France Declare War On Austria?

Shortly after Emperor Franz I had fashioned the 3rd Coalition with Russia, Britain and other nations to fight Napoleon in 1804, the French Emperor topped himself King of Italy. In response to this, it was rather Emperor Franz I who declared War on Napoleon. Later on on, this War later turned known as the War of the Third Coalition.

Napoleon And The Habsburgs

Initially, the Habsburgs and their advisers imagined that their alliance with Russia would deter Napoleon. Since of that they did likely not sufficiently equip and practice their military. In addition, Napoleon was considered to attack Austria from Italy. When he inevitably chose the route through Germany, his army managed to defeat the Austrians easily at the Fight of Ulm between 25th September and 20th Oct 1805.

In truth, Napoleon Bonaparte defeated Vienna and the Habsburg Empire 2 times for the duration of his enlargement throughout Europe. In 1805, Austrian Emperor Franz II, who later on became Franz I, shed in opposition to Napoleon in the Fight of Austerlitz in Moravia (in the South of what is these days the Czech Republic), with each other with his ally Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Even though Archduke Charles experienced reformed the Austrian military in 1801 and the Austrian cavalry savored an unrivalled popularity in Europe, the Austrian infantery and cavalry operated in a fragmented way and had been not as efficient.

Napoleon In Vienna

During the French Wars, Napoleon stayed several instances at Schönbrunn Palace in 1805 and 1809, which he chose as his headquarters. The home in which he was reported to have slept is now called Napoleon home.

Apart from loosing territories such as the Tyrol, Venetia and Fore Austria, and spending 40 million francs of indemnity, Emperor Franz abdicated from the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire. It was then in 1806, that the Holy Roman Empire finished after nearly 900 yrs (962-1806).

In 1809 Austria all over again declared war on France and was defeated, this time getting rid of Salzburg and areas of Higher Austria to Bavaria. But not only that: this time, France also obtained Triest, sections of Carinthia and Jap Tyrol.

Why did a Habsburg princess marry the French warlord when he had just defeated her Empire? To pacify Napoleon, Emperor Franz’ daughter Archduchess Marie Louise of Habsburg had to marry Napoleon in the identical 12 months. In this painting by Georges Rouget exhibits Napoleon marries Marie Louise (1810).

The House Of Schwarzenberg In The French Wars

Who led the Allied Forces through the Battle of Nations? It was Austrian army officer Feldmarschall Karl Philipp Prince zu Schwarzenberg, who was commander in main. To give you an notion of the Schwarzenberg dynasty’s energy, the Household of Schwarzenberg owns Palais Schwarzenberg in Vienna, and a palais of the exact name in Prague, amid a series of other castles predominantly in Bohemia. Involving 2007 and 2013, his past descendant, Karel VII served two intervals as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, having earlier served as the President of the Council of the European Union.

References to Napoleon and the French Wars In Vienna

When you pay a visit to Schönbrunn Palace in the course of a Grand Tour, you will move through the Napoleon room, where by the French Emperor stayed for the duration of his time in Vienna. His viewers chamber was the Hall of Ceremonies and the Porcelain area was his research. The Blue Chinese Salon served as his drawing home.

At Palais Lobkowitz, which now homes Vienna’s Theater Museum, the Eroica Corridor reminds indirectly of Napoleon. In the beginning, Ludwig van Beethoven preferred to dedicate his 3rd Symphony to Napoleon, the hero of the French Revolution. The premiere was set to consider position in Lobkowitz Palace’s splendid hall. When Beethoven figured out, nonetheless, that Napoleon had topped himself Emperor, he vividly scratched out his determination.

At gothic Minorite Church, you can see a mosaic copy of the Final Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. As a subject of actuality, Napoleon had commissioned this piece with Italian artist Giacomo Raffaelli. Subsequently, Emperor Franz I purchased the mosaic. Due to the fact it was as well substantial for the Belvedere gallery, the Last Supper now hangs on the church’s Northern wall.

again to Vienna Historical past – 11 Essential Milestones You Have to have to Know discover much more What To Do In Vienna – 15 Essential Vacation Setting up Blocks want a bespoke itinerary of historic insight into Vienna? examine out Vienna Unwrapped’s private excursion organizing companies again to Vienna Unwrapped homepage

Very last Current on March 15, 2020

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albinohare · 6 years

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6 Cities to Watch in 2019

When it comes to maximizing the investment of your next home, it’s all about looking ahead. Whether via captivating sporting events or a sudden influx of cultural cachet, certain cities surface each year as having a timely je ne sais quois. With added insights on three top cities from real estate expert and industry insider Michael Valdes, Senior Vice President of Global Servicing for Realogy, here are six cities to keep on your watch list for 2019.

Tokyo, Japan

List Sotheby’s International Realty

As the hypermodern Asian megacity prepares to host the Summer Olympics for the second time since 1964, all the world’s eyes seem to be on Tokyo, with many international investors vying for a spot in Asia’s global epicenter of modernity. “The amount of development that is happening is extraordinary,” notes Valdes of his first recommendation. “What’s more interesting is the amount of outside developers coming in wanting to participate in the city’s continuous progress.” A network of labyrinthine streets ensures that exploration is endless, and you’re never more than five seconds from stumbling headfirst into an amazing meal or cultural experience. Pass a perfect Sunday in the city, and then retreat from the noise in this refined unit under construction in Chiyoda, where skyline views and multiple metro stations are close at hand.

Mexico City, Mexico

Alejandra Romo, Mexico Sotheby’s International Realty

When it comes to a best recent vacation experience, Mexico City seems to be the destination on everyone’s mind—and Valdes is no exception. A city equal parts cosmopolitan and hospitable, the country’s capital has undergone something of a modern renaissance; its art, culture, and culinary scenes are all seemingly lifted by a reinvigorated spirit. Whether discovering temples, colorful neighborhoods, or taquerias, so much of the city is best explored by foot, meaning a well-positioned home is highly favorable, and with a peak season conveniently located between March and May, you can enjoy prime weather while much of the world is still waking up from winter.

Lisbon, Portugal

Jose Gorjao, Portugal Sotheby’s International Realty

We’ve already tagged Lisbon as a wonderful city to spend a Sunday in, and 2019 in no way diminishes this city’s pull. This historical capital city is frequently recognized as one of the world’s top cities, with its shopping, seafood, and beaches drawing in travelers. “The makeup of the city has changed, with this beautiful, rich cultural diversity that has come in,” says Valdes. “When you see a city as vibrant as Lisbon and then you add the star factor of someone like Madonna buying a large residence there, you’re putting a lot of attention on the city particularly and the country as a whole.” Take up residence in the heart of the attention in this distinguished street-level home, whose four floors feature frescoes, domed halls, and Juliet balconies. The bright rooms and lush gardens will have you feeling at home in Lisbon in no time.

Hobart, Tasmania

Jason Harbottle, Tasmania Sotheby’s International Realty

Beyond insider intel, there are several cities that are creating buzz all on their own. And one of these is Hobart, Tasmania. Thanks to a bursting food scene, a frenzy of art and music festivals, and magical natural landscapes, the 26,000-square-mile island of Tasmania is experiencing something of a cultural reawakening. Here, sprawling farmhouses and oceanfront villas dot the coast, providing peaceful respites from the pulsating energy of a cultural hotspot on the rise. In capital city Hobart, historic fisherman’s cottages and the buzzy Museum of Old & New Art welcome tourists, while heritage homes and stunning acreages await the adventurous owner. With an opposing summer season to much of the Northern Hemisphere, purchasing a second or third home on the island means it’s possible to enjoy summer year-round.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Charles Phillpot, Sri Lanka Sotheby’s International Realty

The relatively small island nation of Sri Lanka punches well above its weight when it comes to travel appeal. A diverse range of spectacular landscapes and unique cultures have earned it a number-one spot on Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel 2019. Where else in the world can you surf soft-sand beaches, hike emerald-carpeted highlands, and explore centuries-old Buddhist ruins in the same day? Start in Colombo, where colonial-era buildings blend with with sparkling new builds, and be sure to set aside time to appreciate the city’s traditional red-and-white brick architecture and dine at the new Shangri-La. For a more rural experience, travel down the coast to fishing village Kathaluwa, where an ayurvedic spa villa offers a vista unlike anywhere else. No matter where you choose to roam, you’ll find that Colombo and its neighbors are real contenders.

Matera, Italy

Diletta Giorgolo S., Italy Sotheby’s International Realty

It is Italy’s Matera that has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2019, and with events and installations planned throughout the year, the city is certainly worth your time. But the savvy buyer might head north to coastal Bari before planting their Italian roots.

Despite being the second-largest town in Southern Italy, this sparkling seaside port city feels relatively secret. Bari boasts a profusion of white-washed hill towns, restaurants offering understated yet perfected dishes, and narrow cobblestone streets ideal for taking in the city’s rich culture at your own pace. A siren song for history lovers, there’s no dearth of romantic options on the city’s real estate market, where you can find dreamy historic homes like this 18th-century villa. Averaging 300 sunny days a year with a mild, Mediterranean climate, the city makes an ideal choice for those looking for all of the sun of the south without the humidity of the tropics.

Choosing where to purchase your next vacation home isn’t as simple as stopping your finger on a spinning globe. Whether you’re looking to be in the center of a cultural capital or to get as remote as humanly possible, the decision is deeply personal. But if you’re looking to maximize investment by getting in on a soon-to-be hotspot, these cities might just be the ones to watch.

Looking to fully unplug? Investigate these four healing holiday destinations before diving in to the best 2019 has to offer.

The post 6 Cities to Watch in 2019 appeared first on Sotheby's International Realty | Blog.

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easytravelpw-blog · 6 years

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Full text write on https://easy-travel.pw/how-to-get-around-belgium-like-a-local/belgium/

How to Get Around Belgium Like a Local

01 of 04

Belgium Tourism Map Showing Rail Lines

James Martin

Belgium, grouped with Luxembourg and the Netherlands to make up the Benelux countries, is a fascinating tourism destination. It's a required side trip on the Grand Tour for beer and chocolate lovers. The landscape is a lush green, and it's flat for easy rural walking. There are plenty of castles and gardens to keep the traveler enamored with the medieval period busy.

Art lovers can be kept busy viewing the likes of the masters Peter Paul Rubens, Sir Antony van Dyck and Rene Magritte. Adolphe Sax, born in Dinant, invented the famous jazz instrument that takes his name–and jazz has become increasingly popular in Belgium in recent years.

And talk about diversity! Belgium is divided into three regions, each with language, culinary and cultural differences. The Flemish Region or Flanders occupies the north, the Walloon Region or Wallonia occupies the south, and the Brussels-Capital Region is central to Belgium.

Belgium doesn't seem to take the standard prizes in the “What's the best place in Europe to visit?” popularity sweepstakes, which is why I tend to think of it as Europe's Best Kept Travel Secret.

Compact Belgium

One of the great things about visiting Belgium is its diminutive size and the interesting cities crammed together so they're just a short train ride from each other. You won't spend a lot of time (or money) getting from one destination to another. Plus, it's very easy to get to London and Paris as well as other destinations in Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

The Thalys high speed train whisks you from Brussels to Paris in about an hour and a half. Brussels to London takes a little over two hours. You can be in Cologne, Germany from Brussels on the cheaper normal trains in under three hours.

Belgium Cities and towns

The major cities popular with tourists are Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent, and Antwerp, followed by smaller cities like Liège, Dinant, Damme, Mechelen, and Mon.

Belgium is also a focal point for World War I sites, many including remnants of the rather brutal trench warfare as in the Trench of Death in Dixmude.

Where to Stay

Belgium has a wide range of accommodations. There are usually hotels near train stations, many budget, a few seedy. You may inspect a hotel before committing to it. There are many hostels in larger cities like Brussels.

Belgium has many self-catering accommodations, from small apartments to sprawling villas for large families and groups. Self-catering can save money over renting hotel rooms, especially for families. HomeAway lists almost 400 vacation rentals in Belgium (book direct).

Farm stays are popular with those who like the rural environment; we enjoyed our stay at Hoeve Spreeuwenburg.

What to Eat and Drink in Belgium

Frites -or the misnamed “french” fries. Pretty much the national dish, except for the superb waterzooi. You have them with mayonnaise. Find: The Best Belgian Frites

Waterzooi-from a Flemish word meaning “simmering water” comes a hearty stew of local fish (or chicken) with vegetables and herbs, often enriched by a trio of the kitchen god's best: butter, egg yolks and cream.

Carbonnades – meat cooked with brown beer, the national dish of Belgium. (Cabonnades Flamandes recipe)

Belgian Endive – White Gold, an endive kept in darkness for most of its life. Often served braised (recipe)

Chocolate – Belgian Chocolate! Yes, it goes without saying. See: The Best Belgian Chocolate Shops Travel Guide

Beer – Aficionados of Bud Lite need not read further. The rest of you who like variety and flavor must try one of these: Lambic Ale, Abbey and Trappist Ale, Witbier (wheat), Sour Ale, Brown Ale, Amber Ale, or Strong Golden Ale. You can even order Pilsner. See: Belgian Beer Styles and Food Pairings.

Languages

The language spoken in the northern region of Flanders speak Dutch. People in the southern region, Wallonia, speak French. German is spoken in the East near the German Border. English is widely spoken in main tourist areas.

If you would like to learn a few words of Dutch, there are online resources enabling you to do so. One of them is SpeakDutch.

Transportation to and within Belgium

Brussels Airport, east of Brussels, is the only international airport in Belgium. “Taxis with a taximeter are permanently available in front of the arrivals hall. The fare from the airport to the city centre of Brussels is normally around € 45. Licensed taxis can be recognized by the blue and yellow emblem. Travellers are advised to avoid unlicensed taxis!” There is also bus service.

Getting to Belgium – By Train

The Eurostar goes between Brussels and London and fast TGV trains link Brussels with Paris and Amsterdam. There is a Benelux rail pass available as well as one which adds France, and one which adds Germany (buy direct). See Our Belgium Map and Travel Essentials for more detailed transportation information.

Belgium is served by an extensive rail system as you can see in the map above. The Belgian Railway is called the SNCB and its website is here. Many discounts and passes are offered to the tourist or occasional traveler.

The fast trains in Belgium are the TGV trains. They run on three routes shown in red on the map. The red Thalys high-speed train links Paris to Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne and Dusseldorf.

Railpasses: A Benelux Tourrail Pass is good for five days unlimited rail travel throughout Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands within a one month period. Two adults traveling together get a discount. The Youth Pass will save money for folks younger than 26. A France-Belgium-Luxembourg-Netherlands Pass is also available.

The Eurostar will take you quickly from London to Brussels and other cities in Belgium.

There is direct bus transportation from the airport to Antwerp, Eindhoven (Sabena) and to Rotterdam (Virgin Express).

There are about 150,000 miles of highways in Belgium. You will need a car to take you to the smaller villages.

When to Go

Belgium enjoys a moderate climate. It rains frequently but for short durations in most of Belgium. For an overview of climate throughout the year in some of Belgium's most popular destinations see the interactive map at Belgium Travel Weather.

Etiquette and Culture in Belgium

Visitors to Belgium might be concerned about cultural habits and etiquette, especially when business is part of the plan. Executive Planet has information on the most common situations that might get you in trouble.

For insight into the Belgian identity see: Belgium: Society, Character, and Culture.

Restaurants in Belgium

A restaurant in Belgium is a pretty elegant eating place. If you're looking for something a little more informal, look for a bistro, café, restaurant-café, or brasserie. While food is relatively expensive in Belgium, you can also find broodjeswinkel (sandwich shops), or pannekoekhuije (pancake houses) offering good bargains in food.

Lunch is generally served from 12 to 3pm and dinner from 7 to 10 pm.

A “menu” refers to the special of the day.

See the food section of our Belgium article for what to look for in the way of food and drink.

Service charges are included in hotel, restaurant, shopping bills and taxi fares. Belgians commonly round up the total amount to determine the tip.

Alison Wellner, our guide to Culinary travel, recommends the 6 Belgian Food Experiences for Travelers.

Currency in Belgium

The currency in Belgium is the Euro. At the time the Euro was adopted, its value was set at 44.3399 Belgian Francs.

Continue to 2 of 4 below.

02 of 04

Belgian Chocolate and How It Became Popular

James Martin

You have checked into your hotel. Bags have been dumped on the bed, a map has been procured from the front desk, and off you go.

It won't be more than 5 minutes before you will encounter a shop with things made of chocolate. Yes, there are little shells like you'll encounter in Guylian chocolates–but there are way more tempting ways to market chocolate for some people: if you don't want your children to gander upon the lusty wonders as you see in the picture, you may need an opaque shopping bag to throw over their heads. Belgians do not flee, especially from breasts.

Belgians make a relatively pure chocolate, but so does Italy. There's a reason you think of Belgian chocolate before you think of Italian chocolate. First of all there are over 2,130 chocolate shops in little Belgium. Then there's consumption:

“According to the International Cocoa Organization, Belgium ranks number two in per capita consumption of chocolate, with Belgians enjoying an average of 11.03 kilograms per year.” ~ Belgium Chocolate.

During the 17th century Spain ruled Belgium. The Spanish consumed chocolate as a drink from chocolate they got in South America.

Once the Belgians got a taste for it, they looked for their own source. Remember the deep, dark, Belgian Congo? Yep, they exploited it for cocoa beans.

Neuhaus, Belgium's first chocolate shop, opened in Brussels in 1857. They're still kicking, and you can even order their chocolate from the US: Neuhaus Chocolates.

Continue to 3 of 4 below.

03 of 04

Antwerp Central: The Railroad Cathedral

James Martin

It wasn't so long ago that railway stations weren't tall sheds or malls with shopping and a jumble of train tracks. Even in the 1970s there were some great, elegant restaurants in some of Europe's train stations. To go to the station wasn't all a burden but an adventure.

The station that's stood out to frequent travelers is Antwerp's central station. Built between 1895 and 1905, it replaced a wooden station built in 1854 by Auguste Lambeau.

The station is surrounded by diamond and gold shops. If that wasn't enough to be reverential about, the 44-meter high glass vault reaching toward the heavens was designed by the architect J. Van Asperen.

You should visit, even if you're not going anywhere. But then again, there are compelling cities not so far from Antwerp to explore. Look at the chart of departing trains. Dreaming is planning, too.

You could, after all, head to Rotterdam to buy a warm Belgian waffle with chocolate melted on top

The Railway cathedral was recently updated, the renovation started in 1993 was completed 16 years later–in 2009. This, like the chocolate, horses, mussels in great, steaming pots, and long, rambling countryside walks are things about Belgium to remember.

Continue to 4 of 4 below.

04 of 04

Walking and Biking in the Belgian Countryside

James Martin

The picture you see above shows you just about all you need to know about the Belgian countryside near the Netherlands border. There are those horses. They are everywhere. The ground is flat. The polder landscape holds a secret: amongst those trees in the background there are waterways, and many of the waterways had tow paths which are now bike and trekking paths that criss-cross the country, even between big cities. Here are some resources:

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mappingmegan · 6 years

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Insight Vacations Country Roads of Northern Italy Tour Review https://t.co/jqzr7n4k0P via @AtlasSue https://t.co/9DdgE4hX4u

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danielanduranb · 6 years

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Complete Travel Guide to the Best International World Heritage Sites

Running round in circles like the Earth, my mind at the moment desires to explore the International World Heritage Sites that we are surrounded by. Heritage sites, that are dipped in the artistry and beauty. While there are 1073 wondrous UNESCO World Heritage Sites nestled in 163 state parties, there are some that deserve a special mention. And this blog here takes you for a heritage walk and gives you total insights about how these popular tourist places have culture and history soaked in them. So brace yourself and grab your binoculars as these World’s famous travel destinations have intricate details that are too interesting to miss.

Let’s get started with this World heritage travel guide!

Italy: A humble country that holds onto its history that stretches back like an endless ocean

Piazza del Duomo, Pisa

Like many other travellers across the globe, I too would be a little partial to Italy. Reason? Well not only this country is home to my dream tourism attraction, the Dolomites but also some of the best delicacies in the world. Coming back to the point, Italy from as far as we remember has been a cultural superpower and a major source of the Western civilization. Furthermore, the most loved Renaissance period, Roman Empire, Roman Catholic Church, Italian unification and lastly the European integration find their roots in this European country. So with this, it would be really clear that why Italy is home to 53 astounding marvels. From the Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata, Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico) to Costiera Amalfitana, this country gives you ample reasons to plan a heritage vacation in Europe.

Rock Drawings in Valcamonica

Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura * 2

Historic Centre of Florence

Piazza del Duomo, Pisa

Venice and its Lagoon

Historic Centre of San Gimignano

The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera

City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto

Crespi d’Adda

Ferrara, City of the Renaissance, and its Po Delta 3

Historic Centre of Naples

Historic Centre of Siena

Castel del Monte

Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna

Historic Centre of the City of Pienza

The Trulli of Alberobello

18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex

Archaeological Area of Agrigento

Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata

Botanical Garden (Orto Botanico), Padua

Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena

Costiera Amalfitana

Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)

Residences of the Royal House of Savoy

Su Nuraxi di Barumini

Villa Romana del Casale

Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia

Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula

Historic Centre of Urbino

Villa Adriana (Tivoli)

Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites

City of Verona

Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands)

Villa d’Este, Tivoli

Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily)

Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy

Monte San Giorgio *

Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia

Val d’Orcia

Syracuse and the Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica

Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli

Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe *

Mantua and Sabbioneta

Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes *

The Dolomites

Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.)

Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps *

Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany

Mount Etna

Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato

Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale

Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar *

China: Home to the world’s fourth ancient civilization and natural beauty at its best

Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

You might just be mainstreaming China to be directing itself around success and growth. But it’s only when you look deep enough that you realise that this East Asian country is the nurturer of the one of the oldest civilizations in the world which have culture and heritage as its two pillars of strength. Not only that, China is widely acknowledged for its remarkable cultural and natural heritage. Taking you from here to the heritage sites that are embedded in the developed and the population areas of the country, they are the true embodiment of the endless years of history lived by their ancestors. From giant panda sanctuaries to traditional villages to beautiful palaces set atop mountains, China puts forward the best of everything to you via its 52 heritage sites that portray its wealth when it comes to culture and history both.

Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

Mogao Caves

Mount Taishan

Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

The Great Wall

Mount Huangshan

Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains

Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa 7

Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde

Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu

Lushan National Park

Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area

Ancient City of Ping Yao

Classical Gardens of Suzhou

Old Town of Lijiang

Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing

Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing

Dazu Rock Carvings

Mount Wuyi

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun

Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties

Longmen Grottoes

Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System

Yungang Grottoes

Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas

Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom

Historic Centre of Macao

Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries – Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains

Yin Xu

Kaiping Diaolou and Villages

South China Karst

Fujian Tulou

Mount Sanqingshan National Park

Mount Wutai

China Danxia

Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth”

West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou

Chengjiang Fossil Site

Site of Xanadu

Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces

Xinjiang Tianshan

Silk Roads: The Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor *

The Grand Canal

Tusi Sites

Hubei Shennongjia

Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape

Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement

Qinghai Hoh Xil

Spain: A land that is a true representation of different cultures and their history

Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida

People living in Spain would only be able to explain how beautiful it is to live in a country which has a mixture of cultures. With the history dating back to the middle ages, there has to be something really special about Spain that it is blessed with so many heritage attractions. Some of it’s must visit places include the Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada 21, Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct, Garajonay National Park and many more. Plan a visit here and you will know why we love Spain.

Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada 21

Burgos Cathedral

Historic Centre of Cordoba 22

Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid

Works of Antoni Gaudí 23

Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain

Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias 24

Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches

Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct

Santiago de Compostela (Old Town)

Garajonay National Park

Historic City of Toledo

Mudejar Architecture of Aragon 25

Old Town of Cáceres

Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville

Old City of Salamanca

Poblet Monastery

Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida

Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain

Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe

Doñana National Park

Historic Walled Town of Cuenca

La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia

Las Médulas

Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona

Pyrénées – Mont Perdu *

San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries

Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde * 26

Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula

University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares

Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture

San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco

Archaeological Site of Atapuerca

Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí

Palmeral of Elche

Roman Walls of Lugo 27

Aranjuez Cultural Landscape

Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza

Vizcaya Bridge

Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe *

Teide National Park

Tower of Hercules

Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana

Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija *

Antequera Dolmens Site

France: A la la land for travellers who love historical settings and cultural sites

Palace and Park of Fontainebleau

Home to the iconic city, Paris, this ever so beautiful country doesn’t really need an introduction. Taking its share of land in western Europe, France is one of the most class apart countries which is known for its alpine villages, medieval cities and Mediterranean beaches. Taking your focus from here to the heritage sites that from the year 1979 have reserved in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, France is proud of each one of its 43 wonders where 39 are cultural wonders, 3 are natural wonders and 1 is mixed. The cultural wonders encompasses from churches, megalithic sites, castles, national parks,mountains, islands and the list goes on and on.

Chartres Cathedral

Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay

Palace and Park of Versailles

Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley

Vézelay, Church and Hill

Amiens Cathedral

Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments

Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay

Palace and Park of Fontainebleau

Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the “Triumphal Arch” of Orange

From the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, the Production of Open-pan Salt

Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe

Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve #

Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance in Nancy

Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)

Strasbourg, Grande-Île and Neustadt

Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Former Abbey of Saint-Rémi and Palace of Tau, Reims

Paris, Banks of the Seine

Bourges Cathedral

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge

Canal du Midi

Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne

Pyrénées – Mont Perdu *

Historic Site of Lyon

Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France

Belfries of Belgium and France * 8

Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion

The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes 9

Provins, Town of Medieval Fairs

Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret

Bordeaux, Port of the Moon

Fortifications of Vauban

Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems

Episcopal City of Albi

Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island

Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps *

The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape

Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin

Decorated Cave of Pont d’Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche

Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars

The Climats, terroirs of Burgundy

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement *

Taputapuātea

Germany: One of strongest economies carrying forward the essence of the Roman Empire

Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin

From the time it was shaped into a country, this European land has turned its days into a success and now it is one of the strongest economies in the world. If we take a sneak peek in its past we come to know that it was the intellectuals that rose Germany to this stature and hence was once called Das Land der Dichter und Denker which means the country of poets and thinkers. Talking about heritage sites in Germany, the country is home to a number of cultural sites which are closely linked to the Roman Empire. There are in total 42 sites out of which 38 are Cultural World Heritage Sites and the rest 3 fall under the Natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites category.

Aachen Cathedral

Speyer Cathedral

Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square

Pilgrimage Church of Wies

Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl

St Mary’s Cathedral and St Michael’s Church at Hildesheim

Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier

Frontiers of the Roman Empire * 10

Hanseatic City of Lübeck

Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin

Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch

Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System #

Maulbronn Monastery Complex

Town of Bamberg

Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg

Völklingen Ironworks

Messel Pit Fossil Site

Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau

Cologne Cathedral

Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg

Classical Weimar

Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin

Wartburg Castle

Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz

Monastic Island of Reichenau

Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen

Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar

Upper Middle Rhine Valley

Dresden Elbe Valley Delisted 2009

Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski *

Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen

Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof

Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe *

Berlin Modernism Housing Estates

Wadden Sea *

Fagus Factory in Alfeld

Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps *

Margravial Opera House Bayreuth

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe

Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey

Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement *

Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura

India: An overwhelming nation with a melange of art, culture and history

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

Diversity lies in the core of India and anyone who travels to this South Asian country would be able to pour out their heart out singing praises only. From art, philosophy, mysticism, culture, tradition, architecture there ain’t any field that India takes a step back in. That being said, its many rulers brought in their magic and added glitter to all it’s loved tourism destinations in every direction with their architectural styles. Which is quite evident in the form of temples, stepwells, forts, monuments and national parks that make up the 36 heritage sites nurtured in the country.

Agra Fort

Ajanta Caves

Ellora Caves

Taj Mahal

Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram

Sun Temple, Konârak

Kaziranga National Park

Keoladeo National Park

Manas Wildlife Sanctuary

Churches and Convents of Goa

Fatehpur Sikri

Group of Monuments at Hampi

Khajuraho Group of Monuments

Elephanta Caves

Great Living Chola Temples 12

Group of Monuments at Pattadakal

Sundarbans National Park

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi

Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi

Mountain Railways of India

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)

Red Fort Complex

The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

Western Ghats

Hill Forts of Rajasthan

Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area

Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat

Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar

Khangchendzonga National Park

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement *

Historic City of Ahmedabad

Mexico: A nation that breathes culture and is home to important civilizations in the world

Archaeological Zone of Paquimé Casas Grandes

Mexico is not that far behind when it comes to the number of heritage sites as it shelters 34 UNESCO World Heritage Sites out of which 27 are cultural, 6 are natural and 1 is mixed. Going back in time, we get to know that Mexico was the place where the Maya and Aztecs originated from, the two of the most important civilizations of all times. Apart from this, this North American Country was one of the most vital sites of the great European colonizations of the New World.

Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco

Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán

Historic Centre of Puebla

Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque

Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan

Sian Ka’an

Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines

Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza

Historic Centre of Morelia

El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City

Historic Centre of Zacatecas

Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco

Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino

Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl

Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro

Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal

Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara

Archaeological Zone of Paquimé, Casas Grandes

Historic Monuments Zone of Tlacotalpan

Archaeological Monuments Zone of Xochicalco

Historic Fortified Town of Campeche

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche

Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro

Luis Barragán House and Studio

Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California

Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila

Central University City Campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve

Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco

Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca

El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve

Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System

Archipiélago de Revillagigedo

United Kingdom: An everyday progressing nation with heritage embellished in its core

Blenheim Palace

United Kingdom had to be in this list for all the right reasons as this island nation is dotted with some of the most important cultural sites in the world. The country includes a total of 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites which includes 4 cultural heritage sites, 26 natural heritage sites and 1 mixed heritage site. The present day United Kingdom is one of the most powerful countries in the world which is gaining success all because of its capital London which is a major source of culture and finance. Some of its major attractions for historical tour are Tower of London, Blaenavon Industrial Landscape and the Frontiers of the Roman Empire.

Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd

Durham Castle and Cathedral

Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast

Ironbridge Gorge

St Kilda

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey

Blenheim Palace

City of Bath

Frontiers of the Roman Empire * 30

Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church

Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey, and St Martin’s Church

Henderson Island

Tower of London

Gough and Inaccessible Islands 31

Old and New Towns of Edinburgh

Maritime Greenwich

Heart of Neolithic Orkney

Blaenavon Industrial Landscape

Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda

Derwent Valley Mills

Dorset and East Devon Coast

New Lanark

Saltaire

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City

Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal

The Forth Bridge

Gorham’s Cave Complex

The English Lake District

Russia: Maintaining an equal balance of culture and nature from as long as one can remember

Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings

You must all be very well aware of the fact that Russia is the World’s largest nation, but little do you know of this country that borders with Europe and Asia has a great potential for tourism and cultural expeditions. Apart from the subtropical beaches and forests the country is swarmed with, there are historical sites that have been reserving their spot in the UNESCO World Heritage List. And till now are 28 in number which account for the time when it was an essential part of Kremlin and Red Square. Out of the 28 sites, there are 11 natural heritage sites and 17 cultural heritage sites. Some of the best places for heritage tourism in Russia include are the Virgin Komi Forests, Golden Mountains of Altai, Volcanoes of Kamchatka, Kizhi Pogost.

Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments

Kizhi Pogost

Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow

Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands

Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings

White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal

Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad

Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye

Virgin Komi Forests

Lake Baikal

Volcanoes of Kamchatka 20

Golden Mountains of Altai

Western Caucasus

Curonian Spit *

Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery

Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin

Central Sikhote-Alin

Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent

Uvs Nuur Basin *

Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent

Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve

Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl

Struve Geodetic Arc *

Putorana Plateau

Lena Pillars Nature Park

Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex

Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk

Landscapes of Dauria *

United States: A dream destination for history and nature lovers

San Antonio Missions

Popularly known as the land of opportunities, the United States is one of those gems of North America that has endless history etched to its land. And it’s not just the past years that gave the U.S some of the best heritage sites but also the 19th and the 20th centuries which the 23 sites account for. These heritage sites in United States find their place in 19 states and two territories that are settled in the country like Montana, Hawaii, New Mexico and California. Mesa Verde National Park and Yellowstone National Park were among the first sites to be included in the list in the year 1978.

Mesa Verde National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Everglades National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

Independence Hall

Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek # * 33

Redwood National and State Parks

Mammoth Cave National Park

Olympic National Park

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico

Statue of Liberty

Yosemite National Park #

Chaco Culture

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park #

Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville

Taos Pueblo

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park *

Papahānaumokuākea

Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point

San Antonio Missions

Iran: A country that nurtures one of the oldest civilizations

Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran

The essence of Iran lies in its culture which has not only influenced some but many top tourist destinations in the world. And that’s not all as Iran is the place where one of the oldest civilizations took place and hence it gets obvious that there are a number of heritage sites acknowledged by UNESCO. There are in total 22 sites in Iran where 21 are cultural heritage sites and only 1 is natural heritage site which includes palaces, shrines, bazaars, remnants of the great Persian Empire and historic water systems. Persepolis, Meidan Emam, Esfahan, and Tchogha Zanbil are the first ones to make it to the list and are the must visit when in Iran.

Meidan Emam, Esfahan

Persepolis

Tchogha Zanbil

Takht-e Soleyman

Bam and its Cultural Landscape

Pasargadae

Soltaniyeh

Bisotun

Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System

Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil

Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex

The Persian Garden

Gonbad-e Qābus

Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan

Golestan Palace

Shahr-i Sokhta

Cultural Landscape of Maymand

Susa

Lut Desert

The Persian Qanat

Historic City of Yazd

Japan: An island nation blessed with nature’s bounty and spirituality

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

Apart from being an island nation that is continuously achieving great heights every now and then, there is another side to Japan that most of the people miss out on. What I am talking about here is the natural beauty that is a blessing in disguise of mountains, national parks and the four main islands that Japan is itself made up of. Along with that, this East Asian country is sprinkled with a number of temples and palaces that are counted among the 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area, Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome), Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, Shrines and Temples of Nikko are some of the most prominent sites to be included in a heritage tour in Japan.

Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area

Himeji-jo

Shirakami-Sanchi

Yakushima

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara

Shrines and Temples of Nikko

Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Shiretoko

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape

Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land

Ogasawara Islands

Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration

Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites

Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining

The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement *

Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region

Brazil: Pulling in travellers with its flamboyant culture embedded in every corner

Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia

The timeless beauty of this South American country can be well experienced through the many natural sites and cultural sites that it embodies. Starting from the Iguaçu National Park which was the first natural site listed in the year 1986 till now, Brazil is honoured with 21 of its sites acknowledged by UNESCO. Among the 21 sites there are 14 cultural sites and 7 natural sites.

Historic Town of Ouro Preto

Historic Centre of the Town of Olinda

Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil) *

Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas

Iguaçu National Park

Brasilia

Serra da Capivara National Park

Historic Centre of São Luís

Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves

Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves

Historic Centre of the Town of Diamantina

Central Amazon Conservation Complex 4

Pantanal Conservation Area

Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves

Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks

Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás

São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão

Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea

Pampulha Modern Ensemble

Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site

Australia: A star destination overbrimming with architectural and natural marvels

Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens

Probably it’s the natural wonders of Australia that rope in travellers who want to get a taste of nature and other unique places settled in this sovereign country. Apart from the landscapes that are true gem, there are historic buildings, marine life and biological diversity that gave all the fandom to Australia that it deserves. As for now there 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites worthy of endless appreciation. Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, Wet Tropics of Queensland, Greater Blue Mountains area are some of the most visited heritage sites in Australia.

Great Barrier Reef

Kakadu National Park

Willandra Lakes Region

Lord Howe Island Group

Tasmanian Wilderness

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia 1

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 2

Wet Tropics of Queensland

Shark Bay, Western Australia

Fraser Island

Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte)

Heard and McDonald Islands

Macquarie Island

Greater Blue Mountains Area

Purnululu National Park

Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens

Sydney Opera House

Australian Convict Sites

Ningaloo Coast

Greece: A resplendent destination filled with history and breathtaking architectural marvels

Acropolis, Athens

Spreading its charm in southeastern Europe is the country which once had its mark over the ancient times and now rules the hearts of travellers for nurturing a heritage of around four and a half thousand years. Greece and archaeological monuments share an undying relationship from the past two and a half thousand years which can be seen in the 18 sites which are honored as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 16 out of the 18 take the title of cultural heritage site while the rest two share the same title of mixed heritage site. The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous tourist spot you cannot miss out on as it was the source of architectural inspiration for the world along with the Archaeological Site of Delphi which was the worship centre in primeval Greek.

Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae

Acropolis, Athens

Archaeological Site of Delphi

Medieval City of Rhodes

Meteora

Mount Athos

Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki

Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus

Archaeological Site of Mystras

Archaeological Site of Olympia

Delos

Monasteries of Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios

Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos

Archaeological Site of Aigai (modern name Vergina)

Archaeological Sites of Mycenae and Tiryns

The Historic Centre (Chorá) with the Monastery of Saint-John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse on the Island of Pátmos

Old Town of Corfu

Archaeological Site of Philippi

Canada: A destination with the most scenic landscapes turned heritage sites

Old Town Lunenburg

Canada is one such North American country that is block by block built with culture that has European and American influences. Whether it be fields like literature, art, music, politics, Canada has picked up the pace and at present is one of the best countries in the world. Spreading its arms from the arctic circle in the north to the United States, Canada is covered with heritage sites that represents its history and are a total delight for its travellers. In total, there are 18 World Heritage Sites in United States which comprises of 8 cultural sites and 10 natural sites where the Niagara Falls, Nahanni National Park, Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks are some of the major tourism places loved by tourists on their vacation in Canada.

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site4

Nahanni National Park

Dinosaur Provincial Park

Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek # * 5

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

SGang Gwaay

Wood Buffalo National Park

Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks

Historic District of Old Québec

Gros Morne National Park

Old Town Lunenburg

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park *

Miguasha National Park

Rideau Canal

Joggins Fossil Cliffs

Landscape of Grand Pré

Red Bay Basque Whaling Station

Mistaken Point

Turkey: One of the best countries in the world with 20,000 years coloured with history

Historic Areas of Istanbul

Solely influenced by the Ottoman, Greek and western culture, Turkey is a true masterpiece of time settled in Eurasia. This country embodies a history of over 20,000 years and has been the abode of some of the best civilizations that take travellers back to the time when Lydians, Hittites, Roman and Greek to Ottomans made their mark and spread their word in different languages until 1923. And wait how can we miss out mentioning the great battle of Troy which was fought here. Stepping into the present, now we know Turkey as one of the best countries in the world which is veiled in heritage is home to 14 cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 2 mixed sites. The most famous among these are the Hierapolis-Pamukkale which is a mixed site, Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex,Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia and Hattusha.

Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia

Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği

Historic Areas of Istanbul

Hattusha: the Hittite Capital

Nemrut Dağ

Hierapolis-Pamukkale

Xanthos-Letoon

City of Safranbolu

Archaeological Site of Troy

Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex

Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük

Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire

Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape

Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape

Ephesus

Archaeological Site of Ani

Aphrodisias

Poland: A commingle of the fine medieval architecture and Jewish heritage

Old City of Zamość

Keeping it’s traditions close to its heart even when it transformed into a developed country, Poland stands among the best places to travel in the world. The country’s history stretches back to the time when the Slavs migrated to the land and settled here during the Early Middle Ages and leads forward to the 10th century AD when the Piasts,the first dynasty came to rule the land. Now if we talk about its 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, they are believed to be the byproduct of the Jewish heritage and medieval architecture. Some of the best examples are the Historic Centre of Kraków, Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines, Białowieża Forest.

Historic Centre of Kraków

Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines

Auschwitz Birkenau

German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp (1940-1945)

Białowieża Forest *

Historic Centre of Warsaw

Old City of Zamość

Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork

Medieval Town of Toruń

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska: The Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park

Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica

Wooden Churches of Southern Małopolska

Muskauer Park / Park Mużakowski *

Centennial Hall in Wrocław

Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine *

Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine and its Underground Water Management System

Portugal: Winning hearts with its charming culture and art eversince

Monastery of Batalha

We didn’t even realise that when exactly did Portugal win our heart with its art and culture and slowly became one of the loved travel destinations in the world. Talking about its cultural importance, Portugal is home to 14 cultural heritage sites out of the total of 15, the rest one being a natural heritage site. Besides, the present-day Portugal that we see was given a facelift with the establishment of museums and a little help in the tourism was from the end of its beaches and biosphere reserves.

Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores

Convent of Christ in Tomar

Monastery of Batalha

Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon

Historic Centre of Évora

Monastery of Alcobaça

Cultural Landscape of Sintra

Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar

Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde * 18

Laurisilva of Madeira

Alto Douro Wine Region

Historic Centre of Guimarães

Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture

Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications

University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia

Sweden: Every step here leads you to nature, historic marvels and modernisation

Engelsberg Ironworks

It was after 14000 years that this Scandinavian nation stepped out of ice and welcomed immigrants to its land. And from that time to the coming eras full of history and culture, Sweden, even when it was moving towards modernisation, didn’t leave all this behind and that’s one of the reasons why it’s one of the best countries in the world. That being said, Sweden is home to 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are divided as 13 cultural sites, one natural site and one mixed site. The very first site that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was the Royal Domain of Drottningholm built in the late 16th century which shelters a Chinese pavilion and the 300-year-old Drottningholm Palace Theatre that are considered the reason that this palace made it to the list.

Royal Domain of Drottningholm

Birka and Hovgården

Engelsberg Ironworks

Rock Carvings in Tanum

Skogskyrkogården

Hanseatic Town of Visby

Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå

Laponian Area

Naval Port of Karlskrona

Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland

High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago *

Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun

Grimeton Radio Station, Varberg

Struve Geodetic Arc *

Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland

Recommended Holiday: Check Out Affordable Deals on International Heritage Tour Packages

So with this, we come to the end of this journey to some of the most popular and historically blessed tourist attractions in the world that made it to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. I hope you loved reading about every destination as much as I liked writing about it. Now that the blog is over and one or the other destination must have caught your attention more than the rest, so make up your mind and plan a trip to that country. And if you face any problem in planning your perfect holiday then rely on us as we at Tour My India make it a point to give our customers the best travel experience. Along with that our handpicked tour packages are all you could ask for a splendid expedition around the world. For further information contact us at +91-9212553108 or mail us at [email protected] and leave rest of the worries on our travel experts. Do like and share the blog, happy travelling.

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