Liked Malacca in Malaysia, cool town to walk around with a vibrant market. Macchu Picchu was pretty impressive as well. Took the train there, none of this walking shit.
You done the right thing, trek there was crap.
We did the Lares route then the train, as we went in February & the trail was closed. Hardly anyone there & managed to go to the top of Wayna Pikchu. Which I think they stopped you doing now as it’s pretty dangerous.
200m high granite rock, surrounded by the jungle, incredible views from the top and amazing to think they managed to build a fortified Palace of splendor right at the top back in the 5th Century.
The hydraulic system for the canals, lakes, dams, bridges, fountains and underground water pumps still provides water to the site’s gardens
Evidence the caves were inhabited over 5000 years ago, really is a great site.
One hell of a climb up there, especially if you're a mad dog who does it in the mid day sun.
I'll add I thought some of the stuff I read from Liverpool yesterday was bizarre. They seem to have lost the UNESCO label by developing the waterfront out of all recognition, and then complain that it¡s not fair to deprive them of the chance to develop it. Sorry? I got the impression it was the old buildings that gave Liverpool docks it's UNESCO heritage, so adding a bunch of modern buildings plus a new football stadium was hardly designed to make that happen. Please can we knock the old stuff down and still be a UNESCO site is a fairly unweildy demand. When Spain build a coupe of high-rise blocks in the grounds of the Alhambra, or the Galapagos Islands get a series of 18 hole golf courses and a huge airport, please feel free to complain.
Reading various accounts of this story, it doesn't sound like anything was knocked down. The land was, according to local authority, largely unused/derelict. If true the Galapagos/Alhambra analogy is unfair. It would be negligent of the local authority not to take advantage of undeveloped prime water front real estate. Copenhagen, albeit not a WHS, is an example of a city where modern cutting edge architecture on former docks blends beautifully with the older buildings to enhance the area. I do think UNESCO have to be realistic and realise you can't just mothball a big chunk of the city and not expect future development. Especially if that area includes derelict land. Maybe there should have been dialogue, however I know from folk that have dealt with UNESCO on the matter of WHS that they are notoriously bad at responding to questions regarding what is deemed to be acceptable development within a WHS. So who knows the full story? Maybe city council balanced up costs/benefits of losing WHS status in favour of the modern development and are now covering their tracks and shifting blame to UNESCO. Not sure how UNESCO works, but is it possible decision is political?
I’ve been based in Liverpool for over 20 years and you are right nothing significant is being knocked down. The ‘ three graces’ (Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building) on the waterfront define the Liverpool skyline. The preservation of the Albert dock area has enhanced this. The Bramley Moore dock area to the north of the ‘three graces’ is a wasteland desperately in need of development. The new Everton stadium is a unique opportunity to greatly enhance that part of the city. People don’t come to Liverpool (one of the most famous and visited cities in the country) because it is UNESCO listed (nice though that is) they come here because of the Beatles, the football and the nightlife.
Anywhere in the Lebanon sites, Baalbek and Aanjar in the Bekaa Valley, Tyre, Sidon or Byblos on the coast - not that many will be visiting at the moment - I've missed out on the Kadisha Valley - next visit for sure.
There's only two sites in Haiti, though I think they should add Tortuga and Ile a Vache (to say nothing of the wonderful distilleries), but I hope to visit the Palace of Sans Souci and the nearby Citadel some time, the closest I got was Gonaives.
Jerusalem, I am not religious, but was really touched by the place., The pyramids, had breakfast at the Mena House Oberoi, and watched the sunrise. The White Cliffs with a Spitfire and Hurricane flying over them, at Capel Le Ferne , always teary eyed!
Having visited quite a number of amazing WHSs the one that satisfied me most was St Kilda, 64km out into the Atlantic west of Outer Hebrides and doubly designated for wildlife and cultural reasons. A remote place with dramatic scenery, fantastic sea bird colonies and a sad air of desolation due to the remains of the village which the last residents left in the 1930s.
Having visited quite a number of amazing WHSs the one that satisfied me most was St Kilda, 64km out into the Atlantic west of Outer Hebrides and doubly designated for wildlife and cultural reasons. A remote place with dramatic scenery, fantastic sea bird colonies and a sad air of desolation due to the remains of the village which the last residents left in the 1930s.
Sounds like a strange place to have a WH Smith’s then?!?
Not sure if its been mentioned already, but Angkor Wat in Cambodia was truly breath-taking for the scale of the place and history. Just way too busy with tourists like me.
200m high granite rock, surrounded by the jungle, incredible views from the top and amazing to think they managed to build a fortified Palace of splendor right at the top back in the 5th Century.
The hydraulic system for the canals, lakes, dams, bridges, fountains and underground water pumps still provides water to the site’s gardens
Evidence the caves were inhabited over 5000 years ago, really is a great site.
One hell of a climb up there, especially if you're a mad dog who does it in the mid day sun.
Mind you the red bananas are fabulous.
Absolutely on both counts.
Also a shout out to the massive wasps on the rock that get angry if they think its a bit too loud, which is just what you want to see when doing the walk.
My top 3 World Heritage sites are 1) Dubrovnik, Croatia (bias perhaps as my Mum is from there, but nothing can take the memories of my running around a huge ‘castle’ in wonderment as a kid every summer) and the sea which surrounds it is to die for. 2) Avignon, France - stunning place to visit and the home of Chateau Neuf du Pape - bonnet de duche. 3) Lucca, Italy - another stunning town in Tuscany and home of a summer festival which World famous musicians flock too. Who wouldn’t in those stunning historic surroundings.
Sorry to sound pedantic, but the 'home' of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape!
Quite right, apologies, I bought a lot of it from Avignon when there, but the link was that the village named it after the Pope when he moved to Avignon from Rome (I think…)
I’m on holiday in the region right now! Small village called St Geniès-de-Comolas, about 13km west of Chateauneuf-du-pape - which we’ll be visiting in the next couple of days. Been to Avignon, St Remy, Carpentras, Gordes and the Lavender monastery plus La roque-sur-Cêze so far. Stunning region. Absolutely beautiful.
I haven’t been to Liverpool for 8/9 years, but they must have seriously messed up the area for Unesco to exclude them, as they tend to stick with the places on the list and help with improvements etc.
Liverpool is a shithole. If Hitler had of concentrated on bombing it instead of London and Coventry he would have done us a favour.
My top 3 World Heritage sites are 1) Dubrovnik, Croatia (bias perhaps as my Mum is from there, but nothing can take the memories of my running around a huge ‘castle’ in wonderment as a kid every summer) and the sea which surrounds it is to die for. 2) Avignon, France - stunning place to visit and the home of Chateau Neuf du Pape - bonnet de duche. 3) Lucca, Italy - another stunning town in Tuscany and home of a summer festival which World famous musicians flock too. Who wouldn’t in those stunning historic surroundings.
Sorry to sound pedantic, but the 'home' of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape!
Quite right, apologies, I bought a lot of it from Avignon when there, but the link was that the village named it after the Pope when he moved to Avignon from Rome (I think…)
I’m on holiday in the region right now! Small village called St Geniès-de-Comolas, about 13km west of Chateauneuf-du-pape - which we’ll be visiting in the next couple of days. Been to Avignon, St Remy, Carpentras, Gordes and the Lavender monastery plus La roque-sur-Cêze so far. Stunning region. Absolutely beautiful.
It's gorgeous. I highly recommend the Pont du Gard and Arles too if you haven't seen those yet.
I haven’t been to Liverpool for 8/9 years, but they must have seriously messed up the area for Unesco to exclude them, as they tend to stick with the places on the list and help with improvements etc.
Liverpool is a shithole. If Hitler had of concentrated on bombing it instead of London and Coventry he would have done us a favour.
Avebury for me. Stonehenge is amazing, but Avebury felt more special every time I have been there. There are other prehistoric sites that I have stronger feelings for above Avebury, alas they are seeming not special enough for Unesco.
For anyone interested in an informed piece on the UNESCO decision to 'delist' Liverpool the link above discusses the issue with Professor Michael Parkinson of Liverpool University. Professor Parkinson has been closely involved with regeneration issues in Liverpool for many years.
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Hardly anyone there & managed to go to the top of Wayna Pikchu. Which I think they stopped you doing now as it’s pretty dangerous.
There's only two sites in Haiti, though I think they should add Tortuga and Ile a Vache (to say nothing of the wonderful distilleries), but I hope to visit the Palace of Sans Souci and the nearby Citadel some time, the closest I got was Gonaives.
Fabulous rum....
Absolutely on both counts.
Also a shout out to the massive wasps on the rock that get angry if they think its a bit too loud, which is just what you want to see when doing the walk.
Small village called St Geniès-de-Comolas, about 13km west of Chateauneuf-du-pape - which we’ll be visiting in the next couple of days.
Been to Avignon, St Remy, Carpentras, Gordes and the Lavender monastery plus La roque-sur-Cêze so far. Stunning region. Absolutely beautiful.
If Hitler had of concentrated on bombing it instead of London and Coventry he would have done us a favour.
If any snowflakes are offended by this.
Tough, get a life.
For anyone interested in an informed piece on the UNESCO decision to 'delist' Liverpool the link above discusses the issue with Professor Michael Parkinson of Liverpool University. Professor Parkinson has been closely involved with regeneration issues in Liverpool for many years.
Those UNESCO heretics just don't appreciate modern symbolism and Avant Garde art.
3 bedroom terraced house for sale in Scarisbrick Avenue, Liverpool, Merseyside, L21 6NJ, L21 (rightmove.co.uk)
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