April 14, 2016: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS: 1 DAY

UNESCO sites that I LOVE!

Howdy Folks!

I'm so excited about today's feature because I just love UNESCO - World Heritage Sites!!!

Today, I'm gonna introduce you to a few UNESCO sites that I'm super excited to have on my upcoming itineraries, as well as others that I've already visited. 

And being it's also Throwback Thursday, I think I'm gonna begin with a few UNESCO sites that are throwbacks for me...

But where on Earth do I begin?!

Well for starters I'll explain to you a reason or two as to why I love UNESCO sites so much;
​For me the lure is because of just how special each of these locations truly are and how every time that I've visited any of them - it has been nothing short of a unique and very MAGICAL experience!

These sites are located ALL OVER THE WORLD - so now with no further adieu and in no particular order - ON WITH THE SHOW!

None other than Machu Picchu - Peru (c) Travelin Cousins

​Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna. READ MORE ABOUT THE INCA TRAIL AND PERU HERE - When in Peru

Wieliczka Salt Mines - Poland (c) Travelin Cousins

Wieliczka Salt Mines ​
The deposit of rock salt in Wieliczka and Bochnia has been mined since the 13th century. This major industrial undertaking has royal status and is the oldest of its type in Europe. The site is a serial property consisting of Wieliczka and Bochnia salt mines and Wieliczka Saltworks Castle. The Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines illustrate the historic stages of the development of mining techniques in Europe from the 13th to the 20th centuries: both mines have hundreds of kilometers of galleries with works of art, underground chapels and statues sculpted in the salt, making a fascinating pilgrimage into the past. The mines were administratively and technically run by Wieliczka Saltworks Castle, which dates from the medieval period and has been rebuilt several times in the course of its history.
READ MORE ABOUT THE COUSINS DAY IN THE SALT MINES AND MORE HERE -
​European Rail Trip Day 5

San Juan National Historic Site - Puerto Rico (c) Travelin Cousins

San Juan National Historic Site
​Between the 15th and 19th centuries, a series of defensive structures was built at this strategic point in the Caribbean Sea to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan. They represent a fine display of European military architecture adapted to harbour sites on the American continent.
READ MORE ABOUT MY VISIT TO PUERTO RICO HERE - Set your clocks to Island Time in the Caribbean

Carcassonne - France (c) Travelin Cousins

​Carcassonne
Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defences encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic cathedral. Carcassonne is also of exceptional importance because of the lengthy restoration campaign undertaken by Viollet-le-Duc, one of the founders of the modern science of conservation.

Þingvellir national park _ Iceland (c) Travelin Cousins

​Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is the National Park where the Althing, an open-air assembly representing the whole of Iceland, was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798. Over two weeks a year, the assembly set laws - seen as a covenant between free men - and settled disputes. The Althing has deep historical and symbolic associations for the people of Iceland. The property includes the Þingvellir National Park and the remains of the Althing itself: fragments of around 50 booths built from turf and stone. Remains from the 10th century are thought to be buried underground. The site also includes remains of agricultural use from the 18th and 19th centuries. The park shows evidence of the way the landscape was husbanded over 1,000 years. READ MORE ABOUT AN EXPERIENCE WE HAD IN ICELAND HERE - The Mystery of the Northern Lights

Historic Centre of Lima - Peru (c) Travelin Cousins

Historic Centre of Lima
​Although severely damaged by earthquakes, this 'City of the Kings' was, until the middle of the 18th century, the capital and most important city of the Spanish dominions in South America. Many of its buildings, such as the Convent of San Francisco (the largest of its type in this part of the world), are the result of collaboration between local craftspeople and others from the Old World.
​READ MORE ABOUT MY TRIP TO LIMA HERE - Famous in Peru

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum - Malta (c) Travelin Cousins

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum​
​The Hypogeum is an enormous subterranean structure excavated c. 2500 B.C., using cyclopean rigging to lift huge blocks of coralline limestone. Perhaps originally a sanctuary, it became a necropolis in prehistoric times.
​READ MORE ABOUT MY TRIP TO MALTA HERE - What it takes to make it to Malta

Urnes Stave Church - Norway (c) Travelin Cousins

Urnes Stave Church
​The wooden church of Urnes (the stavkirke) stands in the natural setting of Sogn og Fjordane. It was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and is an outstanding example of traditional Scandinavian wooden architecture. It brings together traces of Celtic art, Viking traditions and Romanesque spatial structures.

Manu National Park - Peru (c) Travelin Cousins

​Manu National Park
This huge 1.5 million-ha park has successive tiers of vegetation rising from 150 to 4,200 m above sea-level. The tropical forest in the lower tiers is home to an unrivalled variety of animal and plant species. Some 850 species of birds have been identified and rare species such as the giant otter and the giant armadillo also find refuge there. Jaguars are often sighted in the park.

Skellig Michael - Ireland (c) Travelin Cousins

​Skellig Michael
This monastic complex, perched since about the 7th century on the steep sides of the rocky island of Skellig Michael, some 12 km off the coast of south-west Ireland, illustrates the very spartan existence of the first Irish Christians. Since the extreme remoteness of Skellig Michael has until recently discouraged visitors, the site is exceptionally well preserved.

Paestum - Italy (c) Travelin Cousins

​Paestum
The Cilento is an outstanding cultural landscape. The dramatic groups of sanctuaries and settlements along its three east–west mountain ridges vividly portray the area's historical evolution: it was a major route not only for trade, but also for cultural and political interaction during the prehistoric and medieval periods. The Cilento was also the boundary between the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia and the indigenous Etruscan and Lucanian peoples. The remains of two major cities from classical times, Paestum and Velia, are found there.

Pitons - Saint Lucia (c) Travelin Cousins

Pitons
The 2,909-ha site near the town of Soufriere includes the Pitons, two volcanic spires rising side by side from the sea (770 m and 743 m high respectively), linked by the Piton Mitan ridge. The volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumeroles and hot springs. Coral reefs cover almost 60% of the site’s marine area. A survey has revealed 168 species of finfish, 60 species of cnidaria, including corals, eight molluscs, 14 sponges, 11 echinoderms, 15 arthropods and eight annelid worms. The dominant terrestrial vegetation is tropical moist forest grading to subtropical wet forest, with small areas of dry forest and wet elfin woodland on the summits. At least 148 plant species have been recorded on Gros Piton, 97 on Petit Piton and the intervening ridge, among them eight rare tree species. The Gros Piton is home to some 27 bird species (five of them endemic), three indigenous rodents, one opossum, three bats, eight reptiles and three amphibians.
READ MORE ABOUT THE ISLANDS I VISITED ON THIS TRIP - Set your clocks to Island time in the Caribbean

*The statics about the above UNESCO sites come from the wonderful UNESCO webpage WHC.UNESCO.org which I so encourage you to also check out!

These pictures above represent just a mere few of the UNESCO sites that I've had the pleasure of visiting, and I'm very excited to announce just a few of the ones that I'll be seeing next month on Our trip to Europe:

• Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores
• Cultural Landscape of Sintra
• Palau de la Música Catalana

Be sure to check out Elisa's column on UNESCO sites right here in the USA!
I love the list that she compiled, and have had the pleasure of visiting many of those domestic sites, such as:
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Everglades National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Olympic National Park, Redwood National and State Parks, Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Independence Hall, Mesa Verde National Park, San Antonio Missions, Statue of Liberty, & Taos Pueblo.

Lastly a new little Throwback story that has nothing to do with UNESCO - Why do they consider children over 9yrs Adults?  

Now it's time for me to get on with my day and part of that is packing!!! 
This weekend should be AWESOME!

Catch ya back here tomorrow, as I head out and make my way to Monterey.

Ciao 4 Now,
​-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT EVENT: 1 DAY

Throwback to Yellowstone National Park - UNESCO Site

HELLO AND WELCOME!

I guess you figured out what our theme is today, here on this lovely Throwback Thursday - UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Yes, Tanya and I decided that in light of her "Throwback" story AND my reminiscing about being on our Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Parks Road Trip, this time last year, we would combine both into a little overview of a few of the UNESCO sites both in the United States and around the world.

Tanya's covering "the world" and I've got domestic duty today!

But, before I head into the realm of World Heritage Sites, let me tell you what's happening on my home front...
Took Gianna to the doctor yesterday and she confirmed that my under the weather daughter has a sinus infection.  The poor kid has had an awful sinus headache and facial pressure as well as nausea.  So, she's on some meds and resting up today.

So, what usually happens when one kid is sick? Yup, the other kid gets it. Kelsey was complaining of nausea yesterday and went to bed with a headache.  

Well, she woke up the same way.  So, I've got both of them home.  I'll see how the day progresses and whether I now need to bring Kelsey for an exam as well.

As I sit home playing Dr. Mom, let me jump into our feature of the day...

(credit: easternnational.org)

The The United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) was founded on November 16, 1945.

UNESCO currently has 195 Members and eight Associate Members. It is governed by the General Conference and the Executive Board. The Secretariat, headed by the Director-General, implements the decisions of these two bodies.

The Organization has more than 50 field offices around the world with its headquarters located at Place de Fontenoy in Paris, France.

UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. - UNESCO.org

April, 2015 - Yellowstone, A UNESCO World Heritage Site CLICK IMAGE to read more (c)travelincousins.com

Currently there are 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States of America.

UNESCO breaks the sites into three categories:  Natural and Cultural and Mixed along with the year in which they were added. 

Natural
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM (1995)
Everglades National Park, FL (1979)
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ (1979)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN (1983)
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii (1987)
Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay /  
  Tatshenshini-Alsek, Alaska (1979)
Mammoth Cave National Park, KY (1981)
Olympic National Park, WA (1981)
Redwood National and State Parks, CA (1980)
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, MT (1995)
Yellowstone National Park, WY (1978)
Yosemite National Park, CA (1984)

Cultural
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, IL (1982)
Chaco Culture including Aztec Ruins, NM (1987)
Independence Hall, PA (1979)
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico (1983)
Mesa Verde National Park, CO (1978)
Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA (1987)
Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point, LA (2014)
San Antonio Missions, TX (2015)
Statue of Liberty, NY (1984)
Taos Pueblo, NM (1992)

Mixed
Papahānaumokuākea, Hawaii (2010)

Me and my girls at The Falls in Yellowstone (c)travelincousins.com

With all the places in the world to see, it can be overwhelming creating a bucket list.  

I'd like to suggest, if you enjoy history, culture and natural wonders, that adding the 23 places and sites on the UNESCO U.S. list would be an amazing place to start!

The majesty and wonder in these 23 locations would be enough for anyone to experience in a lifetime.

This week, I'm particularly reminiscent about Yellowstone National Park, since it is the year anniversary of our Cousins "Yellowstone" Road Trip.

One could spend weeks in this park alone and never tire of all there is to see!  

​Two Days of our trip in particular are worth linking for you since they are filled with information, photographs of the sites (and the cousins gang) and an account of our adventure.  

Artist Paintpots, Yellowstone National Park (c)travelincousins.com

Colorful Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park (c)travelincousins.com)

The whole cousins gang at The Falls, Yellowstone National Park (c)travelincousins.com

DAY 5 of our road trip, and our third day at Yellowstone, recaps our enthralling visit to two breathtaking natural wonders:
1) The Artist Paintpots
2) The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and the Upper and Lower Falls
and some spectacular shots of bison while driving!

Day 6 of our road trip, and our fourth day at Yellowstone, highlights our visit to the mesmerizing Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin and the iconic Old Faithful Geyser.

Gianna & Kelsey watching Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park (2015) (c)travelincousins.com

Old Faithful erupting (c)travelincousins.com

Midway Geyser Basic (c)travelincousins.com

Midway Geyser Basin (c)travelincousins.com

Walking the trail of the Midway Geyser Basin (c)travelincousins.com

What an amazing trip.  I highly encourage you to click the links for Day 5 and Day 6 as there is a wealth of information and photos for one of the United States most beloved National Parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites!!

We are totally excited here at TC because next week is National Park Week and we will be bringing you lots of information all week about these national treasures.

Here's a preview about all the great things planned and what your favorite cousins will be featuring all next week:

• April 16–24: Visit for free!
  Throughout National Park Week in 2016, every national park will give you free admission! 
• April 16: National Junior Ranger Day
  Explore, Learn, Protect! Kids can take part in fun programs and earn a junior ranger badge or become a Centennial Junior Ranger. 
• April 22: Earth Day
  On Earth Day, if you want to roll up your sleeves and pitch in with a project, look for a park where you can help out.
• April 23: National Park Instameet
  Join an InstaMeet in a park. Gather in a designated place at a specific time to take photos and short videos to post on Instagram (and other social media) with the same hashtag: #FindYourParkInstaMeet, #FindYourPark, #EncuentraTuParque, #NPS100
• April 24: Park Rx Day
  On Park Rx Day, parks will host fun recreational activities that encourage healthy lifestyles and promote physical and mental well being. (Looking to host your own event? Download A Guide to Planning Your Own National Park Rx Day Celebration

2016 also happens to be the 100th Anniversary of our National Parks Service.

Stay tuned!

Don't Forget to read Tanya's Throwback Thursday story from 2011 about her trip to Las Vegas:
Why do they consider children over 9 adults?
​as well as her blog for more UNESCO World Heritage Site information!!

See ya tomorrow, as I head to the 5th Annual Green Festival at the Javits Center!!

Ta Ta For Now!
-E
xoxo