UNESCO - Island of Gorée, Senegal

The Island of Gorée lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconciliation.

Uhm uhm...not even sure if this qualifies as an Unesco card as it doesn't show any infrastructure; but i'll be cheeky with this one heh xD

Maspalomas, The Canary Islands

Maspalomas is located on the southernmost tip of the Canary Islands' 3rd largest island Gran Canaria, and is the largest tourist town of the archipelago. The area includes the Natural Reserve of the Dunes of Maspalomas, which constitutes the main landmark of Gran Canaria. There is a 68 m tall lighthouse, named El Faro de Maspalomas, at the southern point from where the 12 km long beach and dunes lead to Playa del Inglés.

This is the only image I had of Canary Islands for years, as I received this postcard many years ago from a friend who worked there for his university practice programme (lucky bee!). I didnt' like the image of a resort place, though the sand dunes look pretty amazing...And now, after reading more about the islands, i am like 'ahh now I have to put this on my travelling wishlist too..!' The list is getting too darn long heh.

UNESCO - Timbuktu, Mali

Home of the prestigious Koranic Sankore University and other madrasas, Timbuktu was an intellectual and spiritual capital and a centre for the propagation of Islam throughout Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its three great mosques, Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia, recall Timbuktu's golden age. Although continuously restored, these monuments are today under threat from desertification.

I have had this postcard on my blog since the early days, but what I did is I posted many different cards at one time...and then I started collecting Unesco WHS and I prefer posting them separately (though I was still too lazy to separate some..!) This is for sure one of my favourite cards, and I envy my friend so much for his journey to this mythical gateway to the Sahara desert..!

UNESCO - Historic Areas of Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia (Turkish: Ayasofya) is perhaps the best-known site in Istanbul. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople; except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935.

It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture - it remained the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years thereafter, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520. Its famous in particular for its massive dome, which can be seen on the 2nd postcard.

A personal favourite - Basilica Cistern, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city. Built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian, it is located some 150 meters southwest of the Hagia Sophia, and be careful cos you might miss it! It may have the capacity of 80000 cubic metres but its not conspicuous from the outside.

This postcard I received just before my trip to Istanbul, as a sort of an invitation :) I like the Galata Tower, especially in the night under those lights. Its a nine-story medieval stone tower (66.90 meters tall) in the Galata/Karaköy quarter, just to the north of the Golden Horn.

In the end what I found most fascinating about Istanbul is the skyline dotted with numerous imposing mosques...and just how tasty a street kebab can be :))

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Rothenburg ob der Tauber ("Red fortress above the Tauber") is a town in the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany, well known for its well-preserved medieval old town. It was a Free Imperial City from the late Middle Ages to 1803, when it became a part of Bavaria.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous...My heart would be fulfilled if I was to walk those old cobbled streets on a sunny or a snowy day... xD

UNESCO - Sceilg Mhichíl, Ireland

Sceilg Mhichíl, or better known as Skellig Michael, is an island (the larger of the two Skellig Islands) in the Atlantic Ocean, 11.6 km west of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. Between the 6^th and 8^th century a Christian monastery was founded there and was continuously occupied until its abandonment in the late 12^th century; it illustrates the very spartan existence of the first Irish Christians.The remains of this monastery, along with most of the island itself, were inscribed on the Unesco WHS in 1996.

This postcards shows the old and steep steps leading to the monastery, with the view of Little Skellig in the background (which happens to hold the world's second-largest Northern Gannet colony and is therefore closed to the public).

We thought for many months this card was lost but it arrived eventually and was well worth that wait, thank you Gabby! :))

UNESCO - Pitons Management Area, Saint Lucia

This is one of those utter surprises that land in my mailbox,  increasing my Caribbean collection! Thank you again my friend :)) I was over the moon - a new country, an Unesco site, and sooo green :)) The volcanic spire rising dramatically from the sea here is the 770-m-high Gros Piton - the Petit Piton is not that much smaller but still manages to 'hide' behind it.

This volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumeroles and hot springs, and  coral reefs covering almost 60% of the site’s marine area. 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; they are also home to some 27 bird species - five of them endemic. Sounds like paradise eh?

Orangy Feelings

Love this card! So bright and, well, whats not to like about oranges? heh. The colour, the taste and the aroma, yum :)))