Naveta d'Es Tudons, Menorca

The Naveta d'Es Tudons (literally 'nave of the woodpigeons') is the most remarkable megalithic chamber tomb in the Balearic island of Menorca, Spain. It is located in the Western part of the island, approximately 3 miles out from Ciutadella. Navetas  are chronologically pre-Talaiotic constructions; this is a funerary naveta that served as collective ossuary between 1200 and 750 BC.

Now if I only knew this place is so close to town...I mean it was totally walkable. I had an early gangway - set off with first tender in pitch dark, and the ride did take a while so I witnessed the sunrise once in situ. The thing about having gangway while tendering - it takes too darn long to go back to the ship to change clothes and back again, so you end up walking around in your uniform. Ugh. On few occasions gangway was the only way to get off board, so yeah. You take what you get..! My postcard said 'finally someplace new!' but it wasn't only that, new (for me) was also the postal system by - Swiss Post? Got these self-adhesive stamps in a souvenir shop, got a special mailbox there to mail them too, and I just wondered if these (this and the donkey one coming next) will even arrive...I mean it IS the Swiss, they are always effective, right..?! (I was still remembering the unsuccessful try with 'special post' in Barcelona, those never arrived :/) Anyways, they're here, yuppie.

Isle Of Lewis

The full name of the island is actually Lewis and Harris; the northern part of the island is called Lewis, the southern is Harris, but both are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. It is part of the Outer Hebrides, and is the largest and the most populous of the Scottish Isles. Stornoway is the main town, and the civil parish, including the town and various nearby villages, has a population of about 12 000.

The ship was docked in Stornoway, but first I had a nice little tour to go through, encompassing a few important sites. The Callanish Stones were erected in the late Neolithic era, and were a focus for ritual activity during the Bronze Age. They are standing stones placed in a cruciform pattern with a central stone circle. The Gearrannan Black House Village  consists of nine restored traditional thatched cottages, which were lived in till 1974 and were the last group of blackhouses to be inhabited in the Western Isles. The buildings were generally built with double wall dry-stone walls packed with earth, and were roofed with wooden rafters covered with a thatch of turf with cereal straw or reed. There was a tweed-weaving demonstration - Harris Tweed is a tweed cloth handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides. Well why not throw in a photo while at it :) (oh and later on I had the most delicious sandwich in Stornoway, in a small tucked-away deli. I regret not buying the caviar crisps! Never found any anywhere else.)

Plain Of Jars, Laos

The Plain of Jars (Lao: ທົ່ງໄຫຫິນ [tʰōŋ hǎj hǐn]) is a megalithic archaeological landscape in Laos. It consists of thousands of stone jars scattered around the upland valleys and the lower foothills of the central plain of the Xiangkhoang Plateau (north of Laos). The jars are mostly arranged in clusters ranging in number from one to several hundred.

French researcher Madeleine Colani concluded in 1930 that the jars were associated with prehistoric burial practices. Excavation by Lao and Japanese archaeologists in the intervening years has supported this interpretation with the discovery of human remains, burial goods and ceramics around the jars. The Plain of Jars is dated to the Iron Age (500 BC to AD 500) and is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Southeast Asia.

Today I was reminded of my trip to SE Asia which happened exactly three years ago - man how time flies. I haven't managed to see this place on the rather tight schedule; hmm to be honest I haven't even heard of this place before getting to Laos. This place looks pretty awesome so I've sent a card :)

UNESCO - Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza, Mexico

This sacred site was one of the greatest Mayan centres of the Yucatán peninsula. Throughout its nearly 1,000-year history, different peoples have left their mark on the city. The Maya and Toltec vision of the world and the universe is revealed in their stone monuments and artistic works. The fusion of Mayan construction techniques with new elements from central Mexico make Chichen-Itza one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán. Several buildings have survived, such as the Warriors’ Temple, El Castillo and the circular observatory known as El Caracol.

Sent more than three years ago, gracias to Melissa :)

The ship I was on went to Mexico a year ago, in one port in Yucatan called Progreso. Two of my colleagues got the tours to Chichen Itza/Uxmal, I went to a small site called...uhm...can't remember :D After that I only had time to hang out in the port area, which was a line of souvenir shops, some of which had nice postcards but stamps were nowhere in sight.

Tomb Of Nefertari (detail), Egypt

Its been a while since I've received a postcard from Egypt...This is a detail from Tomb 66, one of the largest in the Valley of the Queens, covered with pictures of Nefertari, an Egyptian queen and the first of the Great Royal Wives (or principal wives) of Ramesses the Great. This detail shows a winged uraeus cobra, which protects the queen's cartouche and a shen-sign with its wings. A special addition to my snakes collection, thanks to Mohammad :)

UNESCO - Archaeological Site Of Carthage, Tunisia

Carthage was founded by Phoenicians in the 9th century BC on the Gulf of Tunis. From the 6th century onwards, it developed into a great trading empire covering much of the Mediterranean and was home to a brilliant civilization. The ancient city was destroyed by the Roman Republic in the Third Punic War in 146 BC then re-developed as Roman Carthage, which became the major city of the Roman Empire in Africa.

Great to have this card in the collection, thanks to Hadhemi :)

 

UNESCO - Site Of Xanadu, China

North of the Great Wall, the Site of Xanadu encompasses the remains of Kublai Khan’s legendary capital city, designed by the Mongol ruler’s Chinese advisor Liu Bingzhdong in 1256. Over a surface area of 25,000 ha, the site was a unique attempt to assimilate the nomadic Mongolian and Han Chinese cultures. From this base, Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty that ruled China over a century, extending its boundaries across Asia. As the place where Kublai Khan rose to power, hosted religious debates and entertained foreign travellers whose writings gave inspiration down the centuries, it has achieved legendary status in the rest of the world and is the place from where Tibetan Buddhism expanded.

The Site of Xanadu was abandoned in 1430. The large archaeological site now generally covered by grassland preserves the overall urban plan and city site of Xanadu as built and used in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Many thanks to Zihu for this card. I was curious to see what this place would have looked like in its days of glory, but oddly enough I couldn't find anything...

UNESCO - Tipasa, Algeria

On the shores of the Mediterranean, Tipasa was an ancient Punic trading-post conquered by Rome and turned into a strategic base for the conquest of the kingdoms of Mauritania. It comprises a unique group of Phoenician, Roman, palaeochristian and Byzantine ruins alongside indigenous monuments such as the Kbor er Roumia, the great royal mausoleum of Mauretania.

This site encompasses so much more than any single view card could represent, you really should google it, it looks fantastic! But so is this card, thanks a lot Ledmia :))

UNESCO - Archaeological Ruins At Moenjodaro, Pakistan

The Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro are the best preserved urban settlement in South Asia dating back to the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, and exercised a considerable influence on the subsequent development of urbanization. The archaeological ruins are located on the right bank of the Indus River, 510 km north-east from Karachi - representing the metropolis of Indus civilization, which flourished between 2,500-1,500 BC in the Indus valley and is one of the world’s three great ancient civilizations.

The discovery of Moenjodaro in 1922 revealed evidence of the customs, art, religion and administrative abilities of its inhabitants. The well planned city mostly built with baked bricks and having public baths; a college of priests; an elaborate drainage system; wells, soak pits for disposal of sewage, and a large granary.

On the photo, as written on the back of the postcard, is a well - private wells were rebuilt over many generations to serve the needs of a large household or neighborhood. This well in DK G area at Mohenjo-daro stands like a chimney because all of the surrounding earth has been removed by excavation. Many thanks to Bilal :)

UNESCO - Pre-Hispanic Town Of Uxmal, Mexico

The Mayan town of Uxmal, in Yucatán, was founded c. A.D. 700 and had some 25,000 inhabitants. The layout of the buildings, which date from between 700 and 1000, reveals a knowledge of astronomy. The Pyramid of the Soothsayer, as the Spaniards called it, dominates the ceremonial centre, which has well-designed buildings decorated with a profusion of symbolic motifs and sculptures depicting Chaac, the god of rain. 

Uxmal is located in the Puuc region of Mexico and was one of the largest cities on the Yucatán Peninsula. The name Uxmal means 'thrice-built' in the Mayan language, referring to the many layers of construction of its most imposing structure. The Pyramid is approximately 35-meters tall, as the measurements seem to be a matter of some kind of dispute. Nevertheless, it looks awe-inspiring, and I envy Brigitte on seeing it! 

UNESCO - Hatra, Iraq

I have received this postcard a few months before the news reported about a horrific destruction of this treasured place...It is just devastating how history can disappear right before our eyes, and for what...:(( Thank you Hasanain for this card, I truly appreciate it, and hope for better years to come, here there, everywhere.

A large fortified city under the influence of the Parthian Empire and capital of the first Arab Kingdom, Hatra withstood invasions by the Romans in A.D. 116 and 198 thanks to its high, thick walls reinforced by towers. The remains of the city, especially the temples where Hellenistic and Roman architecture blend with Eastern decorative features, attest to the greatness of its civilization.

UNESCO - Sangiran Early Man Site, Indonesia

Sangiran Early Man Site is situated about 15 kilometers in the north of Solo town in Central Java, Indonesia, covering an area of 5,600 hectares. It became famous after the discovery of Homo erectus remains and associated stone artifacts (well-known as Sangiran flake industry) in the 1930s. There is a very significant geological sequence from the upper Pliocene until the end of Middle Pleistocene by depicting the human, faunal, and cultural evolutions within the last 2.4 million years.

Thanks goes to Shinta, who even included matching stamps and cancellation, and to Dionisus, great additions guys :)

 

UNESCO - Pre-Hispanic City Of Palenque, Mexico

A prime example of a Mayan sanctuary of the classical period, Palenque was at its height between AD 500 and 700, when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta River. The elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs with their Mayan mythological themes, attest to the creative genius of this civilization.

Danke Brigitte...who went on holiday to Mexico (oh so jealous!), and sent me cards that took a year (!) to arrive. You know, better late than never..!

Ephesus, Turkey

One of the newly inscribed whs sites is Ephesus, remnants of the ancient Greek city on the coast of Ionia, three kilometres southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey. It was built in the 10th century BC by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. During the Classical Greek era it was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League. The city flourished after it came under the control of the Roman Republic in 129 BC. According to estimates, Ephesus had a population of 33,600 to 56,000 people in the Roman period, making it the third largest city of Roman Asia Minor after Sardis and Alexandria Troas

First the Library of Celsus,  built in honour of the Roman Senator Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus in 135 AD.  It was to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a mausoleum for Celsus, who is buried in a crypt beneath the library.

Second the grand theatre,  which was able to hold 25,000 spectators.

Many thanks to Ana, who had a great trip visiting the 'Turkish delights', among them the amazing Ephesus.

As Turkey is in all the news today following yesterday's general elections...I wanted to remind of the riches that this country possesses, in hope they await safe future.

UNESCO - Su Nuraxi Di Barumini, Italy

During the late 2nd millennium B.C. in the Bronze Age, a special type of defensive structure known as nuraghi (for which no parallel exists anywhere else in the world) developed on the island of Sardinia. The complex consists of circular defensive towers in the form of truncated cones built of dressed stone, with corbel-vaulted internal chambers. The complex at Barumini, which was extended and reinforced in the first half of the 1st millennium under Carthaginian pressure, is the finest and most complete example of this remarkable form of prehistoric architecture.

I love learning about such unique places, perhaps it would take me much longer to even hear about them if it wasn't for (unesco)postcrossing...grazie Selina :)

UNESCO - Xanthos-Letoon, Turkey

The site of Xantos , once the capital of Lycia, illustrates the blending of Lycian traditions and Hellenic influence, especially in its funerary art. The epigraphic inscriptions are crucial for our understanding of the history of the Lycian people and their Indo-European language.

Thank you Onder :)

 

UNESCO - Paphos, Cyprus

Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. It was a centre of the cult of Aphrodite and of pre-Hellenic fertility deities. Aphrodite's legendary birthplace was on this island, where her temple was erected by the Myceneans in the 12th century B.C. The remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and tombs mean that the site is of exceptional architectural and historic value. The mosaics of Nea Paphos are among the most beautiful in the world.

I am very thankful to Iliyana for sending me this great postcard! The mosaics do look truly amazing :)

 

UNESCO - Delos, Greece

The island of Delos  near Mykonos, near the centre of the Cyclades archipelago, is one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece. According to Greek mythology, Apollo was born on this tiny island - Apollo's sanctuary attracted pilgrims from all over Greece and Delos was a prosperous trading port. The island bears traces of the succeeding civilizations in the Aegean world, from the 3rd millennium B.C. to the palaeochristian era.

The Terrace of the Lions was also dedicated to Apollo by the people of Naxos shortly before 600 BC, had originally nine to twelve squatting, snarling marble guardian lions along the Sacred Way.

 

When my PC friend told me he was going to work on an island which is in its entirety an archaeological site, I thought wow thats so cool! Thinking about it a bit more I realise it cant be that different from me working on this small island...though its much smaller, and well it doesnt have some awesome ruins scattered around heh. Thanks Vangelis :)

 

UNESCO - Maya Site Of Copan, Honduras

Copán was one of the most important cities of the Mayan civilisation, whose great Classical period lasted from AD 300-900. The archaeological remains reveal the three main stages of development, during which evolved the temples, plazas, altar complexes and ball courts that can be seen today, before the city was abandoned in the early 10th century.
1st postcard shows one side of a ballcourt - such structures were used in Mesoamerica for over 2700 years to play the Mesoamerican ballgame, particularly the hip-ball version of the ballgame; but also for other functions.
The first sculpture on the 2nd postcard seems to be one of two simian sculptures on Temple 11, possibly representing Howler Monkey Gods; the other sculpture represents a bat.

Many thanks to Cesar for these great Unesco postcards showing two aspects of the site, and for using such wonderful stamps! These postcards have arrived regularly and fairly quickly :))
 

UNESCO - Samarra Archaeological City, Iraq

Samarra is a city in Iraq situated 130km north of Baghdad, and is famous for its vast archaeological site of the former Islamic capital - the minaret of the Great Mosque on this postcard is its best-known feature. Looks fantastic!

As does the back of the postcard with no less than three different cancellations of two consecutive dates. Also a great stamp with landmarks map. Love everything, thanks so much Ahmed!