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The park can be visited on a rather easy day trip from Tenerife. I took the 08:45 ferry from Los Cristianos (50mins) and went back on the 17:30 ferry. The price of about 30 Euros per way was ridiculously high. At La Gomera port I rented a car for 25 Euros. Got it in about 2 minutes. Easiest rental ever. From the port it’s a rather joyful uphill drive to the park.

You could follow routes that take the whole day. I opted for driving to several viewpoints instead and did a few kilometers return on several path. If you are not a total tree enthusiast, a trek for several hours will get boring. It’s a constant up and down between the ever same trees. My favorite viewpoints were the Miradores del Rejo and Hermigua. You will need to walk for a few minutes from the parking but views are nice.

There is not much else to see on the island. The “capital” is tiny even tough with a nice church and a park with a tower from colonial times. Further, I visited Agulo, a rather small and unspectacular village. Not really worth the effort.

The Salt Valley of Añana is the ultimate stopover for salt pans in Iberia that has been around for 6,500 years and was really important during the Roman times. Ancient evaporation methods are still on display, and actually still in use for cultural heritage reason. One you can also see the flawed concrete method that would crack by the salt and is not maintained for budgetary reasons. Salt production used to be very profitable as can be seen in other mines around the world, but once salt was easy to retrieve from other methods the valley stopped manufacturing commercial salt.

A tour is available in a multitude of languages. Arriving at 9:45 when the shop opens I was the only person to have booked the English tour (and the only person to be around but a ton of people would arrive by the time I left and quite sure they were all Spaniards). There was no problem in being the only tourist to take the tour and it gave me such a better control of understanding the salt valley and asking questions as much as I want. Once the big wooden key was used to open the gate the tour would begin. The valley beyond the visitor center is not that big and one can explore quite a bit of it on the tour, as well as taste the extreme salt content in the water, get working on getting water flow going into your (temporary) pan to get an …

I visited this WHS in November 2016. The aerial view of the Oval Maidan from the plane in a way reminded me of Central Park in New York City - a lovely green area surrounded by urban buildings and heavy traffic.

My initial impression was confirmed later on when we caught a taxi a drove through Marina Drive and close to Oval Maidan. The traffic in these areas is incredible not to mention the several high rise buildings everywhere. I remember clearly though that there were several Art Deco buildings along Marina Drive that stood out among the rest of the concrete jungle even though most of them could use a lick of paint. The most central and striking of the lot was the Soona Mahal with its round turret (top right photo - towards the centre). This building was chosen as the most iconic Art Deco building in Mumbai's WHS nomination posters. The Marina Drive (bottom left photo), nicknamed Mumbai's Corniche, offers a pleasant walk and a good opportunity to take in the Art Deco buildings in this WHS. The nomination maps on UNESCO's official website list all the inscribed buildings.

My favourite part of this WHS though is definitely the Victorian Gothic ensemble around the Oval Maidan. If truth be told it is more of a continuation of the same style as Mumbai's Victoria Terminus and Municipal Corporation Building. The only worthwhile difference is that you can enjoy some fine cricket along the way. It is …

On a trip to Córdoba and Granada a few years ago, I visited the ruins of Medina Azahara (Madinat al-Zahra), about 8 km to the west of Córdoba (there are trips organized by the tourist office). The Caliph of Córdoba had this palace town built in the 10th century, but it only lasted a few decades. Only a fraction is excavated, but it is a fascinating archaeological site to visit and walk around in, and there is a very interesting museum. It could have been inscribed as an extension of the Córdoba WHS, but considering its great archaeological potential, it’s just as well that it is a separate site. When I was there, there was talk of a problem with a kind of shantytown nearby that authorities thought would dissuade UNESCO from inscribing the site (although I didn't see any and there was certainly none in the immediate vicinity).

Reaching Mumbai via the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) was indeed special, and I waited for 3 years before I could apty claim to have ticked off a rare feat: that I was able to visit a WHS by arriving at another separate one. My friend who picked me up at the terminus and I spent some few hours in the inscribed property of Mumbai before heading out to Elephanta Island. Contrary to the image of Mumbai in mainstream media being so busy, dirty, and crowded, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that that part was not as bad as I thought! Our wandering from the Fort precinct to the Oval area was a wonderful experience and that face of Mumbai really looked like it was taken out of London, with an Indian flare to it. Just a few metres away and you get into another world altogether, the Art Deco ensemble, which I wished I also spent more time on. Overall, it is not hard to understand and see why Mumbai is a true world-class city not only for its economic and trading role in history, but, more importantly, for its architectural gems.

In 2017, Mumbai also bagged several recognitions in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, all of which are under its Victorian Gothic component. The St. Thomas Cathedral was awarded too in 2014, and I enjoyed very much checking it out. Dining at the historic Leopold Cafe in Colaba area was memorable as well. 

Completed and opened without the use of electricity, the Brooklyn Bridge was used primarily for horse-drawn carriage, pedestrians/bicycle, and railcar. It is an American icon and one of the most widely recognized modern monuments in the world. 

The Brooklyn Bridge should be visited in 3 ways, each is a reward worth your time.

1) Walking the entire bridge, preferably from Brooklyn to Manhattan

2) View the bridge from the DUMBO neighborhood, specifically Brooklyn Bridge Park

3) View the bridge from the East River Esplanade at night

We can probably expect a nomination sometime around 2023. Which would be fitting to mark 140 years since the bridge opened. NYC really should have 3 or 4 world heritage sites, the fact that the Statue of Liberty is the only inscribed site within sight of NYC is unfortunate.

Qinghai Lake is around an hour by car from Xining, the biggest city before the Tibetian Plateau starts to have the population density dwindle down at the west side of the country. This is obviously the best base to visit the lake area and there a dozens of tours offering day trips including the 5th biggest Buddhist monastery in the world, Ta'er. This is also a really easy way to do the tour. I went in late September and the weather was already really cold. My original plan was to stay at the lake in one of the original tents, the owner even saying it is still possible, but after arriving I saw there was nothing and I canceled the plan and instead stayed back in Xining to enjoy more Muslim food.

The biggest draw of Qinghai Lake is the amount of birds that nest/live here. Being such a massive lake it is hard to get see some maybe, but the areas around the lake aren't exactly towns or even buildings so there is plenty of space for the birds at the shoreline. There were no more boat tours in September which are most likely very popular in summer. These tours will get you closed to the bird populations on the islets such as Sankuaishi. Birds were actually all gone in September, really disappointed. I had a coworker and she told me she went a little bit earlier and she saw 6 birds. I asked if those are 6 …

I was born and bred in Kosice, so I believe I'm quite qualified to talk about this nomination. And let me tell you straight away, both Ivan and I think it's a bit of a joke. I believe it's just a gimmick someone thought about because they couldn't say: well, it's got this one street and it's very pretty. So even though I am a local patriot, I have to be frank and admit I don't see a reason for inscribing Kosice.

Having said that, the city centre is lovely: it's one long street, the Hlavna Street with reconstructed brook symbolically flowing in its middle, except for a small "island" with the theatre, Singing fountain and the St. Elizabeth Cathedral. That's what makes the lens part of the town core. The Hlavna Street is flanked by another two parallell streets with lovely old architecture, one on each side: Masiarska and Kovacska.

You can walk along the streets and enjoy drinks in one of the many cafés. There used to be much more shopping opportunities, but most of the shops have moved to one of too many shopping centres. What I like about the Hlavna Street is the fact that most of the buildings from neo-baroque era are still standing, only three ugly cubes mar the uniformity of the look: Tesco's, The House of Footwear and the most ugly of them all, Doubletree by Hilton.

You can enjoy it in half a day, same as Bratislava and if …

Focused on the southern tip of the city centre around the Fort area and the waterfront along Marine Drive near Chowpatty Beach there is a surprisingly dense cluster of Art Deco buildings in the city, but without having my eyes peeled for the details, this mostly passed me by on my visit in 2010. However the Victorian Gothic aspects sat very prominently in my memory.

Sitting on the Oval Maidan, which forms the core of the nominated area, watching innumerable cricket matches the main impression I had was of English influenced metropolitan architecture, particularly the large brick Neo-Gothic buildings which felt like the logical continuation after my arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus which is built in a similar style.

The heat drew me away from the cricket and led me to engage more firmly with one of the city's Art Deco treats. As I was in Mumbai it would have been rude not to go to a cinema (though the draw of a cool dark air conditioned interior was almost as strong as my cultural desires) but with visiting time short and unsure of the subtitle situation I decided to forgo a traditional Bollywood movie, instead watching any English language film there was being shown (Hello to Jason Isaacs in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt1). So I headed off to the lovely Regal Cinema, which I certainly recognised as Art Deco. I was really happy to have engaged in the cinema going experience in …

Not another wine region...please! Wait, it's not? From the title it sure would sound like the general wine of the Iberian peninsula would be up for another landscape inscription but when I saw several spots on the map for detailed locations I was already curious about what it is all about, and after reading the document submitted to the UNESCO website is clear that this is about the wine trade between Iberia and the rest of the world (mainly Phoenicians?) back in the days. One of the wrecks, the Mazarrón II, is actually in the sandy bay of the appropriately named Puerto de Mazarrón at the south coast of Spain. Whereas snorkeling out is possible the metal sheets covering it make it a non-started for seeing this currently tentative WHS.

I opted for the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena. Cartagena is already a semi-popular spot judging from the amount of museums and a small old town but I think it's main tourist drive comes from docking cruise ships. At the time of visit there was none of these so the town was quite empty, with most people I saw not being tourists. Nevertheless parking during the siesta time (2~4pm) was free just 10 minutes away from the museum which allows for a nice stroll through old town.

The museum is not expensive and was dead empty. It has a lot of info on several underwater heritage with the first panel already giving detailed information on the …

I visited Djerba for holidays in February of 2009. I was very surprised now when I saw that it was to be nominated as a WHS since I found the island neither very beautiful (it is totally flat) nor archeologically or architecturally interesting. I didn't even feel the need to take any pictures! We made a tour of the island and the most memorable place was the synagogue but even this didn't impress me much. More impressive was an excursion into the desert but naturally this was on the mainland. All in all it seemed very touristy and with few historic monuments. I doubt this has changed much since.

The Dazu Rock Carvings are amongst my favorite WHS in China! When I was for business in Beijing last year I decided to fly to Chongqing to visit 2 WHS (the other Wulong). I did a day trip to the Dazu Rock Carvings.

I was amazed by the beautiful colors especially at Baodingshan and the fine carvings at Beishan. I think they are much nicer as those at Yungang and Longmen. I visited 4 out of 5 locations as I left Chongqing to late in the morning. I didn't see Shizhuanshan which I regret a bit as that's the one where really each 3 religions are present. Baodingshan and Beishan are full of tourists but at Nanshan and Shimenshan I was alone.

Dazu isn't included on many standard China itineraries but if you have the option do go. These carvings, thousands, are a true wonder. I would even compare them with the Terra Cotty army. Which is also amazing.

Visited this WHS on the same day I visited another WHS, Bhimbetka caves. At morning 9, except myself and another Bengali Family, site was empty. No English guides were available at that time. Used wikipedia as my guide material.

Wikipedia has excellent information about the Toranas, which have carvings in the stones as if they are carved on wood. Such precision. Lord Buddha is represented as different animals, Bodhi Tree, stupas in those carvings(Toranas). 

There are some old non functioning temples too were there. Spent close to 2 hours in the site. This site is must visit for any history/architecture lovers.

I visited Himeji-jō on a half-day trip from Kōbe in early 2017. Trains from Kōbe and Ōsaka are fast and frequent, and from Himeji station, one can easily walk towards the castle. The shiny white castle overlooks the uneventful city and is surrounded by a water-filled moat. Kōko-en Garden is just west of the castle and a nice place to spend half an hour. The ticket price for the castle was 1,000 JPY (1,040 JPY with the garden). After removing your shoes, the castle can be entered and the upper floors climbed. In the colder season, visitors should put on the offered slippers as the wooden floorboards turn freezing cold. I have visited a handful of Japanese castles and found Himeji-jō to be the most beautiful.

Visited this site on 17/06/2018. I hired a taxi from Bhopal to cover this site along with Sanchi, another WHS. Taxi entrance fee was Rs 300(4.4 USD). Hired an english guide for another 300. Due to shortage of time, Spent around 90 minutes in this site. Such a fabulous site and MP government is trying to preserve the site better. There are around 700 different rockshelter in the area and covered most important among them with the help of the guide.

On my last day in Istanbul I made my way to the Yildiz Palace in Besiktas. It is currently (2018) undergoing renovations and not accessible to the public. The only exception is the mosque next to the entry.

I was all alone when I entered the mosque and it was quite impressive. The striking feature here is how 19th century Europe is creeping into the old Ottoman style. It still follows the architectural template set by Sinan centuries earlier, but makes use of 19th century building technology and European fashion.

OUV

I am hard pressed to fully judge the OUV seeing I was only able to visit the mosque. Personally, I would prefer a serial nomination of the Ottoman palaces of Istanbul, specifically Dolmabahce Palace.

Getting There

The palace is only connected by bus. Neither tram nor subway will take you there directly. I ended up walking 30min or so from the end of tram line at Kabatas passing the Dolmabahce Palace along the way.

In June 2018, I rented a car and drove from Porto to the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, a pilgrimage site in northern Portugal that’s known for its monumental zigzag stairway. Pilgrims traditionally ascend the 577-step Baroque staircase on their knees. I opted, instead, to take the 1882 water-powered funicular.

The University of Coimbra is the latest addition to the Portuguese World Heritage List and one of the few sites in the category secular education and science. The inscribed area comprises buildings from the 12th century (the old cathedral) to the 20th century. You have a nice view from the opposite bank of the Mondego river up to the hill with the main university buildings towering above the city.

I entered the upper town (Alta) through the Arco de Almedina. The way up to the university buildings lead past the Sé Velha, that looks more like a castle than a cathedral. It is worth a visit, in particular the cloister. I was surprised to find such a quite large cloister between these steep and winding streets. However, after having visited Alcobaça and Batalha, I was not that impressed anymore by churches and cloisters. But if you make the trip in the opposite direction, you can take it as an introduction to the World Heritage monasteries in central Portugal.The main sight in Coimbra is the former Royal Palace of Alcaçova at the highest point of the city. The historic buildings are lined around the inner courtyard: Biblioteca Joanina, Capela de São Miguel, the bell tower Torre da Universidade, the Palace with the Sala Grande and a few other historical rooms. Tickets are available at the new library just across the street, and you have to book a time slot for the Joanine Library. The visit to the Biblioteca Joanina takes …

I visited this palace in August 2011. Obviously it was forbidden to take pictures since I have only one picture of the famous staircase. While this residence does not rival other European palaces in size it is remarkable in several ways: it was built by a prince-bishop who was the sovereign over a small country. It was built by the greatest artists of the Rococo among them Balthasar Neumann and Tiepolo and it contains three of the most beautiful palatial rooms I have ever seen, in taste and refinement hardly rivaled by its greatest competitors. While baroque style often overwhelms me by its weight this rococo palace seems light and airy.

When you walk up to the Beletage you pass the enormous staircase with the largest fresco in the world painted by the Tiepolo. It is a over-the-top apotheosis of the bishop and each side of the ceiling shows one of the four then known continents. It is very entertaining to study them and see what was considered typical for each continents at the time. It is full of exotic animals and shows even native Americans who practice cannibalism! If I remember correctly our guide said that the four continents should signify the "global" power and influence of the prince-bishop. The latter is also protrayed and with him Tiepolo, Neumann and other artists. The first room on the second floor is the "White Room" which is quite monochromatic and all over decorated by stucco by Antonio Bossi, a real …

It seems Cape Verde is not a very popular country in this community. It is not surprising since there is only one World Heritage Site and chances for the inscription of the second one (Tarrafal) are vague. But if you do not follow typical beach vacation on Sal or Boa Vista, there is a lot to see and there is a surprising variety of landscapes in this small country. 

Cidade Velha, the only WHS of the country, was the first settlement of the archipelago and the first colonial town south of Sahara. The Portuguese, striving for piety up to exaggeration, built here more churches than secular buildings. Some of them, such as Convent of Sao Francisco, or Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosario (the oldest colonial church in the world) are part of the inscription. The other one – Se Cathedral (again the first colonial cathedral) is nowadays nothing but ruins. All inscribed properties are withing the walking distance and can be convered in a couple of hours. The best preserved is Fort Real of Sao Filipe, a stronghold built on the steepy hill nearby (the pave is very bad and we almost surrendered descending it with baby stroller). 

Cidade Velha lost competition with Praia and now is nothing but a small but nice village, perfect for a half a day trip from the capital. After visiting the inscribed sites it is worth to sit in one of the restaurants in the center, with a sea view from …