1593 UNITED STATES (New York) - Execution Rocks Lighthouse

Located in the middle of Long Island Sound, on the border between  New Rochelle and Sands Point, Execution Rocks Light stands 17m tall, with a white light flashing every 10 seconds, and is cosidered an early example of "wave swept tower" engineering. The granite tower is painted white with a brown band around the middle, and has an attached stone keeper's house, in Gothic Revival style. It is rumored that the lighthouse's site got its name before the American Revolutionary War when British colonial authorities executed people by chaining them to the rocks at low tide, allowing the rising water to drown them. Actually the name was chosen to reflect the dangerous shipping area created by the rocks' exposure during low tides.

1590 PORTUGAL (Lisbon) - Bairro da Sé in Lisbon

The municipality of Lisbon, the capital and the largest city of Portugal, included 53 freguesias (civil parishes) until November 2012, when a new law reduced the number of them to 24. Locally, the inhabitants may more commonly refer to the spaces of Lisbon in terms of historic bairros (neighbourhoods). These communities have no clearly defined boundaries and represent distinctive quarters of the city that have in common a historical culture, similar living standards, and identifiable architectural landmarks. The oldest bairro of Lisbon is Alfama, which spreads down the southern slope from the Castle of São Jorge to the River Tagus. Its name, derived from the Arabic Al-hamma, means fountains or baths.

1589 AUSTRIA (Lower Austria) - Mayerling

Mayerling is a small village (pop: 200) situated on the Schwechat River, in the Wienerwald (Vienna woods), at 24km southwest of Vienna. In 1886 Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria and heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown, acquired the manor and transformed it into a hunting lodge. It was in this hunting lodge that, on January 30, 1889, he was found dead with his mistress Baroness Mary Vetsera, apparently as a result of suicide. Exactly what happened is clouded in mystery. After the deaths of the two, the Emperor Franz Joseph turned the building into a convent which was settled by nuns of the Discalced Carmelite Order. Today the lodge is a museum.

1588 SAMOA - Candle-lit Beach Fale

The Samoan people are a Polynesian ethnic group of the Samoan Islands, which are divided between the independent country of Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) and American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States. The traditional culture of Samoa is a communal way of life based on Fa'a Samoa (The Samoan Way), the unique socio-political culture. There are 3 main parts in the Samoan culture, that is faith, family and music. The traditional living quarters, or fale (houses), contain no walls and up to 20 people may sleep on the ground in the same fale. During the day, the fale is used for chatting and relaxing. One's family is viewed as an integral part of a person's life. The aiga or extended family lives and works together.

1585 UNITED STATES (Utah) - The Needles in Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is located in southeastern Utah, near the town of Moab, and preserves a colorful landscape eroded into countless canyons, mesas, and buttes by the Colorado River, the Green River, and their respective tributaries. The park is divided into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze, and the rivers themselves. While these areas share a primitive desert atmosphere, each retains its own character. Two large river canyons are carved into the Colorado Plateau by the Colorado River and Green River. Author Edward Abbey, a frequent visitor, described the Canyonlands as "the most weird, wonderful, magical place on earth - there is nothing else like it anywhere."

1584 NAMIBIA - Swakopmund Lighthouse

Swakopmund (German for "Mouth of the Swakop"), the fourth largest population centre in Namibia, is situated in the Namib desert, on the coast of western Namibia. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour for  German South-West Africa, it is an example of German colonial architecture, and a sizable part of its population is still German-speaking today. Swakopmund Lighthouse (present in the town's coat of arms), located opposite of Municipal gardens, was opened in July 1902, so it is the oldest lighthouse in Namibia. It is still in operation (being integral part of Swakopmund's skyline), guiding ships with its light seen as far as from 35 nautical miles, and also housing a restaurant.

1583 CAPE VERDE (São Vicente) - Mindelo

Founded in 1795 by the Portuguese, Mindelo is a port city in the northern part of the island of São Vicente, one of the Barlavento islands, located between the islands of Santo Antão and Santa Luzia, with the Canal de São Vicente separating it from Santo Antão. Situated at the Porto Grande Bay, a large natural harbour, the town is surrounded by low mountains (the Monte Cara and the Morro Branco headland to the west, and the Monte Verde to the east), and is crossed by the river  Ribeira de Julião. Known for its colourful and animated carnival celebrations, with roots in Portuguese traditions and some Brazilian characteristics, it is home to 93% of the entire island's population.Its economy consists mainly of business, fishing, shipping, boating and more commonly tourism which developed more recently.

1582 MALTA - Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto (Maltese: Taht il-Hnejja) is actually a number of sea caverns on the south coast of Malta, east of the fishermen's harbour Wied iż-Żurrieq in the village of Qrendi, right across from the small uninhabited islet of Filfla. Every day from sunrise until about 1 pm a unique sight can be observed here. The location of the cave combined with the sunlight lead to the water mirroring showing numerous shades of blue. Several caverns mirror the brilliant phosphorescent colours of the underwater flora; other caverns show a deep dark shade of blue.

1581 INDONESIA (Java) - The peacock dance (Tari Merak) in West Java

The peacock dance is a traditional folk dance popular in Asia, especially by Dai people in China, in Bangladesh, and in the western and northern parts of Cambodia.. In Indonesia, it is known as the peafowl dance (Merakin or Tari Merak) by Sundanese people in West Java, and Reog in other parts of Indonesia. It is performed by female dancers inspired by the movements of the male peacock, with the classical movements of Sundanese dance. The male peacock is famous as a dandy who reliably. Every bend and wobble of them that always dynamic with beauty of the tail feathers are always shown so that to make the peacock female interested. The clothes of the dancers have motifs like peacock feathers.

1063, 1580 MEXICO (Oaxaca) - Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán (UNESCO WHS)

1063 Pre-Columbian archaeological site of Monte Albán (1)

Posted on 22.04.2014, 14.05.2015
This World Heritage property, located in the central valleys of Oaxaca, in the depression formed between the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre del Sur, is composed of two distinct cultural sites: the historic centre of Oaxaca de Juarez (a good example of Spanish colonial town planning) and the pre-Columbian archaeological site of Monte Albán, consisting of terraces, dams, canals, pyramids and artificial mounds carved out of the mountain, the symbols of a sacred topography. Inhabited over a period of 1,500 years by a succession of peoples (Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs), the site is known for its unique dimensions which exhibit the basic chronology and artistic style of the region and for the remains of magnificent temples, ball court, tombs and bas-reliefs with hieroglyphic inscriptions.

1580 Pre-Columbian archaeological site of Monte Albán (2)

The grand Zapotec capital flourished for thirteen centuries, from the year 500 B.C to 850 A.D. when, for reasons that have not been established, its eventual abandonment began. The main part of the ceremonial centre forms a 300m esplanade running north-south with a platform at either end, constructed during the Monte Albán II and the Monte Albán III phases. Phase II corresponds to the urbanization of the site, the construction of terraces on the sides of the hills, and the development of a system of dams and conduits. The final phases of Monte Albán IV and V were marked by the transformation of the sacred city into a fortified town. Excellent planning is evidenced in the position of the line buildings erected north to south, harmonized with both empty spaces and volumes.

1493, 1579 COOK ISLANDS (Aitutaki) - The jewel of the Cook Islands

1493 Cook Island - Aerial view of Aitatuki

Posted on 22.03.2015, 14.05.2015
Aitutaki is one of the Cook Islands, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. Located north of the island of Rarotonga, the archipelago's main population centre, Aitutaki is an "almost atoll" with a maximum elevation of 123m (the hill Maunga Pu), and has a population of approximately 2,000. The barrier reef that forms its basis is roughly the shape of an equilateral triangle with sides of 12km. The southern edge is almost totally below the surface of the ocean, and the eastern side is composed of a string of small islands. The western side contains many of Aitutaki's important features, including a boat passage through the barrier reef allowing for anchorage close to shore at Arutanga. To the north is the bulk of the main island, with a fertile volcanic soil.

1579 Cook Island - One Foor Island (Tapuaetai) Aitatuki

Polynesians probably first settled Aitutaki around AD 900. The first known European contact was with Captain Bligh and the crew of the HMS Bounty when they discovered it on April 11, 1789, prior to the infamous mutiny. In 1942 New Zealand and American forces were stationed on the island, building the two-way airstrip that can be seen today. Aitutaki is famous for its turquoise central lagoon, uninhabited islands and palm-fringed beaches. Another advantage is that until now it has been spared by mass tourism. In 1972, Aitutaki established a separate postal service, and has issued its own stamps (mostly printed by Heraclio Fournier in Spain) since then. Tapuaetai (One Foot Island), a small islet in the south-east of the lagoon, is often said to be the most important attraction, and it is regarded as providing the visitor with the best views of the Aitutaki lagoon.

1578 CONGO-KINSHASA - An oil painting postcard depicting huts

It seems that the handmade postcards are very common in Congo, be it of Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) or Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). I say this because I received previously two such postcards, a sandpainting one, and an oilpainting one, both from Congo-Brazzaville.

1516, 1577 SAINT LUCIA - Pitons Management Area (UNESCO WHS)

1516 Saint Lucia - The Pitons and Soufriere Bay

 

Posted on 07.04.2015, 13.05.2015
The Pitons are two mountainous volcanic spires rising side by side from the sea (770 m and 743 m high respectively), linked by the Piton Mitan ridge, and located near the town of Soufrière, on the southwestern coast of Saint Lucia. The volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumeroles and hot springs. The Marine Management Area is a coastal strip 11km long and about 1km wide. It comprises a steeply sloping continental shelf with fringing and patch reefs, boulders and sandy plains. The coral reefs, which cover almost 60% of the marine area, are healthy and diverse.

1577 Saint Lucia - The Pitons view fron the Soufriere Bay

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. Because, on the one hand, the Pitons fully illustrate the volcanic history of an andesitic composite volcano associated with crustal plate subduction, and on the other they have an powerful visual impact and incontestable aesthetic qualities, the two adjacent forest-clad volcanic lava domes rising abruptly from the sea, the Pitons Management Area was included in 2004 by UNESCO among the World Heritage Sites.

1576 TUVALU - Crested Tern

Located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia, Tuvalu, the fourth smallest country in the world, consists of three reef islands and six true atolls, with poor soil and limited fresh-water resources. As a result, indigenous plants are rare, as well as the animal life. Twenty eight species of indigenous birds are known, approximately 20 species being sea birds, a few of which are migratory. One of this birds species is the Crested tern (Thalasseus bergii), a seabird in the tern family that nests in dense colonies on coastlines and islands in the tropical and subtropical regions, in the area from South Africa around the Indian Ocean to the central Pacific and Australia

1575 NAGORNO-KARABAKH - Tsitsernavank Monastery

Tzitzernavank is a 5th- to 6th-century Armenian church and former monastery in the  Qashatagh Province of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (formerly Lachin Rayon of Azerbaijan), at 5km of the border of  Armenia's province of Syunik. There are two differing opinions on the etymology of the name. Some authors state that the name originates from the word tzitzernak which means the bird swallow in Armenian. Others believe that the name derives from the word tzitzern, which in Armenian means "little finger" - presumably a reference to the relics of St. George the Dragon-Slayer that were kept in the church.

1574 ITALY (Sicily) - Temple of Concordia - part of Archaeological Area of Agrigento (UNESCO WHS)

According to tradition, Akragas (now Agrigento) was founded by colonists from Rhodes and Crete coming from the founder colony in Sicily, Gela, around 580 BC. It grew rapidly, becoming one of the richest and most famous of the Greek colonies of Magna Graecia. It came to prominence under the 6th-century  tyrants Phalaris and Theron, and became a democracy after the overthrow of Thrasydaeus. Sacked by the  Carthaginians in 406 BC, it never fully recovered its former status. Disputed between the Romans and the Carthaginians, it passed from one hand to another until it remained under the rule of the Romans. It became prosperous again, but the decline of the Western Empire and the ascendancy of Christianity led to depopulation and impoverishment of the city.

1572 MALTA - Women playing Tombla

In Malta, Tombla (open-air Bingo or Housey-Housey) is a very popular game, in particular for women. After Sunday lunch, or in the cool of the evening, village women used to gather in street corners  to play Tombla. The numbers are called in English rather than Maltese; the cards are well worn, having been used hundreds of times; the counters are ussually buttons. The womenfolk perch on ambient benches for their weekly gamble-and-gossip; the stakes are low and so are the prizes. The Tombla is based on the Spanish game of Bingo with one to 90 numbers. For those who doesn't know, Bingo is a game of probability in which players mark off numbers on cards as the numbers are drawn randomly by a caller, the winner being the first person to mark off all their numbers.

1569 UNITED STATES (California) - Balboa Park in San Diego

San Diego - Casa de Balboa beyond the Reflection Pool

Named for the Spanish maritime explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Balboa Park is a 490 ha urban cultural park in San Diego, not far for the border with Mexico. In addition to open space areas, natural vegetation zones, green belts, gardens, and walking paths, it contains museums, several theaters, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Placed in reserve in 1835, the park's site is one of the oldest in the United States dedicated to public recreational use. It hosted the 1915-1916 Panama–California Exposition and 1935-1936 California Pacific International Exposition, both of which left architectural landmarks.

1568 CROATIA (Istria) - City of Motovun (UNESCO WHS - Tentative List)

Located in central Istria, on an elevation that dominates over the valley of the Mirna River, Motovun is in nowadays only a village with 531 inhabitants, but it was a medieval town that grew up on the site of an ancient city called Kastelijer. On the inner walls are several coats-of-arms of different Motovun ruling families and two gravestones of Roman inhabitants (dating from the 1st century). In the 10th and 11th centuries it belonged to the Bishop of Poreč, but from 1278 it was taken over by Venice and surrounded by solid walls which are still intact today. All three parts of the town are connected by a system of fortifications containing elements of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles, being a typical example of Venetian colonial architecture.

1567 PAPUA NEW GUINEA (East New Britain) - The Warwagira & Mask Festival

The Warwagira & Mask Festival was introduced in 1995 and is staged in Kokopo as an annual national event to promote the Mask Cultures of East New Britain, New Ireland and other areas in PNG where masks are significant projections of cultural expression. The festival is a five-day extravaganza of cultural dancing, ritual performance, display, story-telling and exchange - with a variety of arts and crafts. Some of the masks are many decades old, and many of them are sacred. They aren't meant to be viewed or transported to alien places, hence the ceremonial Kinavai, which acts as a cleansing or appeasement ritual for the broken taboos and to pay respects to the Tolai people.