UNESCO, my not so secret obsession.

Hello folks. As we bid a fond farewell to Europe, not withstanding the European section of Istanbul, I look back at the truly awesome sights and experiences we have seen with a certain reverance and look forward to more of the same. Well, there is an international body that also thinks some of the places we visited are most definately noteworthy. There is nothing better, for me, than to have our choices validated. Of the twelve countries and one city-state we have visited so far, we have visited a UNESCO world heritage site in all but one. Sometimes our visit is planned (i.e. me, "oooooh we should go here, it's a UNESCO site!"), sometimes they are suggested and sometimes we just end up there by chance. Regardless of why we go, to date we have checked off 23 world heritage sites with more to come.

Without any further ado, in order of appearance we have seen:

*USA
1) The statue of liberty
*UK
2) Tower of London
3) New & old town Edinburg
4) Giants causeway


*Ireland (Republic of)
5) Bend in the Boyne
*Germany
6) Palace and parks of Potsdam


*Netherlands
7) Rietveld/Schroderhuis, Utrecht


*France
8) Banks of the river Seine, Paris
9) Palace and parks of Fountain Bleau
10) Jurisdiction of St. Emilion


*Spain
11) The works of Antoni Gaudi
*Vatican city
12) St. Peter's Bacilica & the Sistine chapel
*Italy
13) Ancient Rome
14) Ancient Naples
15) Pompeii & Herculaneum archeological areas
*Croatia
16) Old town Dubrovnik
17) Diocletian palace & old town Split
18) Plitvice lakes national park
19) Old town Trogir
*Hungary
20) City center/historic Budapest


*Greece
21) Acropolis, Athens
22) Ancient Delphi


23) Old town Rhodes

Wheew! (Sorry Switzerland we could not get to any of your world heritage sites.)

Some spots were more impressive than others but all in all the sites held their own with the exception of Naples (read my post on how much we "liked" Naples).

We even have a few more sites on the agenda! In Turkey we are going to Pamukkale and the UNESCO sites in Istanbul. We also don't intend to miss Ankor in Cambodia, and Machu Picchu in Peru. I know I'm forgetting some and we are sure to stumble upon more still. I for one can't wait!!!

To see the list in it's entirety the post title is a link to the UNESCO website. You have probably been to a few yourself. Let us know where, maybe we will add them to our "must see list". Or maybe we will be jealous because it will be impossible for us to go there (Boo-hoo hoo, poor us only 23 and counting world heritage sites). No really, I am interested. Recommend, comment, brag...where have you been.

My next post will be on another more secret obsession I am tracking. Hopefully "thunder stealer" won't spill the beans ;-) Jason

stuff

jay's family has a dessert that is served every time they have a big extended family supper. it's called 'stuff'. stuff is a gooey mix of oreos and sweet, white, marshmellowy stuff. everyone loves stuff! no one really knows how it came to be known as stuff, altho' jay believes he is the originator of the term. but lest i be accused of thunder stealing...i will let him tell you why (ok, ok...i don't remember the story). 

this is our stuff. i know the story to this stuff. its all the stuff we've collected over the past 4+ years. this is the sum of our collective histories as consumers. i am disgusted and overwhelmed with how much we accumulate as individuals, as a couple and as a society. at the same time i'm trying to convince myself that i won't miss any of this stuff.

well...now it could be your stuff! come on...you know you waaaahhn'it.

plus there will be more tables outside...aaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Jump!

First click on the title of this blog to cue cheesy 1980's keyboard intro...Then let the music play in the background while you read this next post for full effect...  

How many of you out there have ever jumped off a tall diving board? A small plane with a parachute strapped to you? A bridge with an giant elastic band tied to your feet? Or a 20M cliff into a Caribbean lagoon. (the last one... me) Well, there is a moment when you are weightless. I felt that way after we purchased our rtw tickets this past monday. Like my stomach was in my mouth in the best way possible. WE ARE DOING THIS! eeep Someone, who we will call thunder steeler, has posted our itinerary, even tho she said I could... (gurrrr thunder steeler) So all I am left with is cheesy 80's music and even cheesier metaphors...(Je suis le grand fromage! (mmmm mmmm fromage) CURSE YOU THUNDER STEELER! Be that as it may, the metaphor is accurate. 

 

I have recited the itinerary so often I don't have to think anymore...You're doing what? WOW that sounds exciting (tho' not as exciting as the Eddie Van Halen solo coming up if you linked on the youtube video and let it play like I asked). Can I/we come with you? Ahh, the green eyed monster lurks 'round so many corners now-a-days. For all of you jealous types who want to come with us here's how you can. Sell your house and the majority of it's contents. Quit your jobs (or if you can get a leave of absence) and drop about $10,000 for 2 plane tix around the world. There...that wasn't to hard was it? 

jason