Where is Chris - World Heritage Day

Today is International Day for Monuments and Sites, often known as World Heritage Day. It is a "day to celebrate and promote cultural heritage,". Can you guess where I am?  Come back tomorrow for a link to several other monuments and sites.

See how many UNESCO sites you and your children can name.   #KeepTheKidsEngaged

Where is Chris    Learn More (Click)

We hope you are enjoying this series of  "Where is Chris" posts.  We'd love your feedback on our social media.

Where is Chris?

Here is today's post: See if you can guess where I am. 

As promised, we've updated yesterday's post, Where is Chris - Winter Scenery, with the answer to the puzzle.  Revisit that post and just scroll over the image to reveal the answer.  You can also click on the link below the picture to read more.    

Make sure to follow us on our social media, so you don't miss any destinations. 

If you can't wait for tomorrow for the answer, you can take my quiz in my Instagram story.

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World Heritage Day 2019

Meridian Column

2019’s International Day for Monuments and Sites, aka World Heritage Day is April 18.  We've visited several UNESCO sites over the years.   We will highlight some of them here.  Click the links to learn more about these sites.

Hammerfest World's Northernmost Town

Our ship, Hurtigruten Ms. Vesteralen, visited Hammerfest, the northernmost town in the world during our Norway coastal voyage. We boarded a bus which took us to the Meridian Column, which is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites and commemorates the first official measurement of the exact size and shape of the Earth.

Kinderdijk - Old Meets New

Much of Holland is below sea level, but yet it doesn't flood. Why? A visit to Kinderdijk gives you the extraordinary opportunity to visit a UNESCO World Heritage in Holland and answer the question for yourself.

During your visit you can see 19 windmills from the 18th century and even go inside one to see what it was like to live there.



St Castor Basilica Koblenz

The Basilica of St. Castor is the oldest church in Koblenz.  It is located near Deutsches Eck at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle. Pope John Paul II raised St. Castor to a basilica minor on 30 July 1991.

Since 2002, the Basilica of St. Castor has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. In addition, it is a cultural property protected under the Hague Convention.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

  of Pompeii

It was a summer day in August 79 A.D. when  Mt. Vesuvius rumbled, an ominous cloud formed, residents fled to save their lives, and a city was lost in a sea of ash. For nearly 1700 years, the ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii would lay hidden under 75 feet of volcanic ash until their accidental discovery and subsequent excavation.

Pompeii was known as a vacation community for high society before the eruption; it had a forum, amphitheater, gymnasium, shops and an aqueduct that delivered water for irrigation, fountains and private baths. Some of the ruins are remarkably preserved with elaborately detailed mosaics and colorful frescoes decorating the interiors of wealthy homeowners' villas.

What was life like under the volcano? What exactly did happen that summer day in A.D. 79? 

Exploring a Lost City

Fast forward to current day...   we exit our motorcoach and walk along the path to the entrance of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Shortly after entering the site we see evidence of remarkably well preserved buildings from the Lost City.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

This week the world watched in horror as one of the most famous heritage sites was engulfed in flames. Speaking in response to the fire, UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, said

 “Notre Dame represents a historically, architecturally, and spiritually, outstanding universal heritage. It is also a monument of literary heritage, a place that is unique in our collective imagination”.

She continued, "The inferno which engulfed the cathedral, but appears to have left the medieval stonework intact, reminds us of the power of heritage that connects us to one another. We are receiving messages of support from all over the world.”

 The Cathedral is part of the World Heritage site officially known as “Paris, Banks of the Seine”, inscribed on the World Heritage List, in 1991. This photo was taken during a visit on 9/11/2001.

Happy Cinco de Mayo 2018

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico.   The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War.

In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.   Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico, which occurs on September 16th.

Cruises to Mexico

Mexico is not just sunny beaches and great water sports. Mexico's Spanish colonial roots fused with her turbulent Indian ancestry have engendered a rich cultural history. Fascinating archaeological ruins, extraordinary works of art, colonial architecture, native handicrafts and wonderful folklore will capture your imagination. Combine all this with fiery sunsets, lots of fun and romantic evenings, and you have the makings of a spectacular cruise vacation.
There are three types of cruise to Mexico, each offering a different cruise experience.

Mexico Baja :

These are short 3 and 4 day cruises departing year-round from Los Angeles, California to Ensenada, Mexico and Catalina. Very popular with the West Coast crowd as fun, quick and relaxing getaway.

Mexico Round-Trip :

These are typically 7-night cruises departing year-round from Los Angeles, and seasonally from San Diego and San Francisco; however, they travel further South than the shorter Mexican Baja Cruises. A Mexico Round-Trip cruise often includes, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta before returning to Los Angeles. 

Some 8, 10 and 11 night cruises to the Mexico Round-Trip are also offered seasonally. In April, many cruise lines offer a one time one-way repositioning Mexico Round-Trip Cruise from Acapulco to Los Angeles or San Francisco as their travel enroute to Vancouver for the Alaska season. They do this again in the reverse at the end of the Alaska Season.

Caribbean - Western :

Many 4, 5 and 7 night Caribbean cruises make stops in Cancun and Cozume l, Mexico, which is on the opposite side of the country when compared to the Mexican Riviera. Click here to learn more about Mexico. In Mexico you'll find world-glass golfing, horseback riding, bounteous sport fishing, and sensational diving spots. Dramatic scenery abounds. Shopping is blissful. The American dollar goes a long way, and everything, from regional leather goods and handcrafted silver to designer imports is a bargain.  

West Coast cruises had declined for many years, but this year there are more than 40 cruise itineraries to select from.  There are parts of Mexico that have seen an increase in violence, so there have been itinerary changes to keep passengers safe.   Tourist areas are safe for the most part.   As with any international travel, you want to be vigilant and be sure to use common sense (such as not wandering off alone at night). We have traveled to Mexico several times, and especially enjoy the Mexican Riviera.  Our National Conference this year will be on Norwegian Bliss to the Mexican Riviera.  Consider including one or more Mexican ports in your next cruise. 

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Happy Cinco de Mayo 2011

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico.   The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride,and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War.

In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.   Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico, which occurs on September 16th.

Cruises to Mexico

Mexico is not just sunny beaches and great water sports. Mexico's Spanish colonial roots fused with her turbulent Indian ancestry have engendered a rich cultural history. Fascinating archaeological ruins, extraordinary works of art, colonial architecture, native handicrafts and wonderful folklore will capture your imagination. Combine all this with fiery sunsets, lots of fun and romantic evenings, and you have the makings of a spectacular cruise vacation.
There are three types of cruise to Mexico, each offering a different cruise experience.

Mexico Baja :

These are short 3 and 4 day cruises departing year-round from Los Angeles, California to Ensenada, Mexico and Catalina. Very popular with the West Coast crowd as fun, quick and relaxing getaway.

Mexico Round-Trip :

These are typically 7-night cruises departing year-round from Los Angeles, and seasonally from San Diego and San Francisco; however, they travel further South than the shorter Mexican Baja Cruises. A Mexico Round-Trip cruise often includes, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta before returning to Los Angeles. 

Some 8, 10 and 11 night cruises to the Mexico Round-Trip are also offered seasonally. In April, many cruise lines offer a one time one-way repositioning Mexico Round-Trip Cruise from Acapulco to Los Angeles or San Francisco as their travel enroute to Vancouver for the Alaska season. They do this again in the reverse at the end of the Alaska Season.

Caribbean - Western :

Many 4, 5 and 7 night Caribbean cruises make stops in Cancun and Cozumel, Mexico, which is on the opposite side of the country when compared to the Mexican Riviera. Click here to learn more about the Western Caribbean. In Mexico you'll find world-glass golfing, horseback riding, bounteous sport fishing, and sensational diving spots. Dramatic scenery abounds. Shopping is blissful. The American dollar goes a long way, and everything, from regional leather goods and handcrafted silver to designer imports is a bargain.  

West Coast cruises are currently cut down from previous years, so you'll have fewer choices.   Cruise lines have stated that the demand wasn't there, so they deployed their ships elsewhere.  There are parts of Mexico that have seen an increase in violence, so there have been itinerary changes to keep passengers safe.   Tourist areas are safe for the most part.   As with any international travel, you want to be vigilant and be sure to use common sense (such as not wandering off alone at night).    We have traveled to Mexico several times, and especially enjoy the Mexican Riviera.   Consider including one or more Mexican ports in your next cruise.