The wall that separated people from love, freedom and dignity - Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin 896; Craft techniques and customary practices of cathedral workshops, or Bauhütten, in Europe, know-how, transmission, development of knowledge and innovation 01558 Strip of Berlin Wall in Bernauer Straße and its reconstructed watchtower This is probably the first blog that I have written that the focus is not on a WHS. In fact the historic significance of this wall far outst

Port city, windmills, carnival and a live architecture experiment - Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout 818; Van Nellefabriek 1441; Craft of the miller operating windmills and watermills 01265; Rotterdam Summer Carnival 01870 Windmill arrays in Kinderdijk What and Why The port city of Rotterdam , is in every sense of the word, very un-European. When I landed in Rotterdam from my recent cruise at got into the city, my immediate response was 'Wow, what a sight!'. Unlike most

Origin of industry in China - The Grand Canal 1443; Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structures 00223; Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China 01884; Spring festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditionadl new year 02126 Qingming bridge and Jiangnan canal at night Wuxi ( Chinese : 无锡) has a special place in my heart as this was my first time travelling abroad (technically d

A city rebuilt from rubbles - Le Havre, the City Rebuilt by Auguste Perret 1181; Gastronomic meal of the French 00437; Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread 01883 Le Havre at dusk What and Why I have to say that I had no particular expectations of Le Havre. It was a cruise stop, a box to tick, a city I associated vaguely with Claude Monet's famous painting of his hometown 'Impression, Sunrise (French: Impression, Soleil Levant)' and wartime bombing. What I did no

City sitting on seven hills, mixed with rich maritime history and contemporary culture - Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon 263; Fado, urban popular song in Portugal 00563 Rua Augusta Arch - main entrance gateway of the city Another relocation, this time to Southampton, another hiatus of my blog. Based on popular demand, I am on board again. What and Why I came to Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa) by cruise, as I seem to come to most places these days, whic

Final destination of the Saint James' Way - Santiago de Compogstela (Old Town) 347; Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain 669 Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela from Praza de Praterías What and Why Santiago de Compostela is genuinely an underrated city in terms of tourism, cultural heritage and history. I knew it the moment we turned a corner and suddenly the main plaza opened up in front of us, with hundreds of exhausted, elated pilg

Ancient Egypt royal necropolis and monuments in an ancient capital - Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis 87 Valley of the Kings with Al-Qurn as the backdrop What and Why Luxor ( Arabic : الأقصر, Al-Quṣūr ) stands as one of the most iconic and culturally rich sites in the world. The modern city morphed from the ruins of Thebes (Greek: Θῆβαι, Thē̂bai ) or in Egyptian ' wꜣs.t' and was the capital of ancient Egypt (مصر , Miṣr ) during parts of the Middle and New Kingdoms (

Historic spa town adorned with gorgeous Belle É poque architecture - The Great Spa Towns of Europe 1613; Knowledge, craft and skills of handmade glass production 01961 Karlovy Vary main square: Market Colonnade What and Why Karlovy Vary is one of the most iconic recreational and spa towns in Europe, renowned for its healing thermal waters, mineral springs, elegant Belle- É poque architecture, rich cultural heritage, and historic ties to the art of Bohemian glassmaking . Ne

Historic and gastronomic centre of France with hidden corridors - Historic Site of Lyon 872; Belfries of Belgium and France 943; Gastronomic meal of the French 00437; Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread 01883 Restaurants along Rue Saint-Jean What and Why Against common beliefs, the gastronomic centre of France is not Paris , but Lyon . So much that Lyon is inscribed as the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy . The city has apparently more restaurants per capita

The Russian Versailles, Russian Amsterdam and its old citadel - Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments 540 Fountains of Peterhof What and Why As blogged in Saint Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург) | City Centre , the city of Saint Petersburg ( Russian : Санкт-Петербург, Sankt-Peterburg ) is a city built from scratch with a European model in mind, almost fully conceptualised by Peter I (Пётр I, Pyotr I , né Пётр Романов, Pyotr Romanov ) in the early

Fortified city protected by three mediaeval castles - Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona 884 Castelgrande ramparts (from internet) What and Why Bellinzona , located near the foot of the Alps ( Italian : Alpi ) at the canton of Ticino , houses a group of important and well-preserved mediaeval fortifications to shelter herself from foreign invasion. These fortifications come in the form of castles and ramparts and they collectively

Beautiful European-styled city in the North - Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments 540 Hermitage at the background through the staff building What and Why Founded by Peter I ( Russian : Пётр I, Pyotr I , né Пётр Романов, Pyotr Romanov ) in 1703, Saint Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург, Sankt-Peterburg ) is definitely one of the most cosmopolitan and culturally significant cities of Russia (Россия, Rossiya ) . Upon completion of the city within ten

' Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou-Hangzhou ': for gardens, canals, food, operas, silk and scholastic activities - Classical Gardens of Suzhou 813; The Grand Canal 1443; Kun Qu opera 00004; Sericulture and silk craftsmanship of China 00197 Canal in Suzhou This post marks the 5th anniversary of my blog. What and Why The quote ' Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou-Hangzhou ( Chinese : 上有天堂、下有苏杭 , Shangyou tiantang, Xiayou Su-hang ) ' aptly describes how bea

The first capital of Russia, a major trading post and another centre of Russian Orthodoxy - Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings 604 Millennium Monument What and Why While Veliky Novgorod ( Russian : Великий Новгород) is so-called the 'new city', it is actually one of the oldest cities in the history of Russia (Россия, Rossiya ) . The city was founded in 859 by the Varangian (Old Norse: Væringjar ) prince Rurik (Рюрикъ , Rjurikŭ ) , which began the ruling dynast

A Carthaginian trading post with a syncretic urban structure and culture - Kasbah of Algiers 565; Knowledge, know-how and practices pertaining to the production and consumption of couscous 01602; Arabic calligraphy: knowledge, skills and practices 01718; Arts, skills and practices associated with engraving on metals (gold, silver and copper) 01951 Kasbah of Algiers What and Why The kasbah or casbah of Algiers ( Tamazight : ⵍⴷⵣⴰⵢⵔ, Ldzayer ) is a chaotically beautiful eclect

The only remaining wonder of the ancient world - Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur 86; Koshary, daily life dish and practices associated with it 02278 Sphinx and the Pyramid of Khafre What and Why There is absolutely no need for any introduction to the pyramids of Egypt ( Arabic : مصر , Miṣr ) . Pyramids are the oldest but the only standing seven wonders of the ancient world , standing on the various sites for more than 4,500 years! Unless

A small Russian former capital with more churches than anyone else - White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal 633 Suzdal What and Why Just 25 km north of Vladimir ( Russian : Владимир ) (see our blogged Vladimir ( Владимир ) sits one small town of with a glory history Suzdal (Суздаль) . The historic town dates back to the late 10th century and it became a principality in Rostov-Suzdal (Ростов-Суздаль) in the early 12th century. Later in the mid-12th century this principal

The picturesque unknown capital of Switzerland retaining a provincial atmosphere - Old City of Berne 267 Marktgasse What and Why With such a picturesque landscape, arcades and water fountains in the Old Town ( German : Altstadt ) , the city of Bern is easily one of Switzerland's ( Schweiz ) most beautiful towns. Ever since its foundation in the early 12th century, the city has always brimmed with a provincial town atmosphere while carrying the important title of the de fac

The fortress of political might and fear continued - Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow 545 Kremlin What and Why Built as early as the mid-12th century, the Kremlin ( Russian : Кремль, Kreml' ) is now home to the president of Russia (Россия, Rossiya ) and the epicentre of post-cold-war Russian politics. The Kremlin has survived almost a millennium of upheavals, change-of-hands, vandalism and reconstruction, the fortress-complex symbolises the political forte Russian leadershi

The world's most famous and politically-charged square - Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow 545 Red Square What and Why The very heart of Russia ( Russian : Россия, Rossiya ) , the Red Square (Красная П лощадь, Krasnaya Ploshchad ) is symbolic of the politics of Russia and the former Soviet Union (Сове́тский Сою́з, Sovetskiy Soyuz ) . This is where the annual Moscow (Москва, Moskva ) Victory Day Parade (Парад Победы, Parad Pobedy ) is held annually, and I remember vividly the