SENEGAL - Island of Gorée

"The island of Gorée lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. From the 15th to the 19th century, it was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast. Ruled in succession by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French, its architecture is characterized by the contrast between the grim slave-quarters and the elegant houses of the slave traders. Today it continues to serve as a reminder of human exploitation and as a sanctuary for reconciliation." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1

Another beautiful wok of art, with an issued stamp from France.
(UNESCO has issued its own stamp since 1961---which can be used in mails posted from UNESCO Headquarters or Maison de l'UNESCO at 
Number 7 Place de Fontenoy in Paris, France)

Thank you so much Jean Pierre for helping me discover so many things!

Postcard 2

Thank you so much Jean Pierre for this postcard!
I just read more about the story of the photo on this card HERE.

SERBIA - Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

"The four edifices of the site reflect the high points of the Byzantine-Romanesque ecclesiastical culture, with its distinct style of wall painting, which developed in the Balkans between the 13th and 17th centuries. The Dečani Monastery was built in the mid-14th century for the Serbian king Stefan Dečanski and is also his mausoleum. The Patriarchate of Peć Monastery is a group of four domed churches featuring series of wall paintings. The 13th-century frescoes of the Church of Holy Apostles are painted in a unique, monumental style. Early 14th-century frescoes in the church of the Holy Virgin of Ljevisa represent the appearance of the new so-called Palaiologian Renaissance style, combining the influences of the eastern Orthodox Byzantine and the Western Romanesque traditions. The style played a decisive role in subsequent Balkan art." -https://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: Our Lady of Ljeviš

My third Serbian UNESCO postcard.

Thank you so much Jean Pierre!

Sent you postcards this month too...

CAMBODIA - Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura

"The archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk, “the temple in the richness of the forest” in the Khmer language, has been identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the Chenla Empire that flourished in the late 6th and early 7th centuries AD. The property comprises more than a hundred temples, ten of which are octagonal, unique specimens of their genre in South-East Asia. Decorated sandstone elements in the site are characteristic of the pre-Angkor decorative idiom, known as the Sambor Prei Kuk Style. Some of these elements, including lintels, pediments and colonnades, are true masterpieces. The art and architecture developed here became models for other parts of the region and lay the ground for the unique Khmer style of the Angkor period." -https://whc.unesco.org

Thank you so much Ruedi for sharing this wonderful postcard
with matching stamp with me!

Hope you had a great time in Cambodia!

HUNGARY / SLOVAKIA - Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst

"The variety of formations and the fact that they are concentrated in a restricted area means that the 712 caves currently identified make up a typical temperate-zone karstic system. Because they display an extremely rare combination of tropical and glacial climatic effects, they make it possible to study geological history over tens of millions of years." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: Slovakia - Dobšinská Ice Cave

Yey! Finally! Another new UNESCO Site for my collection!

Thank you so much dear Zuzana for sending this card!

She shared "this is one of the caves that belong to the Slovak Karst"

Postcard 2: Slovakia - Dobšinská Ice Cave

A very nice postcard with cute stamps from Zuzana

who wished me a happy Christmas 2015!

Thank you dear Zuzana... 

Yes, I had a great Christmas holidays spent with family...

Postcard 3: Slovakia - Dobšinská Ice Cave

Thank you so much Zuzana for this great New Year postcard!

Thank you also for the many wishes! ^-^

Postcard 4: Slovakia - Dobšinská Ice Cave

 

  Thank you so much Zuzana for this awesome postcard with matching stamp!

Always thoughtful of you...

Postcard 5:  Slovakia - Domica Cave

Great view inside the cave!
Thank you so much dear Zuzana for this wonderful card! =)

Postcard 6:  Slovakia - Domica Cave

Another great card from Zuzana of Slovakia!

Thank you so much for always thinking and helping me increase my UNESCO collection!

Postcard 7:  Slovakia - Ochtinská Aragonite Cave 

Thank you so much Zuzana for sharing this very nice postcard!

I can't imagine how these beautiful formations look like inside the cave!
And I like the colorful stamps! ^-^

Postcard 8:  Slovakia - Ochtinská Aragonite Cave 

I like the stamps as much as I like the postcard, Zuzana!
Thanks for sharing these postcard with me.
The cave must really be beautiful inside!


Postcard 9:  Slovakia - Ochtinská Aragonite Cave 

Amazing view! Nature at its best!

Thank you again Zuzana for always sending beautiful postcards! ^-^

Postcard 10:  Slovakia - Gombasecká Jaskyňa Cave

Another surprise postcard from dear Zuzana!

Thank you so much for sharing with me this great postcard with great stamps!

Postcard 11:  Slovakia - Krásnohorská Jaskyňa (Slovak Karst)

A surprise postcard form dear Zuzana!

Thank you so much for making my blog beautiful with your postcards!

Postcard 12:  Slovakia - Silická Ladnica Ice Cave

Seems that the stalactites and stalagmites are in form of ice!
So nice to have this postcard, dear Zuzana! Thank you so much!


Postcard 13:  Slovakia - Jasovská Cave

Thank you so much Zuzana for this wonderful postcard with wonderful stamps!
I am happy that your grandson visits you often!

Postcard 14:  Slovakia - Jasovská Cave

Another beautiful postcard with cute stamps from dear Zuzana...
Thanks much and enjoy your time with your grandchildren!

Postcard 15:  Hungary - Baradla Cave

"The Baradla Cave is the biggest and the most beautiful cave in Hungary", shares Julia who's been to this cave.
Thank you so much Julia for this wonderful card! =)

7 Components included are:

- Aggtelek
- Szendrő-Rudabánya Hill
- Esztramos Hill in Hungary, 
- Dobšinská Ice Cave
- Koniar plateau
- Plešivec plateau
- neighbourhood of Silica and Jasov in Slovakia.

Some of 712 Caves included are:

> Baradla (Hungary) and Domica Cave (Slovakia)

> Gombasecka Cave

> Silicka Ladnica Ice Cave

> Dobšinská Ice Cave

> Ochtinská Aragonite Cave

> Jasovská Cave

AUSTRIA - City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg

"The City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg bear witness to an exemplary model of the living heritage of a central European urban complex influenced by the secular presence of the Habsburgs and the cultural and artistic role played by the main aristocratic families. They are a harmonious blend of the architectural styles and artistic movements that have succeeded each other from the Middle Ages until the 18th century, from the many neighbouring regions of Central and Mediterranean Europe. They embody a diversified and highly comprehensive ensemble of architectural, decorative and landscape examples of these interchanges of influence." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: Historic Centre

Thank you so much Andrea for sharing with me this wonderful card!

Postcard 2: Historic Centre

12-12-12 postmarked from Graz!
"Welcome to my hometown Graz, Austria. Our landmark is the Clock Tower which is situated on a hill called "Schlossberg" (Castle Mountain)", shares Anita.
Thank you so much Anita for sending me my wish card!
Nice view of Graz indeed...

Postcard 3: Schloss Eggenberg

Anita shared so much information about this castle!

"Schloss Eggenberg relies on the Gregorian Calendar as a basis for this universe.
The palace has 365 windows, one for each day of the the year, 52 are on the 24 rooms representing the weeks of the year.
The 2nd storey contains 24 state rooms which symbolize the hours in a single day.
Every floor bares exactly 31 rooms, counting the number of days in a month."

So unique! Brilliant people behind the construction of the palace...
Thank you so much, Anita!

Postcard 4: Multi View

A token from my dear friend Zuzana from Slovakia during her trip to Austria!
The cute stamp wasn't postmarked though... =(
But it was written on 12-12-12!
Thank you so much Zuzana!

Postcard 5: Historic Centre

A postcrossing meet-up card!
Thank you so much dear Zuzana of Slovakia who attended the Meet-Up
at Graz, Austria on October 8, 2016.
You are so thoughtful!
I am sooo happy to have this card cause it also has a matching stamp!
Praying for your good health always!

Postcard 6: Graz Postcrossing Meet-Up, 7 April 2018

Thank you so much Anita for always being so thoughtful!
You always make me smile and happy with your surprise  postcards!

YEMEN - Old City of Sana'a

"Situated in a mountain valley at an altitude of 2,200 m, Sana’a has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years. In the 7th and 8th centuries the city became a major centre for the propagation of Islam. This religious and political heritage can be seen in the 103 mosques, 14 hammams and over 6,000 houses, all built before the 11th century. Sana’a’s many-storeyed tower-houses built of rammed earth (pisé) add to the beauty of the site." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1

My first UNESCO postcard of Yemen! So happy!

Thank you so much Jean Pierre of France for your unending help

 in growing my UNESCO postcards collection!

I wish to receive a written and stamped postcard from Yemen one day! ^-^

Postcard 2

Wonderful work of art turned into postcard, now with matching stamp!
Thank you so much Jean Pierre for this great piece of art!
(UNESCO has issued its own stamp since 1961---which can be used in mails posted from UNESCO Headquarters or Maison de l'UNESCO at 
Number 7 Place de Fontenoy in Paris, France)