Solivagant

United Kingdom \ Member since December 2005

#8 860 367 57

I am now retired but have been "travelling" for a "hobby" since I was 15 (1957!) whilst pursuing otherwise normal mundane career and "home" things in UK - thus being limited by "annual leave" allowances. During that time I have visited 164 "independent countries" - defined by me as the 193 full UN members plus (somewhat illogically, but they are generally accepted as "sovereign") Taiwan and Holy See (but am not pursuing "193"!). Unfortunately quite a few relatively easily accessible current WHS got "missed" along the way. If only I had known they would get chosen - they are not all obvious choices! Despite the weaknesses in the list and the politics involved in the selection and voting mechanism they provide a quick means of grasping the highlights of many countries and sometimes lead down interesting knowledge and research "avenues" which would otherwise have remain unexplored. 
Proposal for a new WHS:- Roca Agostino Neto Cocoa Plantation Sao Tome.
There are just too many European WHS relative to the rest. Little Sao Tome became the world's greatest producer of cocoa under the Portuguese. So poor were the social conditions that Cadbury boycotted Cocoa from there in early 20C. At Roca Agostinho (and other crumbling colonial sites on Sao Tome) you might just get a feeling for the economic system which created it and "fed" Europe with a raw material so often taken for granted - a really atmospheric place. But it isn't even on the "Tentative list"!

My most impressive site: Machu Picchu. I would like to choose somewhere

My proposal for a new site: See under

Recent Visits
  • 11
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    July 28, 2024
    Beijing Central Axis, Funerary and memory sites of the First World War, Gedi , Hegmataneh, …
  • 6
    37
    Jan. 1, 2024
    Visit nominated site: 17th Century Port Royal, Aalto Works, Alamüt Castle ...
  • 0
    4
    Jan. 1, 2020
    City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Dunhuang Yardangs, The Lijiang River Scenic Zone …

About

Member since
December 2005
Country of Origin
United Kingdom
Visits
Rank
#8
WHS
860
Tentative Sites
367
Website Participation
Reviews
443
Ratings

Ratings

World Heritage Sites
855 0
Photos
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Reserved for members.

Reviews by Solivagant

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Mountain Railways of India by Solivagant

Mountain Railways of India (Inscribed)

Mountain Railways of India

India possesses a number of “Hill Railways” built by the British to aid government officials and others in their escape from the major cities to the nearest Hill Country. It …

Lake Baikal by Solivagant

Lake Baikal (Inscribed)

Lake Baikal

We chose to visit Siberia in winter (as long ago as March 1989 - no doubt it will be a different world now) in order to experience it as it …

Cape Floral Region by Solivagant

Cape Floral Region (Inscribed)

Cape Floral Region

The WHS additions in July 2004 were a mixed lot in my opinion but 1 stood out for me –the “Cape Floral Region Protected Areas”. Alongside the usual litany of …

Thingvellir by Solivagant

Thingvellir (Inscribed)

Thingvellir

A trip out to Thingvellir is an essential part of any trip to Icelend - as well as providing an opportunity to see some Icelandic scenery (albeit a long way …

Lima by Solivagant

Lima (Inscribed)

Lima

Is there no one out there prepared to write a (positive?) review of the “Historic Centre of Lima”? Lima has a poor reputation among tourists – I have not even …

Quirigua by Solivagant

Quirigua (Inscribed)

Quirigua

The ruins of Quirigua in Guatemala do not in any way compare with those of the “nearby” Mayan cities of Tikal and Copan or of those in Yucatan such as …

Mtskheta by Solivagant

Mtskheta (Inscribed)

Mtskheta

Mtskheta is the ancient capital of Georgia and its Cathedral is the “capital” of the Georgian Church and the burial place of Georgian Kings. It only lies around 25kms outside …

Galapagos Islands by Solivagant

Galapagos Islands (Inscribed)

Galapagos Islands

The usual problem with taking “wild life” holidays is the uncertainty as to whether one will actually see the creatures one is traveling so far (and often paying so much!) …

Los Glaciares by Solivagant

Los Glaciares (Inscribed)

Los Glaciares

Most descriptions of Los Glaciares National Park provide as a “signature picture” the Perito Moreno Glacier on Lago Argentino. The glacier is undoubtedly impressive and must be one of the …

Copán by Solivagant

Copán (Inscribed)

Copán

Honduras has its merits as a tourist destination but lacks the appeal of Guatemala with its indigenous peoples, historic sites and scenic variety. However, if you are basing a self …

Bukhara by Solivagant

Bukhara (Inscribed)

Bukhara

We have visited Bukhara twice, once in Soviet days (1983) and again in Oct 2004 – and what a difference! Free enterprise has turned a dour dusty “museum city” into …

Walled City of Baku by Solivagant

Walled City of Baku (Inscribed)

Walled City of Baku

Taken as a whole Baku is, in my opinion, “worth a journey”. However, the medieval part of it, which has been inscribed as a WHS site, is not particularly notable …

Zabid by Solivagant

Zabid (Inscribed)

Zabid

The main glories of Yemen are to be found in Sanaa and the mountains. On either side of these however are 2 other sights – to the east the desert …

Antigua Guatemala by Solivagant

Antigua Guatemala (Inscribed)

Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala is the antidote to Guatemala City. Unless you really need to, don’t even think of staying in the capital! The drive to/from the airport is hardly any longer …

Leptis Magna by Solivagant

Leptis Magna (Inscribed)

Leptis Magna

What did the Romans ever do for us? Well, there are some beautifully preserved Public Toilets at Leptis Magna (see photo) which show a degree of civilisation unmatched in many …

Itchan Kala by Solivagant

Itchan Kala (Inscribed)

Itchan Kala

The WHS of “Khiva” is more properly titled the “Itchan Kala” (or Ichon Qala or Ichan-kala) which refers specifically to the old walled town of the Khiva Oasis. The town …

Choirokoitia by Solivagant

Choirokoitia (Inscribed)

Choirokoitia

No doubt someone will prove me wrong but most Neolithic WHS sites tend to be “Megalithic” (ie related to the placement of large stones for burial, ceremonial or “cultural” purposes …

Shakhrisyabz by Solivagant

Shakhrisyabz (Inscribed)

Shakhrisyabz

The “standard tour” of Uzbekistan will take you to 3 WHS – Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Unfortunately the direct route (6hrs by bus) from Samarkand to Bukhara misses out the …

Gelati Monastery by Solivagant

Gelati Monastery (Inscribed)

Gelati Monastery

The “double headed” WHS of “Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery” consists of a ruined (in 1691 by the Turks) Cathedral of the 10th to 11th centuries in the town of …

Khami Ruins by Solivagant

Khami Ruins (Inscribed)

Khami Ruins

It is perhaps a bit surprising that both Great Zimbabwe AND Khami ruins are registered as separate WHS. They are however from different, albeit related, cultures. Historically the former preceded …

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