Nearly 50 new sites nominated to join the UNESCO World Heritage List

The committee that considers requests for inscription on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s World Heritage List will have 47 nominated sites to choose from when it meets for its annual session next month in Canada.
Nearly 50 new sites nominated to join the UNESCO World Heritage List

UNESCO World Heritage List and Palmyra in Syria

This week the UNESCO-agency of the United Nations is inviting us to make a trip to explore the extraordinary roman remains in Palmyra, an oasis in the Syrian desert, north-east of Damascus in Syria.
UNESCO World Heritage List and Palmyra in Syria

Some of my favorite islands in the Mediterranean Sea

At the China-weblog I published a short introduction to some beautiful islands in the Mediterranean. These are Sicily and Sardinia in Italy, Corsica in France, Corfu and Crete in Greece, Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza in Spain, and Malta and Cyprus among others.
Our favorite islands in the Mediterranean Sea

Johannes Vermeer en het Steegje in Delft

Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) from Delft was a Dutch Baroque painter who specialized in domestic interior scenes of ordinary life. Virtually forgotten for nearly two hundred years, in 1866 the art critic Thoré Bürger published an essay to him.
Some beautiful art

More supplies of the UN are distributed in China after the earthquake

Agencies of the United Nations are distributing tents and quilts, food and medical equipment to provide emergency help for the victims of last week’s devastating earthquake in China’s Sichuan province, according to a statement Friday of the UN.
More UN supplies pour in to quake-affected areas of China

Damascus in Syria en the World Heritage List of UNESCO

This week the UNESCO welcomes us to visit Damascus, a 5000 years old city and nowadays the capital of the country Syria. Founded in the 3rd millennium B.C., Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East.
Damascus in Syria en the World Heritage List of UNESCO

Welcome in Jerash in Jordan and Bosra in Syria

This week we are welcome to explore two splendid ancient Roman cities: Jerash in Jordan and Bosra in Syria. Jerash is known for the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa, also referred to as Antioch on the Golden River.
Jerash in Jordan en Bosra in Syria