Sophie’s World

In an earlier post, I mentioned that UNESCO was deciding which new properties to add to its World Heritage List and would Moldova’s Orheiul Vechi be amongst them? It wasn’t. It might not have been nominated this time. Orheiul Vechi is still on the Tentative List, though. Next time, perhaps?

13 new properties were added this time, nicely spread out in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa.

2 of the 13 were natural sites: the Dolomites in Italy and the Wadden See in Germany/The Netherlands. The remaining 11 - in Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Peru, Iran, China, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde - were cultural.

Selection is based on a list of 10 criteria; at least one of which must be met. I like the first criterion: to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. I expect there’s a political side to this as well. Ideally, one would want the World Heritage List to cover sites around the whole world; every country represented, even. At least, I’m happy to see new countries added to the list – this time Burkina Faso, Cape Verde and Kyrgyzstan. This will most likely mean more tourism (sustainable, one hopes) to countries that need the income.

The one in the UK is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal in Northern Wales; a construction marvel by famous Industrial Age engineer Thomas Telford. Yey Wales! Last summer, we became well acquainted with several of Telford’s constructions, both in Northern Wales and in England.

I’m also glad to see UNESCO taking seriously the demands they put on countries: During this session of the World Heritage Committee, 3 sites were put on the Danger List – in Colombia, Belize and Georgia; meaning those countries had better shape up or the sites will be removed from the list. For the second time in history, one site was delisted.

I would think having a site removed from the World Heritage List would be at least slightly humiliating for a country. Which is why I’m surprised Germany would let that happen to Dresden’s Elbe Valley. The Waldschlösschenbrücke, a four-lane bridge, is being constructed in the middle of the landscape, the Loreleytal. If only they had a Telford bridge.

Why it’s called the Loreleytal, I have no idea. The Loreley (or Lorelei) Rock is in the river Rhine, not the Elbe. Know the poem Die Loreley by Heinrich Heine? It’s about a maiden who lures river captains to their death by her beautiful singing. My mum used to sing it to my brother and me all the time. I knew it by heart long before I could actually speak German. All 6 verses. But I digress.

German newspaper Spiegel calls the removal of Dresden’s Elbe Valley from the WHL a disgrace – eine Blamage für Deutschland. Bundesbauminister Wolfgang Tiefensee, the Federal Minister (or Secretary for you Americans) of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, even calls it a “Black day for Dresden and for Germany as a cultural nation”.

Well, the decision didn’t come as shock. UNESCO raised the issue several years ago and has reiterated it every year. They could have built a tunnel instead of a bridge. Is it perhaps simply a case of weighing the financial pros and cons? Building the bridge means more to the (local) economy than preserving a WHL site? Or is it political prestige or stubbornness?

Whatever the reason, it’s sad.

At the beginning of the year, Tripadvisor listed their 2008 mapmakers. Along with Dubai, Le Val, Beijing, Johannesburg, Las Vegas, Chicago and Wasilla, Oslo made the (I suppose) exclusive list of only 8 destinations, interestingly enough. And why is that interesting? I’m glad you asked!

It seems what draws people’s attention to a (new) place, is mostly - other people.

Beijing: With the 2008 Summer Olympics, this is obvious to all.

Johannesburg: Miss World 2008. Although I consider these contests vulgar - or in the words of that superb travel writer William Dalrymple, tacky and tasteless - I acknowledge their importance to a great many people in the world. In fact, South Africa is where I first was told that televised beauty contests are just as important as sporting events. Everyone watches!

Dubai: Michael Jackson was there in 2008. Is that enough to spark interest? Really?

Le Val (Provence): Hang-out of Brangelina. Again, enough…?

Wasilla, Alaska: Sarah Palin. Again…?

Chicago, Illinois: Obama. A given?

Las Vegas, Nevada: This one is a bit more baffling, financial crunch and all. Or is that perhaps why? The potential for victory at the gaming tables brings a glimmer of hope - albeit short-lived for most - in a challenging world?

Oslo: A new opera house (with ambitions to rival the one in Sydney - consider yourselves warned, Ozzies).

I’m very pleased travellers were drawn to Oslo in 2008. And not because a celebrity was spotted here, a chance to gamble away their life savings or to see girls strutting about on a stage like puppets. But a new opera house. I think that’s just wonderful!

Oslo Opera House - very cool photo by Kris Taeleman

With small children, it’s good to have travel plans for the neighbourhood, in my case Europe. Returning from our stay in New Zealand in 2003, I set a target to visit all the countries in Europe. Nearly there; only lacking Armenia, Azerbaijan and ... [Continue reading this entry]

I wish I could write South Atlantic plans. Those include the Falklands, Tristan da Cunha, St Helena and several bits of Antarctica. But these are still in the vaguer goal-stage, not yet in actual plans. The North Atlantic is far ... [Continue reading this entry]

Inspired by a cold, dark wintry Oslo, here’s where I’d rather be right now:

1.  Svalbard - even colder and darker, Spitsbergen is magical during the polar night.
2. Oz – anywhere in Oz would be ... [Continue reading this entry]