#877 Gibraltar, UK

There's something about being a Pillar of Hercules that helps to make a place amazing. A gigantic rock jutting up from the Mediterranean, Jebel-i Tariq, the original name for Gibraltar is just one part of the diverse historical heritage. Nice Mediterranean weather, infamous monkeys, a cool cable car and something that doesn't quite fit amongst the Spain that surrounds it... fish and chips!

Interesting facts:

• They voted in referendums in 1967 and again in 2002 to remain a British overseas territory, despite Spain's claim to ownership. It has been British since 1704.
• English is the official language, though most schools are bilingual with Spanish, and many other languages are spoken such as Berber and Arabic, Italian and Portuguese.
• They have been inhabited by Neanderthals, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Nasrids, Manirids, Umayyads, and of course the Spanish and British.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibraltar 
Images are original except for two postcards bought circa 2004.

#895 Mykonos, Greece

Perhaps most famous for its partying night life, Mykonos to me epitomizes the reason why Greece's flag is blue and white stripes. This charming little island had beautiful colors of blue and whites contrasting no matter where you looked -- whether it was the blue paints, the blue sky, the blue ocean or the sharp white houses and buildings or the boats. 

It glitters in summer and has the touristy vibe to match. Cruise ships are frequent, beaches are quite full, and the nightclubs, pumping. The restaurants and shops live up to their location, but it is still a charming place -- if ever I was to become a writer and live in isolation, I think Mykonos would be a pretty great location, but then, I thought that of most of Greece! 

It's main town of Hora is a cluster of narrow passages working their way up the hillside overlooking a busy bay and harbor. Little Venice to the south is perched right on the water underneath the iconic windmills

 

Source: Lonely Planet Greece 8th Edition

#912 Volubilis (Oualli), Morocco

When I first moved to Morocco, I was still quite naive and my knowledge of history rather limited. Thus, I was rather astonished to discover that there was an important Roman city in the middle of the Moroccan heartland, close to the imperial Islamic cities of Fes and Meknes. Lying in a rich green inland valley not far from the Islamic village of Moulay Idriss, close to the main train line from Casablanca lies the ruins of Volubilis. 

My history professor at Al Akhawayn University wryly said that the reconstruction was of a poor quality, such as the 'neon-signage' of the main archway -- he insisted it would be imbedded rather than awkwardly on top, but alas, this was done in the 1930s.

Dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, although originally settled by Carthaginians, Volubilis was a producer of wheat and olives for the province of Mauretania Tingitana, but was insecure due to the surrounding Berber tribes and it's general isolation at the south-west corner of the empire. Eventually it fell to tribesmen in 285, but continued to be inhabited for another 700 years, first as a Christian city, then as an Islamic settlement. Muslim rulers eventually moved their capital to Fes, and both before and after an earthquake in the 18th century, much of the stone was used to build the capital of Meknes.

The floor mosaics were especially impressive -- very complete with strong colors considering the open-air exposure and many centuries when it was unlikely to have been a well-maintained site! I was impressed with the underfloor heating system as well that can be clearly seen.

Apologies for the photo quality. As with most of the other Morocco posts, these are film images printed and scanned with poor quality.

Source: Lonely Planet Morocco 6th Edition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volubilis

#922 Paphos, Cyprus

Known in old as Kouklia, it was the supposed place of Aphrodite's birth. Paphos is on the southern coast of Cyprus, near the western end of the island in the middle of the hub of British (and other) tourists. Including sites of both Old and New Paphos (old and new already existed in the time of Seneca!), it was an important administrative center until the middle ages. The archaeological sites are impressive, and include the Odeon Ampitheatre, three temples built on a rise, the Tombs of the Kings, spectacular mosaics and a castle closer to town.

The Tombs of the Kings, in a beautiful ocean-side location, are reminiscent of Petra and other subterranean cities, wtih huge temples carved out of the solid rock. Many date back to the 4th Century BCE, but no kings were actually buried here (they were so named because they were so impressive). With Doric columns, frescoes, they are a pretty area that has been visited by many over the centuries.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paphos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kouklia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombs_of_the_Kings_(Paphos)