Image February 8, 2015 by @Trung Colonies

ALAND ISLANDS 2 – 0671

Åland’s original name was in Proto-Norse language *Ahvaland which means “Land of Water”. In Swedish, this first developed into Áland and eventually into Åland, literally “river land”—even though rivers are not a prominent feature of Åland’s geography. The Finnish name of the island, Ahvenanmaa (“perch land”), is seen to preserve another form of the old name.
Another theory suggests that the Finnish Ahvenanmaa would be the original name of the archipelago, from which the Swedish Åland derives.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

From Aland Islands
Travel from Jan 15 to Jan 27
Thanks Kimmo !

Image June 16, 2014 by @Trung Colonies

HISTORICAL PART OF PORTO AND THE DOURO RIVER _ 0550

The Douro is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from its source near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province across northern-central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Porto.
The name, Latinized Durius, may have come from the Celtic tribes that inhabited the area before Roman times: the Celtic root is *dubro- and in modern Welsh dŵr is “water” with cognate dobhar in Irish. In Roman times, the river was personified as a god, Durius.
The Douro vinhateiro (=winegrowing), an area of the Douro Valley in Portugal, has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Traditionally, the wine was taken down river in flat-bottom boats called rabelos to be stored in barrels in cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river from Porto. In the 1950s and 1960s, dams were built along the river ending this river traffic on Spanish and border sections. Now Port wine is transported in tanker trucks.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

From Portugal
Travel from March 26 to June 10
Thanks Leticia !

Image May 22, 2014 by @Trung Colonies

CALETA TORTEL _ 0510

Caleta Tortel is a coastal village in Chile. It is the administrative centre of the commune of Tortel and is located between the mouth of the Baker River the largest river in Chile and a small embayment of the Baker Channel. The surrounding geography is rugged, formed by a number of islands, fjords, channels and estuaries. The village was founded in 1955 to exploit the cypress de las guaytecas or Guaytecas Cypress (Pilgerodendron uviferum) wood that was abundant in the area. The timber business accounts for most of the economy in Tortel to this day. For most of its history the village had only air and boat access; the road was constructed only in 2003, and connects Caleta Tortel with the Carretera Austral.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

From Chile
Travel from April 24 to May 17
Thanks Monica !

Image May 22, 2014 by @Trung Colonies

SICILY (SICILIA) _ 0506

Sicily is located in the central Mediterranean. It extends from the tip of the Apennine peninsula, from which it is separated only by the narrow Strait of Messina, towards the North African coast. Its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, which, at 3,350 m (10,990 ft), is the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. The island has a typical Mediterranean climate.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

From Sardinia,Italy
Travel from May 5 to Mar 13
Thanks D’AMATO !

Image May 10, 2014 by @Trung Colonies

PARIKA ESSEQUIBO _ 0483

Parika is a port township located in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region of Guyana. It is popular for its ferry service, operated by the Ministry of Transportation, to and from the Essequibo Islands and West Demerara area. It is also notable for its Sunday markets. The East Bank, Essequibo township has seen considerable developments and investments by the private sector, especially in the area of financial services. Parika has more banks than anywhere else in the region. It is also a major hub for land transport, since it is a route stop for local taxis commonly called “buses.”
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

From Guyana
Travel from April 8 to May 7
Thanks so much Denise !

Image May 9, 2014 by @Trung Colonies

MATHA BRAE RIVER _ 0478

The Martha Brae River is a river of Jamaica. It is located (primarily?) in Trelawny Parish on the north coast of Jamaica, towards the western edge, about 6 miles south of Falmouth, Trelawny, Jamaica. The river features rafting. A small village west of the river is named Martha’s Brae because of this nearby river. Northwest of the village of Martha’s Brae is Gun Hill where judge John Bradshaw was reportedly re-buried by his son, James Bradshaw, to prevent desecration of his father’s remains by Charles II of England.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

From Kingston, Jamaica
Travel from Feb 21 to May 9
Thanks Sharni !

Image April 3, 2014 by @Trung Colonies

ECUADOR AMAZONIA _ 0393

The Ecuadorian Amazon is mainly tropical rainforest elevated 400 m above sea level.
The Amazon region of Ecuador is one of the few places in the world where its probably best to travel with a group, with a guide or through a jungle lodge. Unless you are studying, teaching English or consulting on a project in the Amazon, you are unlikely to have enough knowledge about the area to stay safe and, most importantly, to learn about the plants and animals that make the area so special.
http://wikitravel.org/