Ġgantija temples | Malta

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Gozo is the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago. The Ġgantija temples that can be found on this island are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Megalithic Temples of Malta. 

These Temples are prehistoric monumental buildings constructed during the 3th and 4th millennium BC. They rank amongst the earliest free-standing stone buildings in the world. 

Shetland Islands, Britain’s most northerly outpost

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The Shetland Islands is a subarctic archipelago made up of more than 100 islands, 15 of which are inhabited. 

The islands lie ‘where Scotland meets Scandinavia and the North Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean’. About 80 km to the northeast of Orkney and 280 km southeast of the Faroe Islands. The Shetland Islands are actually closer to Norway than to mainland Scotland. 

Goat Island Lighthouse | USA

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Goat Island Light, built in 1833, is a lighthouse located off Cape Porpoise in southern Maine. Secret service agents protecting President George H.W. Bush found it a convenient spot to watch over the Bush compound at Walker's Point. 

The island of Kos | Greece

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The Dodecanese are a group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands of which 26 are inhabited. Kos is the third largest of the 12 main islands. The island is located just off the Turkish coast. Patmos is also part of this island chain.

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The stamp is part of a set called 'Diving Tourism' featuring colourful scenes of shipwrecks and underwater finds (issue 2015). 

Vormsi Island | Estonia

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Vormsi is the fourth largest island of Estonia, after Saaremaa, Hiiumaa and Muhu. Vormsi is located between Hiiumaa and the mainland. The island has approximately 400 permanent inhabitants.

Estonia used to have a quite substantial Swedish minority. These people, who settled on the West coast of Estonia and on many islands, came during 13th–14th century from Southern Finland and spoke Swedish; they were called the coastal Swedes.

Vormsi island was almost entirely Swedish speaking until World War II. But in 1943 during the Nazi occupation the coastal Swedes were forced to return to Sweden, after hundreds of years of living overseas. 

United Nations Security Council Chamber

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All members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to member states, only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the Charter.

The Security Council chamber, a gift from Norway, was designed by Norwegian artist Arnstein Arneberg. A large mural by Per Krohg (Norway), symbolizing the promise of future peace and individual freedom, covers most of the east wall.

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Borobudur Temple Indonesia. In 2015 the United Nations Postal Administration issued six stamps picturing Unesco World Heritage sites. 

Greetings from the United Nations Vienna

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Vienna is one of the four headquarters of the United Nations, along with New York, Geneva and Nairobi. More than 4,000 employees from over 110 countries work for the Vienna-based organizations.

thank you very much Kelly!

Paddle Steamer Marion | Australia

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For much of its length, the Murray is a slow-moving river – making it absolutely perfect for a paddlesteamer. This type of boats were used in the 1800’s to transport all sorts of goods up and down the river Murray. Today a perfect way to explore the river.

Over a 100 years old, PS Marion is the only vessel of her type left in the world. PS Marion was built in 1897 and is the world's last wood fired, side paddle wheel steamers with accommodation operating.

Australia's longest river

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The Murray River is Australia's longest river at 2,500 kilometres in length. It is the third longest navigable river in the world, after the Amazon and Nile.

 

Stamps

Australia post issued four stamps featuring Australian Owls: Sooty Owl, Rufous Owl, Eastern Grass Owl and the Southern Boobook.

Thx Steve!

Izmir Clock Tower | Turkey

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The Izmir Clock Tower is a historic clock tower located at the Konak Square in İzmir, Turkey. The clock was built in 1901 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sultan Abdul Hamid II’s accession to the throne.

 

Here you see the square on 16th July 2016.

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Triceratops. Part of a set of four stamps about dinosaurs, issued 2012. 

Bridge over the Bosphorus, Istanbul | Turkey

Everything is getting ‘back to normal’ in Turkey.

- more than 6,000 people arrested 

- 265 killed in night of chaos

- 2,839 soldiers held in prison

- 2,745 judges facing arrest

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The Bosphorus is the 32 km long north-south strait that joins the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea in Istanbul, and separates the continents ofEurope and Asia. Two bridges connect the European and the Asian continents.

What would he think about all this? Ataturk | Turkey

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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a Turkish army officer, revolutionary, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey.

A military coup is underway in Turkey against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. How will this end?

Ankara, capital of Turkey

Attempted military coup unfolding in Turkey

Gunfire rang out, troops stormed government buildings and jets roared over the Turkish capital of Ankara on Friday as Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said a group within Turkey's military was attempting to overthrow the government.

Karnak Temple Complex | Egypt

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The temple complexes at Karnak are located near the Egyptian city of Luxor. Construction at Karnak started 4,000 years ago and continued until the time the Romans took control of Egypt, about 2,000 years ago. Around 30 successive pharoahs added their own touches to the complex: a new temple, shrine, or pylon and carved detailed hieroglyphic inscriptions.

 

Karnak is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed under the name “Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis”. Thebes was an ancient Egyptian city. Its ruins lie within today’s city of Luxor.

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Part of a set of 2 definitive stamps picturing Pharaohs, issued 2012. Amenhotep IV ruled Egypt for 17 years. He died somewhere around 1335 BC.

Polish bordercrossing near Brest | Belarus

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Brest is a city in Belarus right at the Polish border. As you can see on the postcard, it looks well protected! 

Vorontsov Palace | Ukraine

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Vorontsov Palace is situated in outskirts of Yalta in the town of Alupka. Mikhail Vorontsov (1782-1856) was governor of the southern Russia, which included the Crimean peninsula, in the early 19th century. Today the palace is a museum.

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I received this card some years ago, so still Ukrainian stamps.

Balaklava Bay | Russia

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Balaklava is part of the city of Sevastopol, located in the Russian annexed Crimea region. David sent me this card from his recent travels. Thank you so much!

Stamps

The order "For Military Merit" and the order "For Naval Merit". Both stamps are part of a souvenir sheet with 18(!) stamps depicting "State awards of the Russian Federation".  

University of Coimbra | Portugal

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Situated on a hill overlooking the city, the University of Coimbra with its colleges grew and evolved over more than seven centuries within the old town.

This university is one of Europe’s oldest universities. Established in 1290 in Lisbon, it went through a number of relocations until it was moved permanently to its current city in 1537.

UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013.  

view on Coimbra

Monastery of Alcobaça | Portugal

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The Alcobaça Monastery is a Mediaeval Roman Catholic monastery located in the town of Alcobaça, Portugal. 

The monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1989. 

Humor | Romania

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Humor is a monastery for nuns. It was built in 1530 over the foundation of a previous monastery that dated from around 1415. The Humor monastery was closed in 1786 and was not reopened until 1990.

Together with seven other churches, Humor is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Churches of Moldavia'.

Churches of Moldavia | Romania

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Located in northern Romania, close to the Ukrainian border and once the capital of Moldova, Suceava has some great historical attractions. One is the Church of Saint George, built between 1514 and 1522.

Together with seven other churches, Suceava is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Churches of Moldavia'.

Saint Elie Armenian Cathedral | Lebanon

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There has been an Armenian presence in Lebanon for centuries. Approximately 4% of the Lebanese population is of Armenian descent. Saint Elie Cathedral was the first Armenian Catholic church built in Beirut. The church was destroyed and re-built several times throughout its history.

The medieval Armenian kingdom of Ani | Turkey

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Situated on the eastern border of Turkey, across the Akhurian River from Armenia, lies the empty, crumbling site of the once-great metropolis of Ani, known as "the city of a thousand and one churches". The postcard shows the ruins of the Church of Saint Gregory of Tigran Honents. 

Founded more than 1,600 years ago, Ani was situated on several trade routes, and grew to become a walled city of more than 100,000 residents by the 11th century. But in following centuries conquered hundreds of times. And by the 1300s, Ani was in steep decline. It was completely abandoned by the 1700s. Since the Armenian Genocide early 1900s the region is an empty, militarized no-man's land.

Armenian Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary | Ukraine

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The Armenian Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary in Lviv, Ukraine is located in the city's Old Town. The origins of this church dates back to the 14th century. 

Hanseatic League member Kampen | Netherlands

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Kampen is a Dutch city, located at the lower reaches of the river IJssel. In the Middle Ages Kampen became an important member of the Hanseatic League.

The Hanseatic League (also known as the Hansa) was an alliance of trading guilds that established and maintained a trade monopoly along the coast of Northern Europe.