Lefkoşa, the capital of Northern Cyprus

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North Nicosia, Lefkoşa in Turkish, is the capital and largest city of the 'de facto' state of Northern Cyprus. Divided between the Republican South and the Turkish-occupied North, the city is the world's last divided capital.

The main square in the centre of Lefkosa is Atatürk Square.

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2015 Europa stamp, Old Toys is this year’s theme. 

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Dr. Livingstone, I presume? | Burundi

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This monument, known as the Livingstone Rock is located just 8 miles outside Bujumbura, capital of Burundi.  

According to www.burundi-tourism.com this rock is to remember the famous meeting between explorer Dr Livingstone and reporter Stanley in 1871. The latter spoke the famous words: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”.  

But  others sources state that the famous meeting took place a little earlier that year in Tanzania. Described clearly in Stanley's book "How I Found Livingstone".

Thank you very much Chris!

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Omar AL-Mukhtar street in Gaza | Palestine

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Omar Mukhtar Street is Gaza City's main street. The street is named after the leader of the resistance to Italian colonization of Libya. Originally the street was named after Ottoman governor Jamal Pasha but renamed after the end of the Ottoman rule over Palestine in 1917.

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The Palestinian Authority is the semi-official, self-governing Palestinian body established in May 1994 in accordance with the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

The stamp is part of a series of two stamps issued in 2000, commemorating the state visit of Yasir Arafat to Germany.

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Fireworks over Douglas, capital of Isle of Man

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Douglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of about 29,000 people.

On the right you see part of the interior of the Gaiety Theatre & Opera House. The memorial stone is in honor of Sir William Hillary. He led the movement to form The National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck in 1824.

 

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Part of a set of 10 stamps to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manx designer Archibald Knox. He was an internationally renowned artist and designer. 

Wishing you all a happy 2015!

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The Island of Courage and Sorrow | Belarus

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The (artificial) island of Courage and Sorrow is a memorial, dedicated to the fallen Belarusians who took part in the Afghan war. About 30,000 Belarusians fought in Afghanistan, 771 of them died. In the center of the monument there are figures of mourning women. They symbolize the Belarusian mothers mourning over their sons who did not return from the war.

 

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Slutsk sashes are articles of Belarus manufactory weaving of the second half of 18th — the beginning of 19th centuries. They were called according to the place of origin — Slutsk town.

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Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz, a monument for Amir Timur

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Amir Timur (1336-1405), also known as Tamerlane, is remembered as a vicious conqueror, who razed ancient cities to the ground and put entire populations to the sword. He was the most powerful ruler in the Muslim world after defeating the Mamluks of Egypt and Syria, the emerging Ottoman Empire and the declining Sultanate of Delhi.

On the other hand, he is also known as a great patron of the arts, literature, and architecture. The Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz, located on the Silk Roads in southern Uzbekistan, is over 2000 years old. The city contains many fine monuments, and in particular those from the Timurid period.

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A matching stamp!

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Antigua Guatemala

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The city of Antigua in Guatamala is known as the best-preserved Spanish colonial city in Central America. It was founded in the early 16th century, 1,500 m above sea-level, in an earthquake-prone region.

 

Volcán de Agua or the Water Volcano is a dormant volcano since the mid-16th century. Its name traces back to 1541, when water and mudslides from the volcano wiped out Guatemala's then-capital city.

Thx Pat!

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Part of a set of four stamps about legends and myths: La Llorona. This legend is about a woman named María who drowned herself and her children.  

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Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan

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Astana, meaning Capital in Kazakh language, is the capital and the second largest city of Kazakhstan. But only 15 years ago the city didn't really exist at all. In 1997 Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev moved the capital from Almaty to Astana.

Today the science fiction-like skyline has started to earn the country international recognition. On the right of the postcard you see the most famous landmark in Astana, the 105m tall Bayterek tower.

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Tirana, the capital of Albania

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Tirana is the capital of Albania and the most important political, economic and cultural centre of the country. With an estimated 900,000 people living in the metropolitan area it is also by far the biggest city. 

The Skanderbeg Monument is located in the Skanderbeg Square in Tirana. Skanderberg was a nobleman who lived in the 15th century. He defended the region of Albania against the Ottoman Empire for more than two decades.

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The Non-Aligned Movement Monument from Guyana

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Guyana is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966. It is the only country in South America where English is the official language. 

The monument commemorates the 1972 Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-Aligned countries when it was held in Guyana in 1972. The monument was unveiled in honor of the founders of the Non - Aligned Movement: President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, President Nehru of India and President Tito of Yugoslavia; the leaders who initiated the conference of Afro- Asian countries. 

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The Scarlet Ibis inhabits tropicalSouth America and islands of the Caribbean. 

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San Jacinto Monument from Houston, Texas

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"In future time, then may the pilgrim's eye see here an obelisk point toward the sky...."
— Anonymous poet

Today, the world’s tallest war memorial stands at San Jacinto—15 feet taller than the Washington monument—honoring all those who fought for Texas's independence.

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Grand Teton is the highest mountain in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park.

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