SWITZERLAND - Traditional Swiss music instrument - the Alporn

"The alphorn or alpenhorn or alpine horn is a labrophone, consisting of a wooden natural horn of conical bore, having a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece, used by mountain dwellers in Switzerland and elsewhere. Similar wooden horns were used for communication in most mountainous regions of Europe, from the French Alps to the Carpathians."

KENTUCKY - Racing in Kentucky

"Kentucky, officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state located in the east south-central region of the United States. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth (the others being Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts). Originally a part of Virginia, in 1792 Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union. Kentucky is the 37th most extensive and the 26th most populous of the 50 United States. Kentucky is also known for horse racing, bourbon distilleries, automobile manufacturing, tobacco, bluegrass music, college basketball, and Kentucky Fried Chicken."

BULGARIA - Thracian Tomb, Kazanlak

"Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. It is located near Seutopolis, the capital city of the Thracian king Seutes III, and is part of a large Thracian necropolis. The tholos has a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing Thracian burial rituals and culture. These paintings are Bulgaria’s best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period."

MACAU - The Ruins of St Paul, WH, Macau

"The Ruins of St. Paul's refers to the ruins of a 16th-century complex in Macau including of what was originally St. Paul's College and the Cathedral of St. Paul also known as "Mater Dei", a 17th-century Portuguese cathedral dedicated to Saint Paul the Apostle. Today, the ruins are one of Macau's best known landmarks. In 2005, they were officially listed as part of the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site."

POLAND - Autumn Dog

Thanks to Monika for the card.

LUXEMBOURG - Esch Sur Sure

"Esch-sur-Sûre (Luxembourgish: Esch-Sauer, German: Esch-Sauer) is a commune and small town in north-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Wiltz, which is part of the district of Diekirch. The commune is the second smallest in area in Luxembourg."

CAMEROON - A Stall at local market in Kumbo, Cameroon

"Cameroonˌofficially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean."

USA - Rocky Mount

The card reads; Experience daily life as it was in 1791 at Rocky Mountain where history literally comes to life! Thanks to T Russell for the nice card!

IRELAND - Thatches cottage

Thatches cottage typical of the type to be found along the West coast of Ireland from Donegal to Kerry.

BAHAMAS - Conch Salad. A land of complete relaxation and comfort

"The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country consisting of more than 700 islands, cays, and islets in the Atlantic Ocean; north of Cuba and Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti); northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands; southeast of the U.S. state of Florida and east of the Florida Keys. Its capital is Nassau on the island of New Providence."

JAPAN - View from Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture

"Kakunodate was a town located in Senboku District, Akita Prefecture, Japan. The town was famed for its well-preserved samurai houses and the proliferation of cherry trees. It was a popular destination for hanami, or cherry blossom viewing."

PHILIPPINES - Legaspi City Church and Mayon Volcano

"Mayon Volcano, also known as Mount Mayon, is an active volcano in the province of Albay, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Renowned as the "perfect cone" because of its almost symmetric conical shape, the mountain was declared a national park and a protected landscape on July 20, 1938, the first in the country. It was reclassified a Natural Park and renamed Mayon Volcano Natural Park in the year 2000."

RUSSIA - The Regional Universal Scholarly Library

The Regional Universal Scholarly Library.  The building was constructed in the 1899 by architect N.M. Roskwin.  Thanks to postcrosser Valeria.

KUWAIT - Parliament House

This is my first card from Kuwait that I received in April 2014.  The card shows the Parliament House of Kuwait.

"The Kuwait National Assembly Building, designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon in 1972, was completed in 1982 under the direction of his son Jan. The structural design was by Max Walt. The building was seriously damaged in February 1991 when retreating Iraqi troops set it on fire but has since been restored.  The overall area of the complex is 18,000 square metres (150 m by 120 m). The main structure consists of a basement housing the services and two upper levels with offices, reception, meeting rooms, the library and the cafeteria. In the centre is the vast assembly chamber, 82 m by 34 m, with 50 seats for the members and the possibility of expansion to 150 seats.:

The stamps used  2 of the 10V mini sheet of Partnership with UN issued in 2013.  Thank you for the great stamps!

SOUTH CALIFORNIA - South California Coastline

"The California coastline makes an outstanding tourist attraction itself, with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and a beautiful natural landscape. The Pacific Coast Highway follows the coastline's course, and as you wind your way up it, you'll come across a number of unique attractions. They make an outstanding break for the day, and most are located within site of the coastline."

PERU - Machu Piccu, Puno and Papagayo bird

"Machu Picchu or Machu Pikchu is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres above sea level. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District in Peru.

Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 149,064 (2014 estimate). The city was established in 1668 by viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro as capital of the province of Paucarcolla with the name San Juan Bautista de Puno. The name was later changed to San Carlos de Puno, in honor of king Charles II of Spain. Puno has several churches dating back from the colonial period; they were built to service the Spanish population and evangelize the natives."

INDIA - Prayag Ghat the holiest city of India

Sent by Laura of India.

"Prayag Ghat" which is just south of and next to "Dasaswamedh Ghat", considered the most important section of the ghats in Varanasi. This means that Prayag Ghat is usually crowded with the overflow of people especially during daily early morning and evening pujas. The ghat was built by Balaji Bajirao in 1778 and replicates the Prayag holy city in Allahabad. There is a yellow-brown colored Hindu shrine at the ghat. Holy men who sit in front of the shrine under rattan umbrellas provide fortune-telling services to the pilgrims. Many devotees will bathe in the Ganga from here."

POLAND - Zakopame - The Old Church in Koscieliska

Thanks to Agata for the card.

ROMANIA - Bucuresti

"Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania and a primate city, located in the southeast of the country."

DENMARK - HM Queen Margrethe II

"Margrethe II, (full name: Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid; born 16 April 1940) is the Queen of Denmark. As the eldest child of King Frederik IX and Ingrid of Sweden, she succeeded her father upon his death on 14 January 1972. On her accession, she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margrethe I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375–1412 during the Kalmar Union. Having been on the Danish throne for 42 years, she is currently the longest-reigning of the three Scandinavian monarchs (Sweden's Carl XVI Gustaf has reigned since 1973, Norway's Harald V has reigned since 1991). She is one of two queens regnant currently on the throne along with Queen Elizabeth II." WIKI

MEXICO - The Palace of Fine Arts, Mexico City

"Palace of Fine Arts, Spanish Palacio de Bellas Artes, cultural centre in Mexico City that was built between 1904 and 1934. The palace contains a large theatre, concert hall, museum of popular arts, and halls and galleries for paintings and other works of art. Balcony lobbies display murals by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and other Mexican artists. Examples of 19th- and 20th-century Mexican painting and special displays of paintings and sculpture are featured."

RUSSIA - Kul Sharif, Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan

You could find a history of this mosque here and here.

"The Qolşärif Mosque ( also spelled Qol Sharif, Qol Sherif and Kol Sharif via the Tatar Qol Şärif mäçete, Qolşärif mäçete, and Kul Sharif via the Russian мечеть Кул-Шариф, mechet Kul-Sharif) located in Kazan Kremlin, was reputed to be – at the time of its construction — the largest mosque in Russia, and in Europe."

RUSSIA - Saint Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

"The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, commonly known as Saint Basil's Cathedral, is a church in Red Square in Moscow, Russia. The building, now a museum, is officially known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat  or Pokrovsky Cathedral.

It was built from 1555–61 on orders from Ivan the Terrible and commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. A world famous landmark, it has been the hub of the city's growth since the 14th century and was the city's tallest building until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600. The original building, known as Trinity Church and later Trinity Cathedral, contained eight side churches arranged around the ninth, central church of Intercession; the tenth church was erected in 1588 over the grave of venerated local saint Vasily (Basil). In the 16th and 17th centuries the church, perceived as the earthly symbol of the Heavenly City, as happens to all churches in Byzantine Christianity, was popularly known as the "Jerusalem" and served as an allegory of the Jerusalem Temple in the annual Palm Sunday parade attended by the Patriarch of Moscow and the tsar."

BRAZIL - Parque do Ibirapuera

"Ibirapuera Park is a major urban park in São Paulo, Brazil. It has a large area for leisure, jogging and walking, as well a vivid cultural scene with museums and a music hall."

GREECE - Greece Summer