REPUBLIC OF ADYGEA - Sleeping Dragon, National Park Bolshoy Thach

- Sleeping Dragon-, National Park Bolshoy Thach, Republic of Adygea, Russia.

A BIT INFORMATION ABOUT CAUCASUS REGION:-

The Caucasus /ˈkɔːkəsəs/ or Caucasia /kɔːˈkeɪʒə/ is a region at the border of Europe and Asia, situated between the Black and the Caspian seas. It is home to the Caucasus Mountains, which contain Europe's highest mountain, Mount Elbrus. Politically, the Caucasus region is separated between northern and southern parts. The southern parts consist of independent sovereign states. The northern parts are currently under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation.

North Caucasus	South Caucasus
Russian Federation (part)  Rostov Oblast  Volgograd Oblast  Kalmykia  Astrakhan Oblast  Chechnya  Dagestan  Ingushetia  Adyghea  Kabardino-Balkaria  Karachay–Cherkessia  North Ossetia–Alania  Krasnodar Krai  Stavropol Krai	Armenia  Azerbaijan  Nakhichivan  Nagorno-Karabakh*  Georgia  Adjara  Abkhazia* / Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia  South Ossetia* / Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia  Iran (part)  Turkey (part)

AUSTRIA - It is better to ignite a small light

"It is better to ignite a small light, than to curse the darkness"

A card from Austria with nice stamp.

IRELAND - Enniscorthy Castle

"Renovated and Refurbished, Enniscorthy Castle explores the Development of the Castle and Town from its earliest Anglo-Norman origins (12th Century) through the 16th century with recreations of Rooms of the last residents, Mr. Henry J. Roche and his family, who lived here from 1903 to 1951. The Exhibitions also explore the 1916 Rising in Enniscorthy and the work of Irish Furniture Designer and Architect Eileen Gray born in 1878 just outside Enniscorthy. The Roof of the Castle is also accessible, with spectacular views of the surrounding Buildings, Vinegar Hill, and Countryside.

Enniscorthy Castle is one of the few Irish Castles to offer access to its roof where a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. Or descend to the deeps of eerie dungeon and view Ireland’s rarest wall art which depicts a medieval soldier who was imprisoned in the dungeons over 400 years ago."

“What is the difference between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland?” 

The Short Answer:

- Ireland is a single island, situated next to Britain, but there are two countries on the island 

-  The Republic of Ireland makes up most of the island

-  The Republic of Ireland is an independent sovereign state

-  Northern Ireland makes up the northeastern part of the island

-  Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 

Some More Details:

-  The Republic of Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom

-  Along with Northern Ireland, the other countries of the UK are England, Scotland and Wales and some smaller islands

-  The Republic of Ireland is usually referred to as Ireland

-  When people say Ireland, they usually mean the Republic of Ireland, but sometimes they mean the whole island of Ireland 

-  Northern Ireland is usually called the North by people living in the south; while Northerners call the Republic the South

-  Protestants living in Northern Ireland sometimes refer to their country as Ulster, but Ulster is also a larger province, encompassing Northern Ireland and three counties in the Republic

-  Catholics living in Northern Ireland sometimes refer to their country as the Six Counties, and sometimes call the Republic the Free State

Everyday Differences:

There are not much day-to-day differences between one part of the island and the other. The main ones are: 

-  The currency used in the Republic of Ireland is the Euro, while in Northern Ireland people use the UK currency (sterling) 

-  In the Republic of Ireland all speed limits on road signs are indicated in kilometres per hour. In Northern Ireland, speed limits are indicated in miles per hour — watch out for this.

-  In Northern Ireland, you will see an (increasingly smaller) number of food or UK retail outlets, such as Sainsburys, that do not have any presence in the Republic of Ireland. 

The Good Friday Agreement:

The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, was signed in April 1998, and was approved by people in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, in a referendum held in May 1998. 

The Agreement was a recognition that: 

-  the majority of the population of Northern Ireland wanted to remain a part of the United Kingdom 

-  a substantial section of the population of Northern Ireland, and the majority of the people of the island of Ireland, wanted to bring about a united Ireland

The agreement acknowledged that both these viewpoints were equally legitimate. 

Northern Ireland is to remain part of the United Kingdom unless or until a majority of the population of 

a) Northern Ireland 

and 

b) the Republic of Ireland 

want the status of Northern Ireland to change. 

If this ever comes about, then both the British and Irish governments are under a binding obligation to change the status of Northern Ireland and, presumably, bring about a united Ireland. 

Source : here

ITALY - Udine

"Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps (Alpi Carniche), less than 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Slovenian border."

GUAM - Sunset view

"Guam is a territory of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of seventeen Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations. The island's capital is Hagåtña (formerly rendered Agana). 

Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands Located approximately 3,300 miles West of Hawaii, 1,500 miles east of the Philippines and 1,550 miles South of Japan, the Island of Guam is the Western most territory of the United States and one of the leading tourist destinations in the Western Pacific"

Guam  is part of USA administration and uses USA Postal Stamps. Here you could see a clear postmark of Gu Agat post office mark.

TAJIKISTAN - The national flags of Republic Tajikistan and The Independence Square, Tashkent

"Independence Square is located in the center of Tashkent city. It is a favorite resting place for the Tashkent residents. The fact that the most beautiful fountains of the city are located in the square contributed considerably to it.

Independence Square as many other places in Tashkent has its own history. Before 1865, not far from this place there was a palace of Kokand khan. In 1865 the Kokand khanate was liquidated and by order of the Russian administration and the construction of a residence for a Turkestan Governor-General began next to it. Later, this residence with a vast garden was named the White House. In the colonial period a wappenshaw was held on its ground before the General-Governor’s residence.

In the Soviet time the square was re-named for Lenin Square. A monument to Lenin was erected in the center of it. And construction of fountains and development of the square itself began at this period.

Upon declaration of independence in 1991 Lenin Square was re-named to Independence Square (Mustakillik Maydoni) (1992). The monument to Lenin was dismantled and an Independence Monument in a form of a globe with Uzbekistan’s borders outlined on it was installed instead.

Today the Independence Square is a place to hold solemn events on festive days, such as Uzbekistan Independence Day (1 September) and New Year (1 January). All the Tashkent residents visit Independence Square on festive days, since this is the place to hold performances of musicians, clowns and rope-dancers. By New Year a President New Year tree is installed there."

and the National flags or Republic of Tajikistan

BULGARIA - The Shumen Fortress, Shumen

"Shumen Fortress is one of the most famous landmarks in Bulgaria and the Shumen region. The remains of the fortress are 3 kilometres away from the centre of modern-day Shumen. The fortress is situated in the Shumen Plateau. Shumen Fortress was probably first built by Thracians and was later completed and reconstructed by Romans, Byzantines, and Bulgarians. It is believed that the first fortification built in this place is 3200 years old, which makes it one of the oldest fortifications in Bulgaria. Conquered and demolished many times, Shumen Fortress rose to new life and existed until 1444.

Until the 15th century the town of Shumen was situated within the fortress that comprised a sophisticated compound of buildings and military equipment. The fortress continued its existence during the first years of the Ottoman rule, and as archaeological research reveals it wasn’t demolished by Ottomans when they conquered it. In 1444, however, the crusaders led by Vladislav Varnenchik (who reigned in the period 1434 – 1444) destroyed and burned it, and this led to its abandonment."

CZECH REPUBLIC - Traditional costume, Hodonin

"Hodonín is a town on the River Morava in the southeast of Moravia, in the Czech Republic. It lies in the South Moravian Region."

MONTENEGRO - Black Lake/Crno Jezero

"Black Lake (Montenegrin: Crno jezero) is a lake in the Municipality of Žabljak in northern Montenegro. It is a glacial lake, located on Mount Durmitor, at an elevation of 1,416 m. It is 3 km from the town of Žabljak. Black Lake lies at the foot of Međed Peak and has an area of 0.515 square km.

The lake consists of two smaller lakes: Big Lake (Veliko jezero) and Little Lake (Malo jezero)."

The stamp used on the card was issued in 2012, is 1 of the set of 2 - London 2012 Olympic games.

FRANCE - Toulouse

Toulouse is the capital city of the southwestern French department of Haute-Garonne, as well as of the Midi-Pyrénées region. It lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the Mediterranean Sea, 230 km (143 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean, and 580 km (360 mi) from Paris. With 1,250,251 inhabitants at the January 2011 census, the Toulouse metropolitan area is the fourth-largest in France, after Paris."

ROMANIA - Toplita

"Toplița is a city in Harghita County, Romania. The settlement has had multiple name changes: Taplócza, Toplicza, Gyergyó-Toplicza, from February 3, 1861 Oláh-Toplicza, or "Romanian Toplița", then from January 1, 1907 Maroshévíz, until 1918, when it received the Romanian name Toplița Română. Both the Romanian and the Hungarian name mean "hot water spring"; the first is a Romanian word of Slavic origin."

HUNGARY - Windows of PECS

"Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. It is the administrative and economical centre of Baranya county. Pécs is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pécs."

KYRGYZSTAN - The saleswoman in national clothing and pumpkin seller

"Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic formerly known as Kirghizia, is a country located in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north,Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek."

BELARUS - UNESCO Building

"Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk."