Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara, Turkey

The Kocatepe Mosque is the largest mosque in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It was built between 1967 and 1987  and its size and prominent situation have made it a landmark that can be seen from almost anywhere in central Ankara.

This beautiful postcard with equally beautiful stamps was sent to me by Leslie some years ago, thank you! :))

UNESCO - Butrint, Albania

I was already too happy to arrange a swap for an Albanian card; when I received this great Unesco view, I was over the moon :))) Thank you so much Sonni!

Butrint or Buthrotum was an ancient Greek and later Roman city in Epirus region - in modern times it is an archeological site in Sarandë District in Albania, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë and close to the Greek border. Bouthroton  was one of the major centres of the Ancient Greek tribe of Chaonians. The earliest archaeological evidence of settled occupation dates to between 10th and 8th centuries BC.

The amphitheatre on the photo dates from the 3rd century BC and  is situated at the foot of the acropolis.

UNESCO - Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System

The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize - its a 300-kilometers-long section of the 900 kilometers of Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is continuous from Cancún in Mexico through the Riviera Maya to Honduras. Reef is home to a large diversity of plants and animals, and is one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world, with 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral species and 500 species of fish; and only about 10% of the area has been thoroughly researched..!

The reef is under threat from oceanic pollution as well as uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing; also the hurricanes along with global warming and the resulting increase in ocean temperatures, which cause coral bleaching. This is why the back of the card also invites you to help to protect this unique environment...

Many many thanks to Jason for this awesome card and Harpy Eagle stamp! :))

UNESCO - Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof, Germany

Regensburg  is a city in Bavaria located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers. The first settlements in Regensburg date to the Stone Age, and there are ruins (a fortress) from the Roman period. Between 1135 and 1146, the Stone Bridge across the Danube was built, which opened major international trade routes between northern Europe and Venice - this began Regensburg's golden age as a residence of wealthy trading families. Regensburg became the cultural centre of southern Germany and was celebrated for its gold work and fabrics.

The Dom (Cathedral of St. Peter) is an example of pure German Gothic and counts as the main work of Gothic architecture in Bavaria. It was founded in 1275 and completed in 1634, with the exception of the towers, which were finished in 1869.

The Goliath House was built in 1260, but the painting of David and Goliath was done in 1573. Its one of the most distinguished landmarks of the Regensburg Old Town.

I was thrilled when I learned that one German Unesco site is fairly close to where my sister lives, so I was only too happy to visit earlier this year :)) The whole town was covered in snow, the river was half-frozen and I sincerely enjoyed the serene winter atmosphere. The German Post issued the Regensburg stamp around the same time. Happy Agi xD

Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein

Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein; the castle gave its name to the capital  town of Vaduz, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop. The first owners and presumably the builders were the Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans in the 12th century.

A lovely card sent from which must have been a great PC meeting in such settings, thank you Diana! :))

(I have seen the castle on an early morning drive-by, it was closed to the public :()

Autumn Wolf

What a handsome fella, what a beautifully framed shot :))

I've always wondered about these indigo stamps with big T and a fraction on German postcards, any hint?

Santo Antão, Cabo Verde

Santo Antão, or Sontonton in Cape Verdean Creole, is the westernmost and largest of the Barlavento islands of Cape Verde; second largest in the country. The island is entirely made up of volcanic material -  the tallest mountain is Topo de Coroa, reaching a height of 1,979 m. The main product on the island is a kind of rum known as grogue. The exportation of many of the island's agriculture products to other islands has been prohibited for nearly two decades because of the millipede blight, but tourism is becoming one of its most dominant industries.

What a gorgeous bird stamp! As I was looking thru my stamps for this week's Sunday Stamps I've realised I would have trouble if birds were the topic, as I have so many. On the other hand, this week's topic is giving me trouble...This time thanks go to Gilles :))

UNESCO - Upper Svaneti, Georgia

Svaneti is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country. It is inhabited by the Svans, a geographic subgroup of the Georgians. Surrounded by 3000–5000 meter peaks, Svaneti is the highest inhabited area in the Caucasus - four of the 10 highest peaks of the Caucasus are located in the region.

Geographically and historically, the province has been divided into two parts—Upper Svaneti and Lower Svaneti. Architectural monuments of Upper Svanetia are included in a list of Unesco WHS. The towers were erected mainly in the 9th-12th centuries, and the botany is legendary among travelers.

Thank you Sini for sending a card from your visit to Georgia :))