Cameroon / Cameroun

A mapcard of Cameroon.

Sent by Akam from Cameroon.

Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Its coastline lies on the Bight of Biafra, part of the Gulf of Guinea, and the Atlantic Ocean. Due to its strategic position at the crossroads between West Africa and Central Africa, it has been categorized as being in both geostrategic locations. Cameroon's population of nearly 31 million people speak 250 native languages, in addition to the national tongues of English and French. Early inhabitants of the territory included the Sao civilisation around Lake Chad and the Baka hunter-gatherers in the southeastern rainforest. Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century. Fulani soldiers founded the Adamawa Emirate in the north in the 19th century, and various ethnic groups of the west and northwest established powerful chiefdoms and fondoms.

Cameroon became a German colony in 1884 known as Kamerun. After World War I, it was divided between France and the United Kingdom as League of Nations mandates until independence in 1960 and 1961 respectively. The Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) political party advocated independence but was outlawed by France in the 1950s, leading to a national liberation insurgency between French Armed Forces and the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) until January 1971. In 1960, the French-administered part of Cameroon became independent, as the Republic of Cameroun, under President Ahmadou Ahidjo. The southern part of British Cameroons federated with it in 1961 to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. The federation was abandoned in 1972. The country was renamed the United Republic of Cameroon in 1972 and back to the Republic of Cameroon in 1984 by a presidential decree by President Paul Biya. Biya, the incumbent president, has led the country since 1982 following Ahidjo's resignation; he previously held office as prime minister from 1975 onward. Cameroon is governed as a unitary presidential republic (read more).

Colombia - Cartagena de Indias

CARTAGENA DE INDIAS

Sweetmeat portal

In this portal located in La Plaza de Los Coches, the greatest varity of regional sweets prepared in a traditional way with exotic and delicious ingredients : cocada, panelitas, melcocha, platanitos and many more.

Sent by Anne of Canada who went to Colombia for a holiday.

Portal de los dulces is a lively market situated in the heart of Cartagena de Indias, dedicated to showcasing the rich tradition of Colombian confections. Visitors can explore various stalls offering an array of local sweets, including coconut candies, fruity delicacies, and traditional desserts. The vibrant atmosphere and colorful displays create a feast for the senses, attracting both tourists and locals seeking to indulge in the region's sweet treats. This destination is not only a place to shop but also an opportunity to immerse oneself in the local culinary culture (read more).

Principality of Liechtenstein

PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN

Sent by Liechtenstein Marketing from Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein (/ˈlɪktənstaɪn/, LIK-tən-styne; German pronunciation: [ˈlɪçtn̩ʃtaɪn]; Alemannic German: Liachtaschta), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein [ˈfʏʁstn̩tuːm ˈlɪçtn̩ˌʃtaɪ̯n]), is a doubly landlocked German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria to the east and north-east and Switzerland to the north-west, west and south. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy headed by the prince of Liechtenstein of the House of Liechtenstein, currently led by Hans-Adam II. It is Europe's fourth-smallest country, with an area of just over 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) and a population of 40,023. It is the world's smallest country to border two countries, and is one of the few countries with no debt.

Liechtenstein is divided into 11 municipalities. Its capital is Vaduz, and its largest municipality is Schaan. It is a member of the United Nations, the European Free Trade Association, and the Council of Europe. It is not a member state of the European Union, but it participates in both the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area. It has a customs union and a monetary union with Switzerland, with its usage of the Swiss franc. Politically, a constitutional referendum in 2003 granted the monarch greater powers, after he threatened to leave the country should the referendum fail. These powers include being able to dismiss the government, nominate judges and veto legislation

Economically, Liechtenstein has one of the highest gross domestic products per person in the world when adjusted for purchasing power parity. The country has a strong financial sector centred in Vaduz. It was once known as a billionaire tax haven, culminating in a tax affair in 2008, but the principality has since made significant efforts to shed this reputation. An Alpine country, Liechtenstein is mountainous, making it a winter sport destination (read more).

Brazil - São Paulo - Avenida Paulista

São Paulo

Various views of Paulista Avenue (Avenida Paulista).

Sent by Ronaldo from São Paulo, Brazil.

Paulista Avenue (Avenida Paulista in Portuguese, Paulista being the demonym for those born in the state of São Paulo) is one of the most important avenues in São Paulo, Brazil. It stretches 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) and runs northwest to southeast. Its northwest point is Praça Marechal Cordeiro de Farias (pt) at its intersection with Rua da Consolação and its southeast point is Praça Oswaldo Cruz (pt) at its intersection with Treze de Maio, Bernardino de Campos, Desembargador Eliseu Guilherme, and Dr. Rafael de Barros avenues. Major crossroads on the street are Rua Augusta, Rua Haddock Lobo (pt) and Avenida Brigadeiro Luis Antonio (pt). Parallel to it are Cincinato Braga, Joaquim Eugenio de Lima on the Bela Vista/Paraíso side and Alameda Santos and Coronel Oscar Freire on the Jardins side. Paulista Avenue crosses sections of the neighborhoods of Paraíso, Bela Vista (pt), Jardim Paulista, Cerqueira César (pt) and Jardim América (pt), ending in Higienópolis.

The headquarters of many financial and cultural institutions are located on Paulista Avenue. As a symbol of the center of economic and political power of São Paulo, it has been the focal point of numerous political protests beginning in 1929 and continuing into the 21st century. It is also home to an extensive shopping area and to South America's most comprehensive fine-art museum, the São Paulo Museum of Art. Being one of the highest points in São Paulo, it is clustered with radio and television masts, most notably that of TV Gazeta. Paulista Avenue is a major hub of the subway and bus lines of the city (read more).

USA - Washington - University of Washington Quad

SEATTLE

University of Washington Quad

Founded in 1861, University of Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast. The cherry trees located in the university quad are over 80 years old and come into full bloom by early April.

Sent by Matt who lives near Seattle, USA.

The Liberal Arts Quadrangle, more popularly known as the Quad, is the main quadrangle at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. It is often considered the school's trademark attraction. Raitt Hall and Savery Hall frame the northwestern boundary while Gowen, Smith, and Miller Halls frame the southeast. At the top of the quad sits the latest buildings on the quad, the Art and Music Buildings. The quad is lined with thirty Yoshino cherry trees, which blossom between mid-March and early April.

The history of the Quad traces back to the beginnings of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition campus. Although the Quad was not finished until 1950, its layout was produced as early as 1915 by its designers Henry Suzzallo, an early UW President, and architect Carl Gould, who designed numerous buildings on the UW campus. In 1915, the Board of Regents adopted Gould's "Revised General Plan of the University of Washington", known more commonly as the Regents Plan (read more).

Taiwan - Chiufen

Chiufen

Chiufen Old Street, a popular tourist destination in New Taipei City, Taiwan, known for its charming atmosphere and resemblance to scenes from the animated film Spirited Away.

Sent by Lisa from Taipei City, Taiwan.

Jiufen, also spelled Jioufen or Chiufen (Chinese: 九份), is a seaside mountain area in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Jiufen Old Street is a narrow, winding alleyway with shops, teahouses, and restaurants that offers tourists a view of traditional Taiwanese life.

During the first years of the Qing Dynasty, the isolated village housed nine families, thus the village would request "nine portions" every time shipments arrived from town. Later Káu-hūn-á (Chinese: 九份仔) would become the name of the village.

Despite the earliest reference to the production of gold in the island dating to 1430, and multiple rediscoveries by early inhabitants, visiting Japanese, Dutch occupiers, and Koxinga's retainers, awareness of the wealth of Taiwan's gold districts did not develop until the late Qing era. In 1890, workmen discovered flakes of gold while constructing the new Taipei-Keelung railway, and in 1893 a rich placer district was discovered in the hills of Kau-hun that produced several kilograms of gold a day. In the next year, the promise became greater than ever after a Chinese "expert" with experience gained in California found gold-bearing quartz in the said hills (read more).

Spain - Madrid - Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

MADRID

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

Sent by Silvia from Madrid, Spain.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Spanish: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, [esˈtaðjo sanˈtjaɣo βeɾnaˈβew]) is a retractable roof football stadium in Madrid, Spain. With a seating capacity of around 83,186 following its extensive renovation completed in late 2024, the stadium has the second-largest seating capacity for a football stadium in Spain. It has been the home stadium of Real Madrid since its completion in 1947.

Named after footballer and Real Madrid legendary president Santiago Bernabéu (1895–1978), the stadium is one of the world's most famous football venues. It has hosted the final of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League on four occasions: in 1957, 1969, 1980, 2010. The stadium also hosted the second leg of the 2018 Copa Libertadores Finals, making Santiago Bernabéu the only stadium to host the two most important premier continental cup finals (UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores).

The final matches for the 1964 European Nations' Cup and the 1982 FIFA World Cup were also held at the Bernabéu, making it the first stadium in Europe to host both a UEFA Euro final and a FIFA World Cup final (read more).

Spain - Autonomous City of Ceuta

A work of art by Mariano Bertuchi, a Spanish painter known for his Orientalist style. The image shows a vintage travel poster for Ceuta, featuring a classic car and a scenic view of the city and coastline. The poster promotes Ceuta as "The Great Port of Africa, a crossroads and corner of Spain" and encourages visitors to "explore all of Morocco in your own car on magnificent roads".

Sent by José María from Ceuta, Spain.

Ceuta (UK: /ˈsjuːtə/, US: /ˈseɪuːtə/, Spanish: [ˈθewta, ˈsewta]; Moroccan Arabic: سَبْتَة, romanized: Sabtah) is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. Bordered by Morocco, it lies along the boundary between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta is one of the special member state territories of the European Union. It was a regular municipality belonging to the province of Cádiz prior to the passing of its Statute of Autonomy in March 1995, as provided by the Spanish Constitution, henceforth becoming an autonomous city.

Ceuta, like Melilla and the Canary Islands, was classified as a free port before Spain joined the European Union. Its population is predominantly Christian and Muslim, with a small minority of Sephardic Jews and Sindhi Hindus, from Pakistan.

Spanish is the official language, while Darija Arabic is also widely spoken (read more).

My Russia #4 - Leningrad Oblast - Vyborg

Vyborg, Leningrad Oblast.

Sent by Elizabeth from Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Vyborg (/ˈviːbɔːrɡ, ˈviːbərk/; Russian: Выборг, IPA: [ˈvɨbərk]; Finnish: Viipuri, IPA: [ˈʋiːpuri]; Swedish: Viborg, IPA: [ˈvǐːbɔrj]) is a town and the administrative center of Vyborgsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It lies on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of Vyborg Bay, 130 km (81 miles) northwest of St. Petersburg, 245 km (152 miles) east of the Finnish capital Helsinki, and 38 km (24 miles) south of Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland. The most recent census population of Vyborg is 72,530 (2021 Census).

Vyborg was founded as a medieval fortress in Finland under Swedish rule during the Third Swedish Crusade. After numerous wars between the Russians and Swedes, the Treaty of Nöteborg in 1323 defined the border of eastern Finland, and would separate the two cultures. Vyborg remained under Swedish rule until it was captured by the Russians during the Great Northern War. Under Russian rule, Vyborg was the seat of Vyborg Governorate until it was incorporated into the newly established Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. Finland declared its independence from Russia in 1917, and Vyborg kept its status, and represented internationally as its most multicultural city. During World War II, Vyborg's population was evacuated and the town was ceded to the Soviet Union. In 2010, Vyborg was conferred the status of "City of Military Glory" by Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.

The city hosts the Russian end of the 1,222 km (759 mi) Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, laid in 2011 and operated by a consortium led by Russia's Gazprom state hydrocarbons enterprise to pump 55 billion cubic meters (1.9 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas a year under the Baltic Sea to Lubmin, Germany (read more).

Ukraine (Occupied by Russia) - Republic of Crimea - Alushta

Famous structure of Alushta Resort in Alushta City in Republic of Crimea (currently occupied by Russia).

Sent by Olga from Alushta.

Alushta (Ukrainian and Russian: Алушта; Crimean Tatar: Aluşta; Greek: Ἄλουστον, romanized: Álouston) is a city of regional significance on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula which is within the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, a region internationally recognised as territory of Ukraine, but occupied by the Russian Federation and incorporated as the Republic of Crimea. It is located along the Black Sea coast on the road from Gurzuf to Sudak, as well as on the Crimean Trolleybus line. Population: 29,078 (2014 Census).

The area is notable for its arid, rocky terrain due to its proximity to the Crimean mountains. During Byzantine times, the town was called Alouston (Ἄλουστον) meaning "Unwashed". Vestiges survive of a Byzantine defensive tower from a fortress from which the town's name was derived, as well as a 15th-century Genoese fortress. During Genoese rule, the name was modified to Lusta. Adam Mickiewicz dedicated two of his Crimean Sonnets to Alushta (read more).

India - Karnataka - Vidhana Soudha

Vidhana Soudha is the largest state legislative building in India and serves as the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka. It is one of the mot popular tourist attractions in Bangaluru city. It is constructed in Neo-Dravidian style and was completed in 1956. It measures 213.36 by 106.68 metres on the ground and is 53.34 metres tall.

Sent by Murali from Bengaluru, India.

Vidhana Soudha (also spelled Vidhāna Saudha, lit. "Legislative House") is the seat of the Karnataka Legislature in Bengaluru, India. Completed in 1956, it houses the bicameral legislature comprising the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the Karnataka Legislative Council. Regarded as one of the most prominent examples of post-independence civic architecture in India, it stands as a landmark of Karnataka’s political identity, architectural ambition, and cultural heritage.

Designed in the neo-Dravidian style, Vidhana Soudha consciously rejected colonial architectural influences, incorporating elements from classical temple traditions of the Chalukya, Hoysala, and Vijayanagara dynasties. Conceived by Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah as a “Shilpa Kala Kavya” (sculptural epic in stone), its massive granite structure features a central dome, ceremonial staircases, carved pillars, and ornamental woodwork. Inscriptions like “Government Work is God’s Work” and motifs such as the Ashoka Chakra convey ideals of ethical governance and national unity.

Beyond its administrative function, Vidhana Soudha serves as a significant civic and cultural symbol. Its premises feature landscaped gardens and have hosted notable events, including the 1986 SAARC Summit. The building has also been featured in philatelic commemorations and has recently expanded its public engagement through permanent LED lighting installations and guided tours initiated in 2025. Its iconic design has inspired similar government buildings across Karnataka, such as the Vikasa Soudha and the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, cementing its status as a powerful emblem of the state's governance and cultural pride (read more).