#82 GF - Torshavn, Faroe Islands

The Norse established their parliament on the Tinganes peninsula in AD 850. Thus, Tórshavn became the Faroe Islands's capital and has remained so ever since. Early on, Tórshavn became the centre of the islands' trade monopoly, thereby being the only legal place for the islanders to sell and buy goods. 

The Tórshavn Jazz Festival has been held annually since 1983. It attracts musicians from North America and Europe and has become a popular tourist event.

EUROPA stamp 1991 - "Space exploration"

 

#81 GF - Hamilton, Bermuda

Bermuda is named after the Spanish sailor Juan de Bermúdez, who discovered the islands in 1505, while sailing for Spain from a provisioning voyage to Hispaniola in the ship La Garça.

In the early 20th century Bermuda became a popular destination for American, Canadian and British tourists arriving by sea. The US Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which enacted protectionist trade tariffs on goods imported into the US, led to the demise of Bermuda's once-thriving agricultural export trade to America and encouraged development of tourism as an alternative source of income. The island was one of the centres for illegal alcohol smuggling during the era of Prohibition in the United States (1920–1933).

 

#80 GF - Ciężkowice, Poland

Stone Town Nature Reserve (Rezerwat przyrody Skamieniałe Miasto) is located on the right bank of the Biała River, near Ciężkowice. It has an area of 15 hectares and was created in 1931. Among oak and pine forests are several large sandstone rocks, shaped during erosion. Altogether, they make the so-called stone town, and the names of individual rocks are based on their appearance (“Pyramid”, “Witch”, “Town Hall”, “Club”). 

 

#79 GF - Ryazan, Russia

The city is known for the Ryazan Kremlin, a historical museum; the Pozhalostin Museum, one of the oldest art museums in Russia; the Memorial Museum-Estate of Academician I.P. Pavlov; and the Ryazan Museum of Long-Range Aviation.

 

#78 GF - Vatican City

Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign country, city-state, microstate, and enclave within Rome, Italy. It became independent from Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, and it is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law, which maintains the city-state's temporal power and governance, diplomatic, and spiritual independence.

 

#76 GF - Wartau, Switzerland

The Gretschins-Herrenfeld and Ochsenberg prehistoric settlement and sacrifice sites, the ruins of Wartau Castle, and the so-called Walser Rathaus (town council house) auf Palfries are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance. The villages of Azmoos and Oberschan and the hamlets of Fontnas and Gretschins are part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

 

#75 GF - Oost Souburg, The Netherlands

The village was first mentioned in 1162 as Sutburch and used to mean "southern fortified place" because it was the most southern of three defensive structures to defend against the Vikings. Oost (east) was added later to distinguish it from West-Souburg. Oost-Souburg developed around the 9th century walled fortification. The fortification was abandoned in the 10th century.

EUROPA stamp 2018 - "Bridges"

 

#74 GF - Magong, Taiwan

The Penghu or Pescadores Islands are an archipelago of 90 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait, located approximately 50 km west of the main island of Taiwan across the Penghu Channel. The archipelago collectively forms Penghu County of Taiwan and is the smallest county in Taiwan. The largest city is Magong, located on the largest island.

 

#73 GF - Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden is a highly developed country ranked fifth in the Human Development Index. Sweden maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens. It has the world's 14th-highest GDP per capita and ranks very highly in quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, economic competitiveness, income equality, gender equality and prosperity.

 

#72 GF - Port Louis, Mauritius

Along with the other Mascarene Islands, Mauritius is known for its biodiverse flora and fauna with many species endemic to the country. The main island was the only known home of the dodo, which, along with several other avian species, became extinct soon after human settlement. Other endemic animals, such as the echo parakeet, the Mauritius kestrel and the pink pigeon, have survived and are subject to intensive and successful conservation efforts.

 

#71 GF - Seoul, South Korea

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and combat sport involving punching and kicking techniques. The literal translation for taekwondo is "kicking", "punching", and "the art or way of". It sometimes involves the use of weapons.

 

#69 GF - Cuenca, Ecuador

One of 17 megadiverse countries in the world, Ecuador hosts many endemic plants and animals, such as those of the Galápagos Islands. In recognition of its unique ecological heritage, the new constitution of 2008 is the first in the world to recognize legally enforceable rights of nature.

Spanish is the official language spoken by a majority of the population, though 13 native languages are also recognized, including Quechua and Shuar.

 

#68 GF - Dumaguete, Philippines

Dumaguete is a university city, with four large universities and several other colleges, attracting students of the province and students of surrounding provinces and cities in Visayas and Mindanao. The city is best known for Silliman University, the first Protestant and American university in the country and Asia. 

 

#67 GF - Oslo, Norway

Norwegians are famous for their love of their own culture, traditions and customs. For years, on the night of June 23-24, on St. John's Night (also known as Midsummer's Eve), bonfires have been lit throughout Norway to celebrate the beginning of summer.

 

#66 GF - Havana, Cuba

It is a myth that cigars are rolled under the armpits or thighs of sweaty Cuban women. Torcedore - this is the name of professionals who, after five years of training, make over 100 cigars a day. Cuba is one of the world's largest exporters of cigars, they are the country's fourth export product.

 

#65 GF - Santiago de Litém, Portugal

Portugal is the largest producer of cork in the world (over 50% of the world supply). Western Europe is home to some of the most lush cork oak forests in the world. It is estimated that they constitute 34% of the world's area of this type of forest complexes.

 

#64 GF - Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava is located in southwestern Slovakia at the foot of the Little Carpathians, occupying both banks of the Danube and the left bank of the Morava. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only capital of the country that borders two sovereign states.

 

#63 GF - Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar is the capital and most populous city of Mongolia. It is the coldest capital city in the world, on average. The municipality is located in north central Mongolia at an elevation of about 1,300 meters in a valley on the Tuul River. The city was originally founded in 1639 as a nomadic Buddhist monastic centre, changing location 28 times, and was permanently settled at its current location in 1778.

 

#62 GF - Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monte Carlo is situated on a prominent escarpment at the base of the Maritime Alps along the French Riviera. Near the quarter's western end is the world-famous Place du Casino, the gambling centre... that has made Monte Carlo an international byword for the extravagant display and reckless dispersal of wealth.

 

#61 GF - Baku, Azerbaijan

Bread is considered sacred. If one is too old to eat, it does not end up in the bin with other garbage but is hung in special bags to separate it from other leftovers. If a piece of bread is dropped on the floor, you have to kiss it as an apology.