#174 USA
Grace Kelly (1929-1982), American Actress and Princess of Monaco. Thank you Paul!
Posts
#172 Belgium
Gina, the King, the Voice … Hollywood, 1959 Baudouin I (1930 – 1993) reigned as King of the Belgians, following his father's abdication, from 1951 until his death in 1993. He was the eldest son of King Leopold III (1901–1983) and his first wife, Princess Astrid of Sweden (1905–1935). Having had no children, the crown passed on to his brother, Albert II of Belgium, upon his death. Baudouin is the French form of his name, the form most commonly used outside Belgium; his Dutch name is Boudewijn . Very rarely, his name is anglicized as Baldwin . ( source ) Thank you Valerie!
Private Swap - Thailand, Singapore, China
The Jim Thompson Thai House Museum – Thailand Thank you Ben!
#169 Germany
The Holsten Gate ("Holstein Tor", later "Holstentor") is a city gate marking off the western boundary of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. This Brick Gothic construction is one of the relics of medieval city fortifications and the only remaining city gate, except for the Citadel Gate ("Burgtor"). Because its two round towers and arched entrance are so well known it is regarded today as a symbol of this German city, and together with the old city center of Lübeck it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. ( source ) Thank you Enno!
#166 USA
The flag of Indiana was designed by Paul Hadley and officially adopted by the state of Indiana on May 31, 1917. It was the state's first official flag and has remained unchanged since then except for the creation of a statute to standardize the production of the flag. The flag consists of a gold torch that represents liberty and enlightenment; the rays around the torch represent their far-reaching influence. The nineteen stars represent Indiana's place as the nineteenth state to join the United States. The thirteen stars in the outer loop symbolize the original Thirteen Colonies, the five inner stars represent the next five states added to the Union, and the one large star above the torch represents Indiana. ( source ) Thank you Julie!
Private Swap - South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a state in southern Africa. It is a parliamentary democracy comprising nine provinces which is located at the southern tip of Africa, with a 2,798 km (1,739 mi) coastline on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. South Africa is known for a diversity in cultures and languages. Eleven official languages are recognized in the constitution. South Africa is the 25th-largest country in the world and is comparable in size to Colombia. Njesuthi in the Drakensberg at 3,408 m (11,181 ft.) is the highest peak in South Africa. Several important scientific and technological developments have originated in South Africa - the first human-to-human heart transplant, a vaccine against Yellow Fever, x-ray Computed tomography and crystallographic electron microscopy techniques. These advancements were all (with the exception of transplant) recognized with Nobel Prizes. Sydney Brenner won most recently, in 2002, for his pioneering work in molecular biology. ( source ) ...
Private Swap - Jordan
Petra (meaning rock ) is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is known for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited tourism attraction. Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage." Petra was chosen by the BBC as one of "the 40 places you have to see before you die". ( source )
RAS - Switzerland
Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. Switzerland is a landlocked country spanning an area of 41,285 km 2 (15,940 sq. mi). While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 7.8 million people concentrates mostly on the Plateau, where the largest cities are to be found. Among them are the two global cities and economic centers of Zurich and Geneva. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world by per capita gross domestic product, with a nominal per capita GDP of $69,838. The establishment of the Swiss Confederation is traditionally dated to 1 August 1291; Swiss National Day is celebrated on the anniversary. ( source ) Thank you Pia!