GERMANY ~ Regensburg - Bavaria - UNESCO ~

... Great city view of the only authentically preserved large medieval city in Germany located right on the Danube River... a 310 meter-long Stone Bridge spans the river and leads to the beautiful medieval old town that features well-preserved buildings from the 11th to 15th century... the centre has over 1,500 listed buildings; of these, 984 form the "Old Town with Stadtamhof"... as an ensemble, the Old Town is simply unique... few other cities in central Europe can offer legacies of more than 2,000 years of history whichever way you look... with nice stamp and postmark honoring the Danube river... Thanks Dustin!【ツ】 

Originally a Celtic settlement, Regensburg was officially founded in 179 by the Romans and it has always been an important location throughout history. Regensburg is located in eastern Bavaria, at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers, Danube's northernmost point. It is Bavaria’s fourth-largest city and the capital of the Oberpfalz region of Bavaria. 

Bavaria  is the largest federal state of Germany, situated in the south-east of the country, and extends from the North German Plain up to the Alps in the south. 

Regensburg medieval centre was listed as  a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

 

Stamp:

Danube River - Joint Issue with Croatia 

(Issued 10-10-2024)

ANTARCTICA ~ India’s Antarctic Research Station - Bharati

...This magnificent view of the "Southern Lights" comes from the Bharati Indian base situated on the east coast of Antarctica... these majestic lights, commonly seen in shades of green are caused by an interplay of the Earth's magnetosphere and solar winds... the Bharati station consists of one main building, fuel farm, fuel station, sea water pump house, a summer camp and a number of smaller containerized modules... postcards meant for this postoffice in Antarctica are sent to the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research in Goa... when a scientific expedition to Antarctica departs from NCPOR, a researcher carries the consignment of letters... at the research base, the letters are "cancelled",(which comes under Goa section so the postmark has North Goa written on it)... brought back and returned via post once a year... Thanks a lot Vingoul for this  "unique" postmark💚!(✿◠‿◠)

Bharati (research station) is a permanent Antarctic research station commissioned by India since 2012. It is India's third Antarctic research facility and one of two active Indian research stations, alongside Maitri. India's first committed research facility, Dakshin Gangotri, is being used as a supply base.

This futuristic design - a dark, sleek building, low and long is destined to be a temporary waterfront home for up to 65 people at a time situated on the Larsemann Hills on the continent of Antarctica.

India is among a handful of countries that have multiple scientific stations on the southern continent.

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is India’s premier R&D institution responsible for the country’s research activities in the polar and Southern Ocean realms.

Stamp:

Ahimsa Paramo Dharma

(17-06-2019)

NORTHERN CYPRUS ~ Bellapais Abbey ~

... Lovely view of a remarkably well-preserved abbey with rich history... perched high in the hills of the picturesque village of Bellapais... its grandeur is visible from afar, while the views from its grounds across the beautiful North Cyprus landscape, Kyrenia and the Mediterranean beyond are breathtaking... you can explore the beautiful gardens that surround the abbey, and take a stroll through the peaceful cloisters... it has attracted many visitors since the middle ages... the abbey also hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including music concerts and art exhibitions... Thanks  Toprac!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Bellapais Abbey is the ruin of a monastery built by Canons Regular in the 13th century on the northern side of the small village of Bellapais, now in Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus a breakaway state which is recognised only by Turkey in an area legally belonging to the Republic of Cyprus.

The Abbey has been embellished in subsequent centuries with the addition of further towers, gates and murals.

The name Bellapais Abbey is derived from the French: Abbaye de la Belle Paix which means "The Abbey of Peace".

Stamps:

Campaign Against the Pine Processionary Moth

(Issued 30-09-2024)

2008 Definitive Issue - Flowers 20. March

(Issued 20-03-2008)

TURKEY ~ Great Theatre of Ephesus - Anatolia - UNESCO ~

... Nice view of the most impressive structure in the ancient Greco-Roman city of Ephesus... in its heyday, it could accommodate up to 25,000 spectators... it is believed to be the largest outdoor theatre in the ancient world... the theatre hosted plays, concerts, religious, political and philosophical discussions, as well as gladiator and animal fights... one of the most remarkable aspects of the Great Theatre was its exceptional acoustics... even today, whispers from the stage can be heard clearly in the farthest row of the audience... because the sender could not find stamps in Turkey it was mailed from Greece... Thanks Marico!【ツ】

The Ephesus Theater was constructed in the Hellenistic period, most probably in the time of the reign of Lysimacos (250 BC) into the west slope of Mount Pion. Similar to many other theaters of the time, Grand Ephesus Theater also followed a similar Hellenistic architectural style. After Ephesus was controlled by Romans (133 BC) and after the devastating earthquake in 17 AD Roman architectural renovations of Ephesus Theater changed the building to modern looking.

According to legend, Ephesus was founded by the female warriors known as the Amazons and it was a major city for both the Ancient Greeks and the Romans and became one of the wealthiest cities in the Mediterranean. 

Stamps:

Summer Olympic Games

(Issued 12-06-2024)

GERMANY ~ Schwäbisch Gmünd - Baden-Württemberg~

... Nice views of a town situated in the foothills of the Swabian Alb and the Dreikaiserberge mountains...surrounded by nature and picturesque scenery with rolling hills and green meadows... famous for its crafts, architecture, design, jewellery and culture... buildings from eight centuries characterize the historic city center; such as the Heilig-Kreuz-Münster or the market square with half-timbered houses... with lovely stamp and special postmark celebrating "90 Years of schleich" a toy brand headquartered in Schwäbisch Gmünd👍...  Thanks Dustin! (❁◕ ‿ ◕❁)

Schwäbisch Gmünd  is a is a large town in the eastern part of the German state of Baden-Württemberg in the upper Rems Valley and was founded more than 800 years ago.

 

Stamps:

2X World of Letters

(Issued 2022 - 2024)

The 90th Anniversary of Imaginative Play 

(Issued 02-01-2025)

SPAIN ~ TOLEDO - UNESCO ~

... Pretty view of the famous "city of three cultures"... one of Spain's most magnificent cities where Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities peacefully coexisted during the Middle Ages... synagogues, mosques and churches stand together in Toledo's historic quarter, a testament to the medieval Spanish city's diverse history... its historic quarter still preserves its original medieval layout with narrow winding streets, bridges and well-preserved city gates... the four towers of The Alcazar, a fortress built in 1085, dominate the skyline.... it is a large quadrangular building framed by four large towers, each crowned by the typical Madrid spire... Thanks a lot Belén!¯\_(ツ)_/¯  

Toledo is situated at the heart of the Iberian Peninsula. The city is the capital of both Toledo province and the larger autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha in south-central Spain. The city was built on a rugged cliff surrounded on three sides by the Tagus River nestled in a bend of the river.  

The Historic City of Toledo was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.

 

Stamp:

Popular Festivals - The Moors and Christians of Alcoy 

(Issued 19-04-2024)

USA ~ Nittany Lion Shrine - Pennsylvania ~

... Lovely sculpture of a boldly and powerful contoured limestone mountain lion poised to pounce from its sandstone base... this popular Nittany Lion Shrine is located on the University Park campus of the prestigious Pennsylvania State University... it is recognized as one of the most photographed landmarks in the entire state... this beloved touchpoint not only symbolizes Penn State’s spirit, but also stands as a picturesque attraction that draws visitors from near and far... hundreds of thousands of students in caps and gowns at graduation, couples in wedding garb, and folks in family groups visiting the campus have posed for pictures on and around the Lion... Thanks a lot Sam for visiting my blog and sending me this great postcard from your university with nice selection of stamps!【ツ】

The Nittany Lion Shrine at Pennsylvania State University was dedicated on October 24, 1942 during homecoming. Heinz Warneke and stonecutter Joseph Garatti created it from a 13-ton block of Indiana Limestone. The shrine is a gift of the class of 1940 and rests in a natural setting of trees near the Recreation Building.

The Nittany Lion as Penn State's mascot originated with Harrison D. Joe Mason in 1904. While attending a baseball game against Princeton, Mason and team members were shown a statue of Princeton's Bengal tiger as an indication of the merciless treatment they would encounter on the field. Since Penn State did not have a mascot, Mason replied with an instant fabrication of the Nittany Lion, fiercest beast of them all, that would overcome even the tiger.

Penn State is a Pennsylvania-based, top-ranked public university that educates students worldwide. Outside the classroom, students have opportunities to round out their education through entrepreneurship, philanthropy, research, internships, and more.

Stamps:

Prominent Americans - Albert Gallatin

(Issued 30-01-1967)

Save Manatees 

(Issued 27-03-2024)

The 50th Anniversary of Dungeons and Dragons  

(01-09-2024)

American Dance - Ballet

(Issued 26-04-1978)

Anti-Pollution 

(28-10-1970)

ICELAND ~ Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon - Vatnajokull National Park - UNESCO ~

...More unspoiled natural beauty of Iceland at its best... a stunning sunset of Jökulsárlón the most famous glacier lagoon... this breathtaking glacial lagoon is renowned for its floating icebergs, calved from Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull... massive chunks of ice float serenely in the lagoon, creating a captivating spectacle... the contrast of the blue ice against the dark waters is truly mesmerizing.... the lagoon connects with the ocean and is composed of seawater and freshwater... this is what creates the unique color... it's one of the most popular places for travelers to visit... but it’s tragic to see the retreat of the glacier at such a rapid pace due to global warming... Big Thanks once more Alena!(✿ ♥‿♥)

© Skarphedinn Thrainsson/www.arcticart.is

Jokulsarlon glacier first started forming in 1934, when the Breidamerkurjokull glacier started retreating  leaving the lagoon in its path.The icebergs in Jokulsarlon are composed of ice that is over 1,000 years old.This glacier lagoon has gotten four times bigger since the early 1970s. Jökulsárlón is also the deepest lake in Iceland with a maximum depth of around 260 meters. Seals can be seen year-round in Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

Vatnajökull National Park covers 12.000 km², almost 14% of Iceland. The park officially formed in 2008 by joining together Jökulsargljúfur and Skaftafell National Parks and adding in additional wilderness areas. It is the largest national park in Western Europe. 

 Vatnajökull National Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2019.

 

Stamp: 

Icelandic Contemporary Design 

(Issued 27-03-2014)

GERMANY ~ The Frankfurt Christmas Market - Heinrich Hoffmann ~

... When organising my uploaded cards I found this lovely Christmas postcard with wonderful stamps and postmark... must have slipped in by accident... but I liked it too much to not post it anymore... so here is a Christmas card in Februari🎄😉... illustration from Heinrich Hoffmann children's book "King Nut-Cracker or The Dream of Poor Reinhold" (1851)... a poor child dreams of the Fairy Town of Toys, where he meets King Nutcracker, toy soldiers, Noah's animals, and Struwwelpeter and friends... the tale is filled with vivid imagery, moral lessons, and a sense of wonder that captures the spirit of the holiday season... Thanks a lot Dustin! (✿◠‿◠) 

Heinrich Hoffmann (1809-1894) was a German physician and writer.

Hoffmann most famous classic book was Struwwelpeter. He wrote five other books for children, including King Nut-Cracker or The Dream of Poor Reinhold (1851). None of these, however, were able to repeat the success of the Struwwelpeter. He also wrote humorous books for adults, two political satires during the 1848 revolution, among other things. In 1873 he published his final work, a collection of poetry, called “On Bright Paths”.

The Nutcracker as a popular figure in children's stories originated with Hoffmann''s Nussknacker und Mausekönig, published in 1816. In 1851, the character appeared again in Hoffmann''s König Nussknacker und der arme Reinhold.

Stamps:

Christmas for Children - Christmas Bakery

 (Issued 02-11-2024)

Heavenly Light from the Abbey Church Thole'S Stained Glass 

(Issued 02-11-2024)

MADAGASCAR ~ Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park - UNESCO ~

... GREAT!👍 I can add a new African island to my received country list🤩... a truly unique and impressive landscape... Tsingy de Bemaraha is often referred to as the "Stone Forest" due to its impenetrable labyrinth of jagged limestone formations resembling a forest of stone towers with razor-sharp points and ledges at the top, gorges and caves deep below... tsingy means "where man cannot walk barefoot"... the park is not only known for its beautiful views, but also for its adventure activities with high rope bridges, deep ravines and dark caves... Thanks a lot Alena!【ツ】  

Madagascar is a country in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa opposite Mozambique and is the world's fourth-largest island with  Antananarivo as capital, the largest city of the country.

The Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is a national park located in northwest Madagascar. The southern end of the protected area was changed into the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in 1997. The national park centers on two geological formations: the Great Tsingy and the Little Tsingy.  

Together with the adjacent Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, the National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site named the Andrefana Dry Forests.

Stamps:

Flora and Fauna 

(15-06-2015)

Tourism - Nosy Antafana 

(Issued 22-05-2015)

Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013

(18-07-2017)

ICELAND ~ Ice Cave - Vatnajokull National Park ~ UNESCO ~

... Amazing Iceland National Park nr 2💙... an other-wordly view of an ever-changing natural phenomena... the Vatnajökull Ice Cave is renowned for its stunning blue ice formations... a result of centuries of compression, which removes the air bubbles and gives the ice its blue hue... these astonishing blue glacial ice caves are only found deep inside of glaciers... they are among some of the most amazing sights in Iceland for its size, charming colors, enchanting texture, and the absolute tranquil feeling inside... Vatnajokull NP is a huge park and most of it is pure wilderness covered by the second largest glacier in Europe... Big Thanks Alena!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

© Skarphedinn Thrainsson/www.arcticart.is
The Vatnajökull ice cap is located on the southeast side of the island. It is the second-largest in Europe and a major glacial research location on climate change. It is situated on large and active tectonic rift systems, and in an area rich in volcanic features.

Vatnajökull National Park encompasses an enormous area. It covers 12.000 square kilometres, almost 14% of Iceland. The park officially formed in 2008 by joining together Jökulsargljúfur and Skaftafell National Parks and adding in additional wilderness areas. It is the largest national park in Western Europe. 

Vatnajökull National Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2019.

Stamp: 

Icelandic Contemporary Design 

(Issued 27-03-2014)

GERMANY ~ The ShUM city of Mainz - UNESCO ~

...Nice views of the ShUM city of Mainz... the Old Jewish Cemetery "Judensand" in Mainz along with the "Holy Sand" in Worms are considered to be the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe... the new synagogue serves a local Jewish community of nearly 1,000 people strong... it's is an imposing structure from the outside an abstract, modernist creation... the shape of the building is based on the Hebrew word for blessing and is curved around a public courtyard... the site is the location of a previous synagogue... this one was damaged during Kristallnacht in 1938 and then destroyed in 1942 by bombings during World War II... there is a plaque commemorating its location... with matching "SchUM-Stätten" stamp and great special first day postmark👍... Thanks Dustin!【ツ】

© Jan Bruns
The term ShUM שו"ם is an acronym made up of the first letters of the medieval Hebrew city names Speyer, Worms and Mainz in Hebrew. It was the cradle of Ashkenazi Jewry and testifies the long tradition of Jewish life in Europe. The monuments are teaching us about history and present. 

The Jewish community of Mainz, or Magenza, is one of the oldest in the German-speaking world, dating back to the 10th century. During the Middle Ages, scholars and teachers based in Magenza turned the city into a vibrant centre of religious and cultural life.

Since 2021, the Jewish monuments in the cities of Mainz, Worms and Speyer have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Stamps:

Definitive - Flowers 

(Issued 08-06-2017)

SchUM-Statten

(Issued 05-12-2024)

ICELAND ~ Öxarárfoss Waterfall - Thingvellir National Park - UNESCO ~

... First of three spectacular and breathtaking landscape views... Öxarárfoss is not the biggest, but one of the most beautiful falls in southern Iceland... the "wall", the river and the lighting makes it look really magical... Öxarárfoss waterfall, though it looks entirely natural, is actually a human-made feature... this redirection was done to provide a reliable water supply for the members and visitors of Iceland's Alþingi parliament, which gathered in Þingvellir each year... it is not merely a geological wonder but also a site steeped in history and cultural significance... Thanks a lot Alena! (✿◠‿◠)

© Skarphedinn Thrainsson/www.arcticart.is
Standing at 13m and 6m wide, Öxarárfoss flows from the Öxará into the Almannagjá gorge with its pristine and deep blue water. The name Öxaráfoss translates to the “The waterfall in the Ax River.” The water continues to flow from the gorge into Iceland’s largest lake, Thingvallavatn.

Þingvellir National Park is located in the south in an active volcanic area and was established as a national park in 1930 making it the oldest park in Iceland. Laying on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Þingvellir has historical, cultural, and geological value. The park is the original site of the first Alþingi (“National Assembly”), formed in 930 AD. 

In 2004 Þingvellir National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:

Icelandic Contemporary Design

(Issued 27-03-2014)

GERMANY ~ Schöningen Research Museum - UNESCO tentative list ~

...  Nice view of the Paleolithic site of Schöningen... an enormous open-cast brown coal mine... a site of one of the ten most important palaeolithic finds in the world – the Schöningen spears... the spears are regarded not only as the earliest hunting weapons ever found but also as the oldest known wooden tools... thanks to unusually favourable geological and sedimentological conditions, the finds have been very well-preserved... here, you can uniquely understand how and where our predecessor, Homo heidelbergensis, lived and hunted... a real world sensation... Thanks Dustin!【ツ】 

Photo: V. Minkus
The paläon Forschungsmuseum uniquely combines the exciting experience of the Palaeolithic with cutting-edge archaeological research in an innovative exhibition concept. Visitors travel back about 300,000 years to the Palaeolithic and meet the first inhabitants of Lower Saxony. 

You can see the Schöningen spears in the immediate vicinity of where they were found, where they were left around 300,000 years ago and where they were discovered in 1994 - and where excavations are still ongoing today. The spears prove that Homo heidelbergensis planned his actions, had technological skills, used sophisticated hunting strategies, and communicated with each other in a complex social structure. 

The site of the Schöningen Spears – Humans and hunting 300,000 years ago is part of the Tentative list of Germany.

 

Stamp:

World of Letters - Rocket Pencil Postage

(Issued 05-12-2024)

SWITZERLAND ~ Sainte-Croix - Vaud ~

...Wonderful winter scene🌨️ of small village that lies on a protected sunny terrace (1100m) amidst the width of the Jura landscape in the Lake Geneva region... also known as the "Balcony of the Vaudois Jura"...  it is so nice to read that the sender lives in one of these lovely houses that is101 years old and the place now looks exactly like this picture☺️... world-renowned for its music boxes and nickelodeons... it has a long history of mechanical art and is a treasure trove of age-old craftsmanship, preserving the secrets of its mechanical wonders... the village offers numerous opportunities for summer and winter sports in the surrounding mountains and forests... Thanks a lot Madeleine! (✿◠‿◠) Im so looking forward to get more postcards from your this year travels!👍

In the south-west of Switzerland, the canton of Vaud stretches between the Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel, the Alps and the Jura. Being in the Lake Geneva Region, it has borders with France and five other Swiss cantons. The canton of Vaud - Lake Geneva Region is part of French-speaking Switzerland, usually called “Romandie”. 

Stamp:

Swiss Attractions

(Issued 05-09-2024)

NETHERLANDS ~ Rietveld Schröderhouse - Utrecht - UNESCO ~

... View of an icon of the Modern Movement in architecture... one of the first things that strikes you about the house is how small it actually is... and also how radically different it is from the other houses on the road... a small white cube which makes it very unique... the relationship between interior and exterior was pivotal for the designer... it was built according to the architectural principles of the "Stijl"-movement... only the typical colours red, blue and yellow are used, in combination with white, grey and black... the furniture inside was also made by Rietveld, in the same style and colours... the house was carefully restored and is now a museum... Thanks Marloes!【ツ】

Photo: Jannes Linders Rotterdam
The Rietveld Schröder House is designed and decorated by Gerrit Rietveld. It was built in 1924 for widow Truus Schröder and her three children. She lived in it until her death in 1985 and in 1976 the house became a listed monument. 

The Rietveld Schröder House is a Unesco World Heritage Sites since 2000.

 

Stamps:

Christmas Stamps 

(Issued 22-11-2011)

GERMANY ~ Derneb­urg Castle Art Mu­seum ~

... Nice view of a medieval castle located in a wonderful landscape... today, the castle and its grounds are a public museum space for the Hall Art Foundation, a private foundation with vari­ous ex­hib­i­tions of con­tem­por­ary art for a wide audi­ence in a unique his­tor­ic­al set­ting... it hosts also exhibitions by international artists... and part of the domain is a sculpture park...  with  "Black Widow" Superheroes stamp and great special postmark! Thanks Dustin!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The his­tory of the castle, dates back al­most one thou­sand years. It served as a con­vent and then as a mon­as­tery for hun­dreds of years. In the 19th cen­tury it was taken over by the dukes of Mün­ster, who com­mis­sioned the renowned Han­over Ar­chi­tects to con­vert it in­to a coun­try res­id­ence. 

The artist Georg Basel­itz bought the es­tate in 1970 and used it as a home and stu­dio for about 30 years un­til its sale in 2006. 

Stamp:

Definitive - Flowers

(Issued 08-06-2017)

Superheroes - Black Widow 

(Issued 10-10-2024)

SENEGAL ~ Gorée Island - Dakar - UNESCO ~

... Nice view of an island with a dark past... it was one of the main hubs of the transatlantic slave trade... thousands of West Africans were gathered here, hoarded onto cramped ships and taken to the new world... many of them wouldn’t even make it to the destination... so, it is difficult today when you walk the narrow streets, colored by the walls of the old colonial houses and baobab trees to imagine that it was from this Senegalese island that thousands of Africans left, sold as slaves to rich American planters... Gorée is now a living museum that welcomes nearly 700,000 tourists a year... while the island has its horrid past to live with, today it’s remarkably peaceful... Thanks so much dear Andrene! (✿◠‿◠)

Gorée Island is a tiny isle a couple of miles from Dakar.

With its strategic location and safe haven, it was one of the first African places to be settled by Europeans. The first to come ashore were the Portuguese in the 15th century. They were later driven out by the Dutch who named the island Goede Reede (the current name is still a corruption of this). In the centuries that followed, the whole place changed occupiers several other times, but its purpose remained largely the same. From 1536 to 1848, Gorée island was one of the main hubs of the transatlantic slave trade. (1848 is the year the French made slavery illegal.)

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.

©Photos: AM BREGER

Stamps:

2X Senegalese Elegance - The Peulh Woman

(Issued 12-03-2002)

Horse Breeds

(10-12-2002)

CANADA ~ SGang Gwaay - Anthony Island - UNESCO ~

... Nice view of  the largest collection of Haida totem poles in their original locations, many celebrated as highly regarded works of art... this is a very remote place at the far southern end of the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve...  you can only access it by air or sea... it is one of three abandoned Haida villages which are protected by Parks Canada and the Haida Watchmen program... weathering and decay are taking their natural toll on the village, as the fine details on the poles continue to fade... as far as the Haida people who populate the islands of Haida Gwaii are concerned, however, this is an expected part of life and should not be prevented... the Haida people believe they came from the earth and that they should return to the earth... Thanks Inger!【ツ】 

Haida are an Indigenous people who have traditionally occupied the coastal bays and inlets of Haida Gwaii in British Columbia. Archaeological evidence confirms continual habitation on the islands for at least 6,000 to 8,000 years.

Gwaii Haanas (Islands of Beauty) Park reserve and Haida Heritage site is an archipelago of 138 islands that lies 130km off the coast of mainland British Columbia; known simply as Gwaii Haanas, this area is protected as both a National Park reserve and an important Heritage site for the Haida First Nation.  

The village of SGang Gwaay on Anthony Island, also known under its colonial name Ninstints, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

 

Stamp: 

Prepaid postcard from Post Canada

(Issued 15-05-2014)

FINLAND ~ Helsinki ~

...  Beautiful view of a city located on a peninsula on the shore of the Gulf of Finland surrounded by islands (the Helsinki Archipelago consists of over 300 islands)... with the Helsinki Cathedral very likely Finland’s most famous and photographed building... the cathedral's central dome, rising 80 meters above the ground and  is a prominent feature of the Helsinki skyline... it is a global design capital and  known worldwide for its natural beauty... considered as one of the world’s most livable cities... Finland has once again been named the world’s happiest country in the 2024 World Happiness Report... Thanks once more dear Gian Luca and Rafaella for thinking of me while on vacation!(✿ ♥‿♥)

Founded in 1550 by the King of Sweden, Helsinki was established to rival the bustling trading port of Tallin (which was part of the Hanseatic League, an alliance of merchant guilds and trading ports). The city didn’t take off as expected, a problem compounded by the devastating plague of 1710, which killed much of the city’s residents. It wasn’t until the Russians annexed the region in the 19th century that it started to develop and grow into the city it is today.

Stamp:

Rati Riti Ralla 

(Issued 07-11-2018

GERMANY ~ Malle Babbe - Frans Hals - The Gemäldegalerie ~

...  Famous painting by Dutch master Frans Hals, created around 1630... the portrait is known for its vivid depiction of a woman apparently talking or laughing at someone or something to the right of the canvas, holding a beer jug... often called Malle Babbe, she was presumably a resident of a home for the mentally handicapped in Haarlem, where Frans Hals lived and worked... he depicts her with a certain dignity and a touch of humour, without caricaturing or stigmatising her... this makes the work not only artistically valuable, but also socially and historically significant... and as always with nice stamps and wonderful special postmarks...👍 Thanks Dustin!ヽ(ヅ)ノ  

The Gemäldegalerie is an art museum in Berlin. It is part of the Berlin State Museums and houses holdings of old European paintings from the 13th to the 18th century.

With nine works, this galerie has one of the most extensive and high-calibre collections of paintings by Frans Hals in the world, including highlights such as the Malle Babbe, the Portrait of Catharina Hooft with Her Nurse, and the Singing Boy with Flute.

Frans Hals (1582/83–1666) ranks among the most outstanding Dutch painters of the 17th century. In addition to unconventional, expressive portraits of the Haarlem elite, he was the first artist in Holland to paint social outsiders as individuals in portrait format.

Photo: Christoph Schmidt 

 

Stamps:

World of Letters 

(02-11-2022)

Christmas for Children - Christmas Bakery  

(02-11-2024)

ESTONIA ~ Tallinn - UNESCO ~

...Beautiful panoramic view... in winter, Tallinn becomes a true ❄️Winter Wonderland❄️... there is nothing more magical than taking a stroll in the snow-covered streets of Tallinn's well preserved medieval old town... the city's iconic skyline is dotted with church spires and red-roofed towers... there are numerous monuments to see and visit within a walking distance... the city walls, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the orthodox church, the palace and numerous cobbled streets and old merchant houses, they all make up the atmosphere of the place... although it is an European country my last received postcard from Estonia was almost 10 years ago😮... Thanks a lot Gian Luca and Raffaella!【ツ】

Estonia lies in Northern Europe and is one of the Baltic States. It is the northernmost, the smallest and the least populous of the three Baltic States and borders the Baltic Sea of the North Atlantic Ocean and two countries: Latvia and Russia. Tallinn is the capital city. As part of the influential Hanseatic League, Tallinn was home to wealthy merchants who left their mark on the city's architecture.

The Old Town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Stamp:

Estonian Flag

(Issued 02-10-2024)

Saint Kitts ~ Sugar Mas - Basseterre ~

... Last Friday arrived one more fantastic postcard from Glenn's Caribbean cruise🌞... thought I had already received them all😊... a great view of the islands traditional folklore... carnival in Saint Kitts, known as Sugar Mas, (Sugar because of the importance of sugar cane as a resource, and Mas, which is short for masquerade) is a spectacular event blending vibrant Caribbean culture with festive holiday spirit.... it is the only Caribbean carnival that incorporates the spirit of Christmas into the celebrations, taking place yearly between mid December to early January... paraders wear tall peacock-feathered headdresses, masks and the entire costume is decorated with bangles, mirrors and fringed aprons... a time for locals and visitors to come together in a spirit of fun and camaraderie... Thanks a lot dear Glenn! (✿◠‿◠) 

Saint Kitts, officially Saint Christopher, is an island in the West Indies and one of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. It borders the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Saint Kitts and the neighbouring island of Nevis constitute one country: the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saint Kitts and Nevis are separated by a shallow 3km channel known as "The Narrows".

Basseterre is the capital and largest city of Saint Kitts and Nevis and one of the oldest towns in the Eastern Caribbean.
 

Stamp:

The 30th Anniversary of the Death of Elvis Presley, 1935-1977  (Issued 15-02-2007)

AUSTRALIA ~ Lake McKenzie - K’gari - Queensland - UNESCO ~

... Lovely view of the legendary Lake McKenzie on the world’s largest sand island... an area of remarkable natural beauty... this freshwater lake has crystal-clear blue water and is surrounded by white sand that is 98% silica... there are  more than 100 freshwater lakes... K’gari is also the only place on Earth where the subtropical rainforest grows entirely on sand...  K’gari formerly known as Fraser Island is part of Great Sandy National Park... it attracts about 400,000 visitors annually... Thanks Helen!【ツ】

Mark Lang, Wildlight
K’gari is 123 kms in length with an average width of 14 kms, ranging up to 22 kms at its widest. It covers an area of 184,000 hectares, with dunes reaching as high as 240 metres.

The island has been inhabited for over 5,000 years by the Butchulla people, who named it “K’gari” which means “paradise.” In fact, the island’s name was officially changed back to K’gari in 2023 to honor the indigenous population and their history. 

Great Sandy National Park is a coastal national park in the Fraser Coast Region, Queensland. National parks were declared in the northern part of K'gari in 1971 with more additions in later years.

Fraser Island was declared a World Heritage site in 1992.
 

Prestamped postcard

KENYA ~ Maasai people ~

... Beautiful second postcard from Andrene's African cruise🛳️... view of the most well-known African tribe with unique culture, history, diet, clothing, brutal rituals, dances, lion hunting, and much more.... like the iconic wildlife that roam the plains, they are synonymous with the savannahs of East Africa... despite the initial pressures to give up their way of life, they have managed to tightly hold on to their culture... the bright colours of the Maasai cloth, beads and other adornments are all very symbolic... the vibrant red coloured cloth represents blood and is the symbol of bravery, it is the primary colour of all the shukas worn... blue represents the sacred sky and rain that provides sustenance and graving for the cattle... green subsequently represents the grass and nourishment... orange is symbolic of their warmth, friendliness and openness... yellow is the colour of fertility, and white is the symbol of peace... visiting a local Maasai village is a popular activity during a trip to East Africa... Thanks so much Andrene! (✿◠‿◠) (An African cruise must surely have been quite a different experience!🙂) 

The Maasai make up a large part of the East African landscape between Kenya and Tanzania, particularly in and around the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Park.

Unlike many other tribes in Kenya, the Maasai are semi-nomadic and pastoral.They have a fearsome reputation as and live by herding cattle and goats. Relied on these animals as their primary diet only eating/drinking milk, meat and blood. Today, they have introduced more African foods such as rice, potatoes, ugali and even japati. 

They mostly live in mud and dung huts and right outside, their animals are kept in an enclosure built of sticks, which looks quite sophisticated. This is to keep them safe from the wild animals out there: Hyenas and big cats.

"Maasai" literally means "one who speaks the Maa language". 

Stamps:

Birds

(2014)