PORTUGAL ~ Porto - UNESCO ~

... Nice view one of the most magical cities in Portugal... with houses all shades of yellow and orange stacked on top of one another looking over the Douro River... it has a lot to offer, including steep mountains, historic neighborhoods, stunning architecture and picture-perfect beaches... with a long history dating back to Roman times... Porto is world-famous for the export of the wine named for it, a popular wine usually served after meals... it is one of the least-visited parts of Western Europe... Thanks Julie!【ツ】

Porto is city and port located in northern Portugal. It lies along the Douro River, 3 km from the river’s mouth on the Atlantic Ocean. Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and is the commercial and industrial centre for the zone north of the Mondego River.

The historic centre of Porto was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Stamp:

Definitives - Portuguese Numismatics

(Issued 24-01-2022)

LEBANON ~ Byblos - UNESCO ~

... Lovely view of a traditional Lebanese house in the small seaside town of Byblos... it is one of the oldest cities in the world... and has been continuously inhabited ever since it was established in Neolithic times... Byblos is one of Lebanon’s most symbolic cities to visit, known as the modern-day city of Jbail... this ancient city is home to the monumental temples of the Bronze Age, Persian fortifications, a Roman road, Byzantine churches, the Crusader citadel and the Medieval and Ottoman town... Thanks Nassib!【ツ】 

Lebanon is located in the Middle East and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Syria and Israel. Beirut is the capital city and a major port. 

The coastal town Byblos (Greek) or Gebal (Phoenician) is located on a cliff of sandstone on the Mediterranean coast. This city is a testimony to a history of uninterrupted construction from the first settlement by a community of fishermen dating back 8000 years. Byblos is also directly associated with the history and diffusion of the Phoenician alphabet. The origin of our contemporary alphabet was discovered in Byblos with the most ancient Phoenician inscription carved on the sarcophagus of Ahiram.

Byblos was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Stamps:

The Rahbani Brothers 

(Issued 21-06-2021)

Famous People

(Issued 23-05-2011)

ITALY ~ Sila National Park - Calabria ~

... Great new National Park for my collection👍...  as the “Green Heart of Calabria,” Sila National Park is a stronghold for a variety of rare flora and fauna in the region... it's one of Italy's most heavily wooded areas... approximately 80 percent of the Park is forested... Sila is also noted for its lakes and beautiful contrasting landscapes with quaint and welcoming villages... it's a high plateau with wide horizons, rich in flowing waters, having a fresh and healthy climate... Thanks a lot Gian Luca and Raffaella! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Sila National Park is an area of protected countryside located in the region of Calabria in southern Italy. It covers an area of approximately 737 km² and was established in 1997, replacing the old Calabria National Park together with the Aspromonte National Park.

Geographically, Sila National Park can be split into three regions: Sila Grande (Large Sila), Sila Greca (Greek Sila), and Sila Piccola (Small Sila). 

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Stamp:

The 1600th Anniversary of the Founding of Venice 

(Issued 25-03-2021)

POLAND ~ Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful aerial view of one of Poland's oldest, most famous and important religious sites... Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a landscape park and pilgrimage site with many chapels, churches, bridges and houses that are kind of replicas of those in Jerusalem... located close to the birthplace of Saint John Paul II (Wadowice)... in a picturesque setting between two mountain ranges... surrounded by beautiful nature, hills field and woods... over a million pilgrims visit this devotional complex every year... today its famous for its Eastern Passion Plays... there is marked a path in the mountain, where you can follow the different stages of the calvary... a serene and peaceful area...Thanks a lot Monika!(✿◠‿◠)

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a small town in in southern Poland close to Krakow. 

The layout was designed by Feliks Zebrowski in 1604. It intended to represent the landscape of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. It's an example of a so-called Calvary (a man-made landscape symbolizing the stages that led up to Christ's crucifixion), of which many were built in Europe in the 17th C. 

The site includes a total of 44 buildings, among them many diverse chapels. It was named after its founder, Mikolaj Zebrzydowski, at the time governor of Krakow. The distances between the chapels here are longer than in Jerusalem itself, but within the same proportions.

 In 1999 the whole complex has been inscribed onto Unesco's World Heritage List.

Stamps

Flowers & Fruits 

(issued 06-07-2016)

Flora - Polish Clematis 

(Issued 25-06-2019)

EUROPA Stamps - Stories and Myths 

(Issued 21-04-2022)

LITHUANIA ~ Nida Sundial - Neringa - Curonian Spit National Park - UNESCO ~

... Great view of a granite sundial located on top of the 53 meter high Parnidis Dune... the second-highest sand dune in Europe... this is an ideal place for this kind of sundial as the horizon opens up from the Dune... it is possible to observe the Sun rising from the Curonian Lagoon and setting into the Baltic sea... the obelisk in the centre of the square contains a lot of Lithuanian folklore and symbols... the obelisk, the height of which was reaching 12m, was broken down by a hurricane in 1999, but rebuilt in 2011... an amazing piece of sculpture and monument... Thanks a lot Jolante! (✿◠‿◠)

Nida is a resort town in the Neringa municipality and is the westernmost point of Lithuania and the Baltic states, close to the border with the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast exclave.

The Sundial was designed by architect Ričardas Krištapavičius, sculptor Klaudijus Pudimas and Professor Dr Libertas Klimka.

The Curonian Spit National Park is a 98km long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. After World War I, these areas became divided between Russia and Lithuania. The landscape of the Curonian Spit is formed by the harmonious interaction of man and nature. 

The Curonian Spit was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 2000. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by Lithuania and Russia.

Stamp:
 

The 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Andrius Sniadeckis, 1768-1838 

(Issued 18-05-2018)

CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Kutna Hora - UNESCO ~

... Lovely panoramic view of the Cathedral of our Lady at Sedlec and the Church of Saint Barbara (patroness of all miners, Kutná Hora was a mining town)... both symbolising the wealth this city derived from silver mining... the monumental Cathedral of St Barbara is a jewel of the late Gothic period,...  construction of the church began in 1380's and was finished in 1905, after more than 500 years...  the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec, part of a Cistercian monastery is a unique Baroque monastery church with Gothic elements.... originally, there used to be a Romanesque church from 1142, but it was destroyed in the 13th C... not long after the disaster, a new Gothic, now five-nave basilica was built there in forty years... Thanks Lenka!【ツ】

Kutna Hora is a town located in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic.The town  has several interesting late medieval buildings, built in Gothic style. In the 14thC it became a royal city endowed with monuments that symbolized its prosperity.

The centre of Kutná Hora was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995

 Stamp:

Songbirds 

(Isued 11-03-2020)

SINGAPORE ~ The Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple ~

.... Lovely view of a relatively small temple but very well maintained...  also known as the Temple of 1,000 Lights... the temple got this name due to the colourful chain of lamps or "lights" that surround the giant Buddha statue... the height of the main statue of Buddha in the temple is 15 meters and the weight is about 300 tons... the monastery is also home to several other relics and intricacies making its atmosphere serene and peaceful... it is one of the most prominent and widely visited Buddhist temples in Singapore...Thanks Jobbo!ヽ(ヅ)ノ 

Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple is a Buddhist monastery situated at Singapore' Little India. 

The temple was founded by the Thai monk Vuttisara in 1927. The temple grew in popularity and, in 1930, Ven Vutthisasara built the present temple building.

Since the temple was built by a Thai Monk, it obviously contains Thai architectural styles but as the temple lies in the beautiful Indian quarter of Singapore and due to its Chinese origins the temple forms an artistic blend of Thai, Chinese and Indian architecture.

Stamps:
 

2X Youth Uniforms 

(Issued 19-09-2007)

Police 

(Issued 23-04-2003)

MADEIRA ~ Marine Wildlife ~

... Wonderful marine mammals postcard🐬🐳... the vulcanic archipelago of Madeira is one of the most isolated islands in the North Atlantic ocean and a haven for these animals... up to 28 species of whales and dolphins are registered for passing by during specific seasons... many tourists go on boat trips around Madeira hoping to see those beautiful creatures in their natural habitat... also one of the rarest seals in the world, the Monk Seal can still be found in here... Thanks a lot Amelia!❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

Photo: Maro Livramento e Madeira Island is the emergent top of a massive shield volcano that rises about 6 km from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean and forms the largest island of the Madeira Archipelago, about 90 km in length. The archipelago consists of 1 large and several smaller islands; Madeira, Porto Santo, Deserted and Savage islands.

The capital and largest city is Funchal.

Since 1976, the archipelago has been one of the two Autonomous regions of Portugal , the other being the Azores. It is an outermost region of the European Union.

Stamp:

Definitives - Portuguese Numismatics

(Issued 24-01-2022)

SRI LANKA ~ Manthiri Manai Mansion - Jaffna ~

... Nice view an old ruined mansion... a building with a a mixture of colonial and hindu architecture... considered to be one of the few monuments that remain to testify to the importance of the Jaffna kingdom during the Dutch colonial period... currently this structure has been taken over by the department of archeology with the intention of renovating and restoring this building... Thanks Ravindra!【ツ】 

Jaffna  is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and is known for its predominant Tamil population and recognized as the cultural capital for Tamilians in Sri Lanka.

Jaffna has a unique and complex identity influenced by a multiplicity of traditions. It is an expression of the Portuguese, Dutch and British histories in the country with the Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim identities with gopurams rising to the skies next to quaint churches along streets that flaunt the splendour of Dutch and British residences.

Stamp:
 

Christmas

(Issued 01-12-2021)

ESWATINI ( SWAZILAND) ~ The Big Five ~

...  Beautiful postcard💚... always impressive the "Big Five" on one postcard... they are some of Africa's most iconic animals: the Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalo's and Rhinos... the origin of the Big Five is in the 1900s... the white settlers went on hunting safaris... the Big Five refers to the most difficult African beasts to catch on foot and the degree of danger involved... nowadays Safari tour companies have turned this into a clever marketing term, as today it is more about choosing which lens to shoot them with😊... while on safari, the Big Five are on every traveler's list...  Big Thanks Isabelle! (✿◠‿◠)

Swaziland is a small landlocked kingdom in southern Africa, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19thC, independence was granted 1968. 

Ruled by King Mswati III since 1986, it is the only remaining monarchy in Africa. The new name Eswatini means “land of the Swazis” was made into effect in 2019, by the King. 

Stamp:

The 50th Anniversary of Independence & the 50th Anniversary of the Birth of King Mswati III  

(Issued 18-03-2018)

GERMANY ~ Herzog August Library - Wolfenbüttel -

...... A blogpost with two related postcards... lovely view of the Augusteerhalle in the main building of the library and one of the objects shown there... the Herzog August Bibliotek has a long, long history and was once rated as a wonder of the world... it is a library of international importance for its collection from the Middle Ages and early modern Europe... now one of the world's leading centers for cultural and historical research... it is extremely well organised and hosts a huge number of old documents, including maps and drawings... with great matching stamps and postmarks👍 celebrating the Herzog August Library 450th Anniversary... Thanks Dustin!【ツ】 

The Herzog August Bibliothek located in Lower Saxony, can trace its origins back to 1572, when a library was established by Julius, Duke of Braunschweig-Lüneburg (1528-89).

In the 17thC it was the largest library north of the Alps. The library was named after Duke Augustus (1579–1666), who greatly enlarged the collection, which was kept at Wolfenbüttel. 

Armies passed by, back and forth, over the centuries, but the collection was well protected. It was so highly regarded that generals placed the library under special protection, and the library is one of the oldest in the world to have never suffered loss to its collection.

Stamp:

The 450th Anniversary of the Herzog August Library

(Issued 07-04-2022)  

Guelf. 43 Aug 2°, a codex once owned by Matthias Corvinus of Hungary.The codex contains the Opera of Bartholomaeus Fontius, written in 1488. Part of the Bibliotheca Corviniana, listed in the Memory of the World Register.

Bartolomeo della Fonte whas a Italian humanist, poet and translator. In addition to his own poems in Latin and Italian, della Fonte mainly published translations of ancient authors, which he also edited and often commented on Title page of Cod. 

Stamp:

The 450th Anniversary of the Herzog August Library

(Issued 07-04-2022)  
 

MEXICO ~ Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley - UNESCO ~

... Nice view of the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Valley a beautiful landscape full of cacti🌵🌵🌵... an unprecedented 2,686 species of columnar cacti being found here... one of the last remaining areas of wild cactus species in such density in the world and a crucial site of evolution in "the Cactaceae family"... because so much of the cacti family are endangered, considering the rampant amount of succulents being sold commercially... apparently there are a lot of illegal operations in Mexico and around the world to harvest cacti for household and commercial landscape😔... botanically it is not only of special significance for its cacti, but also for agaves, yuccas, bromeliads, bursera, and oaks... the diverse fauna includes threatened amphibian and bird species... from a cultural perspective, this "mixed" site reveals archaeological evidence of human adaptation and development spanning more than 12,000 years... all activities are developed by small communities, genuinely concerned about preserving the area... Big Thanks once more Gabino! ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve is located in central Mexico in a valley landscape backed by mountains in Puebla and Oaxaca State, with around 500,000 hectares of protected land. 140,000 hectares of which is being considered for UNESCO World Heritage Status and the remainder as a buffer zone in which minimal human activities are permitted.

The Biosphere’s limits are defined by four mountain ranges; Sierra Mixteca, Sierra Zongolica, Sierra Mazateca, and Sierra de Juárez, which leads to the complex geography of separate valleys divided by mountains producing the tremendous biological and ecosystem diversity seen here across an altitudinal variation of 1500 – 3200 meters above sea-level.

On July 2, 2018, the site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stamps:

4X Definitives - Handicraft 

The 35th Anniversary of the First Mexican Astronaut and the 35th Anniversary of the Morelos II Satellite 

(Issued 17-12-2020)

AUSTRALIA ~ Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve ~

... An awesome nature attraction and one of the Northern Territory’s most impressive geological wonders... these gigantic granite boulders come in various shapes and sizes... some of them are up to seven meters in diameter and many of them are precariously balanced on top of one another... an impressive desert landscape stretching as far as the eye can see in the midst of the Australian Outback... the Devils Marbles or "Karlu Karlu" are a sacred site for the local Aboriginal people... they are culturally and spiritually significant to them... an Ancient Aboriginal Meeting Point... it was only in 2008 that this amazing natural site was given back to the site’s traditional owners and now Devils Marbles are managed by them... Thanks a lot Denny for this lovely surprise! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photograph: Katacarix/Shutterstock.com
Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia located in the locality of Warumungu.The Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve is 1802 hectares in size.

Formed over millions of years these rocks continue to crack and move with time and mother nature. Erosion has played a significant part in developing this landscape. Over time, the blocks of granite have developed horizontal and vertical cracks. Wind and rain over millions of years have eroded into the magnificent boulders that you see today. 

The term Devils Marbles came from John Ross, a Scottish-Australian explorer who led a team surveying the area for the Overland Telegraph Line in 1870. He said: “This is the devil’s country; he’s even emptied his bag of marbles around the place.”

 

Prestamped postcard

FRANCE ~ The Routes of Santiago de Compostela - UNESCO~

... Lovely postcard of " the Camino Frances" (or the French Way)... this is perhaps the most popular of the nine major Camino de Santiago routes... its 800km of trails and over 60% of pilgrims choose this route... a remarkable and spectacular one, traversing both mountainous and flat terrain... with the scallop shell, the most well-known and iconic symbol associated with the Camino de Santiago... today it is used, along with the yellow arrow, to guide pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela along its many different routes... pilgrims also wear this symbol themselves which further enhances the camaraderie along this great walking trail... whether you travel for quality time with friends and family, to get away from everyday worries, or for personal fulfilment and enrichment, the memories you build on the Camino will stay with you forever...  Thanks Chantal!ヽ(ヅ)ノ

The Camino French Way traditionally starts in St. Jean-Pied-De-Port in France, over the Pyrenees and continuing through the La Rioja wine region and along the rolling hills of northern Spain, before finishing in Santiago de Compostela, the burial place of St. James.

As part of the Chemins de Compostelle in France , 71 monuments as well as 7 sections of paths have been registered since 1998 on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the official title of "Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle in France". 

 Stamps:

Sabine

(Issued 01-10-1979)

Red Cross 

(Issued 01-12-1979)

BELGIUM ~ Toots Thielemans ~

... Today a lovely postcard showing Belgium's most renowned musical artist together with Dizzy Gillespie in Antibes, July 1990... Toots Thielemans is an icon in the world of music ♫♪♩♪♫... for several decades now his melancholic sounds have made an emotional impact on audiences all over the world... this Brussels native was an outstanding guitarist and one of the best harmonica players in the world (but never has learned to read music)... many international stars lined up to work with him... in 1961 he first recorded his well-known composition "Bluesette"🧡 now a musical "evergreen"...  he is one of the only musicians to have a successful career as a jazz harmonica player and eventually became the world’s preeminent jazz harmonica player.... this year he would have been 100 years... this brilliant artiste was honored  by Bpost with a great stamp issue and special postmark... Hééééél Erg Bedankt Johan!ヽ(*￣o￣*)ノ♩♫♪♫♪♩   

Photo: Dany Gignoux

Toots Thielemans was born in Brussels in 1922. As a child he listened to the music of Django Reinhardt & His Hot Club De France & Charlie Parker. In the early '50s Thielemans toured Europe with an all-star band under the leadership of Benny Goodman and shortly thereafter he decided to leave Belgium and try his luck in America (he acquired the American Nationality in 1952). 

Once in the 'promised land' he was discovered by the pianist George Shearing, who invited him to join his quintet in 1953. After six successful years with Shearing, Thielemans went on to found a couple of swing and bebop quartets under his own name.

From 1959 on he toured internationally with his small group along with intermittently recording in the studio. He recorded with singers and musicians including Ella Fitzgerald, David Sanborn, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Natalie Cole, Nick Cave, Franck Sinatra, Ray Charles and many others.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he continued touring and recording, appearing with musicians such Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Werner, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Elis Regina and Paquito D’Rivera.

In 2009, he was designated a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honour for a jazz musician in the USA.

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Toots Thielemans, 1922-2016 

(Issued 21-03-2022)

BELGIUM ~ Piet Fluwijn en Bolleke - Marc Sleen ~

... .. First of two great Belgian postcards💛... both with matching stamps and beautiful special first day postmarks👍... comic strip character Nero is 75 in 2022, while his spiritual father Marc Sleen would have been 100... Sleen was one of our most celebrated comics artists... admired for its absurd and sometimes satirical comedy...  the postcard shows "Piet Fluwijn en Bolleke" another classic family comic strip drawn by Sleen... all gags center around a father, Piet Fluwijn, and his naughty, but innocent little son, Bolleke... Thanks a lot Johan! (✿◠‿◠)

Marc Sleen was one of the most prominent Flemish comic artists from the post-World War II period. He is best known for his comic series "Nero" (1947- 2002),  producing two strips a day for a staggering 45 years without any notable assistance.

This landed him a place in the 1992 edition of the 'Guinness Book of Records' for being the longest continuous comic strip in existence drawn by one single artist.

Sir Marc Sleen was also awarded a knighthood by the king and is one of the few comics artists in Belgium who has a museum dedicated to his work. 

patates frites © Stichting Marc Sleen

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Marc Sleen, 1922-2016 and the 75th Anniversary of the Birth of Nero, 1947-2002

(Issued 21-03-2022)

USA ~ Cades Cove - Great Smoky Mountains National Park UNESCO ~

... Lovely view of Cades Cove, the most popular destination for visitors in the Great Smokeys... located in a 4,000-acre valley, it attracts more than two million visitors a year and is famous for its well-preserved historic buildings, lovely mountain vistas, and unrivaled wildlife viewing... this picturesque valley is surrounded by a one-way 11-mile loop that features multiple interesting locations... it's a gorgeous part of the Smokey Mountains National Park with a lot of history filled with remnants of the old American pioneers... Thanks Jamie!【ツ】

Cades Cove is an isolated valley located in the Tennessee section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. European settlers settled here in the early 1800s.

Established in 1926, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is comprised of ridge upon ridge of seemingly endless forest on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. Called the Smokies due to the ever-present morning fog. The park encompasses 522,419 acres ( 2,114.15 km2), making it one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States.

Stamps:

Definitive 

(Issued 09-01-2022)

Definitive - Red Pears

(Issued 23-03-2017)
 

2X Love 

(Issued 14-01-2022)

NORTHERN CYPRUS ~ MOTW ~

... Finally my first card with stamps and postmark from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus👍... one of the harder places to find in the world of postcards... and it came as a surprise... Northern Cyprus has a lot to offer for visitors; it’s home to beautiful coastline with sandy beaches, gorgeous mountain region, historical cities, picturesque mountain villages and ancient ruins.... stamps issued by Northern Cyprus aren't recognized on an international level... mail sent from TRNC is handled by Turkish mail.... Hééééél Erg Bedankt Eric voor deze verrrassing (ook voor kaartjes van Cameroon en The Giant Causeway💜)... zo leuk om nog eens van je te horen!😊

Northern Cyprus, is a self-declared state that comprises the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus. Recognized only by Turkey, Northern Cyprus is considered by the international community to be occupied territory. 

The northern half of Cyprus’ capital Nicosia is known as Lefkoşa. This part of the city is the capital and the largest city of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Nicosia is the world's last divided capital after Berlin was unified. Niscosia is on the Pedieos (Kanlidere) river in the centre of the island.

 

Stamps:

2X The 50th Anniversary of the First EUROPA Stamp 

(Issued 06-01-2006)

MEXICO ~ Whale Sanctuary - El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve - UNESCO ~

... Wonderful postcard for my whale collection and UNESCO site👍... the largest wildlife refuge in all of Latin America and certainly the most diverse... but what is most spectacular and gives this region uniqueness found nowhere else on this planet, is that it is the birthplace of the Pacific Gray Whale commonly known as the California Gray Whale... this reserve is the winter home of more than 12,000 grey whales... often you are surrounded by several of them at the same time, the chance to see mothers and calves together, the fact that the whales aren’t just passing by but actually are living (mating, breeding) in the area, how close you get to them, the low-key approach of the whale watching tourism (small boats, and they leave each other alone and do not crowd around sightings) makes this an amazing place to visit💙... also home to exquisite populations of sea turtles, Baja California pronghorn, and unique flora across a rich landscape... Big Thanks Gabino! (✿◠‿◠)

El Vizcaino is located in the central part of the Baja California peninsula in the Sebastian Volcano region, between the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean. El Vizcaino has a landmass of over 2.5 million hectares. There are also10,000 year old cave paintings and Petroglyphs, 17thC missions and it is the least populated region in Mexico: less than one person per 2km.

The Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaíno comprises two coastal lagoons, Laguna Ojo de Liebre and Laguna San Ignacio, and their surroundings.

Declared a national biosphere in 1988 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993.

Stamp:

The 200th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Colombia

(Issued 20-11-2021)

GERMANY ~ The Lynx - Harz National Park ~

... Beautiful view a magnificent cat... the largest European wild cat natively found in the dense forests of  Europe... the last wild lynx of the Harz (can be seen at the State Natural History Museum Braunschweig) was shot some 200 years ago... but since 2000 there has been a repopulation programme, which has been successful... the animals now wander through the whole Harz area and have settled in well and there have already been several cases of natural reproduction... with lovely matching stamp from the "young animals" series and as always with great postmarks... Big Thanks Dustin!✿◕ ‿ ◕✿ 

The Eurasian lynx is one of the widest ranging of all cat species and can be found in the forests of western Europe, Russia and central Asia, measures around 90-110cm in length and around 60 -70cm in height.

These incredible cats are strict carnivores, feeding mostly on hoofed mammals such as deer. When food is scarce they also eat smaller prey like hares, foxes and rabbits.

Lynx have a short tail, characteristic tufts of black hair on the tips of their ears, large, padded paws for walking on snow and long whiskers on the face.

The Harz National Park is located within Germany's most northerly mountain range. Together with the surrounding Harz Mountains Nature Park and Geopark, the park consists of ± 24,700 ha.

 

Stamps:

Young Wild Animals

(Issued 07-04-2022)

SPAIN ~Timanfaya National Park - Lanzarote - UNESCO ~

... Postcard nr2 coming from Lanzarote and showing the Timanfaya NP... with in the middle El Diablo a Devil sign by artist Cesar Manrique... the entrance and symbol of Timanfaya National Park... the absence of vegetation, the extreme ruggedness of the terrain, the variety of colours, the silhouettes of the volcanoes and the jagged coastline, all these make Timanfaya extraordinarily beautiful... it gives visitors a unique insight into the world of volcanoes when exploring the craters and peaks of this dramatic landscape...Thanks a lot Gian Luca and Raffaella! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Lanzarote is an island located on the west coast of Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It is a unique island in the Canaries as 3/4 is covered with lava. 

It has no less than 300 craters belonging to 100 Volcanoes. Timanfaya was declared a National Park in 1974 and is located in the southwest of the island with an area of 51km² entirely made up of volcanic soil. 

Timanfaya National Park is one of the main parts of Lanzarote Reserve Biosphere reserve created by UNESCO in 1993

Stamp: 

Tourism - Gastronomy

(Issued 14-01-2022)

GREECE ~ Map ~

... Great map postcard with lots of tiny but wonderful pictures showing typical and famous places... Greece has more than 2,000 islands, of which about 280 are inhabited... there are some islands that are known for their incredible sandy beaches, natural features and authentic villages, while others have a significant nightlife scene or strong cultural traditions... a place where historic ruins, volcanic cliffs, and friendly locals meet the clear-blue Mediterranean Sea.... it has the longest coastline in the Mediterranean with 13 676 km and one of the longest coastlines in the world... and a popular holiday destination for Belgian people... Thanks Athina! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Greece  is a mountainous country in Southeast Europe in the Mediterranean Sea, its capital and largest city is Athens. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa.

The country shares land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. The name Macedonia was disputed by Greece and the country to the north of Greece changed its name to North Macedonia in February 2019. The Greek coastline borders the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea as well as the Libyan and Crete Seas.

Stamp:

The Greek Revolution of 1821 Through the Children's Eyes  

(Issued 07-10-2021)

SRI LANKA ~ Dhowa Rock Temple - Bandarawela ~

.. Beautiful interior Cave Temple view... an ancient Buddhist Temple built under a rock... in the second chamber is a row of 28 small seated Buddha statues along with colorfully paintings... the rock canopy is also decorated with various motifs...  located at the bottom of a hill and close to a picturesque stream, it is one of the major attractions in the Bandarawela area... the Dhowa temple has become famously known to be one of the places the King Walagamba was in hiding while he prepared for fights/war against enemies until his time came to rule Sri Lanka... Thanks a lot Ravindra!ヽ(ヅ)ノ So nice to hear from you!😊

Dhowa rock Temple is one of the heritage sites in Sri Lanka, situated in Dhowa,a small, ancient village in the central mountain of Uva province. It is believed the temple bears a history dating back to about 2000 years, which means its history extends "Before Christ". 

Stamps:

Solar System 

(Issued 05-12-2014)

Endemic Birds of Sri Lanka 

(Issued 09-10-2021)

SPAIN ~ Espinelves - Catalonia ~

... Beautiful winter scene of a small medieval Catalan village with only 220 inhabitants... surrounded by silent forests, full of peace and quiet... the most characteristic element of the town is the Romanesque church built in the 11thC... or visit the Masjoan an arboretum of 400 hectares formed by 58 different species of conifers (some more than 40 meters high!)... among them is the tallest pine tree in Catalonia... forestry, which has been the traditional economic activity, has currently given rise to wood craftsmanship and the growing of Christmas trees and fir trees... one of its most famous annual festivals is the Fir Fair... it exhibits the different varieties of firs grown in Espinelves...  a town whose life revolves around this tree🌲... Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Espinelves is a village in the Osona region, but belonging to the province of Girona. It is located at an altitude of 750m, in the largest forest in Catalonia, in the Montseny-Guilleries area, between the Coll de Revell and the Coll del Bruc, for this reason we can find forests of oaks, firs, holm oaks and chestnut trees. 

 Stamps:

2X King Felipe VI 

(Issued 19-01-2015)

Order of the Fratres de Caceres 

(Issued 28-10-2020)