CANADA ~ Santa Claus Letter - North Pole ~

 🎅H0H 0H0 🎅.... Yes!! I got a personalized letter from Santa Claus coming from his home the North Pole... a wonderful cheering up surprise after a hectic and not so pleasant week with a lot of worries... with the help of his postal elves Santa reply to each and every letter... postmarked at the North Pole... Big Thanks Santa 🎅... and a big hug to the person who made Christmas even more magical to me!!💖💖💖

"On 23 December at 19.00 Santa Claus starts his long journey to deliver gifts to children (and I hope to adults too) around the world on the day before Christmas Eve. We all wish him a safe journey and send our Christmas greetings all over the world. "

AUSTRALIA ~Elephant Rocks - William Bay National Park~

... Great new Australian National Park for my collection👍... a wonderful view of a natural phenomenon... huge granite boulders and spectacular rock formations... as it name suggests, Elephant Rocks looks really like a herd of elephants gathered in a group, paddling in the shallow waters... the most visited places within William Bay National Park... the Rainbow Coast has some of the most spectacular coastline... endless stretches of white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, wilderness peaks and ancient forests makes it one of the most pristine places on earth... Thanks a lot Denny!!❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

William Bay National Park is located in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia along the Rainbow Coast, and is in the Shire of Denmark. It covers an area of 1734 hectares and includes Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks.

William Bay was named after the famed British Arctic explorer and navigator, Sir William Edward Parry, as were two other nearby features, Parry Inlet and Edward Point.

Stamp:

 Postage Paid

GERMANY ~ 100 years German Revolution - Braunschweig ~

... Great postcard and cover of an important part in Germany's history... view from the past showing revolutionary workers and soldiers together... 1918, a year of great changes in Germany... the end of the First World War... the end of the imperial era... a new beginning... it is often not told that a revolution took place, which led to changes in the political situation.... these events are not very present in the collective consciousness - they are, as they say, in the "shadow of the culture of remembrance."... with special event-related cancellation on cover ...100th anniversary of the "proclamation of the republic"... Thanks a lot Dustin!!【ツ】

"Photo in Braunschweig 08 November 1918"
For centuries Braunschweig was the capital of one of the many small German States. The local monarch, Duke Ernst Augustus (17 November 1887 – 30 January 1953) was the first monarch who's abdication was already enforced on 8 November, one day earlier than in the German Reich.

Postmarked on the date of the Duke Ernst Augustus abdicated

Philipp Scheidemann, (July 26, 1865- Nov. 29, 1939), German Social Democratic politician who, without party or government authorization, on Nov. 9, 1918, made the Weimar Republic a fact by proclaiming it from the balcony of the Reichstag. He later became the republic’s first chancellor.

SPAIN ~ Girona - Catalonia ~

 ... Wonderful view of one of Catalonia's most charming cities... set in the valley of the Ter, at the confluence of four rivers close to the Pyrenees... the so-called “City of the Four Rivers” is a sublime medieval city partly surrounded by an impressive city wall, pleasant squares, cobbled streets, and a wealth of historical monuments and buildings... the amazing Girona Cathedral dominates the skyline... famous for it's 19th-century painted houses line at the river Onyar... the Jewish quarter or El Call is one of the best preserved in Europe and a major tourist attraction...Thanks a lot Josep & Assumpta!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Girona  is a city in Catalonia, at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell.  It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès.
The cities origins dates back more than 2,000 years.

Stamps: 

King Felipe VI
(Issued 02-01-2016)

The 1000th Anniversary of the Death of Almanzor
(Issued 25-10-2002)

Rocío Jurado, 1946-2006
(Issued 12-02-2016)

USA ~ Hoover Dam - Black Canyon - Arizona & Nevada ~

... Spectacular view one of the world’s most remarkable manmade structures... one of the Seven Wonders of the Industrial World... designed and built in a time before computers, calculators and man of today's construction techniques... and to see nature's beauty preserved among the millions of cubic yards of concrete is a wonder in itself...  there is a nice interesting visitors center... roughly 1 million people visit the dam each year and take the tours offered by the Bureau of Reclamation... Thanks a lot dear Glenn for three amazing surprise postcards!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

From backside postcard:
"Hoover Dam, located 30 miles South East of Las Vegas, was completed in 1936 and at that time was the largest oncrete structure in the world. Hoover Dam was dedicated by President Roosevelt at a cost of 40 million dollar and 112 lives. The newest addition to the canyon is the Colorado River Bridge, 900 feet above the river and a quarter of a mile of the Dam."

Stamps:

3X WPA Posters
(Issued 07-03-2017)

USA ~ Route 66 ~

... Great postcard nr2 is showing the most legendary and famous highway in the world... “road of dreams” for many Americans... a route well known for its eccentric attractions like the World’s Biggest Bottle of Ketchup, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, and plenty of outrageous museums... for years on top of hubby's bucketlist... a trip with his Harley motorbike on Route 66🏍... Thanks a lot Glenn!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

ARTWORK © SSI Route 66, established in 1926, affectionately known as “The Mother Road”, spans across three time zones, starting from Chicago, Illinois and travelling all the way down to the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California crossing 8 states. The route has a length of  2,448 miles (3,940 km).

It was officially decommissioned on June 27, 1985 after it was decided the route was no longer relevant and had been replaced by the Interstate Highway System.

Stamps:

2X WPA Posters
(Issued 07-03-2017)

Star Trek (Issued 02-09-2016)

USA ~ Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona - UNESCO ~

... First of three amazing USA sites... spectacular view of a world-famous landmark... breathtakingly beautiful  and overwhelming at the same time...  with plummeting canyons, multicolored rocks, dramatic cliffs and stunning ravines... one of the seven natural wonders of the world... the park also protects a wealth of biological diversity...  including numerous endemic and threatened species and several rare ecosystems... estimated 5.9 million people visit the Grand Canyon a year... with fantastic Grand Canyon postmark👍... Thanks a lot Glenn!!【ツ】

Toroweap Overlook is a viewpoint within the Grand Canyon National Park and is located in a remote area on the North Rim. The overlook is the only viewpoint in the National Park from where the Colorado River can be seen vertically below. The overlook stands 3,000 feet (910 m) above the river.

The Grand Canyon was carved over some 6 million years and covers an area of 4,926 square kilometers. It runs for 277 miles (446 km) in length along the Colorado River and has a maximum width of around 18 miles (29 km), as well as a maximum depth of just over a mile (6,093 feet / 1,857 m).

It became a National Park  in 1919 and UNESCO site in 1979.


Photo: William Carr

Stamps:

Chinese New Year - Year of the Rooster
(Issued 05-01-2017)2017

Total Solar Eclipse - With Thermochromic Ink
(Issued 20-06-2017)

Star Trek
(Issued 02-09-2016)

NORWAY ~ Røros Mining Town - UNESCO ~

... Great view of Røros Church a landmark standing at the top of this charming historic town... one of the oldest towns of wooden buildings in Europe... and one of the coldest in Norway... the modern-day inhabitants of Røros still work and live in the characteristic 17th and 18thC buildings... even though the copper mines have closed  there is still a former smelting hut, now home to a museum... Olavsgruva Mine, which offers tours 50m underground... a living museum... and popular spot for Norwegian tourists... Thanks a lot Tone!!【ツ】

Photo: Aune Forlag/Kolbjorn Dekkerhus Røros Mining Town and the Circumferenc is an area within a 45km radius around the town. Røros Copper Works held the monopoly to exploit the natural and human resources. Work was done under severe climatic conditions, and ways were found to adapt to it for example via the 'Winter Transport Route' on frozen lakes and rivers. Mining was established in the 17th century and exploited for 333 years until 1977.

Completely rebuilt after its destruction by Swedish troops in 1679, Røros contains about 2000 wooden one- and two-storey houses and a smelting house.

Røros Mining Town and the Circumference became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

Stamp:


Lighthouses
(Issued 05-06-2015)

GERMANY ~ Margrave Ekkehard II of Meissen & Uta von Ballenstedt Statue - Naumburg Cathedral ~

... After mention "Uta van Naumburg" HERE it is great to have now a postcard showing her beautiful statueツ... both look so alive, one could almost expect them to step off their pedestals... and they survived for almost 800 years with the original colors... her statue possibly inspired the character of the Evil Queen in Disney's 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs... with great matching Dom stamps and once more👍 amazing postmarks... Big Thanks Dustin !! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Medieval statues representing the Margrave Ekkehard II of Meissen and his wife, Uta von Ballenstedt from the series of twelve life-size statues depicting the founding donors to the Naumburg Cathedral, 1243–1249.

Located at the Cathedral of Naumburg, in the west choir. It is one of the most important works of German Gothic sculpture, mid-13thC.

Since 2018 is the Naumburg Cathedral on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:

2X Naumburg Cathedral
(Issued 06-10-2016)

JAPAN ~ Great Buddha of Kamakura ~

... Beautiful view of one of Japan’s most famous historical landmarks... an imposing and fascinating Buddha statue that gives a feeling of calmness and peace... this Buddha is seated in the lotus position with his hands in the gesture of meditation, his eyes cast downward in peaceful contemplation...  it is hollow so visitors can view the inside to observe the workmanship of this 760 year old statue...  today, Buddhists of all traditions and travelers from all over the world come to visit the Great Buddha... Thanks Yuki!!ヽ(ヅ)ノ

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kōtoku-in Temple. With a height of 11.4 meters and weighs 121 tonnes it is the second tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan. At one time, the statue was gilded. There are still traces of gold leaf near the statue’s ears.

The statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were destroyed multiple times by typhoons and a tidal wave in the 14th and 15th centuries. So, since the late 15th century, the Buddha has been standing in the open air.

Stamps:

Definitives
(Issued 03-03-2014)

Japanese Traditional Cuisine
(Issued 01-11-2017)

1977 Nature Conservation 18. February
(Issued 18-02-1977)

SRI LANKA ~ Moonstone - Anuradhapura - UNESCO ~

... A great and rare relic of the past... this is one of the most wonderful and characteristic moonstones in Sri Lanka, and an excellent example of its kind... Buddhist places of worship came to have a beautiful first step, a symbolic welcome to all who would enter... a must see item of ancient history... Thanks a lot Ravindra!!【ツ】

The moonstone (Sandakada Pahana) is a permanent feature of the Buddhist building of all historical periods. This is a semi circular piece of stone which stood at the foot of a flight of steps in most Buddhist buildings.

First seen in the latter stage of the Anuradhapura period, the sandakada pahana evolved through the Polonnaruwa, Gampola and Kandy period. According to historians, the sandakada pahana symbolizes the cycle of Saṃsāra in Buddhism.

Stamps:

The 50th ASnniversary of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (Issued 23-12-2013)

2X Traditional Sinhalese Exorcism ritual
(Issued 1-05-2018)

SINGAPORE ~ Mobile Mask Shop ~

... First of two nice totally different postcards of Singapore... a traditional paper mask seller sitting in front of his "overloaded" bicycle cart... they went from point to point on their bicycles... a vanishing trade.... demand for these paper masks has diminished as traditional rituals evolve over time and the toy of the day has changed... the paper mask sellers were interesting characters... their daily grind appeared to be a daunting circus act with the number of wares they carry on their mobile bicycle cart... one could only wonder how they maintained visibility of the road given the number of masks and puppets in their view...Thanks a lot Jobbo!!【ツ】

The paper mask is a traditional paper craft, which is a combination of deft painting skills and patience as each mask is hand-painted. Paper is mashed, moulded and painted into mask figureheads.

These paper masks were used as offerings to deities and spirits and in some cases, donned on during rituals. Popular designs included those of celestial bodies such as the Chinese God of War, Guan Gong.They were also commonly found during occasions and festivals such as the Chinese New Year in the prancing lion head and the big-head doll.

Stamp:

The 50th Anniversary of the National Service
(Issued 13-03-2017)

SINGAPORE ~ Painting Class - National Gallery ~

 ... Postcard nr2 is showing a lovely oil painting artwork “Painting Class” by Lim Yew Kuan’s... his works includes drawing, oil painting, woodblock prints and sculpture... he was the founding president of the Equator Art Society and the second principal of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore’s first art school...  the National Gallery is the largest visual arts venue and largest museum in Singapore... Thanks Jobbo!!❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

The National Gallery Singapore is an art gallery situated in Singapore’s Civic District.

Opened on 24 November 2015, it oversees the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian art, consisting of over 8,000 artworks.

The Gallery consists of two national monuments, the former Supreme Court Building and City Hall, that have been beautifully restored and transformed into this exciting venue and has a combined floor area of 64,000 square metres.





Image courtesy of National Heritage Board

Stamp:

The 25th Anniversary of Independence
(Issued 16-08-1990)

EGYPT ~ Temple of Luxor - UNESCO ~

... Great views of a complex of architectural wonders ... a monument in the heart of the modern town... this temple might be the greatest testament to why Luxor has earned its nickname, “The World’s Largest Outdoor Museum”... it is is also unique among Egyptian monuments, because unlike many other sites, the temple has been in almost continuous use as a place of worship, and remains so to this day... with matching obelisk stamp👍... one of a former pair of obelisks remained in front of the Luxor Temple... the other obelisk was given to France in the 19thC, and can now be seen in the Place de la Concorde in Paris... Thanks a lot Farah!!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city today known as Luxor and was constructed approximately 1400 BCE on the site of the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes.

The temple was commissioned by the pharaoh Amenhotep III  but like most structures and monuments of the ancient world, it was added to and developed by later rulers, including Tutankhamun, Horemheb and Rameses II, who between them added columns, statues, friezes and, after Akhenaten destroyed his father’s cartouches, he installed a shrine to Aten. There is even a shrine dedicated to Alexander the Great.

Much of Luxor Temple was covered with sand and debris for hundreds of years until the French Egyptologist Gaston Maspero began re-excavating the complex in the late 19thC. By the 1960s much of Luxor Temple had been reclaimed for preservation and display, but some adjacent parts of the original temple complex had since been built over and absorbed into the modern city of Luxor.

Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979.The inscribed area includes the two great temples of Karnak and Luxor on the east bank of the Nile, and the Necropolis on the west bank.

Stamps:

Statue of Pharaoh Seostris III
(Issued 30-06-2002)

Obelisc of Ramses II
(Issued 25-05-2002)

GERMANY ~ Rose Window - Brunswick Cathedral ~

... Wonderful "Rose glass stained window" located in the west facade of the cathedral... designed by Heinz Hindorf, one of the premier stained glass artists of the 20thC... it's made of a series of smaller windows radiating out from the center like wheel spokes or flower petals... their symbolism lies in geometry and the sense that many parts make a whole... every element has a degree of meaning... with beautiful "matching" stained glass window Christmas stamp and lovely special postmark!! Thanks a lot Dustin!!

Photo: Jutta Brüdern Brunswick Cathedral located in the City of Braunschweig which is called a Dom in German and was consecrated in 1226, dedicated to Saints Blaise, John the Baptist and Thomas Becket.

Today, it is used by a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Brunswick.

Stamps:

????

Christmas (02-11-2018)

SPAIN ~ The Casa Milà - Barcelona - UNESCO ~

... Amazing view of one of Gaudí’s Art Nouveau masterpieces... a gorgeous apartment building... La Pedrera is today one of the most visited monuments in Barcelona... an icon of Catalan modernism... the building does not have a single straight line... the façade is designed in such a way that it is impossible to draw a vertical line from the roof to the ground... each window and balcony are different... nature is the origin and inspiration of the building... the attic is now home to the "Espai Gaudi", a museum dedicated to the great architect.... here you’ll find plastic models of his other famous works, art work, videos, and a great explanation/display of how Gaudi let nature influence his work.... Thanks a lot Belén!!【ツ】

Casa Mila (1906-1912) is a building designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi and commissioned by Pere Milà and Roser Segimon. The name, ‘Casa Milà’ comes from the fact that it was the new home of the Milà family. The couple occupied the main floor and rented out the other apartments.

It was due to its quarry-like features that it earnt the historic building the nickname of La Pedrera, which means quarry. It was Gaudi’s last work of civic architecture and represented a break with the conventions of his day.

The Roof Terrace is one of the most spectacular parts of Casa Milá for it’s imposing chimneys which are reminiscent of twisted, standing soldiers (and those of Casa Batlló), along with six stepping skylights. Decorated in a mosaic of marble and broken Valencian tiles, as well as broken glass from champagne bottles!

Casa Milà was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 as "Works of Antoni Gaudí" in conjunction with Park Güell, Güell Palace, Casa Vicens, the Nativity Facade and the Sagrada Família Crypt,

Stamp:

EUROPA Stamps - Palaces and Castles
(Issued 21-04-2017)

GREECE ~ Esfigmenou monastery - Mount Athos - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful view of one of the many monasteries on Mount Athos... they have some of the world's most significant examples of Byzantine art, Orthodox icons, and both religious and literary treasures.. only males are allowed visiting Mount Athos... the number is limited to only ten permits a day for non-orthodox visitors (foreigners) and 100 for Greeks and Orthodox visitors... women can admire the magnificent monasteries by cruising along the west coast... although isolated from the outside world, Athos has been the home of many influential monks and has had a significant impact on the development of the Orthodox tradition... Thanks Sylvie!!❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

Mount Athos -commonly known as the Holy Mountain- is the spiritual capital of the Orthodox Christian world since 1054, consisting of 20 monasteries, 12 skites, and about 700 houses, cells or hermitages. It lies on a peninsula in the Aegean Sea dominated by the majestic 2,000m conical peak of Mount Athos.

Mount Athos forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of Greece. Spiritually, it comes under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou was founded around the 10th or 11thC and rest on the northwestern coast of the peninsula of the Holy Mountain. The Monastery 's main church is dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord having eight chapels and seven exterior ones. Esphigmenou ‘s Monastery has suffered various times of pirate’s raids and destructive fires.

Mount Athos has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

Stamp:

World Bee Day
(Issued 20-05-2018)

EL SALVADOR ~ Santa Ana Volcano - Los Volcanes National Park ~

... Spectacular nature view... and a fantastic new National Park to add to my collection👍...  El Salvador is known as "The Country of the Volcanoes"... the smallest country in Central America... Santa Ana is still an active volcano... last eruption in 2005...  you can hike along a narrow trail up the volcanic summit... you will cross through different environments... from cloud forest to blank plains... with the Pacific Ocean in the distance...  this volcano is habitat for hundreds of species of flora and fauna...  from the top it offers beautiful panoramic views to the surrounding volcanoes, scenic landscapes and valleys... Thanks a lot William!!【ツ】

Los Volcanes National Park, also known as Cerro Verde National Park, is a large national park in El Salvador. It is home to three massive volcanoes of the Cordillera de Apaneca; the Cerro Verde, the Izalco and the Santa Ana situated in the middle of the rainforest.

The Park is home to diverse plant and animal life, including the colorful turquoise-browed motmot (El Salvador’s national bird) and exotic orchids.

The Santa Ana or lamatepec is the largest volcano of the Park and the third highest point in El Salvador. It has an elevation of 2,381 meters and its geological history goes back about 2 million years.There have been numerous historical eruptions since the 16thC.

Stamps:

The History of Aviation
(Issued 07-12-2017) 2017

The 25th Anniversary of the PNC - National Civilian Police
(Issued 14-08-2017)

BELGIUM ~ Belgian Coast - Ostend & Nieuwpoort ~

... Two beautiful postcards sent by my nephew and his girlfriend from our Belgian coast on the North Sea💙... there many resorts along the 65km coastline, with beautiful nature reserves and expansive dunes separating them... visited by many day-trippers heading to the beaches, especially during July and August... I love it more in Autumn🍁 or Winter❄...  then you can make nice long walks with the endlessness of the sea at the background and have the beach almost all to yourself... with two newly released lovely stamps from the "Happy Winter" series... Hééél Erg Bedankt Ben en Loes!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Ostend is the largest coastal city on the Belgian coast located in the province of West Flanders. It lies along the North Sea at the end of the Ghent-Brugge Canal. Landmarks include the Vismijn, or Minque (fish market), the 3-mile (5-km) Digue (promenade), the Kursaal (casino), the Chalet Royal, the Thermal Institute (for hydropathic and electrotherapeutic treatment), and the racecourse.

Stamp:

Happy Winter
(Issued 22-10-2018)

Completely destroyed during WWI, Nieuwpoort  is a fishing village renowned for its seafood. This is where the German invasion was brought to a halt, thanks to the flooding of the plain between the sea and the River Ijzer (Ypres).

The marina of Nieuwpoort with its 3 yacht clubs and about 2000 berths is the largest marina in Northern Europe. This beautiful marina is located at the end of the ‘Havengeul’ where you can walk along the IJzer until you reach Nieuwpoort-city.

Stamp:

Happy Winter
(Issued 22-10-2018)

THAILAND ~ Princess Mother Memorial Park - Bangkok ~

... A nice picture of the much beloved Princess Mother... a place to explore and learn about the Princess Mother and her influence on Thai society... one of the most beautiful and serene parks in Bangkok away from the noise of the city... Exhibition Hall 1 hall displays photographs chronicling her life... despite her duties as a royal family member, the “Royal Grandmother” never forgot the people and worked on countless projects to give back to the public... many foundations aimed at improving the lives of the disadvantaged were established by her... with lovely Royal Family stamp...Thanks a lot Jobbo! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In 1995, the Princess Mother Srinagarindra passed on and in loving memory of her, King Bhumibol founded the Princess Mother Memorial Park. (known in Thai as Suan Somdet Ya). Opened in 1997, the park serves to allow the general public to get to know the Princess Mother intimately.

The park contains gardens and a reproduction of the royal mother's childhood home, as well as two exhibition halls showing memorabilia of the princess and the royal family and a pavilion with a statue of the princess.

The park is located within the Khlong San district, close to the bank of the Chao Phraya River.

Stamps:

The 72nd Anniversary of the Birth of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Issued 10-09-1999)

Chatukham Rammathep
(Issued 29-03-2008)

The 120th Anniversary of the Birth of H.R.H. Prince Mahidol of Songkla, 1892-1929
(Issued 01-01-2012)

ITALY ~ Positano - Amalfi Coast - UNESCO ~

... A spectacular view... large waves crashing against shore and houses during a storm... the Amalfi Coast is a stunning coastline with steep cliffs that drop right into the Mediterranean sea creating a dramatic harmony of land, sea and sky... known for its production of limoncello liqueur as the area is a cultivator of lemons... the beauty of the landscape, have contributed to make it famous world-wide... a favourite with writers and poets... Thanks a lot Giulio!【ツ】

The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the northern coast of the Salerno Gulf on the Tyrrhenian Sea, located in the Province of Salerno of southern Italy. The Amalfi Coast is  made up of 13 villages, the most popular among them is Positano.

In 1997, the Amalfi Coast was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

Stamps:

The 600th Anniversary of the Death of Francesco Petraca
(Issued 19-07-1974)

EUROPA Stamps - Sculptures
(Issued 29-04-1974)

The Republic of Artsakh - We are our Mountains Monument - Stepanakert ~

... A fantastic postcard of a country which technically doesn't exist...  showing a very famous monument regarded as a symbol of the Armenian heritage of Artsakh... it presents a stylized depiction of an elderly Karabakh Armenian couple... I know Armenia, but had no idea about Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh... so a really, really "rare" place💚...  most countries do advise against travel to the Republic of Artsakh as there are no embassies or consulates to help if something happens to you... but according to most travelers is it a safe place to visit, despite the news reports of war... the region is mostly mountainous and forested... home to many historical monuments...  Thanks a million dear David for once more a little gem👍 new to my  collection!!  \_(♥‿♥)_/

 Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh  is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus between Azerbaijan and Armenia and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains.  It is not recognized as an independent nation by any country and on most maps it will appear as an unassuming province of Azerbaijan, who the international community recognize as the legitimate authority over the region. (recognized only by three other non-UN member states, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria.)

A local name for the We Are Our Mountains Monument is Tapik-Papik, which in the local Armenian dialect means Grandma and Grandpa, and the sculpture was carved from volcanic tufa by Soviet Armenian People’s Artist Sargis Baghdasaryan years before the war, in 1967.

Stamps:

Winter Olympic Games - South Korea
(Issued 01-02-2018)

 The 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Sardarabad
(Issued 28-05-2018)

NETHERLANDS ~ Schokland - UNESCO ~

... Great new Dutch UNESCO Site... Schokland is a unique combination of cultural history and nature... it symbolizes the life of the Dutch people in their battle with and against the water... it is a place between land and water, in the middle of the Noordoostpolder, with a wealth of archaeological treasures... thousands of years of history relating to human habitation in the Netherlands is lying concealed in the ground... there is a museum and it's a pretty place for a walk...Thanks a lot Mike!!ヽ(ヅ)ノ

Schoklands history starts in prehistoric times, as part of the mainland. From around 1000 AD fishermen and farmers started to occupy this area to make a living. In the following centuries the water rose and rose, until Schokland finally ended up as an island. This was at the end of the Middle Ages.

Fishing and shipping became the main source of income for the Schoklanders. Living on the island wasn't to last forever: in 1859 the inhabitants were ordered to leave. Life had become too dangerous due to the ever rising sea level.

In 1941 the surrounding area (called Noordoostpolder) was drained to create more agricultural land to feed the Dutch (and German) people. Schokland became part of the mainland again.

UNESCO decided to award Schokland the status of World Heritage Site in 1995. The Schokland World Heritage Site also encompasses the surrounding agricultural areas and the Schokkerbos, in addition to the former island.

Stamp:

Giant Pandas
(Issued 30-05-2017)

GERMANY ~ Fagus Factory - Alfeld - UNESCO ~

... Great new UNESCO site... an early and important masterpiece of international modernism... the exterior is fascinating with the large glass windows and unsupported corners... it was designed to manufacture shoe lasts, (the small moulds around which shoes are made)... even though the factory is operational, there are tours through all areas including past the production lines... there is also an excellent museum over several floors of the old warehouse that tells the story of the building and the business... with wonderful World Post Day postmark and also matching UNESCO and World Post day stamp💚... Big Thanks dear Dustin for once more many great unique items!(✿ ♥‿♥)

The construction of the architectural complex started in 1911. It was built by the architect Walter Gropius. Light was required for work purposes: this lead to an almost entirely glazed building, via the innovative use of "curtain walls" (vast glass panels). It was a major break with the existing architectural and decorative values of the time.

The site contains 10 buildings, including a sawmill. Although constructed with different systems, all of the buildings on the site give a common image and appear as a unified whole. All buildings have a base of about 40cm of black brick and the rest is built of yellow bricks.

It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

Stamps:

UNESCO World Heritage - Fagus Factory
(Issued 02-10-2014)

Stamp Day - The 150th Anniversary of the North German Postal District
(Issued 13-09-2018)