VIETNAM ~ One Pillar Pagoda - Hanoi ~

... A wonderful view of a historic Buddhist pagoda in the capital of Vietnam... the spirituality destination in Hanoi... one of the oldest, almost 1000 years... and most iconic ones... the pagoda balances on a single pillar, surrounded by a small flowers pond, and has a beautiful lotus shaped carved wood sitting on its top... there is a  difference between a "temple" and "pagoda" in Vietnam...  temples honor gods, who were real human beings such as mandarins, emperors or national heroes... pagodas are for worshiping Buddhists.... Thanks once more Jobbo!! ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

Photo: Trong Nguyen
The One Pillar Pagoda was originally built by the Emperor Ly Thai Tong who ruled from 1028 to 1054. Built of wood , 1.25 m in diameter and 4 m in height, this pagoda is the symbol of purity designed to resemble a lotus blossom, which is a Buddhist symbol of purity, since a lotus blossoms in a muddy pond.

The emperor constructed the temple in 1049 and is located in Ho Chi Minh Complex.

One of the last acts of the French before quitting Hanoi in 1954 was to destroy the original One Pillar Pagoda; the structure was rebuilt by the new government.

Stamp:

Architecture
16-01-2012)

Architecture
(Issued 01-07-2014)

VIETNAM ~ Young girl - Fine Arts Museum - Hanoi ~

... First of two great postcards... this is one of the most outstanding works of Mai Trung Thu expressing the classic beauty of Hue's ladies... the most notable are the lively dreaming eyes... the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum has one of the best and most diverse art collections in the country... a visit here will provide some good insight into Vietnamese culture and history....Thanks a lot Jobbo!!【ツ】

The museum is set in a  three-storey, 1930s-era building, originally ordered built by the French to house the daughters of the colonial elite.

After a renovation in the 1960s, during which some traditional architectural elements of Vietnamese communal houses were added, the museum was opened in 1966.

Mai Trung Thứ was a Vietnamese-French painter. He lived and worked mostly in France. His main subjects were women, children and daily life, incorporating some traditional Vietnamese conceptions about fine arts and folk arts. All his work, apart from a few oil paintings, is silk painting with gouache, by rubbing and colours applied as solids.


Oil on canvas painted in 1934.

Stamps:

Architecture
(16-01-2012)

Bamboo Lamp
(Issued 15-05-2009)

GERMANY ~ Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex - Essen - UNESCO ~

... Great view of  what was once the largest and most modern coal mining facility in the world... until 1986, a total of 240 million tons of coal had been produced, up to 8.000 miners worked day and night above and underground... a masterpiece of mining architecture... today, it is a cultural highlight in the Ruhr region and a living museum of mining history and the development of industrial architecture... with more than two million visitors a year... Thanks a lot Svenja!!【ツ】

Essen, lying between the rivers Emscher and Ruhr, is the largest city on the Ruhr.

Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex was one of the largest coal mines in Europe and founded in 1847. It stopped it’s activities in 1993.

The complex consists of various shafts for coal mining and a coking plant to make cokes out of the coal.

The former coal mine is set in an area of 100 hectares and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001.

Stamps:

Flora - Flowers
 (Issued 08-06-2017)

Lighthouses
(Issued 07-07-2018)

FAROE ISLANDS

... Interesting postcard with the facts and figures of some of the wildest islands in Europe...  and most fascinating and remote... I'm not really a big fan or collector of all these *special* series postcards... but you don't often get the chance to swap for a W&S from there... and not at all with such a great selection of beautiful stamps (I like the back more than its front😉)... found a nice story about how there postal system works... Thanks a lot Marko!!【ツ】

The self-governing nation has a well-developed communication network - courtesy of the Kingdom of Denmark of which it is part - but many still rely on the postal service.

Some of the islands are connected by tunnels and bridges, but on others, mail bags arrive by boat or even helicopter.

 A network of hard-working postal workers then criss-cross islands on old mountain routes used since the 19thC delivering the post.

The fittest people used to be nominated to walk these routes, but these days 4x4 postal vehicles cross the rugged terrain.

Meet some of them:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/faroe_islands_postal_service

Stamps:

Old Fire Trucks
(Issued 22-02-2016)

Environmentally Friendly Energy - Wave Energy
(Issued 12-02-2007)

???????


New Definitive Issue
(Issued 19-10-1981)

NEW ZEALAND ~ Mount Aspiring National Park - UNESCO

... Fantastic "Kiwi" National Park nr3... majestic peak of Mount Aspiring with spectacular blue glacial fields and surrounded by snow covered peaks... a wonderful mixture of remote wilderness... beautiful river valleys and ravines.... a hiker's paradise and a must see for birders and mountaineers... Thank so much Helen for three wonderful NP parks new to my collection!! ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

"Mount Aspiring the centrepoint of Mt Aspiring National Park, South Island"
It was established in 1964 as New Zealand's tenth National Park and third largest national park. It covers 3,562 square kilometres (1,375 sq mi) at the southern end of the Southern Alps.

The national park is named after Mt Aspiring. At 3,027 metres tall, the mountain is the highest outside of the Aoraki Mt Cook region. It is a pyramid-shaped peak with four ridges and thick rain forests clothing the western slopes.

Maori called Mount Aspiring, Tititea, meaning steep peak of glistening white.

Mount Aspiring National Park is part of Te Wai Pounamu, the southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area.


Stamp:

Geography & Meteorology (Seas, lakes & rivers)
 (Issued 18-05-2016)

NEW ZEALAND ~ Tongariro National Park - Mount Ruapehu - UNESCO ~

... Amazing scenery of one of the most active volcanoes in the world.... and the oldest National Park in the country... important for its Maori cultural and spiritual associations... Mount Ruapehu is New Zealand's biggest ski resort... visitor's can also enjoy walking, mountain biking, camping, mountaineering and rock climbing... Tongariro National Park was also the main setting for the land of Mordor in the Lord of the Rings trilogy... Emyn Muil area was filmed on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu...  Thanks a lot Helen!!【ツ】

"Mt Ruapehu from the Desert Road - North Island"
Tongariro National Park is situated in the middle of the North Island, in the Ruapehu Districts and covering almost 80.000 hectares. The park was established in 1887, making it the oldest national park in New Zealand. There are three active volcanoes in Tongariro National Park including Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe. The summits of these volcanoes are considered sacred.

Mt Ruapehu is the largest active volcano in New Zealand rising above the surrounding plains to 2797m.  It is the highest peak in the North Island, with several subsidiary peaks. There are several small glaciers around the summit slopes – the only glaciers at present in the North Island.

Ruapehu is the Māori word for ‘pit of noise’ or ‘exploding pit’.

UNESCO designated Tongariro National Park as a mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Site in 1990.

Stamp:

Geography & Meteorology (Seas, lakes & rivers)
(Issued 18-05-2016)

NEW ZEALAND ~ Aoraki Mount Cook National Park - UNESCO ~

... First of three wonderful new National Parks and UNESCO sites👍... with the highest mountain... longest glacier and far from city lights, the stargazing here is magnificent... a must-visit both day and night... there are three bouncy suspension bridges and the possibility of seeing kea (native New Zealand parrots) in the car park before or after a hike... famous by Sir Edmund Hillary when he trained here before his historic first ascent of Mt. Everest... today, Mount Cook's South Ridge bears Sir Hillary's name since August 2011... Thanks a lot Helen! (✿ ♥‿♥)

"The Hooker Valley and Sealy Tarn with Aorika Mount Cook and the Southern Alps in the background." Photo: Warren Jacobs
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is a rugged land of ice and rock located on South Island and contains more than 140 peaks standing over 2,000m (6,600 ft) and 72 named glaciers, which cover 40 percent of its 700 square kilometres (170,000 acres).

The Park is named after the highest mountain, which is recorded at 3,724 metres tall. The European name, Mt Cook, was given to honour Captain James Cook who first surveyed New Zealand, despite Captain Cook never seeing the mountain. In 1998, the mountain was officially named Aoraki Mt Cook to incorporate the historic Maori name for the mountain.

The park was established in 1953 and "Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand"  became a UNESCO WHS Site in 1990 and incorporates Fiordland, Westland, Mount Aspiring and Mount Cook National Parks.

Stamp:

Geography & Meteorology (Seas, lakes & rivers) (Issued 18-05-2016)

EL SALVADOR ~ Map ~

... A fantastic colourful and picturesque map card coming from the faraway El Salvador... a country of beautiful contrasts... showing a lot of landmarks all throughout the country... and with the national bird, known as "Torogoz"... being the smallest country in Central America, El Salvador was fondly given the nickname “Pulgarcito de America”, or “Tom Thumb of the Americas”... it is also known as “the country with a smile” because the locals are friendly, helpful, and hospitable... with two great stamps and interesting clear oval cancellation, which are typical for most of the South and Central American countries... Thanks a lot William!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

El Salvador is the smallest country and also the most densely populated nation in Central America. This mountainous country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, and Honduras.The capital  is San Salvador, also its largest city.

This tiny country is dominated by several volcanoes. The volcanoes spew lava, which over many years, creates fertile farmland. Coffee beans are the major crop grown here.

El Salvador is divided into 14 departments.The departments are grouped into three regions for statistical and geographic purposes; Western Region, Central Region and Eastern Region.

Stamps:
History of Aviation in El Salvador
(Issued ?-10-2017)

Diplomatic Relations with Taiwan
(Issued 14-10-2016)

NAMIBIA ~ Birds ~

... One more African beauty... postcard showing many beautiful birds... home to ± 600 bird species including the worlds largest bird the Ostrich and heaviest bird the Kori Bustard.... with only one true endemic bird, the Dune Lark and 14 near endemic species... the contrasting and diverse landscape with its variety of habitats provides for a wide diversity of bird species.... making it a paradise for birding enthusiasts and one of the best birding places in Africa🦅... Hééél Erg Bedankt Julien en Annie!!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Gaining independence in 1990, Namibia is one of Africa’s “newer” nations.

Namibia is politically stable and a safe country to visit offering spectacular scenery, untouched wildernesses, vast game reserves, superb wildlife and fascinating cultural experiences. It has the second lowest population density (6.6 people per sq mi) of any country in the world (Mongolia has the lowest).

Stamp

Frogs of Namibia
(Issued 23-03-2011)

CHAD ~ Independence Monument - Place de la Nation - N'Djamena ~

... Another new African "gem" to add to my collection👍... not a country where you have the chance to get mail from very often... slowly but steady my list of missing African countries is getting shorter ʘ͜͡ʘ.... situated in the center of the continent... Chad is estimated to be one of the areas for where the human species originated... but a combination of high poverty, frequent conflicts, and the risk of both droughts and floods means this central African is very vulnerable to climate change... Thanks a lot Zhang!!ヽ(ヅ)ノ

Chad ( named after the huge Lake Chad) is a landlocked country located in Central Africa and bordered by Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria, With a total territory of 1,284,000 km² that covers desert and rainforest, it is the fifth largest country in Africa. The country gained independence in 1960, after the departure of the French.

N'Djamena is the largest city and the economic and commercial capital of the country. The name N’Djamena was taken from the Arab name of a nearby village, Nijamina or Am Djamena, meaning “place of rest“

Place de la Nation (Independence Monument) is located in N'Djamena, across the Presidential Palace.


Stamps:

African Animals
(Issued 2010)

Ferrari
(Issued 2012)

SLOVAKIA ~ Malá Fatra National Park ~

... Another great postcard of one of the 9 national parks in this small Central European country... this area is known for its gorges, waterfalls, rocky peaks and ridge hikes with beautiful views from its main ridge...  home to bears, lynxes and wolves and fascinating flora and fauna... also a wide variety of downhill skiing in winter... Big Thanks once more Laco!!【ツ】

The card shows part of the Vratna dolina "Vratna valley" (vratna means that you will come back). The dolomite formations on the left are called Tiesňavy.

The National Park of Mala Fatra (also called Little Fatra), is situated in the westernmost Slovak high mountains Mala Fatra.The park nowadays spreads over 226 sq. km. Mala Fatra has legal protection since 1967 as a Protected Landscape Area Mala Fatra and in 1988, this territory was declared as a National Park.

Stamp:

The 25th Anniversary of the National Cancer Institute
(Issued 05-11-2015)

BELGIUM ~ Verviers ~

... Lovely views of Verviers, also called "the city of Water"...  with an industrial past that links to "soft gold" (wool) and to "blue gold" (water)... situated in a rich rural region with countryside, wooded parks, pedestrian riverbanks, walks and cycle routes... today this daughter of the Vesdre river possesses a modern status of “ville d’eau” (water town) thanks in particular to its new 4 km route “Parcours des Fontaines” (Route of the Fountains)... Thanks Christian!!【ツ】

Verviers is a Walloon town located in the Vesdre Valley in the Belgian province of Liège, halfway between Liège and the German border.


The seats of the two Walloon public institutions for water distribution and water treatment are located in the town.





Views:
"Vesdre River - Monument de Victory - Park of Harmony - City Hall."

Stamp:

Sunsets
(Issued 11-06-2018)

USA ~ Fort Stanwix National Monument Rome - NY ~

... Great aerial view of a colonial fort known today as "the fort that never surrendered"... designed in the shape of a four-pointed star... some 250-plus years later, Fort Stanwix is a standing reminder of its rich history... it’s like a time machine, seeing the military arms, clothing, hardware, Indian artifacts and furnishings from the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War periods that take you back in history.... the monument welcomes thousands of daily visitors to its grounds... there are a lot of special events and programs... postmarked with a cancellation from the site itself,👍 what makes it even more special... Big Thanks once more Andrene!!(✿ ♥‿♥)

Fort Stanwix National Monument that visitors experience today is relatively modern, built between 1974 and 1976 as a modified reconstruction of the original fort, based on the conjectural location of the 18thC earth and timber fort which previously stood on the site.

The site is historically significant from 1758 to 1781 for its associations with the American Revolution. Named for General John Stanwix, the Fort was built by the British to protect the portage between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek in New York during the French and Indian War.

Stamps:

Penguins
(Issued 01-06-2015)

Neon Celebrate
(Issued 09-09-2015)

USA ~ Isle Royale National Park - Michigan - UNESCO ~

... Lovely vintage poster postcard of a new National Park... although Isle Royale NP is the least visited national park and only one in Michigan, it gets the highest number of repeat visitors... there are more than 165 miles of trails for hikers to explore and no roadways for cars... also the only NP in the country to close down completely in the winter... due to extreme winter weather conditions... the two largest animals on the island are moose and wolves... moose probably by swimming to it in the early 1900s... wolves likely by walking across the frozen lake between 1945 and 1950... Thanks a lot Andrene!!  ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

Isle Royale, centre of a wilderness archipelago includes the main island itself as well as 200 smaller islands in its vicinity. It is located in Lake Superior,  which is the largest freshwater lake in the world.

It was established as a national park in 1940. In 1980 it was designated an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.The park’s surface area, four-fifths of which is water, is 893 square miles (2,313 square km).

Wildlife that can be seen in the National Park include moose, wolves, beavers, foxes, loons, ducks, hares, and squirrels among others.

Isle Royale is also the site of the world’s longest continuous study of any predator-prey system in the world.

© 2018 Anderson Design Group, Inc.

Stamp:

Forever stamps - the echeveria
(Issued 28-04-2017)

CANADA ~ Toronto Maple Leafs 100th anniversary stamp souvenir ~

... Starting the week with something a bit different... a few weeks ago my postcard friend Glen hosted a lottery to celebrate his 5000 😲postcard received http://gemsworldpostcards.blogspot.com/   ...  and I was the lucky winner of this beautiful special large (measuring 140mm x 95mm) souvenir sheet issued in honour of the Toronto Maple Leaf’s 100th anniversary (2017)...  one of the most storied teams in the National Hockey League®.... for the first time ever, Canada Post has adhered a miniature fabric crest to the top of a stamp... it came in a special packaging... Thanks a lot dear Glenn for this great unique philatelic item!! 乂❤‿❤乂

One of Canada's most iconic sports teams, the Maple Leafs are famous for their many fascinating stories, a long history of Hall of Fame stars, and legions of loyal fans.

The special fabric crest stamp, available only as a commemorative souvenir sheet, depicts the vintage sweater worn by Maple Leafs captain Ted (Teeder) Kennedy, during their first dynasty era, with the Leafs crest in fabric.

Kennedy played centre for the Leafs his entire career, between 1942 to 1957, captaining the team for eight years. He remains the youngest ever to suit up for the Leafs (he was 17) and the first, along with teammate Turk Broda, to win five Stanley Cup® Championships. He is ranked third in the list of The One Hundred Greatest Maple Leafs of the First One Hundred Years.


Stamp:

Maple Leafs 100th anniversary
(Issued 24-10-2017)

Stamp Designer: Lionel Gadoury, David Hurds (Context Creative)

GERMANY ~ The Holsten Gate - Lübeck - UNESCO ~

.. .Beautiful view of one of the most famous sights in Lübeck and one of the best known German buildings worldwide... the Holsten Gate is an impressive monument of a bygone age in the city's history... with two majestic lions stand guarding the city in front of the Gate... it was known as the Queen of the Hanseatic League, a powerful trade organization... this year Lübeck marks its 875th anniversary with many concerts, exhibitions, events and great "unique" special anniversary postmark... Thanks a lot Dustin!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: U. Findeisen
Lübeck founded in 1143 is a city in northern Germany close to the Baltic Sea and one of the major ports of the country. Surrounded by water on all sides, the old town has a historic centre dominated by seven church steeples.

Originally The  Holsten Gate was part of the town's defensive wall, marking the western boundary. It dates back to the 15thC, when Lubeck was a strongly fortified medieval city. This Brick Gothic construction is one of two remaining city gates, the other being the Citadel Gate ("Burgtor").

Together with the old city centre (Altstadt) of Lübeck it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987

Stamps:

Flowers | Plants
(Issued 07-07-2005)

 The 800th Anniversary of Lübeck Law Rights for the City of Rostock
(Issued 07-06-2018)

GREECE ~ Oia - Santorini ~

... And the surprises keep coming with postcards of the most breathtakingly beautiful Greece islands💙...  Santorini is a well-known island of the Cyclades with iconic cliffside setting ... picturesque Oia is famous for its magical sunsets... with its windmill, narrow streets, blue domes and typical "cave houses"... to this day laws protect the natural and architectural beauty of the town from modern manifestations, such as public electrical wires... Big Thanks dear Glenn for taking me with you on your cruise holiday!! (>‿♥)

Santorini (known locally as Thira) is the remnant of a volcano in the middle of the sea, which in the last 2 million years has erupted at least 12 times.  As a result of devastating eruptions that this island gets its unique shape like a crescent moon.

According to legend, the island is formed from a strip of land that was thrown into the ocean from the Argo, the ship of Greek mythology.

Oia is a small community on the island. Along the cliff of Oia, houses have been delved into the porous volcanic rock (left over from a large volcanic explosion many years ago that sunk the center of the island).

Parts of these houses are visible and the scenery that results from it is generally perceived as being typically Greek.

Stamp:

Greek Personalities Living Abroad
(Issued 01-09-2016)

CROATIA ~ Old City Harbour - Dubrovnik - UNESCO ~

... After Kotor, today another great card of one of the most visited and popular destinations facing out over a glistening Adriatic sea... the city once described by the great romantic poet Lord Byron as "the Pearl of the Adriatic"... a mix of Baroque and Renaissance architecture... with imposing medieval stone walls surrounding the old town... massive gates and soaring battlements... the city transports visitors back to a time when the fortified city was a major maritime power, commanding the third-largest navy in the Mediterranean... but some say it has become a victim of its own success... flooded with cruise ships and Game of Thrones fans...Thanks a lot Glenn!! (✿◠‿◠)

Dubrovnik is located in the southern coast of Croatia, close to the border of Montenegro and Bosnia.

Old Port Dubrovnik is on the Eastern part of the City and protected by two breakwaters: the Porporela, built in 1873, and the much older Kaše, which was built in 1485 from massive stones piled on wooden foundations.

In the time of the Dubrovnik Republic several forts protected the port: St Luke Fort, St John fortress and Revelin fortress. Today the port is a safe haven for many private boats of local citizens. Alos regular boat line to Lokrum island departs from the Old Port, as well as the boat lines to Cavtat, Mlini, and various sightseeing boat tours.

Stamp:

Children's World - Cats
(Issued 22-02-2018)

MONTENEGRO ~ Kotor - UNESCO -

... Many lovely views of one the best preserved medieval walled city's in the Adriatic... a famous tourist destination in Montenegro... the Old Town is beautiful with many picturesque buildings hidden behind the city walls...  several churches, a hill-top fort and all well preserved... a funny detail... when visiting  Kotor you can’t miss the town’s cats🐱...  cats have always been a part of Kotor and now the Cats Museum of Kotor is a tribute to peoples’ love of their felines. ... Thanks a lot Andrene!! \_(♥‿♥)_/

Kotor is a coastal town situated in a secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor in the northern part of the Montenegro coast on the Adriatic Sea. Montenegro is a country in  Southeastern Europe and is officially the smallest Slavic state and one of the smaller states in Europe.

The Old Town of Kotor was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. The town is of rich cultural tradition, and one of the best preserved medieval urban areas of this part of the Mediterranean.

 Kotor is part of the UNESCO WHS as the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor since 1979.  It  was also included in UNESCO's WHS list as part of Venetian Works of Defence between 16th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – western Stato da Mar in 2017.

Stamp:

EUROPA Stamps - Palaces and Castles
(Issued 09-05-2017)

GREECE ~ Mykonos ~

... Another famous Greek islands and popular holiday resort... the white pearl of the Cyclades Islands... crystal clear sea... white houses with their balconies directly overlooking the Mediterranean... a fleet of small fishing boats casting colourful reflections in the azure waters... view of the windmills standing imposingly on the hillside above, set against a luminous blue sky... this “Island of the Winds” is a paradise for water sport enthusiasts...300 days of ☀️sunshine☀️... Need I say more? Thanks so much Glenn!ツ

Mykonos is part of the Cyclades almost in the centre of the Aegean Sea.

In Greek mythology, Mykonos was named after its first ruler, Mykonos, the son or grandson of the god Apollo and a local hero.

Also according to mythology, the island was the place where Heracles killed the giants. The rocks around the island are supposedly their corpses!!!

Stamp:

Greek Personalities Living Abroad
(Issued 01-09-2016)

BELGIUM ~ AfricaMuseum - Tervuren ~

... Lovely Belgian postcard nr2... this museum is a magnificent building set in beautiful large park... as of November 2013, the museum is closed for renovation work (including the construction of new exhibition space) which is expected to last until December 2018 when the museum will reopen.... the former name "Royal Museum for Central Africa" will be changed in "AfricaMuseum"... spending 66 million euro ($90 million) to modernize the museum and put a new eye on Belgium's brut colonial past☹... with beautiful extra large new stamp issue and special first day postmark... Héééél erg bedankt Johan voor alweer leuke verrassingen in mijn brievenbus!!(✿ ♥‿♥)

The Africa Museum, is an ethnography and natural history museum situated in Tervuren in Flemish Brabant. It was first built to showcase King Leopold II's Congo Free State in the 1897 World Exhibition.

The new museum started construction in 1904 in neoclassical "palace" architecture. It was officially opened by King Albert I in 1910 and named the Museum of the Belgian Congo (Musée du Congo Belge or Museum van Belgisch-Kongo).

In 1960, following the independence of the Congo, the museum's name was changed to its current title: the Royal Museum for Central Africa.

Two thirds of the staff and the budget of the AfricaMuseum are dedicated to scientific research. The museum plays a crucial role in numerous international projects and networks to which it contributes expertise and specialized knowledge. RMCA scientists write over 300 scientific publications a year.

Stamp:

Royal Museum for Central Africa - AfricaMuseum
(Isssued 11-06-2018)

BELGIUM ~ Town Hall - Overijse ~

... Always nice to show my own country here... first one is a view of Overijse... a town surrounded by an extensive woodlands " het Zoniënwoud", with many walk- and bicycle paths... also once well-known for their delicious grapes growing in glass-houses... but since the 1960s, table grape production has been disappearing in Flanders... only a few ambitious domestic gardeners have maintained the vines as amateurs.... with nice "postman" stamp and special day postmark of TBC Post... the only private Post in Belgium operating for over 30 years now... they seem to use "blue postboxes" but I've never seen one in my neighbourhood... and I wouldn't even know where to get their stamps... Big Thanks Johan!!【ツ】

The city of Overijse is included to the region Flanders and to the province Flemish Brabant, the dutch speaking part of Belgium. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen.

Statue of Justus Lipsius, a famous humanist and professor in Leuven. (born in Overijse in 1547).

Stamp:

 ?????

SPAIN ~ Church of St Mary at Mount Naranco - OVIEDO - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful view of one of the most historic and oldest churches in Spain... a unique landmark... an interesting building because it is pre-romanesque and therefore quite unusual in Europe... very well preserved... it sits on a hill overlooking the city of Oviedo with fantastic views over the valleys and mountains beyond... Thanks a lot Joseph & Assumpta!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

The Santa Maria del Naranco was originally built as a royal palace for Ramiro I of Asturias in 848. It was then converted into a church towards the end of 13thC, the building is of rectangular shape and has two floors, of which the lower level is the crypt. This monument is in the pre-Romanesque style, and is set at the foot of Naranco Mountain.

The city of Oviedo is the capital of Spain’s Asturias region, in the north of the country.

This church is among the monuments of Oviedo and Asturias and was declared a WHS by UNESCO in 1985.

Stamps:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 20-01-2015)

The 30th Anniversary of the Erasmus Grants
(Issued 010-2017)

GERMANY ~ City Hall - Münster ~

... Great view of the city's symbol... a fine example of Gothic architecture... the City Hall is especially famous as the place where one of European history’s most important treaties was signed..... European history was written here and a new country, the Netherlands came into existence... also known for its university... and for being the bicycle capital of Germany (statistics say two bikes for each person, meaning close to 600,000 bikes)...  with sweet "Snoopy " stamp and great special postmark "German Catholics Day in Munster"... Thanks a lot Dustin!!【ツ】

Münster is located in western Germany. The city had an influential position in the Hanseatic League in the 13th and 14thC.

The City Hall represents the amazing architectural craftsmanship of the 13th and 14thC. Its 31-meter western facade is the structure's main decoration and is built out of sandstone in the best Gothic-style traditions.

The Peace Hall, located in the old city hall, is famous for the signing of the historic Treaty of Münster, a document which, as a part of the Peace of Westphalia, ended the Thirty Years War and established the Westphalian style of diplomacy between sovereign states. "The Peace of Münster of 1648".


Photo: Norbert Muddemann




Stamp:

Comics - Snoopy
(Issued 01-03-2018)