BELGIUM ~ Roger Raveel - Self portrait ~

... Nice self portrait in ink and pencil on paper of one of the most important Belgian artists after World War II... Raveel's style evolved throughout his career, from abstract to figurative.. it is characterised by bright colours and silhouettes, which are often cut out of the work... often associated with pop art because of its depiction of everyday objects and does not fit within a single trend... Roger Raveel would have been 100 this year and Bpost celebrates his birthday with a sheet of great stamps depicting a few of his works... there were no special Bpost events in 2020 and still none this year😔... so, you had to go to the post office in Brussels to get the special first days cancellations... Thanks to  Johan I still got them!👍(✿◠‿◠) 

Roger Raveel  (1921–2013)

Self portrait from 1974.

His works are mainly in the Stedelijk Museum in Ghent, In the Museum of Modern Art in Arnheim, Netherlands, and the Roger Raveel Museum in Machelen-aan-de-Lei, where he was born.

Bozar is set to host a large exhibition of his work in 2021.

 

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Roger Raveel

(Issued 25-01-2021)

GERMANY ~ Müritz National Park - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful views of a new NP... located along the shoreline of Lake Müritz, the second largest lake in Germany... known as the land of a thousand lakes... there are lakes as far as the eye can see... more than 70% of the park is covered by ancient beech forests... the Müritz National Park Trail is the longest hiking trail through a national park in the country... it is also an important breeding ground for large birds that are endangered what makes it an ideal destination for nature lovers and keen birdwatchers....thanks to the many observation towers, you can keep an overview and enjoy wonderful views into the distance... the natural landscape is also showcased in all its glory in the fascinating Müritzeum, a fascinating and informative nature discovery centre... Thanks Sabine!【ツ】 

  

The Müritz National Park  is situated in the south of the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

and was founded in 1990. The total area is 318 km2.

Since 2011, the beech forests in the National Parks of Müritz are a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

 Stamp:

Definitive Issue - Flowers 

(Issued 02-06-2005)

Tourism - Germany's Most Beautiful Panoramas 

(Issued 04-04-2019)

GERMANY ~ Hercules Monument - Kassel - UNESCO ~

... Great view of the  Hercules monument on top of the tallest hill in Wilhelmshöhe Park that dominates the surrounding city of Kassel... you can hike up more than 200 steps to reach the base of the monument... from this 28.5 m high vantage point you have a beautiful view to the numerous natural and architectural features of the large hillside park below it... the Hercules itself is a 8m high, copper monument designed back in the 1700s by an Italian builder and is standing on top of a pyramid, which stands on an octagon... the funny thing about this site is that there is no running water at all when the water works are turned off... every Wednesday and Sunday the waterworks are on display as the water rushes down the Cascades and culminates with a 50-meter fountain at the bottom lake... Thanks Manou!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The monument is located in a large park called Mountain Park (Bergpark) Wilhelmshöhe. The park was established in 1697 and between 1701 and 1717 the gigantic Hercules was built. 

The Cascades at the base of the Herkules were first operated in 1714, a couple of years before the Herkules was complete. The top of the cascades is called the "Artischokenbecken" (artichoke bowl).

The cascades themselves are 210-meter long and 12-meter wide. At the bottom along the sides of the cascades is the Neptune's basin.

Mountain Park with the Hercules is since 2013 added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Photo: Christoph Reinhard

 Stamp:

Definitives - Flowers

(01-07-2019)

German Presidency of the Council of the European Union 

(02-07-2020)

FRANCE ~ Saint-Emilion - Gironde - UNESCO ~

... Nice view of a charming medieval village located in the heart of the famous Bordeaux wine area... it is not only a remarkable natural heritage but also a considerable historical and architectural heritage with the medieval city of Saint-Émilion, its monolithic church, its underground quarries, its cobbled streets and its numerous religious monuments... a unique site were world-famous wineries, beautiful architecture and great monuments are a perfect match... this historic landscape has been developed over many centuries for the production of wine... the area is also on the Pilgrimage Route to Santiago de Compostela, from which it derived great prosperity... the “shopping opportunities” are exploited to the full and at times you feel that you are walking through an enormous outdoor “wine hypermarket”... Thanks a lot Chantal!【ツ】 

The St Emilion appellation (5500 ha) lies on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River to the East of Bordeaux city.The medieval village of St Emilion, founded in the 8thC by a Benedictine monk Emilian, lies on a limestone plateau at the centre of the appellation.

The Romans planted vineyards in what was to become Saint-Émilion as early as the 2nd century AD. Saint-Émilion is one of the four principal red wine areas of Bordeaux.

In 1999 the vineyard and the 8 villages of the Jurisdiction of Saint-Émilion were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its "cultural landscape".

 Stamps:

Marianne - New Design

(Issued 20-06-2018)

EUROPA Stamps - Sculptures 

(Issued 20-04-1974)

INDONESIA ~ Borobudur - Java - UNESCO ~

... Wonderful sunset view of one of the most famous and largest Buddhist historical sites in the world... a massive temple complex that took 75 years to build... Borobudur sits on top of a natural hill standing guard over paddy fields, jungle canopies and distant hills... the temple is still in use for pilgrimage, and once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak (Buddha`s birthday) at the monument... after 10 centuries of neglect it was rediscovered by European in 1814, buried under volcanic ash and jungle growth... in the 1970s the Indonesian Government and UNESCO worked together to restore Borobudur to its former majesty... the restoration took eight years to complete and today The Borobudur Temple complex is the single most visited site in Indonesia and one of the most amazing things to do in Indonesia... Thanks a lot Annie and Julien!【ツ】

The Borobudur Temple location is in the Kedu Valley, in the southern part of Central Java.

Borobudur is a Buddhist stupa in the Mahayana tradition. It covers an enormous area of 2,500 m2.  The monument consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome.The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,520 m2.The temple is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa.

Borobudur was declared a World Heritage Site in 1991.

Stamp:

Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group 

(Issued 08-10-2018)

THAILAND ~The Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall - Grand Palace - Bangkok ~

... Beautiful view of one of the city's most famous landmarks... the spiritual heart and most sacred place of Thailand... part of the Grand Palace complex, the Chakri Group features a unique blend of traditional Thai architecture and 19thC European styles.... Rama V wanted an entirely western look to his new home, but others in the court argued that the king's residence and throne hall should reflect Siamese motifs... thus the domed roof was replaced by a Thai styled roof... the Thai nickname for the building is the "westerner" with a Thai hat... Thanks a lot Jobbo!! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ) Nice to hear from you!

The  Grand Palace  is a complex of buildings in Bangkok. It served as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand from the 18th century onwards.

 The main building is the Chakri Maha Prasat, a palace begun in 1867 and completed in 1882. It has a marble façade in the Italian Renaissance style and a roof of coloured tiles in the Thai style with three spires, each with seven receding tiers.

The new throne hall was given the name Phra Thinang Chakri, meaning literally ‘the seat of the Chakris’.

Stamps:

The 12th Anniversary of Petroleum Authority of Thailand

(Issued 29-12-1990)

Water Birds 

(Issued 15-05-1997)

Coronation of King Vajiralongkorn to Rama X 

(Issued 04-05-2019)

GERMANY ~ Herzog August Library - Wolfenbüttel ~

... Nice view of one of the world's oldest perfectly preserved libraries... at the present days it is a library of international importance for its collection from the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Europe... a fascinating place to visit and an unspoiled window on culture through the ages... scientists and scholars from all parts of the world gather here... it is also contains a museum... such as the Augustus Hall, Treasury, Globe Room, Gallery and Painting Book Room... with special postmark celebrating the 40th anniversary of variable value stamps in Germany... Thanks a lot Dustin! (✿◠‿◠)

Photo: Udo Starke, Salzgitter
The Herzog August library was founded in 1572. The building was built between 1883 and 1887 in the style of Florentine palazzo. By the 17th century, it was considered the largest library north of the Alps and 8th wonder of the world.

Duke August, after whom the library is named today, was an avid book collector who sent his agents all over Europe for books, denying himself the chance to travel and go wild in bookshops himself. When he became duke during the chaos of the Thirty Years’ War, he managed to save the library from the plundering Swedish soldiers. 

The library houses approximately 1 million media units, of which 11.800 are handwritten, 3500 incunabula and more than 400.000 prints published before 1830. The libraries special collections also include several extensive art collections and historical maps, atlases and globes from 16th to 18thC.

 

Stamp:

Write letters and receive letters

(Issued 01-07-2019)

SRI LANKA ~ Standing Parvati ~

... Beautiful bronze sculpture from the 12thC... a treasure of the past... according to Hinduism and Hindu mythology, Parvati is considered to be a mother goddess by many people... Parvati is a word in the Sanskrit language that means "daughter of the mountain"... Hindu teachings call Parvati the daughter of the Himalayas Mountains, where she is said to live... Goddess Parvati represents love, devotion and fertility... she is the mother goddess and is nurturing and gentle... but she has other aspects which are depicted in her many other names... Thanks Ravindra! Nice to hear from you! (✿ ♥‿♥)

The Colombo Museum as it was called at the beginning was established on 1st January 1877. It founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time.  

The National Museum of Colombo is the largest museum in Sri Lanka. Its is maintained by the Department of National Museum of the central government. 

Photo: Sugath Jayasekara

 

Stamps:

2X Vesak - Caring Principles 

(Issued 06-05-2020)

Esala Perahera Festival, Kandy

(Issued 25-07-2020)

NETHERLANDS ~ Rietveld Schröder House - Utrecht- UNESCO ~

... Fascinating house museum... the architectural highlight of the Dutch art movement De Stijl (The Style)... looking at the Rietveld-Schröder House today, it is hard to believe that the design is nearly a century old... this home influenced all of modern architecture today... Rietveld designed the house for Truus Schröder-Schräder, who had a major input in the final design... she lived in the house from 1925 until her death in 1985... Rietveld had his office in the house but only moved in with Schröder after the death of his own wife... this house is a must visit for everybody interested in architecture, furniture and art... you can only visit on a guided tour... Thanks Karin!ヽ(ヅ)ノ 

© Centraal Museum Utrecht 1991/ Photo: Jannes Linders Rotterdam
The Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) was constructed in 1924-1925 by the famous artist Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1965).

This small family house, with its interior, the flexible spatial arrangement, and the visual and formal qualities, was a manifesto of the ideals of the De Stijl group of artists and architects in the Netherlands in the 1920s, and has since been considered one of the icons of the Modern Movement in architecture.

In 2000, the Rietveld-Schröder House was added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.  

 

Stamp:

The Netherlands and Beyond - Belgium 

(Issued 12-08-2013)

BELARUS ~ Mir Castle Complex - UNESCO ~

... Lovely view of a unique monument of national culture of Belarus... one of the most famous castles in the country is in Mir... Belarus is often called the “land of castles” due to numerous fortifications built in the 16-17th centuries to protect the territory from enemies... the castle suffered in several battles and it was almost burned with the invasion of Charles XII in the 18thC... despite its complex history, it was opened to the public in 2013 after a complete renovation... it's one most popular tourist destination in the country... about 320,000 tourists visited the castle complex in 2019... nowadays, the castle serves as well as a venue for some cultural events... with great matching UNESCO stamp👍...  Thanks Natalia!¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The construction of this Belarus’ Gothic style castle was started in the 1520s by Duke Ilinich. In 1568 the castle came into the hands of Mikolay Radziwil, who completed it in Renaissance style. The Radziwills owned the castle for several centuries.

A three-storey palace was built along the eastern and northern walls of the castle which had forty fretted rooms. Earth walls were built around the castle with bastions at the corners, surrounded by a water moat.  An Italian garden was laid to the north of the walls and an artificial lake was established to the south. 

In 2000 it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

 Stamp:

The 60th Anniversary of Belarus' Entry into UNESCO

(Issued 14-04-2014)

BANGLADESH ~ The Sundarbans - National Park - UNESCO ~

... Great new UNESCO and National Park postcard... it shows the breathing roots of mangrove forests... the Sundarbans contain the world's largest mangrove forests and one of the most biologically productive of all natural ecosystems... its ever changing landscape is shaped by tidal shifts, rivers and creeks... the mangrove habitat supports the single largest population of tigers in the world which have adapted to an almost amphibious life, being capable of swimming for long distances and feeding on fish, crab and water monitor lizards... there are a number of “cruise boats” offering trips through the Sundarbans... one of the best places to visit in Bangladesh... with lovely round shaped bird stamps... Thanks a lot Aditi!【ツ】 

 Located at the mouth of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers in South West part of Bangladesh on the Bay of Bengal. It is adjacent to the border of India’s Sundarbans World Heritage site.

The Sunderbans is named after the Sundari trees which are found in bulk in this area. 

The park was established as a national park in 1984 as earlier it was created as wildlife sanctuary in 1977, designated as the core area of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve.

When the Indian Sundarbans were inscribed in 1987 it was suggested that the site be increased to include the (larger) Bangladesh Sundarbans. When Bangladesh got its area inscribed in 1997, the Sundarbans as a whole encompasses 10.000km² of which 60 percent is in Bangladesh.

 

Stamps:

Stamps Day

(Issued 29-07-2018)

Birds of Bangladesh

(Issued 28-05-2016)

ROMANIA ~ Wooden Churches of Maramures - UNESCO ~

... Great postcard showing all 8 elegant wooden churches on the UNESCO list... there are around a hundred wooden churches in Maramures mostly located in small villages... the wooden churches of Maramures are unique and architectural masterpieces which reflect the best example and variety of wood carving design and craftsmanship still being carried out today... with tall, graceful spires and beautifully decorated inside with frescoes... they also reflect the role that religion has played in the local community and are a response to a Hungarian prohibition against stone Orthodox churches... Maramures is the most „back in time” part of Romania... Thanks Catalina!(✿◠‿◠) 

Photo: Eugen MIHAI
Maramures County is situated in the northern part of Romania, and has a border with Ukraine. 

They were (re)built in the 18th and 19th centuries, after the last great Tatar invasions ended in 1717. 

The churches are made of thick logs, are quite small and dark inside, and painted with rather 'naïve' Biblical scenes. The most characteristic features are the tall tower above the entrance and the massive roof that seems to dwarf the main body of the church.

Eight wooden Churches of Maramures - in Surdesti, Plopis, Rogoz, Ieud, Poeinile Izei, Barsana, Budesti and Desesti - have been recognized by UNESCO in 1999.

Stamps:

Arctic Animals 

(Issued 12-12-2007)

Old Bucharest 

(Issued 15-05-2007)

AUSTRALIA ~ Budj Bim Cultural Landscape - National Park - UNESCO ~

... A fascinating new UNESCO site... a place with over 32,000 years of history... Budj Bim is one of the most extensive and oldest aquaculture systems in the world...  it’s also the site of over 100 permanent stone dwellings... for thousands of years, dwellings such as these were home to a settled community of Gunditjmara people... as well as its cultural significance, the area is beautiful, with great crater lake views... it’s perfect for picnics, camping, bushwalk and mountain biking... nature trails follow the old crater rim.... Budj Bim is a must-visit natural wonder... Thanks Helen!【ツ】 

The Budj Bim National Park, formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park, is a national park located in Victoria with an area of  5,470 hectare.The park now forms part of the larger Budj Bim heritage areas.  It derives its name from Budj Bim, formerly Mount Eccles, which is situated in the north-east of the park.

The Dhauwurd Wurrung, also known as the Gunditjmara  are the traditional owners of the areas now encompassing Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Woolsthorpe and Portland. Their land includes much of the Budj Bim heritage areas.

The way of life of the Aboriginal people of Western Victoria differed from other Aboriginal Victorians in several respects. Because of the colder climate, they made, wore, and used as blankets, rugs of possum and kangaroo. They also built huts from wood and local basalt (known as bluestone), with roofs made of turf and branches.

In June 2019, Budj Bim became the first Australian site to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List solely for its Aboriginal cultural values.
 

Stamp: 

Postage Paid

GERMANY ~ Pied Piper - Hamelen ~

... Postcard nr 2 about one of the most famous fairy tales... to this day, the town of Hamelen celebrates its assocation with the legendary rat-catcher as re-enactments are carried out every year on 26 June... also with matching stamp and special first day postmark💜... Thanks a lot Dustin for once more a year with over *50* unique and fantastic cancellations!!✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

You can read more about this town and Pied Piper here:

http://mypostcard-page.blogspot.com/2020/12/germany-town-of-pied-piper-hameln.html

Stamp:

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

(Issued 03-12-2020)

GERMANY ~ Maya the Bee ~

... Sweet Maya the Bee postcard🐝... one more of the best-known and beloved children’s cartoons... it is the story of Maya and her friends, Flip the grasshopper, Willy the bee and many other insects as they have great adventures... with lovely matching and last issued stamp of the series " Childhood Heroes" and special postmark👍... the others were Heidi, Pipi Longstocking (2019), Maya the Bee and Wickie the Viking (2020)... I have them all four in my collection and they are gorgeous❤️.... Thanks a lot Dustin! (ヅ)   →  →  →      My postcard and stamp week: http://postcardsblogatdustin.blogspot.com/

Maya the Bee  is the main character in The Adventures of Maya the Bee, a German book written by Waldemar Bonsels and published in 1912. 

The book has been published in many other languages and adapted extensively for animated series, opera, video games and Maya the Bee merchandise is extremely popular among kids.

Sinde 2008 the rights are owned by the Belgian Studio 100 Animation, one of Europe's leading animation production companies. (also Vicky the Viking)

Stamp:

Childhood Heroes

(Issued 03-12-2020)

SPAIN ~ Tower of the Hours - Pals - Catalonia ~

... Great view of one of the most charming villages located a few kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea, right on the Costa Brava... this gorgeous walled town perched on a hilltop was built around a fortress and has kept its medieval look so well that a visit to Pals is like travelling back in time... with cobblestone streets this town still has many of its aged stone arches, walkways, and balconies, all lovely restored... the main road into the village winds upwards towards the large tower which remains of the castle that once stood here... this impressive keep is a 15m high circular Romanesque tower dating from the 11-13th centuries... the tower is known as the Torre de les Hores (Tower of the Hours) as it was used as a clock tower in the 15thC... Thanks a lot Josep&Assumpta! (✿ ♥‿♥)  

Pals is a medieval town in Catalonia, northern Spain in the heart of the Bay of Emporda on the Costa Brava. 

The surrounding plains were once marshland and make the perfect environment for growing rice. Rice cultivation in the plains around Pals dates back to 1452.And some of the festivities tied to the traditional planting and harvesting methods still exist today. Pals rice has always been renowned for its high quality. 

 Stamp:

WWF Charity Stamp - Nature Protection 

(Issued 14-05-2020)

GERMANY ~ Viking Town Schleswig ~

... Still plenty of cards to post from last year😊 .. I start with lovely views of Schleswig, a harbor city... the card shows different images of the city and its Viking past... one of the oldest towns in the Baltic region... it  has a long history with Vikings and it used to be a Danish town... famous for many popular attractions like the Viking Museum Haithabu (Wikinger Museum) documenting its first inhabitants... with wonderful Vicky the Viking stamp💜... a famous Children’s TV cartoon...Vicky is the only son of the Viking chief Halvar of Flake... Vicky accompanies his father and his crew on their voyages and pillaging sprees, and though he lacks in physical strength, he proves himself useful by using his brains instead of brawn in solving the problems the Vikings face... and cute special first day postmark... so, I can say that it has a "matching" stamp😉...Thanks a lot Dustin!!【ツ】 

Schleswig is the capital of Schleswig-Flensburg, located at the end of the extensive Schlei, a 40-kilometer-long salt-water fjord carved into the mainland from the Baltic Sea. Before it became part of Germany, this was considered to be one of the oldest towns in Denmark. 

It takes its name from the Schlei, an inlet of the Baltic sea at the end of which it sits, and vik or vig which means “bay” in Old Norse and Danish. Schleswig or Slesvig therefore means “bay of the Schlei”.

 

Stamp:

Wickie - Childhood Heroes

(Issued 03-12-2020)

GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR!! HAPPY 2021!!

"Wishing you all health, happiness, and prosperity in the new year."                                                                           -Gerda❤️

CHINA ~ Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - UNESCO ~

... Last post at the end of a very difficult year for everyone with an overload of cuteness❤️...  the cudly national symbol of China🐼...Giant Pandas are adored and treasured all over the world, and most zoos take great pride even in only having a few... Belgian zoo Pairi Daiza hosts five of these amazing animals... a number of breeding centers, reserves, and research facilities have been established in Sichuan to help protect the giant panda from extinction... these reserves offer the modern traveler plenty of extraordinary ways to visit pandas in their natural habitat and possibly even interact with these magnificent beasts... Chengdu has also one of the most stunning landscapes in China... Thanks Lu! (✿◠‿◠) 

The Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries, located in southwest Sichuan province consist, are home to more than 30% of the world's highly endangered Giant Pandas and is among the most important sites for the captive breeding of these pandas.

It covers 9245 km2 with seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. Along with the Giant Panda, the sanctuary is a refuge to other endangered species such as the red panda, the snow leopard, and the clouded leopard. 

Outside of the tropical rainforests, it is among the botanically richest sites of the world, and is home to between 5,000 and 6,000 species of flora.

In 2006, UNESCO designated the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries a World Heritage Site. 

 

GERMANY ~ The town of the Pied Piper - Hameln ~

... Lovely postcard showing a small selection beautiful sandstone and half-timbered buildings in the style of the Weser Renaissance in the historic city center... this town is forever associated with the medieval story of Pied Piper of Hamelin... one of the most famous classic fairy tales all over the world... popularized by the the Brothers Grimm, Goethe and Browning in the 19thC, the legend tells how in the 13thC a piper hired for his rat-catching skills lured all the town's rodent into the Weser River with his magic pipe... when the town folk refused to pay for his services, Pied Piper led all the local children to drown in the river too... today, on the Bungelosenstrasse, the street where the Pied Piper House is located (where the children were supposedly last seen), music is banned as a sign of respect... but in the rest of the city, there are everywhere rat images and symbols... a clock tower tells the story three times a day, there’s a Pied Piper statue... twice a day, the bells played also the Pied Piper melody... the combination of the story of the Pied Piper (or the Rat Catcher, as the Germans call it) and the old town's medieval charm make this a must see place... with wonderful matching "Pied Piper" stamp and special postmark💙... Thanks a lot Dustin!【ツ】

Hamelin is located in the region of Lower Saxony. It lies along the Weser River,  Originating around the Abbey of St. Boniface, which was founded by monks from Fulda at the end of the 8thC, Hameln was a market centre dependent on the Abbey of Fulda until 1259.

Stamp:

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

(Issued 03-12-2020)

BELGIUM ~ Maredsous Abbey ~

... Nice view of one of the most beautiful abbeys in my country... a place characterized by relaxation and spirituality... located in the Molignée valley... the Benedictine monks continue their tradition of hospitality in a natural and stunning architectural setting... they have been welcoming pilgrims and visitors in the reception center Saint Joseph for a thousand years... there is a visitor centre and museum where you can learn about the abbey’s history... you can also visit the cafeteria, bookshop, souvenir shop and playground, especially while tasting the Abbey gastronomic products: the Maredsous beers and cheeses... Heel erg bedankt Ben en Loes!(✿ ♥‿♥)

Maredsous Abbey in neogothic style was founded in 1872 by Beuron Abbey in Germany, the founder of many religious houses, at the instigation of Hildebrand de Hemptinne, a Belgian monk at Beuron and later abbot of Maredsous.

Although founded comparatively recently, this Benedictine abbey upholds the best traditions of the Middle Ages, when Saint Benedict laid down his Rule for monastic life. Today, thirty-two monks live, pray and work in this pastoral location. They follow the Rule of St. Benedict – ‘ora et labora’ (pray and work).

 Stamp:

Christmas 

(Issued 21-10-2019)

CANADA ~ The Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site - Lock 44 - Ontario ~

... Great view of a unique engineering marvel at "lock 44" on the Trent-Severn Waterway..  it physically lifts the boats out of the water and over a land in a massive open carriage on a track system, before launching them back into the water where they can continue their journey... this scenic, meandering route has been called "one of the finest interconnected systems of navigation in the world"...Big Chute has large grounds for picnicking and boater camping... it is the only marine railway of its kind in North America... Thanks a lot Andrene!【ツ】

© Trent-Severn Waterway © Parks Canada Canada

The Trent–Severn Waterway is a 386-kilometre-long canal route connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. Its major natural waterways include the Trent River, Otonabee River, Kawartha Lakes, Lake Simcoe, Lake Couchiching and Severn River. 

The canal was surveyed as a military route, but the first lock was built in 1833 as a commercial venture.

Stamps:

Community Foundation Charity 

(Issued 21-09-2020)

Medical Pioneers 

(Issued 10-09-2020)

The 100th Anniverary of the Group of Seven 

(Issued 07-05-2020)

GERMANY ~ Christmas Greetings - Nikolausdorf ~

... Sweet Christmas postcard💖... with wonderful special postmark💖... from the Christmas post office in Nikolausdorf... a small village in Lower Saxony.... the campaign in 49681 Nikolausdorf has been running for 55 years now... dear Dustin I'm wishing you and your family a warm, glowing Christmas🎅🎇 and for better days ahead in 2021!🎆 

Stamps:

Christmas - Church Window 

(Issued 02-12-2020)

Happy Holiday

(Issued 02-12-2020)

MONACO ~ Santa Claus Letter ~

... .. 🎅H0H 0H0 🎅... Santa Letter nr2... for 14 years now, Father Christmas takes up temporary lodgings at Monaco’s post office... while he’s busy preparing gifts, his personal secretary takes care of sifting through the many letters written to him... with lovely stamps used and nice postmarks👍...

... "On 23 December at 19.00 Santa Claus starts his long journey to deliver gifts to children 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." Thanks Santa!💖💖💖

 

Stamps:

Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean 

(Issued 01-01-2002)

EUROPA Stamps - National Birds 

(Issued 06-05-2019)

FRANCE ~ Santa Claus Letter - Libourne ~

... 🎅H0H 0H0 🎅... A lovely letter from Santa ... the secretariat of Santa Claus is an old tradition, which allows "to bring to life the values ​​of sharing, hope and generosity"... several dozen elves and goblins will work at the secretariat of Santa Claus at La Poste located in Libourne... last year, Père Noël (Santa Claus) received around 91,000 emails once the season opened.... and  more than 1.2 million children of varying sizes wrote their letters from 140 countries... Thanks Santa!💖💖💖

CANADA ~ Christmas Greetings ~

... With Christmas🎅 and New Year🎇 just around the corner it's time to start with a received "Season's Greeting card"... a wonderful glittery winter⛄scene❄️ by Thomas Kinkade, "Painter of Light"... 

... I can imagine that Christmas and end of year might be totally different than what we all used to have in the past... for the first time for as long as I can remember there will be no family dinner on Christmas day😢... but I hope 2021 will be better with happiness, love, joy and good health...💖💝💖Thanks a lot dear Andrene & Ron, sending a virtual hug!!😍

As the season unfolds,

hope that it holds
all you've been hoping for most.

© Thomas Kinkade

Stamps: 

Christmas - Madonna and Child

(Issued 03-11-2017) 

Christmas: Warm and cozy 

(Issued 02-11-2018)

Christmas

 (Issued 04-11-2019)

GERMANY ~ Städtisches Museum - Braunschweig ~

... Beautiful detail of a table-top laid out with a brightly colored glass bead mosaic by Johann Michael van Selow... an example of the elegance and color of the courtly Rococo... these glass beads ornaments were one of the famous products of the region in the 18thC... pearl mosaic works are rare gems of German furniture art... many of these pieces can be seen in the Städtisches Museum... with very historic postmark👍... it celebrates the opening of Berlin's new airport... Thanks a lot Dustin!❀◕ ‿ ◕❀ 

The Städtisches Museum Braunschweig , founded in 1861, is one of the largest art and cultural history museums in Germany with its collection of over 270,000 objects on Braunschweig's history.

Furniture dating from around 1760. 

Oak wood with historical setting and marbling. Cover plate softwood with inlaid colored glass beads.

 

Stamp: 

Flowers

(Issued 01-07-2019)