IRELAND ~ Inishmore - Aran Islands - UNESCO tentative list ~

... Its gonna be a great postcard trip through Ireland the next couple of days... visiting some of the most beautiful places on this amazing green little island☘️☘️☘️... Inishmore is the largest and most easily accessible of the three Aran Islands... though the landscape is not the typical green fields of Ireland... it’s rocky and desolate, an extension of the limestone that forms The Burren, to which the Arans were joined millions of years ago... with view of Dún Aengus an ancient fort at the edge of a high cliff... there are no walls or fences protecting a fall into the ocean a hundred meters below the cliff rim... that makes this spot so interesting and unique... a popular tourist attraction and an important archaeological site that also offers spectacular views to the ocean... the best-known and largest of several prehistoric stone forts on the Aran Islands... Thanks a lot Andrene! (✿ ♥‿♥) 

The Aran Islands are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay, on the west coast of Ireland. Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr are the last lands to the west before you reach America. 

The island of Inishmore  has over 50 different monuments of Christian, pre-Christian and Celtic mythological heritage. Fort Aengus is believed to have been built and occupied originally in the Iron Age, although there was habitation at the site earlier, in the Bronze Age. The walls of the fort have been rebuilt to a height of 6m and have wall walks, chambers, and flights of stairs.

Its name, meaning "Fort of Aonghas", refers to the pre-Christian god of the same name described in Irish mythology, or the mythical king, Aonghus mac Úmhór.

 

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the First Transatlantic Flight 

(Issued 13-06-2019)

RUSSIA ~ Taganay National Park - Chelyabinsk Oblast ~

... Beautiful winter scene with ❄️frost❄️ covered trees... a wonderful winter escape in the Ural Mountains... these mountains create a natural divide between Asia and Europe and at their southern tip lies Taganay National Park... a sweeping valley bound by rugged peaks with pristine mountain lakes and dense alpine forests... the park has several hidden and untouched eco-systems, including tundra, meadows, forests and sparse woodlands... it is the most popular national park of the South Urals among nature-loving tourists... a piece of the pristine taiga... Thanks a lot Oleg!【ツ】 

Taganay National Park was established in 1991 and was the first in the Urals. It covers the northern part of the mountain ranges of the Southern Urals.Total area of the park is about 568km2. Taganay is a group of mountain ridges with the highest point rising 1178 m. above sea level.

The 97% of the territory of the national park is covered with forests of Siberian spruce, fir, pine, larch, maple, willow, lime, birch, alder, and aspen. 

The forest is a safe home for brown bears, wolves, lynxes, elk, martens, and otters. The park features over 180 bird species, over 55 mammal species and about 10 fish species.

 Stamps:

Definitives - Eagles

(Issued 07-08-2019)

The 650th Anniversary of Kaluga

(Issued 05-08-2021)

GERMANY ~ The Georg Eckert Institute (GEI) ~

... This postcard was bought at the Institute... the Georg Eckert Institute for International Textbook Research (GEI) is one of the best known institutions devoted to research on textbooks and educational media... one of a kind in Germany... the mission of the Institute from the beginning up to the present day is building a better society through textbook research... for all the scholars in the field of textbook studies this Institute is a very important point of reference... with interesting stamp and special postmark celebrating the 150th birthday Hildegard Wegscheider👍... a German teacher, school reformer, politician and women's rights activist... Thanks a lot Dustin! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

From backside postcard:

The Georg Eckert Institute produces the multilingual digital edition WorldViews. Cooperating with an international network of researchers, we provide original language textbook excerpts (with German and English translations) along with contextual material. Our edition shows different perspectives from around the world on national and global phenomena throughout history.

Its main attraction is the Research Library, with an internationally unique collection of textbooks from the areas of history, social studies / civics, geography and ethics / religion. With the information and communication portal Edumeres , the GEI provides virtual access to current information, publications and data from research on textbooks and educational media, organized into several modules.

 

Stamp:

The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Hildegard Wegscheider, 1871-1953 

(Issued 02-09-2021)

GERMANY ~ St. Michael's Church - Hamburg ~

... Nice view of a beautiful baroque-style church and landmark of the city... it was the first church in Hamburg built after the Reformation, and was not only the newest and the largest, but also the first Evangelical Lutheran church without a Catholic past... the most impressive attribute of the church is its 106-metre high observation deck that offers breathtaking panoramic views of Hamburg... the tower is also home to an 8-meter big clock, making it the largest turret clock of Germany... this church is also tied to one of Hamburg’s oldest traditions... every day for more than 300 years, a tower warden plays a trumpet chorale from the church tower to the north, south, east and west... once upon a time their music was a sign for the opening and closing of the city gates... every year more than a million people go through its doors... with as always a great special postmark... Thanks a lot Dustin! (✿ ♥‿♥)

In the three centuries since the church was first erected, it has been completely destroyed multiple times.The first church of St. Michaelis was completed in 1685. 

Half a century later, in 1750, the church was struck by lightning and burned down.

In 1906 another fire, this time caused by a blow lamp in the wood tower, completely destroyed the building. Between 1906 and 1912 a third church was built using the old plans but, this time, reinforcing the construction with steel and concrete.

Just 30 years later severe damages were caused by air raids during the Second World War. Again, St. Michaelis persevered. 

The church was reconsecrated in 1952 and has since undergone complete restoration.

Photo: Chris Seba

 

Stamp:

Treasures of Philately – Bordeaux Letter 

(Issued 02-09-2021)

CANADA ~ Lake Louise - Banff National Park - UNESCO ~

... Great imposing bear view... a majestic and powerful symbol of wilderness... Canadian Rockies’ largest mammal... Lake Louise is home to one of the highest concentrations of breeding female grizzly bears within Banff National Park... they are mostly peaceful animals, preferring plants for most of their diet... they love to eat seeds, flowers, berries, roots, wild vegetables, grasses, fungi, fish, insects, and dead animals... only when defending their young and territory they can be very aggressive... postmarked on October 1, World Postcard Day👍🙂... Thanks a lot Glenn! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

Picture by Kevin D'Souza, Fairview Images.
Most adult female grizzlies weigh 130–180 kg, while adult males weigh on average 180–360 kg. Average total length in this subspecies is 198 cm, with an average shoulder height of 102 cm. Although variable in color from blond to nearly black, grizzly bear fur is typically brown with darker legs and commonly white or blond tipped fur on the flank and back. 

The "Lake Louise Inn" is a resort for all seasons, offering stunning views of the Canadian Rockies, it brings the best of Banff National Park to our guests’ doorstep, a pristine mountain retreat.

Banff National Park is Canada‘s oldest national park, established in 1885 in the Rocky Mountains and is the third-oldest national park in the world.

Banff is part of UNESCO’s Canadian Rocky Mountain World Heritage site.

Stamps: 

John Turner, 1929-2020

(Issued 07-06-2021)

2X The 100th Anniversary of Bluenose

(Issued 29-06-2021)

TURKEY ~ Sumela Monastery - Altındere Valley National Park - UNESCO Tentative List ~

... A spectacular view of a Greek Orthodox monastery... built at a height of 1200m into a cliff on a steep mountain... an amazing piece of architecture... one of the oldest monasteries in the Christian world, though it is no longer located in a Christian country... set in the beautiful Altindere National Park, overlooking lush forests and water streams, and blessed with a rich history and religious importance... on a clear day, the views from the high-up Monastery of the valley below are just breathtaking... it's the most magnificent and hierarchical of the many monasteries in this region... the interior has also been extensively restored, and has got interesting Greek Orthodox frescoes on the walls... as it was in the past, it is the most well known and most visited of the monasteries today... Thanks a lot Burak!✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

The monastery Also known as Mother Mary or Virgin Mary, founded by Greeks dates back to the 4th century AD. Legend has it that two priests undertook its creation after discovering a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave on the mountain. 

The Sumela monastery is carved out into the Karadag Mountain above the Altindere Valley in Macka district of Trabzon province in the Black Sea region.

Altındere Valley National Park was established in 1987 and covers an area of 4,468 ha.

Sumela Monastery was included on the UNESCO Tentative List in 2000.

 Stamps:

Calm Cities 

(Issued 23-12-2019)

Ataturk Houses 

(Issued 28-12-2018)

Works and Reforms of Ataturk

(Issued 29-10-1974)

 

GERMANY ~ Technical University - Braunschweig ~

... Plenty views of a university with a long tradition of excellent research and teaching... Braunschweig is the centre of Europe's most active research region... it is commonly ranked among the top universities for engineering in Germany... the TU Braunschweig focuses its research in four main areas: Future City, Metrology, Mobility and Infections and Therapeutics... with nice stamp and special First Day postmark👍... Thanks Dustin!【ツ】 

It was founded in 1745 as Collegium Carolinum and is a member of TU9, an incorporated society of the most renowned and largest German institutes of technology. 

About 18,500 people study at university in 84 different study programmes, and about 3,000 of them are international students. More than 240 professors and more than 2,000 academic employees work in research and teaching, distributed across 6 faculties and 120 institutes.

 

Stamp:

The 50th Anniversary of the BaFöG 

(Issued 02-09-2021)

FRANCE ~ Annecy - Haute Savoie ~

... Guess what?😉... yep, more family vacation postcards❤️... this time in one blogpost three postcards from the same place and all with a Marianne Definitive stamp... first one shows an "all in one" wonderful panoramic view... the city, the lake and mountains; the Aravis massif... card nr2 is a view of the picturiesque old town... Annecy sits at the tip of the aquamarine lake of the same name and amazing view of the Alps... it is also called “Venice of the French Alps”, due to the idyllic canals and the river Thiu, which flows through the old town... and postcard 3 is a great panoramic evening lake view... it’s the 2nd largest natural lake in France and it has one of the purest waters in the world... it is a popular all-year-round holiday destination... Heel Erg Bedankt Loes en Ben! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)  

Annecy is located in southeastern France, in the heart of the French Alps. It is the capital of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. Situated on the north shore of Lake Annecy, 35 km of Geneva.

The Old Town with medieval historic centre and the small river Thiou meandering between colorful Italianate buildings. The River drifts out of the glacial lake  crisscrossed by bridges and three canals.

The Château d'Annecy is a restored castle which dominates this old French town It was bought by the town, restored and transformed into a museum.

©bugues bonnel

Photo: 1&3 Olivier Collomb
The lake was formed about 18,000 years ago, at the time the large alpine glaciers melted. It is fed by many small rivers from the surrounding mountains and a powerful underwater source, the Boubioz, at a 82-metre depth.

 It has a surface area of 27 km2, a shoreline length of 35 km, and a maximum depth of 64.7 m.The lake measures 14.6 km from north to south, and consists of two basins.

Stamp:

Marianne Definitive internatonal

(Issued 01-01-2019)

AUSTRALIA ~ Cascades Female Factory - Tasmania - UNESCO ~

... Nice litho showing a fascinating but horrifying look at Tasmanian history... the humble remains of one of the few female convict factories are nestled in the hills of Hobart surrounded by history and gum trees... a beautiful setting where terrible cruelties were committed... it gives an excellent view into the mid 1830’s when women prisoners were kept in working conditions... it is amazing how the women and their children survived in these conditions when sent by boat then jailed here... often for very petty crimes committed in England... so many sad stories... convicts were a source of labour to build roads, bridges, courthouses, hospitals and other public buildings, or to work on government farms, while educated convicts may have been given jobs such as record-keeping for the government administration... a must-go experience immersed in social history... Thanks a lot Rod! ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

"Detail of a lithograph by John Skinner Prout"

Built in 1828 and operating until 1856, the Cascades Female Factory became one of Tasmania's longest running penal institutions.The Cascades was established as a workhouse for female convicts. Intended to segregate women for their own protection and moral improvement, at its peak the factory held 1,200 women and children in overcrowded and disease-ridden conditions, with women labouring up to 12 hours per day.  

These convict sites present the best surviving examples worldwide of large-scale convict transportation and the colonial expansion of European powers through the presence and labour of convicts.

Cascades Female Factory Historic Site is listed as one of the 11 sites that together form the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property, inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2010.

 

Stamp:

Prepaid maxicard

(Issued 20-10-2020)

FRANCE ~ Hohneck Mountain - La Bresse ~

... More holiday mail from family❤️... different nice views from the highest point in the town of La Bresse... and also one of the most famous and most visited of the Vosges ridges... a wonderful place for trekking or simply a nice walk with a lot of trails... Hohneck towers over the lake valley and offers views of the Hautes Vosges, across the mountain range from Donon to Ballon d'Alsace, as well as the Alsace plains, Black Forest and more... at the peak, a viewpoint indicator points to the surrounding places of interest... an area exposed to strong winds that constantly remind you of the power of natural elements... it is also the main ski resort of the Vosges... Heel erg Bedankt Dorien en Roel! \_(♥‿♥)_/

Hohneck  (1366 m) is located in the middle of the French Vosges. and the 3th highest in the region, surounded by thick green forests

The Vosges is located in the most North-East corner of France and is the last mountain range before crossing into Germany or Switzerland. 

La Bresse is located in the valley of the Moselotte river within the Vosges regional park.

Photos: Olivier Collomb

 

Stamp:

Marianne Definitive international

(01-01-2019)

NEW ZEALAND ~ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 20th Anniversary ~

... Wonderful LOTR postcard😍 issued to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of one of the greatest fantasy epics of all time turned into a masterpiece of a movie🎥... an amazing storyline based on a great novel... the cast is good, the effects (even today), the music is fantastic, the story and characters are totally brilliant... and the landscapes and scenery in this movie are breathtaking... for a movie that was released 20 years ago, The Fellowship of the Ring and the entirety of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy still looks amazing... one of the few movies  that I will watch over and over again... I absolutely LOVE them❤️... I'm so happy to have one of the six unique maximum cards (pre-paid postcards)... each card has a gummed stamp affixed on front with special "first day of Issue LOTR  postmark"... and includes pre-paid postage to anywhere in the world...Thanks a million Susan! (✿◠‿◠)

 ©2021 New Line Productions-New Zealand PostFrom backside postcard:

"After Frodo has been stabbed, Arwen the elven princess flees with him on her horse through a prairie then a wood as the Black Riders nearly overtake them. They cross a river then Arwen conjures up a flood that sweeps away the Nine, who return to Mordor temporarily. The river scene was filmed at the Shotover River, which flows through the rocky gorge Skippers Canyon, near Queenstown."

The new 20th anniversary set postcards features original paintings by Wellington artist Sacha Lees, who was an illustrator, sculptor and concept artist on the Jackson films.

The Lord of the Rings is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential film series ever made. It was a major financial success and is among the highest-grossing film series of all time with $2.991 billion in worldwide receipts.

 

Stamp :

Prepaid Flight to the Ford 

(Issued 01-09-2021)

PORTUGAL ~ Benagil - Algarve ~

... Nice view of a photo made into a postcard from a boat trip to the Benagil Cave... Portugal's Algarve is known for its rugged cliffs and colorful rock formations but there is a special gem... the Benagil  cave also known as “the Cathedral” is one of the most impressive and famous natural wonders of the Algarve... it is an open-sky cave, with a dream like sand beach inside... when visiting Benagil Sea Cave, you can admire the rock formations from above and explore the rest of the beach on foot, but the inside of the Benagil Cave can only be accessed by sea... you have the choice of either going by boat, kayak, paddleboard, or swimming the distance... Thanks Patricia for this lovely surpriseヽ(ヅ)ノ... must have been a magical place to visit!

Benagil is a small Portuguese fishing village on the Atlantic coast in Lagoa the Algarve.

The cliffs are made of limestone and, years after years, the waves and wind have created the cave, while the rainwater has made the opening on top of the cave. The Benagil Cave is more than 20 million years old.

 Stamp:

Birds - Hunting in Portugal

(Issued 28-06-2021)

BELGIUM ~ Voeren Region ~

... Always a pleasure to show the beauty of my own country💚... great card from nephew and girlfriend cycling trip... it’s a peaceful, rural area typified by lush valleys, rich orchards, gently rolling hills, meandering footpaths, expansive views, fast-flowing rivers and picturesque villages.... the magnificent views and landscapes of this unique region, are not easy to be found elsewhere in Flanders... with barely 4300 inhabitants spread over six small church villages, this is the place for a relaxing holiday... it also a real walking paradise and one of the main reason why people visit the Voer region... with an extensive hiking node network... Heel erg Bedankt Ben en Loes! ♥(ˆ⌣ˆԅ) 

Voeren  is a Flemish municipality with a bilingual (Dutch and French) population, located in the Belgian province of Limburg surrounded by the Netherlands and the province of Liège. It is geographically detached from the rest of Flanders, making Voeren/Fourons an exclave of Flanders.

Voeren is a part of Limburg, however, it’s not actually physically connected to any part of the rest of Limburg. Instead, Voeren is floating about 30 kilometers away from it and so is completely isolated from the rest of Limburg. It has no common boundary with Limburg. The current municipality of Voeren was not established until 1977.

Voeren's name is derived from that of a small right-bank tributary of the Meuse, the Voer or Fouron, which flows through the municipality. 

Stamp:

Wonderful Winter

(Issued 26-08-2019) 

SLOVAKIA ~ Vlkolínec - UNESCO ~

... Nice views of a picturesque village... located on a high plateau in the backdrop of the Carpathian mountains, surrounded by green meadows and forests... where historical traditions, houses, habits and craftwork are preserved until today... a gem and a true beauty of Slovak rural architecture... this it’s not a museum but a living village... a few houses are permanently inhabited, others are used as weekend cottages...you can even book a stay in some them... it is the region’s most complete group of these kinds of traditional log houses, often found in mountainous areas... Thanks Miso!¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Vlkolínec, which in Slovak means Wolf’s place, is situated in the hilly landscape of Veľká Fatra (Big Fatra) in the centre of Slovakia.

The village is an ensemble of about 40 colourful painted log houses, built on stone footings, the roofs covered with wooden shingles. The current buildings date mainly from the 19thC, but the origins of their architectural type go back several centuries earlier. Among the remaining buildings are a church, a school and a shop. The rest are farmhouses. 

During the 2nd World War the village was a major site of the Slovak National Uprising. A third of the houses were burned down subsequently by the Nazis in retaliation. These weren't rebuilt.   

Vlkolínec was made a UNESCO WHS site in 1993.

Stamps:

2X  Cultural Heritage of Slovakia

(Issued 02-01-2009)

GERMANY ~ Augsburg - UNESCO ~

... Great views of the three magnificent ornate fountains in the city... the Hercules, Mercury and Augustus Fountain... architectural evidences of a more than 500-year-old history of water management... all located on today's Maximilianstrasse, which, however, did not even exist in this form at the time the fountains were built... in one of Germany’s oldest cities with a 2000-year-long history... with once more an nice and matching Augsburg postmark👍... celebrating "500 years of the Fugger Homes" in Augsburg... (the Fuggerei is the oldest existing social housing complex in the world, a city within a city with 67 buildings and 142 residences as well as a church. Founded in 1521 by Jakob Fugger)... Thanks a lot Dustin!【ツ】

Augsburg is a city in the South of Germany, in the state of Bavaria. It was founded 15BC, the Roman age and named after the emperor Augustus. In the time of Renaissance (after the Middle Ages) a family of bankers, the Fuggers, became very rich and powerful in Augsburg.

All three wells were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019 as part of the  "Augsburg Water Management System" .

 

Stamp:

500 years of the Fuggerei in Augsburg

(Issued 05-08-2021)

CANADA ~ Wickaninnish Beach - Pacific Rim National Park - Vancouver Island ~

... And last but not least a beautiful National Park view👍...Wickaninnish Beach is part of Long Beach which is the longest stretch of beach on Vancouver Island's west coast and located in the Pacific Rim NP...  it is one of the more popular beaches because it is long, beautiful and lined with high end resorts... you can walk forever along the shoreline... backed by huge weathered silver logs... a lot of people do water sports here: windsurfing, surfing, swimming... from the beach visitors can acces different hiking trails... there is also a visitor centre and small museum at one end... Thanks so much Glenn for 4 wonderful vacation postcards and hopefully the start of many more great trips!❤️😊  

Pacific Rim National Park established in 1970 has a total area of 49,962 hectares of land and rugged Pacific ocean located on the western coast of Vancouver Island. The park is a made up of three separate regions: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. 

Features of the park include long rugged coasts, sandy beaches, an island archipelago, old-growth coastal temperate rainforest and significant Nuu-chah-nulth archaeological sites. 

A rich natural heritage evolved as Vancouver Island became isolated from the mainland, retaining a great diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish species. 

 Stamps:

John Turner, 1929-2020

(Issued 07-06-2021)

Personalities - Stan Rogers, 1949-1983

(Issued 21-07-2021)

Legends of Canadian Ballet

(Issued 29-04-2021)

CANADA ~ Chemainus - Vancouver Island ~

... Great postcard of a very nice little seaside town that has something special, outdoor wall murals... it is Canada’s largest permanent outdoor art gallery... the paintings are images of real people and life in the early years... it's an amazing experience learning about the history of the town through artwork... Chemainus' mural are world famous and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually... there are now 44 murals, with many others planned... lots of them done by renowned Artist from around the world...   with lovely Chemainus postmark💙...Big Thanks Glenn!! (✿◠‿◠) must have been a wonderful town to stay...

Arrival of the "Reindeer" in Horseshoe Bay (1983), artists Sandy Clark and Lee Goward.

"A luminescent cedar bark cloak envelopes the figure of a Native princess as she contemplates the arrival of the sloop Her Majesty’s Ship ‘Reindeer’. The ship’s commander, Captain A.E. Kennedy, was an acquaintance of Isabel and Thomas George Askew, pioneers of Chemainus and mill owners for many years.  The Reindeer made regular stops in Horseshoe Bay (now called Chemainus Bay) on its rounds of the coast."

The town was founded in 1858 as a logging town and is located in the Chemainus Valley.

The name Chemainus comes from the native shaman and prophet Tsa-meeun-is (Broken Chest). Legend says that the man survived a massive wound in his chest to become a powerful chief.

Stamps:
 

Personalities - Stan Rogers, 1949-1983

(Issued 21-07-2021)

Legends of Canadian Ballet

(Issued 29-04-2021)

Diwali 

(15-10-2020)

CANADA ~ Orca - Vancouver Island ~

 ... Another lovely whale postcard💙... original a vintage travel poster... a pair of orcas breaching off the coast of the island...Vancouver Island is one of the best locations worldwide to spot orcas (killer whales)....when it comes to whale watching tours, orcas are often considered the main attraction... the waters around Vancouver Island host large resident pods of nearly 100 of these whales, as well as small pods of transient orcas that travel across wide ranges of coastline... the late summer months are ideal for spotting northern resident orcas, which feed in the Johnstone Strait... Thanks a lot Glenn!! (✿ ♥‿♥) 

The orca or killer whale is a toothed whale that is an efficient predator. Orcas grow to be about 8-10 m long, weighing more than  3.600-5.400 kg. 

They are the largest member of the dolphin family. Pods usually consist of males, females, and calves of varying ages. Females and juveniles generally remain in the center of the pod, while adult males swim at the wings.

In 2010, Anderson Design Group decided to create classic travel posters featuring our favorite destinations around the globe. The World Travel Poster series now features a poster for every country in Central America, South America, North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

© 2021 Anderson Design Group,

Stamps:

The 100th Anniversary of Bluenose

(Issued 29-06-2021)

Legends of Canadian Ballet

(Issued 29-04-2021)

Snow Mammals 16. February 

(Issued 16-02-2021)

CANADA ~ Vancouver Island ~

... Many more great postcards received from traveling friends and family❤️... first one (of 4 from postcard friend Glenn👍)  shows beautiful vintage style beach art... diving girl designed by Suzanne Nicoll... original a beach wood sign printed directly on distressed wood panels that have natural knots and other imperfections in them... I just love the rustic look and pastel colors... Thanks a lot Glenn!【ツ】 

Connecticut artist Suzanne Nicoll is a trained textile designer who’s love of color, patterns, and textures is never far from her paintings and design work. Her signature look is vintage influences and faded textures and her subjects include botanicals and lots of beachy stuff.

Stamps:

Legends of Canadian Ballet

(Issued 29-04-2021)

John Turner, 1929-2020

(Issued 07-06-2021)

Personalities - Stan Rogers, 1949-1983 

(Issued 21-07-2021) 

GERMANY ~ Lower Saxony State Museum - Hannover ~

... I really love this beautiful painting "White Poppy" 1881, oil on canvas by Karl Hagemeister... the Landesmuseum Hannover shows it in the exhibition "Outdoors - From Monet to Corinth" works by so-called open-air painters... can be visited till 01-22-2022... as always a great special postmark... "Day of Tolerance" with a LGBTQ 🌈 🏳️‍🌈theme... Thanks a lot Dustin! (✿ ♥‿♥) 

© Landesmuseum Hannover - permanent loan from the city of Hanover
Karl Hagemeister (1848 - 1933) was a German impressionist painter. His late work also shows elements of Expressionism. He is one of the pioneers of modern landscape painting in Germany.

More information about the Lower Saxony State Museum : HERE

 Stamp:

Celestial Events 

(Issued 01-07-2021)

POLAND ~ Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region - UNESCO ~

... Great new UNESCO site... covering an area of about 80 hectares makes it the largest and one of the most important prehistoric mines of banded flint in Europe... the mine has a 500m long underground route... visits to the mines offer a step back in time where visitors can learn about prehistoric settlements, cultural traditions and the importance of flint mining for the area and human evolution... you can go inside the mines, which have been excavated to allow walks through the mine and view protected areas through windows... the museum houses relics discovered in the excavations, as well as model examples of how the miners may have lived... now you can buy beautiful jewellery made of it... Thanks Sebastian!【ツ】

The Krzemionki prehistoric striped flint mining region is a group of 4 mining sites dating back to from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age (ca. 3900 to 1600 BCE) located in the mountain region of Świętokrzyskie, 

There are more than 4000 mine shafts known with depths of 9 meters deep with wells measuring from four to twelve metres in diameter. The flint excavated from the mines was shaped into items similar to axe heads, chisels and other tools. These products were then traded and as a result were distributed to all parts of Central Europe.  

The Krzemionki mines were discovered by Prof. Jan Samsonowicz, a Polish geologist, in 1922.

In 2019, the ancient mine was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Stamp:

Jerzy Iwanow-Szajnowicz, 1911-1943

(Issued 25-03-2021)

BELGIUM ~ UCI Road World Championship ~

... Perfect timing to post this historic view from the past with the start of the 2021 UCI Road World Championships here in Flanders on Sunday🚴... exactly 100 years after the very first World Championships the event is "coming home" to Flanders, which for many is the beating heart of the cycling world🚴... cycle racing is one of the most popular sports in my country and a big part of our culture🚴... the greatest bicycle races take place here🚴... the Flemish Worlds week will be kicked-off tomorrow with a mass event for cycling enthusiasts and cycling families🚴... Bpost issued a lovely shaped Rainbow colored jersey stamp and great special first day postmark💙... Big thanks Johan for this unique piece of history乂❤‿❤乂... fingers crossed🤞 a Belgian cyclist will be become the next World Champion... don't know if you have noticed it...I'M A FAN🤣😃...

Photo taken before the start of the World Championships in Floreffe (Namur) in 1935. Gust Danneels (centre) with his teammates Jean Aerts (left) and Gaston Rebry.  It was the ninth edition of the event. The race was won by Jean Aerts and Gust Danneels became third. He was the first Belgian who won the race in his own country.

This year will be the tenth time Belgium will host the World Championships and the seventh time in Flanders. The racing kicks off with the men's elite individual time trial on Sunday September 19 before concluding with the men's elite road race on Sunday September 26.

Stamp:

100th Anniversary Belgium Cycling 

(Issued 30-08-2021)

AUSTRALIA ~ Baudissin Glacier edge - Heard Island - UNESCO ~

... Fantastic postcard of one of the most isolated islands on our planet... and one of the most rare pristine island ecosystems... with a complete absence of alien plants and animals, as well as human impact... it is very dangerous and almost impossible to reach it... you have to pass through some of the roughest seas on the planet to get there... for those reasons, there are currently no commercial tour operations that visit Heard Island... no-one lives permanently on the island and there is no Post Office, so unfortunately it's not possible to receive a postcard directly from Heard Island... anyone wishing to visit the islands must first obtain a permit from the Australian Antarctic Division... the shallow and fast flowing glaciers on Heard Island respond quickly to rising temperatures, which make them important for monitoring climate change... Thanks a lot Rod for this wonderful surprise... so nice to hear from you after such a long time! (✿ ♥‿♥) 

Photo Matt Curnock
Heard Island is a subantarctic island located in the Southern Ocean, about 4,000 km south west of mainland Australia. The island have been an Australian territory since 1947 and contain the country's only two active volcanoes, it's highest mountain, and it's only glaciers. It is part of the Australian external territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands. The islands and surrounding waters offer a unique opportunity for conducting scientific research.

Heard Island is the largest island, 2,368  km2. It is an active volcano covered with glaciers. The islands were discovered in the mid-1850s. An American sailor, John Heard, reported seeing the larger island in 1853 and promptly named it after himself. 

Baudissin Glacier is a tidewater glacier on the north side of Heard Island. in the southern Indian Ocean. Located 1.9 km west of Challenger Glacier, Baudissin Glacier is 2.8 km wide and flows into the western part of Corinthian Bay.

 

Prestamped postcard

NORWAY ~ Nusfjord - The Lofoten Islands ~

... Wonderful views of a small fishing village on the coastline of Flakstadøya island... it’s one of the most picturesque spots on Norway’s Lofoten islands... and often regarded as one of the oldest and best preserved fishing villages in the country with a long-standing tradition of “Lofotfiske”, or seasonal cod fishing.... nowadays Nusfjord is more of a museum with less than a hundred inhabitants remaining... sailing ships dominate the fjord and the rocky beauty of the island is masked by vast forests... here you can experience everything from the magical midnight sun in the summer to the spectacular northern lights in winter... plenty of people want to visit from all over the world... Thanks a lot Marit!【ツ】 

The Lofoten archipelago is located north of the Arctic Circle in the county of Nordland, Norway. The Lofoten archipelago consist of 7 main islands, with fjords and narrow straits in between the islands. Between the mainland and the Lofoten lies the open Vestfjord.

The archipelago is known for a distinctive scenery with mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands. A high density of sea eagles and cormorants, and millions of other sea birds, like the colourful puffin, populate the islands, with mainland Europe’s largest seabird colony.

Due to the warm Gulf Stream, Lofoten has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at the same latitude, such as Alaska and Greenland and Siberia. So winters are mild and the summers relatively cool.

 Stamps:

2X Definitive Posthorn

Tourism 

(Issued 15-04-2005)

Lighthouses

(Issued 01-09-2005)