United Arab Emirates ~Dubai~

This great card was bought by a friend during his holiday in Dubai. I hope to receive one written and stamped from the UAE someday.
But it is still a new country for my collection!!
( I'm always begging to everyone I know who is going on a holiday for postcards. ^-^)
OK!! I admit it.... That must mean that I'm seriously addicted....


Madinat Jumeirah is the largest resort in Dubai, designed like old Arabia spread across over 40 hectares of landscapes and gardens. And with a view of Burj Al Arab! The Burj Al Arab Tower of the Arabs", also known as "Arab Sail" is a hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 m (1,053 ft), it is the third tallest building in the world that is used exclusively as a hotel. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure to mimic the sail of a ship.

UKRAINE ~Popivka~

...Got two wonderful cards today :-):-). A beautiful country house... The thatched roof, the garden with sunflowers and roses.... The whole scenery looks so picturesque! It is great to see a totally different view of Ukraine to all my other cards from there!
And again a whale card... I love to see this animals in their natural habitat. It almost looks as if they both have posed for this picture to be taken.
Like also all the stamps a lot!!


House from the village of Popivka, Zinkiv district, Poltava region. Late 19th century. Popivka lies in the central part of Ukraine.

USA ~Washington~

"Spyhopping" is the term used to describe the behaviour that Orcas display when they position themselves vertically in the water with their heads bobbing on the surface. Orcas are the largest members of the cetacean family and are easely identified by their bold black and white markings and large dorsal fins.

ITALY ~Sicily~

...Finally after more than a week without mail I received a lovely special shaped card with great views of the island Sicily today... I really missed not getting postcards on a regulary base... I think it must be the volcanic eruption of the Eyjafjallajokul (tough name by the way!:-)) that delayed all the mail...
I have also a lot postcards still travelling...

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and an autonomous region of Italy. Views of:
1. Syracuse
2.Cefalù
3.Erice
4.Mount Etna
5.Messina
6.Agrigento

EARTH DAY 2010!!

Today is a very special day and certainly a lot to think about! Maybe we can all try to make a small change... Every little bit helps!... So I'm going by bike to my hairdresser today. ^-^ And you??


For the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010, the world is in greater peril than ever, but there is also unprecedented opportunity to build a new future. Earth Day has the power to bring about historic advances in climate policy, renewable energy and green jobs and catalyze millions who make personal commitments to sustainability – A Billion Acts of Green™ – mobilizing the power of people to create change by taking small steps in our homes, our schools and our businesses that add up to an enormous collective action.

Earth Day 40 is a pivotal opportunity for people, corporations, and governments to join together to create a global green economy. Our coordinated efforts now will be recognized by future generations as a turning point.
http://www.earthday.org/earthday2010

NEW ZEALAND ~Nugget Point~

WOW!! What a breathtaking view...
You can see penguins and sea lions on the beach and sometimes dolphins swimming.


The lighthouse and rocks at Nugget Point, not far from Kaka Bay and Owaka. It is one of the big attractions of the Catlins area.

CZECH REPUBLIC ~Slaný~

The Royal town Slaný is a town in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, located about 25 km northwest of Prague.

BELGIUM ~Antwerp~

... And it is always nice to show my own country on my blog! Got such a lovely "surprise" card from Antwerp! I must say the view is sooo beautiful, the colors are amazing... With a great Antwerp stamp and nice cancellation...


Antwerp is a city situated on the right bank of the river Scheldt. The Cathedral of Our Lady is the largest Gothic construction in the Low Countries.The work started 1352 and it took 169 years of building. Antwerp is also famous for its diamond trading.

UNITED KINGDOM ~London Pub~

Got a lovely card from London today! I once been in London and ofcourse also visited a typical London pub. :-)We can travel from Brussels to London with the Eurostar. It takes about 1h51m with this highspeed train through the Channeltunnel. From central Brussels to central London, the Eurostar is faster than flying!
With also a great stamp, it looks like a cd...

“There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as
by a good tavern or inn” - Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

ROMANIA

Two East European countries, Ukraine and Romania... An amazing view of it so called Dracula castle. While it actually has no real link to Dracula, this castle is one of Romania’s most well known and visited sites. I must say that I never liked the Dracula movies and the castle doesn't even look scary of creepy.:-)
And another great Kiev view! Found this on te internet:
... Kiev always looks beautiful: in the brilliance of chestnut trees “candles” in spring, in magnificence of colors in summer, in the gold of leaves in autumn and in the mystery of winter evenings. I think this says it all...


The Castle-Fortress BRAN was built between 1377-1382 on a crag in the pass Bran and had a great defense role the road connecting Transilvania with Muntenia.Surrounded by an aura of mystery and legend and perched high atop a 200-foot-high rock, Bran Castle owes its fame to its imposing towers and turrets as well as to the myth created around Bram Stocker’s Dracula. Vlad Tepes-Vlad the Impaler was really a very cruel, savage man, but he didn't live in Bran Castle! Between 1920-1947 the castle was the residence for Queen Mary and her family. Now it is a museum.

UKRAINE ~Kiev~

Golden domes of Kyievo-Pecherska Lavra among the chestnuts' candles. Horse Chestnut trees' flower (red or pink) is the symbol of the city of Kiev

CHINA ~Shenyuan Garden~

Got two great official cards today! Another lighthouse from Germany and a beautiful garden from China...

The Shenyuan Garden is found in the Yanghe Hutong at Yan'an Road in Shaoxing. During the Southern Song Dynasty it was a private garden owned by the Shens. Inside the garden is a pool in the shape of a gourd, and the pool is surrounded by a number of buildings erected during the Southern Song Dynasty, including a tiny brogue fashioned out of stone slabs, a pool-side artificial mountain and a well.

GERMANY

Hiddensee Island - . Dat sote Lanneken (the sweet little land) is a tiny patch off Rugen's western coast. What makes it so special is its remote, breathtaking landscape. North of the village of Kloster are the heath and meadows of the 'Dornbush' area, with the island's landmark lighthouse and wind-buckled trees

USA ~Orca Whales~

Cards nr. 24 and 25 for my whale collection arrived today! And they are both so beautiful.... The sender wrote that she last summer was sitting on the beach and when she looked up about 50 yards off the shore where two pod of Orcas... They just looked like this photo....And it was amazing.... For me such nice stories making the cards even more special... And I must admit I'm also a bit jealous! ^-^
And from Holland a lovely multiview with really old stamps, dating from "the Gulden" or Guilder (That was the currency of the Netherlands from the 17th century until 2002 when it was replaced by the euro.) They can still be used...


Orca whales traveling in a pod along the Pacific coaThe orca or killer whale is a toothed whale that is an efficient predator.Orcas grow to be about 27-33 feet (8-10 m) long, weighing more than 8,000-12,000 pounds (3.600-5.400 kg). They are the largest member of the dolphin family. st.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.

NETHERLAND ~Enkhuizen~

At the most easterly point of the region stands Enkhuizen which owes its prosperity to the Zuiderzee in the Golden Century. In the monumental centre there is still much to discover that brings back the memory of the Dutch East India Company period such as the 16th century Drommedaris tower. Adjacent to the historic town centre, the Zuiderzee Museum portrays a picture of life and the past at sea.

THAILAND ~The Royal Barge~

Got two wonderful cards after a long Easter weekend... They are looking soooo totally different but both have something to do with swans... a great winterview with lots of swans of Poland and a so exotic looking boat.... the decorations, colors and people are amazing. The sender wrote that when she saw it for the first time it looked evenmore beautiful than in a picture... I think that must be almost unbelievable! :-)


The Suphannahongsa or golden swan, the personal barge of the King is by far the most majestic. This royal barge, which was carved out of a single teak tree trunk, was completed in 1911.It is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance which has been taking place for nearly 700 years.

POLAND ~Kolobzreg~

Winterview of Kolobrzeg port with almost 1000 year history and is situated at the mouth of the river Parseta flowing into the Baltic Sea.The holiday and touristics base of almost a 50-thousand city let host up to 80 thousand tourists and holiday - makers in the summertime. Kolobrzeg is one of the leading trade ports and an important fishing and fish processing centre.

UKRAINE ~Kiev~

After a day without mail,I received three great cards with a lot of beautiful stamps!:-)
An amazing panoramic view of Kiev, this must be my longest card ever received (about 45cm)I couldn't even scan the whole card...It seems to be a stunning view especially in spring...
A new lighthouse from Germany. I never knew there where so many lighthouses in Germany.
And a very common animal from the Netherlands, the cow...I do see also many cows in my neighbourhood, but more the red and white colored ones.

View of Vydubytsky monastery (founded in the 11thC), railway bridge and new buildings on the left riverside of the Dnieper. And near to the Botanical Garden of the Ukrainian Academy of Science.

NETHERLAND

Nice cows card from Holland. Special to see the reflections of them in the water...

GERMANY

View of the List- West Lighthouse on Sylt.List- West is 11 meters high, has an elevation of 19 meters and a maximum range of 14 seamiles for the white light and is standing on a very stormy point of the isle.