Powiat Leborski,Poland

 

Thanks to Monika & Miclai sent 25/01//2013

    Leborski is a town of 37,000 people on the Łeba and Okalica rivers in the Gdańsk Pomerania region in northwestern Poland. Lębork is also the capital of Lębork County in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, formerly the Słupsk Voivodeship (1975–1998) and Gdańsk Voivodeship (1945-1975). 

source (Wikipedia) 

Stamps from left to right 

• Janowiec
  

Country:
    Poland
Series:
    Polish Country Estates 2001
Themes:
    Buildings
Issued on:
    2001-02-28
   

• Cathedral, St Adalbert's Coffin, Gniezno
  

Country:
    Poland
Series:
    Polish City Landmarks
Themes:
    Churches - Cathedrals - Basilicas - Chapels | Townscapes / City Views
Issued on:
    2002-03-01

Riga,Latvian National Opera

 

 

Thank you OKSANA , sent 05.04.2013

    The Latvian National Opera (LNO) is the main theater of the city of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Around the building extends a park.

    The theater is the home of the National Opera and Ballet. The stable company was formed shortly after the independence of the nation, 1918, and two years later the dance company , still the only professional company in the nation , was created.

Stamp

The Small Coat of Arms of Latvia

Country:
    Latvia
Series:
    Coats of Arms of Latvian Towns and Municipalities
Themes:
    Coats of Arms | Heraldic Animals | Lions
Issued on:
    1994-12-21

TATNEFT ARENA Ise Palace

 

 

Thanks to Puskin , sent 14.14.2003

is a multi-sports hall located in Kazan, Russia. It is the ice rink of Ak Bars Kazan.
This multifunctional sports complex is a place where you can come to cheer your favorite team, attend a concert with world famous stars or just have a good time. The arena of the field hockey club "Ak Bars" was built in 2005. 

Stamp

Ryazan Kremlin

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    6th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
    
Themes:
    Architecture | City Walls | Coats of Arms | Fortresses / Strongholds
Issued on:
    2009-10-01

Ukraine

 

Thanks To Margarita .

Postcard shows the map of Ukraine, and Poppies flower.

    Poppies are a common sight in any Ukrainian village.  They are grown in profusion near every house, and small poppies grow wild in the fields in summer. No garden in Ukraine is complete without a row of bright red cultivated poppies.

    Not only do they provide a beautiful burst of color in summer, but their seeds flavor food and pastries throughout the year, and poppy straw is used as an analgesic in traditional medicine. All poppies are, in fact, opium poppies.  Sadly, because of this simple fact, fewer and fewer poppies are being grown, as the government attempts too clamp down on illicit narcotics production by eliminating poppies.

    The poppy was a symbol of death in traditional Ukrainian symbolism.  It would never have been placed on a pysanka.  Pysanky with poppy motifs are a modern Diasporan creation.

 

Stamp:

 

 

 

Bandura

Country:
    Ukraine
Series:
    Seventh Definitive Issue
Themes:
    Musical Instruments | Traditions
Issued on:
    2011-06-07

Burgen am Rhein

Thanks to Caoran . Sent from Germany 02 JULY 2021

 
    Hardly any other natural region in Germany sparks more romantic feelings than the Rhine. Anyone traveling along the river is whisked away to a fairy-tale world. There are 60 picturesque castles and defiant fortresses perched on hilltops along the banks alone.

 

list of castles in the postcard:

• Marksburg Castle, Braubach.
  

• Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, Kaub.

• Katz Castle, St. Goarshausen.

• Burg Reichenstein .

• Mäuseturm.

 

 

Stamp
 

Fritz Walter (1920-2002), Birth Centenary

Country:
    Germany, Federal Republic
Themes:
    Anniversaries and Jubilees | Athletes | Football (Soccer) | Sports
Issued on:
    2020-10-01

 

 

 

Steep Coast

Thanks to Julia  

    A steep coast^[1] is a stretch of coastline where the mainland descends abruptly into the sea. There is a sharp transition from the land to sea as opposed to that on a flat coast where the land descends gradually seawards. The height of the land on a steep coast is well above sea level.

    Most steep coast are rocky cliffed coasts (also called abrasion coasts), where the erosion processes of wave action result in a steep declivity. Another type of steep coast is the fjord which is formed when a glacial valley lies partially under water as a result of a rise in sea levels. In Norway, New Zealand or Alaska there are fjords whose almost vertical sides tower over 1,000 metres above the water and plunge 300 metres below it.

    On volcanic islands the sea can enter the caldera and the face of the volcanic pipe can form a steep coastline. The best-known example of that is Santorini in the archipelago of the Cyclades in Greeces. Fira, the main town of the island, lies on the rim of the caldera which is around 300 metres above the sea and drops below it for another 200 metres. 

Source (Wiki)

Stamps from left to right 

• Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) 

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Lynx | Mammals | Wild Cats
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

• Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
  

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Bears | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

Kutcherla lake in Altai Russia

 

Thanks to Anastasia sent 17.03.13

    Lake Kutcherla is a lake in Altai in the Russian Federation. It is located on the northern slopes of the Katun Mountains in the Altai Republic, above the river of the same name.
It is one of the most important glacial lakes of the region.
    The lake is surrounded by subalpine and alpine vegetation, with the mountain slopes covered with conifers. Siberian ibex can be found here, which unfortunately are subject to poaching. The rare snow leopard sometimes appears in the area. The fish that live in its waters are mainly grayling and rainbow trout.
    The lake with the emerald color of its waters is a popular destination for both Russian and foreign hiking expeditions. It is a part of the Katun Nature Reserve and therefore a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamps from left to right

• Moose (Alces alces)
  

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Deer | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

• Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
  

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Bears | Mammals

• Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
  

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Foxes | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29      

• Ocean Wave
  

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    Earth - Light-Blue Planet
Themes:
    Environment Protection | Sea | Water
Issued on:
    2005-08-16

The Winter Palace,St. Petersburg

 

Thanks to Olga for this card sent , 24.03.2019.

The Winter Palace

    The Winter Palace is a former imperial palace in the heart of St. Petersburg, built from 1754 to 1762 at the request of Empress Elisabeth, daughter of Peter the Great.

    Comparing the architecture of the Winter Palace with the buildings of the beginning of the century, one can see how much the artistic tastes had evolved by the middle of the XVIII century.

    The dimensions are quite different. At the beginning, the Winter Palace had 1,050 rooms, 117 staircases, 1,886 doors and 1,945 windows. The cornice around the palace is almost two kilometers long! What a difference with the modest homes of Tsar Peter I and his courtiers. 

Stamps from left to right

• Clock on Central Telegraph Office, Moscow

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    Science and Technology - Clocks
Themes:
    Architecture | Bridges
Issued on:
    2011-08-15
    
    

• Pochtamtsky Bridge across Moika River, St. Petersburg

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    Architectural Structures - Pedestrian Bridges
Themes:
    Architecture | Bridges
Issued on:
    2011-08-15
    
 

• Rostov Kremlin

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    6th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    City Walls | Fortresses / Strongholds | Townscapes / City Views
Issued on:
    2014-01-24
    

• Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Foxes | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

SHAYBA ARENA

 Thank to my freind Olesya sent 15.02.14.

SHAYBA ARENA is an omnisport hall located in Adler, Russia in Greater Sochi, Russia. A demountable hall opened in 2012, it is the secondary venue for ice hockey events at the 2014 Olympic Games. Its capacity is seven thousand seats. The name "Shaiba" means "puck" in Russian. 

Stamps from left to right 

• Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)
  

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Lynx | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

• Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

Country:
    Russia
Series:

6th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation

Themes:
    Architecture | City Walls | Coats of Arms | Fortresses / Strongholds | UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Issued on:
    2009-10-01

Brest Railway Museum,Brest, Belarus

 Thank to Olga sent 11.04.2013.

     Brest is a city with a long and complex history, and at different times it has been part of different countries and linked to different cultures. Mentioned for the first time in the chroincles of the 11th century, Brest was a city in the east of Kievan Rus. Later it became a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (medieval Belorussian-Lithuanian state) and finally in the 16th century the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. When the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was divided between Prussia, Russia and Austria at the end of the 18th century, Brest became a part of Russia on the newly created eastern border with Austria. After World War I, Poland was re-established as a country and took control of Brest as well as most of the western part of today's Belarus. In 1940, this area was again annexed, this time by the Soviet Union, and became part of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Brest became a city of modern Belarus.

 

    At Brest Railway Museum, see a display of historical locomotives at the first outdoor railway museum in Belarus, opened in 2002. Its collection features 56 units, including steam engines, two steam cranes, retro passenger cabs, and diesel/electric engines. Watch for the Soviet red star on the front of many locomotives. You can explore the interior of several wagons, which are open for visitors. Take a guided tour to learn more about the exhibits and the history of the railway system. Plan your Brest Railway Museum visit and explore what else you can see and do in Brest using our

 

Stamp

The Belarus ornament

Country:
    Belarus
Series:
    13th Definitive issue
Themes:
    Art
Issued on:
    2012-01-27

Gura Humorului, Bucovina, Romania

Thank you MARIUS for the nice card this a nice shot  , sent 15.APR.2014 .

    Gura Humorului is a town in Suceava County, north-eastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina. Gura Humorului is the seventh largest urban settlement in the county, with a population of 12,729 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census. It was declared a town in 1904 and it became a resort in 2005. The town administers the former village of Voroneț (which became a neighborhood), site of Voroneț Monastery. 

 

 

 Stamp:

• Winged Tobacco (Nicotiana alata Link & Otto)

Country:
    Romania
Series:
    Flowers’ Clock (II)
Themes:
    Clocks | Flowers | Plants (Flora)
Issued on:
    2013-06-21

 

Peregrine Falcon,Poland

 Thanks to asia for the nice card sent 11.04.2013

The Chronicle of the Peregrine Falcon in Poland 

(source http://www.peregrinus.pl/en/peregrine-falcon/157-peregrine-story-in-poland)

    At the beginning of the 20th century, the Peregrine Falcon was a common species on the entire territory of Poland, although not abundant. It could be found most frequently in the area of Warmia and Mazury (North-eastern Poland). The literature about the Peregrine Falcon’s presence in pre-war Poland is scarce and so is the information about the species after World War II. At that time, Poland was in the middle of the region of the tree-nesting population, which extended from the North-eastern Germany to the lowlands of Belarus and Russia.

    Rapid decline of the population was recorded in the 1950s. Nests of the Peregrine Falcon on the territory of Poland were last seen in 1964 in the vicinity of Krakow and also near Koszalin and Wroclaw.

    The first attempts at breeding the Peregrine Falcon in captivity were started by the Polish falconers in the late 1970s and the first positive results were achieved in mid-1980s.  In the beginning of 1970s, when the Polish falconry was revived, the Peregrine Falcon was already extinct on the territory of Poland.  Because of this, all birds involved in breeding at that time originated from the West-European breeding centres.  They represented nominative sub-species of the Peregrine Falcon with their ancestors coming from the German, Scottish and Scandinavian populations.

    Reintroduction in the wild began in the year 1990 and it was carried out mostly in the forested areas, mainly in the mountains (Pieniny) and in large cities (Warszawa, Krakow).  Currently the work is coordinated by the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinus) Reintroduction Council in Poland. In the breeding activities, 5 breeding centres and several associated institutions are engaged, under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment.

    During the period 1990 – 2006, about 300 Peregrine Falcons have been reintroduced in the natural habitat and about 80 nestlings have hatched in the wild.  Since about mid-90’s, the Peregrine Falcon can be seen more often in its natural environment.

    In 1998, the first wild nest of the Peregrine Falcon was found in Warsaw and since then the number of known wild nests has increased. In the year 2005 we were aware of 10 breeding pairs and the majority of them came from our reintroduction. We also know about several birds, reintroduced or born in their natural habitat in Poland, establishing their nests in Germany.  We expect similar number of breeding pairs in forests, however we were not able to locate them so far.

 

    A total of 350 Peregrines were released in Polish forest in the period 1990 – 2009. The tree-nesting part of the project was not as successful, as the similar project conducted in Germany, what was discussed at the 2nd International Peregrine Conference Poland 2007. Since 1999 Peregrines breed in Polish cities and mountains only.

In 2010 Society for Wild Animals “Falcon” started Polish Peregrine Project on a new basis. The plan was to intensify reintroduction aimed at tree-nesting population on a small number of hacking stations. A total of 56 Peregrines were released in three hacking sites in 2010. The birds came from breeders form Poland, Denmark, Germany, Czech and Slovak Republics and Austria. In 2011 closer cooperation with German Falconers Club /DFO/was started and DFO members and the breeding station run by prof. Christian Saar in Hamburg will provide Peregrines for the release in Poland. A total of 66 young Peregrines were released in Poland in 2011. The birds came from falconers of DFO and breeders in Poland, Denmark, Czech and Slovak Republics.

 

A long expected in Poland nest of Peregrines on tree was found in spring 2012 in the old nest of White-tailed See-eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in north-east part of country. For the first time since 1964 Peregrine chicks on tree were ringed in Poland. That was a very symbolic moment. Two chicks were male and female. They were ringed by Slawomir Sielicki from Society for Wild Animals “Falcon” in presence of Adam Mrugasiewicz - who ringed last known Polish tree-nesting Peregrines 48 years ago, Piotr Adamiok , who found this nest, our friends from German Falconers Order (DFO), Polish falconers and local hosts, foresters and ornithologists. In previous years only single birds from Poland nested on trees in Germany, there is also one confirmed case of nesting on tree in Poland in 2010, but after the fledging.

    In 2012 further reintroductions were conducted, with a total of 71 Peregrine released by Falcon Society in our 4 reintroduction sites and additional 4 chicks (2 provided by Falcon Society) in Krynki Forestry, making a total of 75 Peregrines relesed in Polish forests. With 2 chics born wild 77 young Pregrines soared this year in Polish forests.

Stamps for left to right

• 2007 - The Stanislaw Wyspianski's Year.

Country:
    Poland
Themes:
    Painters
Issued on:
    2007-05-18

• Vienna

Country:
    Poland
Series:
    Capital Cities of EU States
Themes:
    European Union | Townscapes / City Views
Issued on:
    2008-10-24

Winter Wood, Arkhangelsk, Russia

 

Thanks to Svetlana  for the nice  Winter Wood Card sent 05.02.2013.

    Arkhangelsk (population 390 000) is a regional center in Northwestern Russia, located on both banks of Northern Dvina river near its inflow into the White Sea, about 1100 km to the north of Moscow and about 1500 km northeast of Saint Petersburg. 

(source: https://wikitravel.org/en/Arkhangelsk)

• Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Bears | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

• Zaraysk Kremlin

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    6th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Architecture | City Walls | Coats of Arms | Fortresses / Strongholds
Issued on:
    2009-10-01

TSAKSKOY SELO.THE CATHERINE PALACE INTERIORS

     Former summer residence of the imperial family, Tsarskoe Selo is a museum-reserve located 25 km south of St. Petersburg. It includes two large English-style parks, two vast palaces and several decorative pavilions. Its name translates from Russian as "Tsar's Village". Founded by Peter the Great in the early 18th century, the residence first became the property of his wife Catherine. Later, Peter's daughter Elisabeth enlarged the Catherine Palace and built a "golden enfilade", a succession of salons decorated with paintings and gilding for luxurious receptions, games and balls. At the end of the 18th century, Empress Catherine II invited the Scottish architect Charles Cameron to redesign the parks and decorate some of the salons in classical style. At the same time, she started the construction of the second palace for her grandson, the future emperor Alexander I. The last Russian emperor Nicholas II signed his abdication from the throne at the Alexander Palace in February 1917. After the revolution, the parks and palaces were opened to the public. Nazi troops occupied the territory during the Second World War and almost completely destroyed the palaces. The restoration work begun after the end of the war continues to this day, but the "Golden enfilade" and the salons of Catherine II once again offer visitors their original brilliance. The Amber Room of the Catherine Palace, a unique room in the world with its decoration of mosaic panels of amber and minerals of coniferous resin was once considered the "eighth wonder of the world". Disappeared during the period of Nazi occupation, it was fully restored and opened to the public in 2003. To do: Visit To see: The Golden enfilade of the Catherine Palace, the Amber Room This location is in the St. Petersburg travel guide .

Stamps from left to right:

• Guards Patrol Ship "Metel"
  

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    Weapons of Victory - Warships
Themes:
    Anniversaries and Jubilees | Navies | Second World War | Ships | Warships
Issued on:
    2013-05-08   

• Moose (Alces alces)

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
    Animals (Fauna) | Deer | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

• Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Bears | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

Braslau Lakes National Park

 Thank you Julia for the nice card , sent 14.04.2013.

    

    The Braslav Lake Area is famous for unusual landscapes and terrain left by the ancient glacier.

    The major asset and pride of the region are its lakes. Here you can find about 300 lakes of various sizes, forms, depth, composition, water transparency, flora and fauna. For their unusual beauty they are called “the blue necklace” of Belarus.

    The deepest lakes include South Voloso (40.4 meters deep), North Voloso (29.2 meters), Uklya (25 meters) and Strusto (23 meters).

    The biggest ones are Drivyaty (36 square kilometers, the 5th largest in Belarus) and Snudy (22 square kilometers, the 8th largest in Belarus).

        Here you can find relict invertebrates that live only in clean water as well as over 30 species of fish. The Braslav Lakes are home to about 35% of all birds nesting in Belarus. 

(Source:  https://www.belarus.by/en/about-belarus/natural-history/braslavskiye-ozera)

In the card you can The catholic Church of the Heart of Jesus.

 

Stamp:

• Khatyn

Country:
    Belarus
Themes:
    Second World War
Issued on:
    2013-03-22

The village of Khatyn and its sad history     

      Khatyn was once a village, located 50 km from Minsk. Today, at this place, there is a memorial dedicated to those who died during the Great Patriotic War. The place has great importance for Belarusians. I will tell you a sad story about the massacre of a population by a battalion of Nazis. In addition, I will tell you about the memorial complex itself, which you can visit during your trip to Belarus.

    Before 1942, Khatyn was an ordinary village. In 1943, Belarusian partisans killed a German officer, a fact that marked the beginning of the siege of the village by the enemy. All the inhabitants of the village were locked up in a shed and burned, including the elderly, women and children. One hundred and forty-nine people died in the shed that day, including 75 innocent children. Only one man, 56 years old, saved himself: Joseph Kaminski. He had also tried to save his child, but he could do nothing. The story of Khatyn is not an isolated case, because during the Second World War, 628 other villages were burned; however, Khatyn has become exactly a symbol of the tragedy of the Belarusian people.

UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS

 

Thanks to NATALI from lviv .

    The Ukrainian Carpathians (Ukrainian: Українські Карпати) are a section of the Eastern Carpathians, within the borders of modern Ukraine. They are located in the southwestern corner of Western Ukraine, within administrative territories of four Ukrainian regions (oblasts), covering northeastern part of Zakarpattia Oblast, southwestern part of Lviv Oblast, southern half of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast and western half of Chernivtsi Oblast.^[1] 

^{(SOURCE :Wikipedia)}

Stamp:

• English Oak (Quercus robur)

Country:
    Ukraine
Series:
    Eighth Definitive Issue - Trees
Themes:
    Plants (Flora)
Issued on:
    2012   

Maramures tanjeaua de la hoteni

 Sent from Romania , Thank you DIANA 22.03.2013

    Maramures, home of culture and civilization, which has carved its history in wood, is the place where traditions, costumes and folk art are present like nowhere else in Romania.
Maramures is a huge museum outside, and the daily life of the village represents a real return in time.

    Maramures is a region that has preserved, throughout its history, an authentic relationship between customs and work, daily life and festivals. The wooden objects, decorated with great artistic sense, accompany all the important moments in life, but the most fascinating are the crosses, real elements of communication between the world of the living and the world of the dead. The Joyful Cemetery of Sapanta, created by the popular artist Ion Patras, gathers hundreds of "talking crosses". Through a text in which self-irony is intertwined with drama, the life of the deceased person is summarized in a few sentences.
    Traditional crafts, such as weaving, wood carving, painting on wood or glass, are still practiced, and are transmitted from father to son.

Stamps from left to right :

• Live healthy

Country:
    Romania
Series:
    Live Healthy!
Themes:
    Fruits
Issued on:
    2012-05-03

• Pressing Irons II - Italy, 18th century

Country:
    Romania
Series:
    Pressing Irons   
Themes:
    Home Appliances
Issued on:
    2012-02-17

• Christmas 2012

Country:
    Romania
Series:
    Christmas 2012
Themes:
    Christmas
Issued on:
    2012-11-15

The sandrock near Rozhen Bulgaria

 

Thank you Irina for the Wonderful  card. sent 21/03/2013.

 

The Melnik pyramids are located northeast of the town of Melnik (direction Rozhen Monastery), in the southwestern foothills of the Pirin Mountain. They are rock formations, some with height of 100 meters, with sand, almost vertical slopes. The most popular among them are a group of pyramids, which is located near the village of Kurlanovo (see also the Kurlanovo sandstone pyramids). 

The pyramids can be reached by well-marked eco-trail from town of Melnik or from Rozhen monastery. Apart the "rock pyramids", in the region can be seen many other interesting rock formations such as "stone mushroom","rock needles","cones" and others.

Melnik pyramids were declared a natural monument in 1960. (source http://visit.guide-bulgaria.com/a/608/melnik_sandstones_pyramids.htm)

 

 

 

Stamps from left to right :

• Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua tertia)

Country:
    Bulgaria
Series:
    Night butterflies
Variants:
    Click to see variants
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Butterflies | Insects
      

• Head as a Pot Belly

Country:
    Bulgaria
Series:
    Gold Treasure of Panagjurište
Themes:
    Golden Objects | Sculptures
Issued on:
    1999-11-15

PRAHA

 

Thanks to Alice for the nice card , sent 29/07/2013

    Prague is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the European continent. This city is the capital of the Czech Republic and is located in the heart of Central Europe. It has everything to please lovers.

    In the postcard you can see :

PRAGUE CASTLE . 

    Prague Castle is the most important cultural and historical monument in the Czech Republic and a symbol of the thousand-year-old development of the Czech state. It is an incredible complex of palaces, religious buildings, fortifications, administrative and residential buildings, all of which are precious edifices representative of all artistic periods. It has been the seat of Bohemian dukes, kings and emperors and even, since 1918, presidents of the Republic.
The 45-hectare site, which traces the history of the country, was the first to be included in the list of National Cultural Monuments in 1962.

Five of the Most Beautiful Bridges in Prague

    Prague may be known as the city of a Hundred Spires but it could just as well be the city of a Hundred bridges. As the Vltava River meanders through the historic town, it is crossed by a series of bridges, each of which have their own cultural or architectural charm. From the famous Charles Bridge and the historic Legion Bridge to the Art Nouveau Čechův Bridge and the modern Troja Bridge, these are the most beautiful bridges in Prague. (source:https://www.corinthia.com/prague/discover-prague/five-of-the-most-beautiful-bridges-in-prague/)

 

Stamp:

•  600 years of the Prague's old town astronomical clock

Country:
    Czech Republic
Themes:
    Astronomy | Clocks | Measuring Instruments
Issued on:
    2010-06-16

Fauna of Belarus

Thank you Helen for the wonderful card sent 18-04-2013

 Belarus is located in the north of Central Europe.
Without access to the sea, the territory of Belarus is characterized by large low-lying plains, covered with vast forests.
Belarus has many lakes and is known as the "country of blue eyes".

Belarus is home to a particularly rich fauna with about 50 species of mammals including wild boar, elk, lynx, wild horses, mink and bison.
Many species were on the verge of extinction before the Belarusian government embarked on an intense protection campaign. The many lakes and rivers of Belarus are home to a wide variety of fish. 

In the card you can see Osprey Bird

 

 Stamps from left to right :

• Europa - Forests, Stylized Animals and Trees

Country:
    Belarus
Series:
    Europa (C.E.P.T.) 2011 - Forests
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Bison | C.E.P.T. / Europe | Forests | Mammals | Trees
Issued on:
    2011-04-14

 

• Church in Polatsk. 1761-1777

Country:
    Belarus
Series:
    Fourteenth Definitive Issue. Architectural Monuments
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Bison | C.E.P.T. / Europe | Forests | Mammals | Trees
Issued on:
    2011-04-14

 

Polska

 

 

Thanks To IRINA for the nice card.

    Poland, country of central Europe. Poland is located at a geographic crossroads that links the forested lands of northwestern Europe to the sea lanes of the Atlantic Ocean and the fertile plains of the Eurasian frontier. Now bounded by seven nations, Poland has waxed and waned over the centuries, buffeted by the forces of regional history. In the early Middle Ages, Poland’s small principalities and townships were subjugated by successive waves of invaders, from Germans and Balts to Mongols. In the mid-1500s, united Poland was the largest state in Europe and perhaps the continent’s most powerful nation. Yet two and a half centuries later, during the Partitions of Poland (1772–1918), it disappeared, parceled out among the contending empires of Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

    A land of striking beauty, Poland is punctuated by great forests and rivers, broad plains, and tall mountains. Warsaw (Warszawa), the country’s capital, combines modern buildings with historic architecture, most of which was heavily damaged during World War II but has since been faithfully restored in one of the most thoroughgoing reconstruction efforts in European history. Other cities of historic and cultural interest include Poznań, the seat of Poland’s first bishopric; Gdańsk, one of the most active ports on the busy Baltic Sea; and Kraków, a historic centre of arts and education and the home of Pope John Paul II, who personified for the Polish their country’s struggle for independence and peace in modern times.

 

 

Stamp:

• Capricorn

                    Country:
                                    Poland
                     Series:
                                    Zodiac Signs (1996)
                    Themes:
                                    Zodiac
                     Issued on:
                                    1996-07-10

 

Gera,Thüringen

 

Thanks to Sylvia for the nice card .

    Gera is a German town in Thuringia. Famous for its cloth since the Middle Ages, Gera was an important center of the textile industry in the 19th century. Capital of the principality of Reuss from 1848, important industrial city of the GDR, Gera is struggling to reconvert and has lost 20% of its population since 1990.

    Gera is the birthplace of Otto Dix, a major painter of the 20th century in Germany. 

    In the 19th century, Gera became one of the largest railway centers in Germany, at the intersection of several lines. The local textile industry grew together and the town developed rapidly. You can visit some of the many residences of the time that bear witness to this glorious industrial past. The house-museum Haus Schulenburg designed by the Belgian architect Henry van de Velde is an outstanding example
    Head to the market square in Gera, one of the most beautiful squares in Thuringia, to see the splendid town hall. With its baroque mansard roof and elegant tower over the main entrance, it is one of the most beautiful monuments in the city. A three-story baroque government building built around 1720 is visible 'if you take a walk behind the city hall.
    Not far away is the St. Saviour's Church, another masterpiece of German Baroque with its frescoed ceiling and ornate galleries along the nave. Next to the church, you will find a natural history museum, exhibiting the work of Thuringia's most famous ornithologists in its collections.
    On the western outskirts of the city is the Gera City Forest, the largest of its kind among Thuringian cities. To the northwest of the city, another wooded area awaits you for a breath of fresh air.

Stamps:

• The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Country:
    Germany, Federal Republic
Series:
    Legends of Germany
Themes:
    Legends | Musical Instruments | Musicians | Rats
Issued on:
    2020-12-03

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

 Thanks goes to Jason .

The Legend of the Sand Dollar
    THE SAND DOLLAR or HOLY GHOST SHELL is one of the most unusual specimens of marine life.
    The markings on the shell symbolize the Birth, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ.
    On the top side of the shell, an outline of the Easter Lily is clearly seen.
    At the center of the Lily a five pointed Star representing the Star of Bethlehem appears.
    The five narrow openings are representative of the four nail holes and the spear wound made in the body of Christ during the Crucifixion.
    Reversing the shell you will easily recognize the outline of the Christmas Poinsettia and also the Bell.
     When broken, inside the shell are five little birds called Doves of Peace.
     Some say they are the Angels that sang to the Shepherds the First Christmas Morning.

Stamps from left to right

• Wisdom, Rockefeller Center

Country:
    United States of America
Themes:
    Gods and goddesses | Statues
Issued on:
    2008-09   

• American Clock
  

Country:
    United States of America
Series:
    American Design
Themes:
    Clocks | Eagles | Stylized Animals
Issued on:
    2006-08-04

AURORA BOREALIS,CANADA

 

Thank you For wishing me birthday my friend ROB .

    Northern CANADA is one of the world's best places to view the light display also known as "northern lights". We owe the spectacular phenomenon to the collision of charged particles directed by the earth's magnetic field, green hues are most common and are produced when oxygen atoms are involved.

 

 

Stamps from left to right:

• Sir Winston Churchill 

Country:

    Canada.
Themes:
    Authors | Commemoration | Famous People | Literary People (Poets and Writers) | Literature | Nobel Laureates | Omnibus Issues | Politicians
Issued on:
    1965-08-12 

• McAdam Railway Station, New Brunswick

 Country:
    Canada
Series:
    High Value Definitives 1988-93: Architecture
Themes:
    Architecture | Buildings | Stations
Issued on:
    1989-05-05