Simon in North Wales

 

Thanks to Susan for the nice card.

    The beautiful Ogwen Valley, or Dyffryn Ogwen in Welsh, is part of the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. Surrounded by towering mountains, this vast glacial valley is also dotted with tranquil lakes and historic towns with an industrial heritage. It is the ideal starting point for hiking in the Snowdonia mountains and discovering some of North Wales' most beautiful attractions.

    Aber Falls is a waterfall located about 3 km south of the village of Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, Wales.     The waterfall is formed as the Afon Goch plunges about 120 feet (37 m) over a sill of igneous rock in the foothills of the Carneddau range. Two tributaries merge; the enlarged stream is known as Afon Rhaeadr Fawr; from the road bridge, Bont Newydd ("New Bridge"), the name becomes Afon Aber.

    Penrhyn slate quarry  is an open pit slate quarry located near the town of Bethesda in the Gwynedd region of Wales. 

    Afon caseg river in north-west Wales draining from some of the greatest peaks in Snowdonia before discharging to the sea on the eastern side of Bangor, Gwynedd.

    Beaumaris Castle  on the island of Anglesey is famous as the greatest castle never built. It was the last of the royal strongholds created by Edward I in Wales – and perhaps his masterpiece.

    Everyone loves Beddgelert and its enviable location. The picturesque stone-built village is the ideal base for exploring all the classic sights and beauty spots – Aberglaslyn Pass to the south, Nant Gwynant to the east, Snowdon to the north.  

LONDON, Big Ben

 

Thanks to nyassa for the card. sent 27 July 2013.

    Big Ben is the nickname of the huge bell that stands atop the Elizabeth Tower of the Palace of Westminster, which is still the seat of the British Parliament. This palace was the only royal residence until the construction of the Tower of London.
In fact the tower you see and which is famous throughout the world is the Elizabeth Tower, nicknamed by abuse of language Big Ben.

    In 1843, following the partial destruction of the palace in a fire 9 years earlier, the architect Charles Barry was commissioned to design the new building, including the Clock Tower that would house Big Ben. He called on another famous architect, Augustus Pugin, to help him in this task.
In 1856, the first bell of Big Ben was cast, but it cracked a few months later during the test phase. Another bell, even more massive, was made at the Whitechapel foundry in 1858, the year the clock tower was completed.
    The origin of the name of this large bell, weighing more than 13 tons, is not clear. The most likely version being that it comes from Benjamin Hall, the engineer and politician who commissioned the manufacture of this bell, and who was a man of great stature.
On December 31, 1923, for the first time ever, the chimes of Big Ben were broadcast on the radio for the New Year. This broadcast quickly became a tradition, and even today the British can hear the sound of the bells on all radio stations and television channels in the country during the celebration of the New Year.
    In 2012, on the occasion of Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee, the clock tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower. Since 2017, renovations have been undertaken in the tower, visits are suspended and the bell no longer rings. The end of the work is scheduled for the course of 2021. Today, the name Big Ben is no longer used to refer only to the bell, but also to the entire clock tower, which is undoubtedly the most famous symbol of the city of London, worldwide.

Stamps from left to right :

• Queen Elizabeth II - Security Machin - M12L

Country:
    United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Series:
    Queen Elizabeth II - Security Machin
Themes:
    Crowns and Coronets | Famous People | Heads of State | Queens | Royalty | Women
Issued on:
    2013-01-03

Greetings from Ireland

 

Thanks to Sebastian . sent 1702/2014

    Ireland is a small island surrounded by three seas in the North Atlantic. Its total coastline of 1,448 kilometers is separated from Great Britain in the east by the Irish Sea. To the south, the Celtic Sea lies between Ireland and the European mainland, while the rugged coastline to the west meets the roaring waves of the North Atlantic.

    When it comes to Ireland's landscapes, you always hear about '40 Shades of Green' - 40 different shades of green. But there is some truth behind the cliché. Ireland is really VERY green. But that's not all.

 

 

 Stamp:

• Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

Country:
    Ireland
Series:
    Irish Animals and Marine Life (6th series)
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Birds | Woodpeckers
Issued on:
    2013-08-01

 

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