Alhana's Postcards

Easter

My second Easter postcard came from The Netherlands and it is a lovely illustration by Silke Leffler. I liked it very, very much!

Postcrossing

And the stamp that made it possible I received this beautiful postcard is a Postcrossing stamp! ♥ My first one! I was so happy. I feel now a more official member of the Postcrossing project. ♪

Postcard from: Bergen op Zoom, North Brabant, The Netherlands.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one Postcrossing stamp.

Thank you very much, Mirjam!
{NL-1126121}

Palace square & Alexander column

I am making a good collection of cards from St-Petersburg, both from official and private swaps. Suddenly it seems I have been there, as every view makes me feel at home. This time, I got to travel to the Palace Square and see the impressive Column of Alexander in front of the -not less impressive- Hermitage or Winter Palace. Not only I do like the building itself but thinking of how many pieces of art are inside makes my head go dizzy! Stendhal syndrome from a postcard, could that happen?

Russian fauna (left) & painting by Z. Serebriakova

On the back of the card, a handful stamps representing Russian animals that I have received before: the fox (0.50), the bear (10 R) and the lynx (2.00) -- the lynx is a new addition I love because the Iberian lynx is an endangered species in Spain, and featuring them in stamps is a way as good as any to raise awareness. And they are cute wild cats.

The right stamp, however, depicts a painting of Zinaida Serebriakova, a Russian artist from the early 20th century, called The Shoots of Autumn Crops (1908). It belongs to a series issued to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the birth of the painter.

Another themed postcard! Russian art. ♪

Postcard from: St-Petersburg, Russia.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: five! One 0.50 fox, two 2.00 lynx, one 10 R bear and one 9.00 painting by Z. Serebriakova.

Thank you, Olga!
{RU-847580}

Canis Lupus

The European Wolf from the Belarussian series of Fauna of Belarus (I love it!).

Lepus Europaeus (left) and Martes martes (right)

Two stamps from the Wild Life series issued in 2008: the hare and the marten. Great drawings!

This postcard's theme: Fauna of Belarus.

Postcard from: Zhodzhina, Minsk region, Belarus.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 300 ruble (hare) and one 1000 ruble (marten).

Thank you, Mary!
{BY-411811}

Room 081

A mysterious free postcard came unsigned from Taiwan. As I don't understand Chinese characters, the pre-printed text doesn't make sense to me. A pity, because this seems an art project made of postcards from all over the world. What a nice card to send from the Postcrossing project, don't you think?

Tabebuia Chrysantha

This beautiful flower comes from the araguaney tree and its name, Tabebuia Chrysantha, means "golden flower". It is the national tree of Venezuela. I wonder whether there are araguaneys in Taiwan too.

Postcard from: Changhua City, Taiwan.
Received: April 2012.
Language: Chinese.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one NT$12 stamp of the araguaney flower.

Xiè xiè, Liu Ruowei!
{TW-509953}

Cherry Blossom Viewing (detail)

This is a detail from a Japanese six-panel screen from the Edo period, circa 1700-1800, called Cherry Blossom Viewing. Ink, colours and gold on paper. The original piece is exhibited at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum / Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture, in California (USA). Danielle was kind enough to send me this postcard at the beginning of the spring. She bought this one so it would match the stamps!

Cherry Blossom Centennial (top), American Toleware (bottom left) & Clock (right)

About the Cherry Blossom Centennial stamps:

In 1912 Japan gave 3,000 cherry trees to the United States, which were planted round the Tidal Basin in the nation’s capital. In artist Paul Rogers’s design for the se-tenent stamps, blossoming trees arch over a family on a stroll with two girls dressed in bright kimonos, the Washington Monument in the background. In the stamp on the right, the Jefferson Memorial is the backdrop for sightseers under a canopy of pink blooms.

I am glad she didn't have to split the stamps up! They look very beautiful together. Where I live we have almond trees. They blossom early, usually around February, and the sight of them is just breath-taking. Those ornamental cherry trees blooming and reflecting on the water must be just an amazing view!

This postcard's theme: Japanese cherry blossoms.

Postcard from: Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one Cherry Blossom Centennial 'Forever' stamps (both sides), one American Toleware 5c and one American clock 10c.

These are some stamps I have received from Mexico. As I stated before, they come from a Danish penpal who lives in Greenland and was vacationing in Mexico. Furthermore, when this postcard came to Europe, was re-stamped again in the UK. That makes it my most international card to the date!

Mexican stamps (top) & Her Majesty (bottom)

They are part of the Creación Popular (Popular Creation) series and were issued in 2011. The original pieces, examples of traditional folk handcrafting in Mexico, can be found at the Museum of Popular Art. From left to right:

♪ Cesto corita seri (basket) from Punta Chueca (Sonora)
♪ Peine de cuerno (comb made of horn) from San Antonio la Isla (Estado de México)
♪ Tinaja de barro canelo (earthenware jar) from Tonalá (Jalisco)

Today's theme is Cinco de Mayo & Mexico

My first postcard from Lithuania! This is the standard Lithuanian postbox. I like them to be yellow, as our Spanish pillar boxes. Very post-like. And another post horn to add to my collection! (1) (2)

* Edited: if you are interested, this card is available online at favoritepostcard.com.

Battle of Zalgiris

This stamp is commemorative of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Zalgiris, considered to be one of the most important historical events of Lithuania and one of the largest battles which took place in the Medieval Europe. In Poland they know it as Battle of Grunwald and other countries name it Battle of Tannenberg.

Postcard from: Vilnius, Lithuania.
Received: april 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 2.45 Lt 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald.

Thank you, Jurga!
{LT-198882}

Kara Dag

A beautiful spring view of the Kara Dag Mountain, part of the Kara Dag Nature Reserve, dropping to the Black Sea in Crimea (Ukraine). Although it is called mountain, Kara Dag is actually an extint volcano that emerged during Jurassic times. "Kara Dag" means "black mountain" in the Crimean Tatar language.

The native flowers in the foreground remind me strongly of our Mediterranean coast. Somehow the light and the feeling is the same, although the climate must be very different.

Left: Happy New Year! & right: Askania Nova

Two beautiful stamps this time. On the left side, the New Year stamp (З Новим роком!) and on the right, the Askania Nova nature reserve (Асканія-Нова) stamp from the Seven Nature Wonders of Ukraine series.

Postcard from: Kiev, Ukraine.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 1.80 hrívnia New Year stamp and one 2.20 hrívnia Askania Nova stamp, both from 2011.

Thank you, Mierna!
{UA-246608}

水房清流

This is a traditional ink painting on paper by Chinese artist Chen Youhua, called "Water Garden and Clear Stream" (although 房 means house, so it would be "Water House"?). It was exhibited at the Shangai Art Fair in 2011. The ink technique is amazingly detailed. The kind of add card that I love to receive!

澳门运动场

On the back of the postcard, two stamps of 1998 series of architecture: Estádio Campo Desportivo, also known as Macao Stadium.

Postcard from: Shenyang, China.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: two 150 fēn (分) of the Macao Stadium, issued in 1998.

Xiè xiè, Wang!
{CN-558664}

West & center part of the state

Nebraska became the 37th state to be admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867. Today, Nebraska is one of the country's leading producers of feed crops and livestock.

Downtown area

This is the downtonwn area of Omaha: business disctrict to the right and commercial shopping district to the left.

The Nebraska state capitol

Lincoln is the capitol city of Nebraska, about 45 min drive from Omaha. It is a small college town -- University of Nebraska. They have the country's only unicameral legislature.

Joslyn Art Museum

The local art museum, Joslyn Art Museum, is located in 2200 Dodge Street. They have a good collection of Western American art and one of the Little Dancer sculptures of Degas. The glass sculpture in the window is done by glass artist Dale Chihuly. Free entrance on Saturday mornings!

Round up time (top) & herds of bufallo (bottom)

Nebraska, where the West begins, has lots of cattle ranches and exports beef. You still can see some buffalos in the countryside -- along with loads of cows!

Go Green (left & centre), Rockefeller Center (top) & American Toleware (bottom)

All five postcards came together in an envelope safe and sound. These stamps made my day and put a big smile on my face. I am a huge fan of everything green, including the colour itself! I try to go green everyday and am glad to say that I follow both advices on the stamps: days are mostly sunny where I live so I can let nature do the work. Also, I just walk or take the bus everyday and share rides when I need to go somewhere farther. ♪

On the top right, a stamp of the Wisdom mural of the Rockefeller Center in New York City with a facial value of $1, and below the gorgeous coffeepot painted by Lou Nolan from the American series (American Toleware).

Postcard from: Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Received: March 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: yes.
Stamps: four. Two Forever USA Go Green, "share rides" & "let nature do the work"; one $1 Wisdom, Rockefeller Center, New York City and one 5c American Toleware.

Thank you very much for these cards, Danielle! ♥

Violet & green Northern lights

I don't think I can have enough of these! This is the first time I see these colours in the northern lights -- it was also a first for the sender, who had taken this photo herself and got it printed at a print company. The card came with a little scratch on the bottom right corner, which bothered me a little because the image is breathtaking.

How wonderful must it be to live in the Norwegian countryside?

post horn (left) & art by Irma Salo Jaeger (right)

Another post horn! ♥ This one from Norway with green colours reminds me very badly of the label of a beer company. I wonder who got inspired by whom?

On the right side, an art stamp. The stampmotive is a section of Lyset ved pinsetider, 162 x 200cm. Commemorative Issue Norwegian art II issued in 2009. This is the info I found about the artist:

Irma Salo Jæger (b. 1928 in Finland) has been a major figure in Norwegian art since the 1960s. She studied art in Munich, Oslo and Florence after taking a degree in art history in Helsinki. She is regarded as one of the greatest exponents of abstract painting in Norway, and her debut coincided with the breakthrough of this form of expression around 1960. Her paintings are characterised by clearly demarcated areas of intense, bright colour, often blues, reds and oranges. Irma Salo Jaeger held a professorship at Statens Kunstakademi in Oslo from 1986 until 1992. Her work is presented in a book by art historian Erik Daehlin, which was published in 2002.

Postcard from: Rendalen, Østerdalen, Norway.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: a 1 KR of a post horn and a 12 KR of Irma Salo Jæger's work.

Thank you very much, Linn! ♥
{NO-60573}

Łazienki Królewskie

Łazienki Królewskie (Royal Baths) is the largest park in Warsaw (Poland). It was designed in the 17th century, and enlarged and developed in Classical style in the 18th century. What a wonderful place! I can picture the ladies dressed in full gowns and wigs taking walks around the lake...

From left to right, top-down:
♪ Northern façade of the Palace.
♪ Temple of Diana.
♪ The Amphiteatre on the Island.
♪ Statue of King Jan III Sobieski.
♪ The Palace on the Island.
♪ The White House.
♪ Monument to Fryderyk Chopin.
♪ The Myślewicki Palace.
♪ The New Orangery.

Postcard from: Września, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland.
Received: March 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: none. It was paid & directly postmarked at the office.

Thank you, Jędrzej!
{PL-399533}

Воронцовский дворец

This is the Moorish Revival southern façade of the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka (Crimea, Ukraine). Built from 1828 through 1848 -- which you can tell by its Romantic architecture: remember Lednice's Minaret? -- for Prince Vorontsov for use as his personal summer residence. This Romantic palace was designed in the English Tudor style, although it encompass elements of Scottish Baronial, Moorish Revival and Gothic Revival styles. It still manages to incorporate Classical style architectural elements. There are a total of 150 rooms.

The Vorontsov Palace is part of a national historical preserve along with the 40 hectares park, including the Massandra Palace in neighbouring townlet Massandra.

Каламар

The stamp doesn't match the card (you cannot have it always). But for a penmanship lover like me, it couldn't be more valuable. An old inkpot! ♪

Postcard from: Rubizhne, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine.
Received: March 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one inkpot stamp for European postage, issued on April 14, 2007.

Thank you, Nikolay!
{UA-232112}

Ursus arctos arctos, by Arne Ader.

Guess what my favourite animal is? ♥

Hint: is furry and brown. Note: sometimes it can be white or black-patched. Answer: you can see it above.

Bear cubs are really cute! I love bears above all animals, they have appealled to me since I was a little child. My best friend was a (teddy) white bear cub that I still have. In Spain, brown bears are endangered species and nowadays can be only found in National Parks in the Cantabrian Mountains. This little one however lives freely and happily in the Estonian forests.

Oskar Luts (left), postal service (centre) and rode deer (right)

Now the stamps. Plenty of them and variegated!

♪ On the left there is Estonian writer and playwright Oskar Luts (1887-1953), a 0.45€ stamp issued in 2012, Luts' 125th birth anniversary. At just 25 years old Oskar Luts, who had earlier penned only a few lines of poetry, authored Spring, a book that made him famous all over the country overnight.

* More info about this stamp can be found on the Eesti Post website.

♪ The little green one is a silhouette of a post horn, which seems to be the symbol of the postal service worldwide -- I like that!

♪ And last, another fauna beauty: a watercolour of a roe deer (capreolus capreolus).

Postcard from: Tallinn, Estonia.
Received: March 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 0.45€ stamp of Oskar Luts, one 0.45€ of roe deer watercolour and one 0.10€ post horn.

Thank you very much, Piret!
{EE-128406}

This week theme is poets and poetry.

Hyvää Pääsiäistä

This little beauty came to my letter-box not long ago. Tiina is an 11 years-old girl who enjoys postcrossing thanks to her mum, who thinks this project is a great idea for her daughter to learn English -- agree. I was lucky enough to be sent this gorgeous greeting card with a matching stamp. Spring has sprung! ♪

We don't celebrate Easter in Spain* and I have never sent or received this kind of cards before. Needless to say, I love it.

* although we do celebrate Holy Week & Resurrection Sunday, those holidays have nothing to do with eggs, bunnies or spring, but they are a religious celebration.

The stamp also put a big smile on my face: bunny and chick painting the easter egg together! It is a design by illustrator Janne Harju released in March 2012. Ten points to the Finnish postal service!

This postcard's theme: Easter (obvious).

Postcard from: Seinäjoki, Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland.
Received: March 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one Easter 1st class (priority) stamp designed by illustrator Janne Harju in 2012.

Thank you very much, Tiina! ♥
{FI-1362056}

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