North Sea Island Borkum

Postcard

Borkum is an island in northwestern Germany, located about 30 kilometres from the mainland. It is the largest of the seven East Frisian islands, located north of the Dutch province of Groningen.

Borkum is part of the Unesco World Heritage site inscribed under the name “Wadden Sea”, the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world. 

Stamp

Johann Gottfried Schadow (1764 – 1850) was a German sculptor.

Read More

Senglea Waterfront, Malta

Postcard

The Maltese archipelago is located 100 km south of Sicily and 290 km north of Africa. It comprises three islands: Malta, Goze and Comino. Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing, tourism, crafts and agriculture. Comino, the smallest of the trio, has one hotel and is largely uninhabited.

 

Senglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta.

Stamps

Read More

Map of the Faroe Islands

Postcard

The Faroe Islands is located northwest of Scotland and halfway between Iceland and Norway. Since 1948 the Faroe Island­s have been an autonomous country within the King­dom of Denmark. It has its own parlia­­ment and its own flag. It is not, however, a member of the European Union. The population is about 50,000.

 

The archipelago is composed of 18 islands. The capital Tórshavn is located on Streymoy,  the largest and most populated island of the Faroe Islands.

Stamps

A stamp depicting the island of Kalsoy, one of the Faroe islands, and a matching map-stamp. 

Read More

The Borromean Islands: Isola Bella

Postcard

Isola Bella, meaning 'beautiful island' is one of the Borromean Islands, a group of three small islands and two islets in the Italian part of Lago Maggiore. Isola Bella is only 320 metres long and 400 metres wide.

Until 1632 the island was occupied by a tiny fishing village, but that year Carlo III of the influential House of Borromeo began the construction of a palazzo dedicated to his wife, Isabella D'Adda, from whom the island takes its name. Today Isola Bella is a popular tourist attraction.

Stamps

These stamps are part of the series Donna Nell'Arte (Women in Art), the sixth definitive series of the Italian Republic, which replaced in 1998 the series Castles of Italy.

Read More

A postcard from Bermuda

Postcard

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, located off the east coast of the United States. So it is not a part of the Caribbean islands, located much more to the south.

The British Overseas Territories are those parts of the former British Empire that have not acquired independence, or have voted to remain British territories. While each has its own internal leadership, they share the British Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

Read More

Bogotá the capital of Colombia

Postcard

Bogotá is the capital and, with over 6 million inhabitants, largest city of Colombia. It is a city of contrasts with highrise buildings standing next to colonial churches. A mixture of influences, Spanish, English and Indian. Barrio La Candelaria is the historical and cultural heart of the city, the ‘Old City’ of Bogotá .

Stamp

A stamp to celebrate participation of Colombia in the World Cup 2014. Tomorrow Colombia vs Uruguay. Colombia is in great shape and Uruguay just lost his star player! Will they go through to the quarter finals?

Read More

Tehran | تهران the capital of Iran

Postcard

Tehran is the capital city of Iran. With a population of around 9 million and more than 14 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is Iran's largest city and urban area, and the largest city in Western Asia.

 

Stamps

In 2013 Iran issued 7 stamps depicting bridges. 

Read More

The Rockhoppers of Tristan da Cunha

Postcard

Tristan da Cunha is an active volcanic island with rare wildlife and home to 266 British Citizens
living in the world's most isolated settlement of ‘Edinburgh of the Seven Seas’. The island was first discovered in 1506 by the the Portuguese sailor Tristão da Cunha.

The island is part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha—a territory of the United Kingdom. The nearest speck of land, St. Helena, is a whopping 2,430 km away, and it's over 2,816 km to the nearest continent, Africa. Making Tristan da Cunha the most remote inhabited island in the world.  

More than 99% of northern rockhopper penguins breed on Tristan da Cunha and neighboring Gough Island.

Stamps

Two William and Kate wedding stamps and a WWF stamp in the middle. 

Thx Ruben!

Read More

Les Îles du Salut | French Guiana

Postcard

The Îles du Salut are a group of small islands of volcanic origin about 11 km off the coast of French Guiana. The islands were part of a penal colony from 1852 onwards for only the worst criminals of France. The main part of the penal colony was a labor camp stretched along the border with Dutch Guiana, which today is Surinam. 

Stamp

Being a French overseas department, French Guiana uses French stamps. The number on the postmark (25926A) is the code for Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a place located near the border with Suriname.

Thank you so much Cheryll!

Read More

Surfing a big wave in Micronesia

Postcard

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is an independent sovereign island nation consisting of four states (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae) that are spread across the Western Pacific Ocean. 

 

The 607-island nation that is the Federated States of Micronesia is one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth. The FSM sits in the heart of the Caroline Islands Archipelago, a vast seascape that extends from Palau in the west to Kiribati in the east.

Stamps

The stamp on the right is a printed one in the style of the postcard. The stamps on the left are ‘real’ stamps. 

Read More

A map of the Mariana Islands

Postcard

The remote islands on this postcard are part of two administrative units, Guam, a US territory, and the Northern Mariana Islands which make up a Commonwealth of the United States. The islands were named after Spanish Queen Mariana of Austria in the 17th century, when Spain started the colonization of the archipelago.

The island chain geographically consists of two subgroups, a northern group of ten volcanic main islands, all are currently uninhabited; and a southern group of five coralline limestone islands: Rota, Guam, Aguijan, Tinian and Saipan, all inhabited except Aguijan.

Stamps

Guam uses US stamps. 

Read More

The map of South Africa

Postcard

Actually it is the map of Southern Africa. But being sent from South Africa let’s focus on that country.

South Africa is located at the southern tip of the African continent. The country is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. It is a vast country with widely varying landscapes and has 11 official languages, as well as an equally diverse population of about 52 million.

Stamp

Issued 2012 as part of a set of 5 stamps picturing Baby Big Five animals. 

Read More

A map of Lebanon

Postcard

Lebanon is located in the Middle East and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Syria and Israel.
Beirut is the capital city and a major port. Tripoli is Lebanon's second largest city. Lebanon is a small country with a varied landscape consisting of beaches, mountains, valleys, forests and woodlands.

 

There are a number of World Heritage sites in Lebanon: the Phoenician cities of Byblos, Baalbek and Tyre, Qadisha Valley, known for its early Christian monasteries, and the Islamic city of Anjar built in the eighth century.

Stamp

From a set of stamps celebrating Lebanon’s cultural heritage: Lebanese singer and actress Sabah (1927).

Read More

The map of Belize

Postcard

Belize is a country in Central America. With a population of only 340,000 it has the lowest population density in Central America. It is the only country in the area that has English as its official language. Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, to the south and west by Guatemala and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. 

Read More

Mount Kazbek and Gergeti Trinity Church | Georgia

Postcard

Mount Kazbek is one of the highest peaks of the Caucasus, a dormant stratovolcano with a height of 5,047 meters.

If you look very closely you can see Gergeti Trinity Church on this postcard. The church is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri, at an elevation of 2170 meters, under Mount Kazbek.

Stamps

In 2013 Georgia issued a set of four stamps themed Cultural Heritage of Georgia. 

Read More

Kakadu National Park | Australia

Postcard

Kakadu National Park is Australia’s largest national park. It extends from the coast and estuaries in the north of Australia through floodplains, billabongs and lowlands to rocky ridges and stone country in the south. The name Kakadu is the result of the European interpretation of a local Aboriginal floodplain language, called Gagudju.

Im not 100% sure but I think the waterfall showing is Twin Falls.

Stamp

Postage pre-paid Australia, for posting in Australia and delivery worldwide. Very convenient but less exciting than real stamps.  

Thx Steve!

Read More

Jordan, ancient city of Petra | البتراء

Postcard

Petra is a historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan. Petra is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges.

It is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites. Another name for Petra is the Rose City due to the color of the stone out of which it is carved.

The city is a symbol of Jordan, as well as Jordan's most-visited tourist attraction. It is inscribed on the Unesco Whs list.

Stamps

Part of a large set of definitive’s, all depicting Hadrian's triumphal arch in Jerash, a city in Jordan (1996/1997 issues). 

Read More

My Son Sanctuary Viet Nam

Postcard

Mỹ Sơn is a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temples constructed between the 4th and the 14th century AD by the kings of Champa. The temples are dedicated to the worship of the god Shiva.

The Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary is a large complex of religious monuments originally consisting of more than 70 structures of which 25 remain today. My Son was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

Stamp

The Đàn goong. In 2013 Viet Nam Issued a set of three stamps about traditional musical instruments. 

Read More

Aerial view of Parika Essuquibo | Guyana

Postcard

The Essequibo River is the largest river in Guyana and Parika is a port township located near this river. It is popular for its ferry service to and from the Essequibo Islands.

Stamp

Issued in 2009: "60 Years of the Commonwealth". There are 53 member countries of the Commonwealth, Guyana joined in 1966.

Read More

Blanche Marie Falls | Suriname

Postcard

The impressive Blanche Marie Falls are located more than 300 km southwest of Paramaribo, capital of Suriname. It is one of the largest waterfalls in Suriname.

 

The Blanche Marie falls were rediscovered in 1897 by former district commissioner of Nickerie: Lieutenant Van Drimmelen. He named the falls after his wife: Mary White.

Stamp

The Gray-breasted Sabrewing, a species of hummingbird that can be found in Suriname.

Thx Cheryll!

Read More

Puffins Island | Iceland

Postcard

The Puffin stamp on the last post inspired me to show this card from Iceland that I received last year. The charismatic puffins arrive in Iceland in April and depart at the end of August. Near Reykjavik you can find two puffin islands, Akurey and Lundey.

 

The islands serves as a haven for seabirds including thousands of Puffins. Frequent sightseeing tours from nearby Sundahöfn harbor travel here by boat, as puffins and other seabirds have become a major tourist attraction in Iceland.

Stamp

Europa stamp 2013.

Read More

Les Antilles Françaises | Guadeloupe

Postcard

The Antilles is an archipelago bordered by the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. There are Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles, Windward Islands and Leeward Islands (eg Guadeloupe). They all make up The Antilles.

Stamp

Atlantic Puffin. Part of sheet with four different bird-stamps, issued 2012.

The ROC code on the postmark, however hardly visible, reads 37752A. ROC stands for ‘Référentiel des Organisations du Courrier’. The geographical locations are not mentioned on the postmark, only the ROC code. 37752A refers to Pôle Caraïbes, the airport of Guadeloupe. 

Thx Olga!

Read More

Fintassa Falls | Guam

Postcard

Fintassa Falls is located on the island of Guam, the southernmost and largest island in the Mariana island chain.

The island of Guam is located in the western Pacific Ocean, somewhere between Papua New Guinea and Japan. It is an unincorporated territory of the United States, just like American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Stamps

A forever stamp honoring the late '60s rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix as part of USA Music Icons series.

Part of the Black Heritage series, Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American Woman Elected to Congress in 1972.

Read More

The city of Luang Prabang | Laos

Postcard

Luang Prabang, meaning "Royal Buddha Image”, is a city located in north central Laos. The city is well known for its numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries. Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the Kingdom of Laos. It was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1995.

Stamps

(left) Laos issued in 2010 a set of three stamps depicting "Rural Life in Laos". The 6000K stamp depicts artisans (craftsman or skilled manual worker).

(right) Part of a set of four stamps, issued 2007, depicting gold jewelry.

Thx Pat!

Read More

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia

Postcard

Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia. It is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Being a former Soviet Republic it gained its independence in 1991.

The city is located in the Ararat Valley, the mountain that you can see in the background. Mount Ararat, with an elevation of 5,165 meters, is the highest mountain in Turkey but it is still an important national symbol of Armenia. Ararat was a part of Armenia until 1915 when Turkey took over that part of Armenia. 

Stamps

(left) In 2013 issued a set of seven stamps with characters of the Armenian alphabet.

(right) Endangered animals, issued in 2009 as a set of two stamps. 

Read More