Strange Place Names Indeed

 Blog # 1632--- Day 1032 ( One Thousand and Thirty Two ) of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of                                                                                       Ukraine   

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE

Howdy folks. I imagine most of you are busy with Christmas preparations, at least those of you who celebrate .  If Christmas is not your thing , well Happy Today to you. 

I have two cards from two places with strange place names to begin. First is Intercourse, Penn, U.S.A. The card shows an Amish carriage tied to a hitching post. Horse and buggy traffic sometimes outnumber motor vehicles in the town.  There are a number of theories  as to how the town ended up called Intercourse and I leave that to you to check out .

Two nice stamps arrived on this card. The left stamp was issued in 2018 showing a Statue of Freedom stamp. The other stamp from 2019 celebrated 50 Years of the First Moon Landing. 

The other strange named town today is Dildo, in Newfoundland, Canada. Here we see the Dildo Marina. Dildo has become quite popular with tourists since 2019 when American Talk Show Host Jimmy Kimmel did live broadcasts with members of the community. 

The Dildo Post Office used a 2020 stamp featuring Canadian War Hero Leo Major, the one eyed ghost. On April 13, 1945, Major and his friend Corporal Welly Arsenault volunteered for a night patrol of German-occupied Zwolle, near Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Arsenault was killed early in the mission. Major, enraged at the loss, took up his comrade’s weapon and charged the town alone. To make the occupying German soldiers believe they were under full attack, Major fired his machine gun through the streets, tossed grenades, and set fire to the local Gestapo headquarters. With the help of local resistance fighters, he took dozens of German prisoners, while the rest fled. For his bravery in liberating Zwolle, Major received the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

That's the two strange place names for this time, but there are many more out there. Blow Me Down, Jerry's Nose, Cow Head, Climax, Big Beaver, and Finger just to name a few. All I know is that I'd love to have a postcard from all of them. 

So ends another update of The Blog. Thanks to the Intercourse Post Office and the Dildo Post Office for these cards. 

Excited Animals, Road Safety and an Old Church.

Blog # 1631--- Day 1023 ( One Thousand and Twenty Three ) of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of                                                                                       Ukraine   

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE

Hello again. Well the postal strike in Canada continues. Today is day 28, so that makes 4 weeks today. No mail coming, no mail going and no postcards moving in or out of Canada. But I still have postcards on my desk that have not yet made it on The Blog, this blog. 

My first card for this time arrived from Nairobi, Kenya. Titled , Fun In The Sun , as the old saying implies , these pictures do indeed tell a thousand words.  

Ravindra used 2 copies of the same stamp on this card. Issued in 1993, it is 1 of 13 in a set of definitives featuring Birds. This stamp shows the African Fish Eagle. 

Next up is this card from  Andorra.  It shows one side of the Church of Sant Marti de Nagol, located along a path from the village of Nagol in sant Julia de Loria. It was originally built in the 11th century. It was restored in the 20th century , preserving the side walls and the apse. The apse is the semicircular feature extending from the exterior , at the end of the church. 

 Josep and Assumpta used a nice large Spanish Andorra stamp from 2021 on this card. 

 

Even though I live in a bi-lingual country, sadly I am not bi-lingual.  So my comprehension of this next card from France most likely leaves a lot to be desired. I think it is advertising an awareness campaign against road risks , or a campaign for road safety, however you want to think.  I hope I got that right.

Dominique used a stamp from 1970. It was issued to highlight the National Police. 

 

Well there you have it, the end of another update. Thanks for todays cards go to Ravindra, Josep and Assumpta , and Dominique. Thanks guys. 

Towns of Newfoundland Day on The Blog

    Blog # 1630--- Day 1008 ( One Thousand and Eight ) of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine   

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE

Well I mentioned last time that I was going to show my Newfoundland Postmarked postcards. I have received a small bunch of them lately and it is time they saw the light of day. With these new ones  I now have received postmarked postcards from 59 Towns of Newfoundland. Only a small number , with many hundreds to go, but I am really enjoying receiving them. 

First up today is Corner Brook, Newfoundland's second city.  Corner Brook is a city located on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Corner Brook is the fifth largest settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the largest outside the Avalon Peninsula. The area was first surveyed by renowned explorer Captain James Cook in 1767. Located on the Bay of Islands at the mouth of the Humber River, Corner Brook has a population of just over 19,300. Two places of interest nearby are the Marble Mountain Ski Resort and the Corner Brook Gorge. 

This card arrived with the 2024 Canada Post Community Foundation stamp. It was issued on April 28th. 

 

Next up is the town of Holyrood. Holyrood is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is  located on Conception Bay. It is approximately a 30-minute drive from the capital city of St. John's. During King William's War, the village was destroyed in the Avalon Peninsula Campaign. The town was settled way back in 1689 but only incorporated as a town in 1961. It has a population of 2,400 approximately 2,400 . Canadian actress Kate Corbett was born in Holyrood. 

The same Canada Post Community Foundation I mentioned previously was used on this card. 

Port de Grave is the subject of my next card.  Port de Grave is located on a peninsula in Conception Bay in eastern Newfoundland. It ha a population of approximately 975. People say that in Port de Grave  no two sunsets are the same. It also has the largest crab pot Christmas tree and world famous boat lighting festival during Christmas in the Harbor, since 1999. How old is Port de Grave, well official records indicate that a property in in the area has been occupied since 1595 by the Dawe family which makes it the oldest registered land claim in Newfoundland. 

The Postmaster there, Valerie, sent this card and again used the Canada Pos Community Foundation stamp . A popular choice it seems. 

Here's a card from the town of Goulds. Goulds is a rural town in Newfoundland southeast of the city of St. John's. In 2016 Goulds had a population of 4,418. The Goulds is known for having had two residents appear as contestants on Canada's Worst Driver TV series. The card shows a good harvest of cod fish spread out on racks along the waterfront. The fish are split and salted and then left in the sun to dry. 

This card arrived with a Total Solar Eclipse stamp from April 2024.

Noe we're moving on to Fortune. Fortune is a Canadian town located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Fortune is situated on the western side of the Burin Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland and was incorporated as a town in 1945. The town is located near the southeastern boundary of Fortune Bay. The town if Fortune is also the nearest Canadian port for travelling to the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. The name "Fortune" is believed to have come from the Portuguese word "fortuna", which apparently means "a place of good fortune." The name also appears on a 1505 map by Pedro Reinal as 'Y. Da Fortuna.' An exact date of settlement is difficult to pinpoint as most early records are sketchy, but French Captain Parat reported 73 men living here in 1687. However, Fortune has actually been in existence as far back as 1527, when it was recorded on both Spanish and Italian maps. It's population is 1,285 today but way back in 1687 it had a population of 73, all men.

The card shows a view of the fish plant, the major employer. 

The Fortune Post Office sent this card along and used a Hanukkah 2023 stamp.

It's the town of Colliers turn now. Colliers is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador. According to the 2016 Statistics Canada Census: the area had a population of 654. Colliers was once considered by John Guy and his associates as a preferred place for the first settlement in North America. It eventually lost out to Cupids. The first settlers arrived in the Colliers area from England.

Janet, the Postmaster in Colliers sent this card. She used a 2023 stamp honouring hockey pioneer Willie O'Ree, the first Black player of the National Hockey League. 

Avondale is the subject of my next card. Avondale is a town located on the Avalon Peninsula in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, which was incorporated in 1974. The community is situated at the southwestern head of Conception Bay. It is located 59 km (37 mi) southwest of the capital of St. John's. The town has a population of 584. The earliest record of settlement in Avondale was in 1773 and by 1812 there were 12 inhabitants. My card shows a former railway station, now a museum.

This is another card from a postmaster. The stamp was issued in a set of 2 Endangered Frogs, on April 14 of this year. 

Just 2  more to go. Sorry for the length of this update but I wanted to keep all the Towns of Newfoundland cards  together. 

Now it's  Whitbourne's turn.  Whitbourne  is another  town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Whitbourne, Newfoundland's first inland town, is named after Sir Richard Whitbourne, one of the most colourful early settlers  of Newfoundland who wrote a book about Newfoundland that was published in 1620. The town was founded in about 1880 during the construction of the Newfoundland Railway and today has a population of 955. 

Canadian model and actress Shannon Tweed was raised in Whitbourne. She is married to Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS .

Another card from another postmaster. The stamp is from last year and celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 

Here's the last card for today. 

Upper Island is the subject of this last card. It is located northeast of Bay Roberts. As of 2021, the population was 1,401. In 1675  the town has a population of 14. Upper Island was once known as The Walled City because it is built at the bottom of high cliffs. 

Well here we go again. Another card from another Postmaster. I must be really popular with postmasters.  The stamp is from 2023 and showcases actor Donald Sutherland. 

The END

Thanks to Valerie, Kim, Janet and all the other Postmasters. All these cards were sent by Postmasters. 

Mexico, South Afruca, Cambridge, Muzzaffarrbadand and More

         Blog # 1629--- Day 1005 ( One Thousand and Five) of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine   

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE

My first card for this time is from Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. This is a city in the Kashmir region of the country. It is located on the banks of the Khelum and Neelun Rivers and has a population of just over 650,000. 

David sent this card and used 21 stamps , although only 2 are face different. 21 stamps must be a record for the number of stamps on any card I have ever received. The 20 stamps layered over each other are part of a set of 12 definitives issued in 1994 showing the Founder of Pakistan , Mohammed Ali Jinnah. The other stamp , tp right, is from this year and markes Kashmir Solidarity Day. 

 

Card # 2 is from France. It shows a section of the Merovinglan necropolis of Audon-le-Tiche located in the French commune. The site dating from the 7th century, covers an area of ​​about 700 square meters. Two hundred and one tombs have been excavated out of a total of about two hundred and fifty.

Dominique used a 61 year old stamp from 1963 on this card. It is from a set of 2 Art stamps.

My next card is from The United Kingdom. It shows a number of the different colleges at The University of Cambridge. There are a total of 31 colleges at the university , all built between the 13th and 20th centuries. The card shows pen and watercolour illustrations by K J Lewis. 

Josep and Assumpta used 2 Flower stamps, an Iris and a Lily. They are 2 in a set of 10 issued last year, 2023. 

Now here's a card from South Africa. The smile on this little guy's face , bringing home a fine feathered friend reflects the warmth of South Africa's Rainbow Nation. The term Rainbow Nation was coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. IT was fostered by the concept of rainbowism -- a concept denoting fairness, equality and diversity. Sounds like a good plan for any nation. 

 
Bruce used 3 stamps on this card. Left to Right -- from 2018 , stamp issued for the Inauguration of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The middle and right stamps are 2 of 10 in a 2003 minisheet showing Life in Informal Settlements. 

Here's the last card for today and it's from Mexico. It 's  a look at a part of the civic square in the city of Torreon , in Coahuila state, Mexico. it is a city of just over 735000 persons.  

Diego used 4 stamps on this card. The left stamp and the top right stamp were both issued in 2023, part of a set of 13 Handicrafts definitives The middle stamp, issued in 2000 , celebrates World Postal Day. Finally the far right bottom stamp was issued in 2024 and that's all I know about it. 

As Porky Pig often said, "That's All Folks " .

 Another GemsWorldpostCards update has ended. My thanks today go out to Dominique, David, Josep and Assumpta, Bruce, and Diego. 

Just so you know, it's going to be Towns of Newfoundland on the next issue of The Blog. 

Three Cards From Three Countries

        Blog # 1628--- Day 1000 ( One Thousand ) of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine   

                                                                      GLORY TO UKRAINE

                                                                      

I mentioned last time that I had lots of postcards on hand  and that's a good time. Canada Post workers here in Canada have been on a nationwide strike since last Friday. So, no mail coining to Canada, no mail leaving Canada and no mail or postcards getting delivered in the country. It is what it is .

My first card for this time is from Guatemala. Here's a local resident of the country with a fantastic hat. 

The card is from Diego, a relatively new reader of my blog. He used 3 stamps on his card, all of which were issued in 2020. The left stamp is 1 of 4 issued highlighting UPAEP, an educational institution in Mexico. The other 2 stamps are from a set of 5 showing Orchids. 

    

Card 2 for today is from Islamabad , Pakistan. David's card show us the Faisal Masjid mosque, opened in 1986. It is the 5th largest masque in the world and shaped like a Bedouin tent. 

 

David used 4 copies of a special stamp issued on the special directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It is a commemorative marking the 77th Independence Day of Pakistan. It bears the image of Javelin throwing Gold Medalist Arshad Nadeem.  It was issued this year.

Here's the last card for this time. It arrived from Sri Lanka. It shows us Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern district of the central province of the country. It is dominated by a massive column of granite approximately 180 m high. The gardens of Sigiriya are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. 

Ravindra used 3 stamps here. The left stamp was issued in 2021 and is 1 of 10 showing Gemstones. The top stamp on the right is from 2013 and celebrates the Pada Yatra Peace March. The bottom right stamp is from this year and commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Law College.

 

So ends another update of GemsWorldPostcards. Thanks to Ravindra, David and Diego for thee great cards and stamps.  

I'm Back Again

                   Blog # 1627--- Day 997 of the Current  ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine   

                                                                       GLORY TO UKRAINE 

Howdy folks, it's been a long time, way too long in fact. It's not like I have been away all this time, but I have been away  some of the time.  Once to Vancouver Island and then 2 weeks down in the Caribbean. Other than those times , it was just life moving along, including a major milestone birthday for my Lovely Teena. 

I continued to receive lots of cards, I have a great pile of them  on my desk now. I don't know if I will ever catch up , but I am determined to plug away at them and reduce the pile by the end of the year. It'll be a big task though. 

Now on to the cards. 

I mentioned our Vancouver Island trip earlier and my first card is one that My Lovely Teena purchased in Coombs. She didn't post it there but brought it back to Airdrie to post for World Postcard Day on October 1st. Coombs is famous for goats on the roof of a famous store and market building. Maybe this billygoat could be one of the resident goats on the roof. Resident or not, he's certainly a proud and handsome fellow. 

 Teena posted this card for World Postcard Day and used a Norman Jewison stamp that was issued on July 24th of this year. 

Well that feels good , to be back Live on The Blog. I'm back baby , I'm back .

The second card for today arrived from Kutaisi, Georgia. It actually shows the town square in Batumi, about 160 km from Kutaisi, Looks like a nice spot. It might be called Miracle Park but I'm not positive of that.

 

Alena sent this card and used 2 stamps. The left stamp was issued in 1913, 1 of 3 in a set showing A. Kalandadze paintings. The right stamp , from 2020, commemorates the 65th Anniversary of Public Television Broadcasting in Georgia. 

I have one more card for this time. I have to get back at it slowly you know. So the last card for today is from sunny Bermuda.  It's a fine picture of the late Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 

This card arrived with  3 fine stamps courtesy of Jean Pierre. Left to right they are -  From 2024, 1 of 6 in a set showing Fruits. Then from 2022, a stamp marking the 70th Accession of HM Queen Elizabeth II . Lastly , from 2006, 1 of 6 in a set of definitives showing Shells.

There you have it, my first update in many , many days. Thanks for todays cards go to My Lovely Teena, Alena and Jean Pierre.

Bye for now.