Belize Airways B720, Chateau d'if and Lake Sevan Arakelots Church

                                                           

   Blog # 1666 --- Day 1332 ( That's One Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty Two Days ) Since the Start of the  Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .                                                                     

       

                                                                   GLORY TO UKRAINE   

Hey folks , here`s a few more cards to showcase here on my blog. Before I do though, let me just say this. Our postal strike is not over, however the total mail stoppage is. The strike has now morphed into rotating strikes for a day or two. So mail is again moving, slowly, with 3 or 4 different post offices suffering the strike every now and then. So some service is better than no service. So I`m expecting the first postcard in my mail box any day now. I posted my first cards today since the start of the strike. 

My first card is from France. Ìt`s a look at Chateau d`If . The Château d'If is a fortress located on the Île d'If, the smallest island in the Frioul archipelago, situated about 1.5 kilometres offshore from Marseille in southeastern France. Built in the 16th century, it later served as a prison until the end of the 19th century.

Dominique used a stamp from 2009. It celebrates the 161st  anniversary of the birth of Juilette Dodu, the first woman to be awarded the Legion of Honor. She is a rather controversial figure as many doubts remain about her exploits in the Franco - Prussian War. 

Here's today's second card. It's an Airline / Aircraft card from Belize. Jean Pierre's card shows a Belize Airways Boeing &20 at Montego Bay in March of 1979. Belize Airways operated from 1977 to 1980 before declaring bankruptcy. The aircraft shown was delivered to United Airlines in December of 1960 and flew for then until April of 1976. VP-HCO then saw service with Belize Airways until 1980. The aircraft was scrapped at Miami in January of 1983. 

Two stamps on this card. They are overprinted stamps of the original Bird definitives issued in 2020. I don't know when the overprints were issued.

Now this next card is today's last card. It arrived from Armenia. It's a look at Lake Sevan Arakelots Church, built in 874. The Arakelots Church (Church of the Holy Apostles) is one of two surviving 9th century churches at the Sevanavank Monastery complex, located on a peninsula on Lake Sevan in Armenia. The complex, founded by Princess Mariam, is a historic monastic site known for its medieval Armenian architecture, built from black tuff stone, and its stunning location overlooking the lake. 

 

Alena used a 2023 stamp , part of a Joint Issue between Armenia and Slovakia. There were 2 in the set. 

That's all for this time. Thanks for cards go to Dominique, Jean Pierre and Alena.

See you all again next time. 

Makris Gialos, The Lion of Singapore and an Unknown Lady

                                                           

   Blog # 1665 --- Day 1317 ( That's One Thousand Three Hundred and Seventeen Days ) Since the Start of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .                                                                     

       

                                                                   GLORY TO UKRAINE   

          

   

Here we go again. 

Here's a few cards that have come my way over the last while. First up is a card from Greece. It's a beachside view of Makris Gialos, located on the southeast coast of Crete.  The area has a population of around 4,200. The main industries are tourism, greenhouse farming and harvesting of olive trees. 

Alena used a 2024 stamp, one of five in a set featuring ancient Greek Writers.

 

                    

This next card is from Singapore.  It shows futuristic National Symbols of Singapore as generated by Artificial Intelligence.   

Jean Pierre used a 2019 Joint Issue stamp with Israel. It was a 2 stamp set.      

Time now for my last card for today. It's a picture of an actress and her signature is at the bottom. But for the life of me I don't recognize her and I can't read her signature. I know that sounds kind of dumb but it is what it is. 

So anyone who knows who she is , feel free to enlighten me with a comment. Here she is .

Eylem used  a wonderful assortment of stamps sending this to me.  The left stamp was issued in 2025, 1 of 2  celebrating the European Para Youth Games  in Istanbul. The 2 stamps on the right are from 2020 and were issued as a Joint Issue with Russia. They celebrated Turkish Mosques. The stamp at lower right , from 2025, is from a set of 2 honouring Nasreddin Hodja, a witty and wise folk hero and trickster. 

So ends another blog update. Thanks to Alena, Jean Pierre and Eylem for their cards . Don't forget , if you know the lady on the postcard, be sure to let me know. 

Take care , see you again soon. 

Chief Donald, A Lady and Her Guitar, and Saint Naum

 Blog # 1665 --- Day 1316 ( That's One Thousand Three Hundred and Sixteen Days ) Since the Start of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .                                                                     

       

                                                                   GLORY TO UKRAINE

Hello once again. It's been a couple of weeks but that's not unusual here on The Blog. Well in that time My Lovely Teena and I flew out to The Island -- Vancouver Island for a little visit, we usually try and get out there twice a year or so. We spent time in Ucluelet, Parksville and Tofino. We visited Wickaninnish Beach and Long Beach  in Pacific Rim National Park and Big Beach, Little Beach and Terrace Beach , all three near Ucluelet.  Long Beach runs for 16 kilometres. 

I purchased postcards in Ucluelet and mailed them on the morning of September 24th. Then Canada Post workers went out on strike on September 25th. So I have no idea where those cards are now, whether they left Ucluelet on the evening of the 24th or whether they are still in the Ucluelet Post Office . I'm sure they never made it into the International mail stream so it may be quite a while before you and you and you find them in your mailboxes. But it is what it is .  

And I respect the workers right to strike. I was a union member for 30 years or so , in my younger days. 

 Now a few words on World Postcard Day , which was celebrated on Wednesday October 1st. World Postcard Day went ahead in a great many countries , just not Canada. Congratulations to all who took part, writing cards , and posting them to family and friends. 

Now on to a few cards  - what you really came here for.  My first card is from Ohrid, North Macedonia. David's card shows us Saint Naum Monastery, built in 905. It and the Lake Ohrid area make up one of the most popular tourist destinations in North Macedonia. 

David used 2 copies of a stamp issued in 2023. It marked the 75th Anniversary of the National Gallery of the Republic of North Macedonia. 

Card 2 for today arrived from the Netherlands. Here we see a very musical lady from the Fab 70s. 

She must be musically inclined, why else would she be holding a guitar ? I wonder if she 

knows   " While My Guitar Gently Weeps " ?  

Barbara used the new Postcrossing stamp from The Netherlands. It marks 20 year of Postcrossing. 

 

There have been quite a few of Postcrossing themed stamps issued from many countries in those 20 years. As a long time philatelist I can say that in my opinion this is the best Postcrossing stamp issued so far. Many over the years have looked like stickers, had childish themes and or looked very immature. So congrats to PostNL

Here is the last card for now. It is also from the Netherlands. The card is titled " Chief Donald ". I leave it to my readers to decide who Chief Donald is or looks like. I think maybe he would prefer a Crown on his head. That's just me talking out loud, of course.

  A Postcrosser named Pieter sent this card . He used 2 stamps from a set of 10 issued in 2023 showcasing Echt and its architecture, customs and local festivals.  

 

Well that's all folks for today. Thanks to David, Barbara and Pieter for their cards. 

Take care and I'll be back soon.