Another August Post

I know, I know, it's been awhile. What can I say ? I don't know - how about excuse number 9 ? That's covers it I think.
Now it's on to the good stuff - postcards.

Let me start with these two sent by Dominique. This first one was sent from Lorraine, France. I received it here in Airdrie on August 7th. It pictures some of the equipment used in the mine , and now found in the mine museum located there.

Dominique used 2 stamps from days gone by. On the left is a stamp from 1965 celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Youth Clubs (1945-1965). On the right , from 1975 a stamp celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Mine Clearance Service ( 1945-1975 ).

Now here's Dominique's second card, this one from Germany. It arrived in Airdrie on August 8th, one day later than the card from France. Here we see The Pompejanum, a replica of a Roman villa, located on the banks of the river Main in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany. It was constructed during the 1840s.

This card arrived with a couple of copies of the 2018 Darber Ort Lighthouse stamp.

 It seems these 2 cards were posted the same day, so it looks like the French Post is a little faster.


Next up are 3 cards from Vanuatu, a regular postal service card, an Underwater Post Office card and a Volcano Post card.
First it`s the regular card posted in Port Vila, the capital and main hub of the country, showing a few scenes one might find around the island - coral, a hammock, a cruise ship and a local pretty lady.

All 3 of these Vanuatu cards were sent by David. A couple of nice stamps on this one. On the left , from 2017, it`s 1 of a set of 4 issued as Tourism set featuring Blue Swimming Holes. The other stamp was issued in 2012, 1 of 12 in a Birds of Vanuatu issue.

David`s 2nd card is one of those rare cards you most times only hear about. It`s Hideaway Island on a card from Vanuatu`s Official Underwater Post Office . Their motto is `` We go to great depths to deliver your mail ``.  This is the world`s only Underwater Post Office. Congratulations David on diving down under and dropping off the mail.

The card is a prepaid card , maybe because regular stamps won`t stick, but I`m just guessing here of course. Unfortunately this card missed receiving the special cancellation from this unique underwater paradise. Maybe next time !

So that was the Underwater Post , did I just hear someone mention Volcano Post, hey I`ve got one of those too. Who knew that Vanuatu has the World`s only Volcano Post , not me for sure . The postbox is located near the fiery rim of Mt Yasur`s crater on Tanna Island. Opened in May 2005 the postal outlet is the only post box in the world on a live volcano.

Again it`s a postpaid card , but this one received a special volcano cancellation . Too Hot To Handle.

That`s Dominique and David taken care of . Next it`ll  be Carla, Josep & Assumpta and Ravindra.

Here's Carla's card. It shows a painting by Italian painter Francesco Mazzola. The same painting was the subject of an Italian stamp issued in 2003, commemorating the 500th Anniversary of Mazzola's Birth.

Carla used a 2016,  B Rate - Zone 2 stamp. It is 1 of 8 in a set of Italian Squares.

Oops, looks like the Great Defacer struck again, with his or her heavy handed pencil or marker. I guess we can add Italy to the ever growing list of countries who employ at least one of these despicable people. What a way to ruin a good stamp ? Shame on You. Shame on you.

We're getting there, just 2 more cards to go. Now it's a card from Spain, sent by Josep & Assumpta. Here we see Cadaques, a small village in Catalonia region. This beautiful little village is the easternmost place in Catalonia and and on the Iberian Peninsula. It has a population of around 2,500, but it snowballs in summer to near 10 times that. Lots of big names have spent time in Cadaques, including Salvador Dali, Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso and Melina Mercouri. Visible front and center on the card is the Church of Santa Maria of Cadaques.

Two stamps on this card. On the left is a 2015 King Felipe VI stamp. On the right , a 2017 Europa stamp , from the series Palaces and Castles.

It's last call , sorry last card time. It's from the Island of Sri Lanka, compliments of Ravindra. It's a look at Medirigiriya Watadageya, an ancient monastery located in the old kingdom of Polonaruwa, dating back to over two millennium.

All the stamps on this card are from this current year. The larger stamp on the left celebrates World Health Day 2018. The other stamps are from a Wild Animals of Sri Lanka set.

There you have it. Thanks for the cards today go out to Dominique, David, Carla, Josep & Assumpta and Ravindra. Be sure and drop by again soon, now it's off to the mailbox to see what new treasures await me .
Just heard about the bridge collapse in Genoa. Hope all is well with you Carla, and with your family and friends.