The Caravelle, Sunglasses, Eyeglasses and No Glasses, A Bridge and More

BLOG # 1503   -- In the Time  of Covid

How is everybody today ---  Covid got you down  -- I'm not surprised . It's sort of like the movie  Groundhog Day.  You get up and everyday is pretty much like the one before. One change I see though is that when I find a postcard in the mailbox, it always a different card and never from the same person. So that's good.

My first card today shows a few of the buildings  and views around Ilsenburg, a small town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It has a population of around 10,000. 

Andreas used 2 of the Flower definitives along with a wonderful minisheet of 1 from 2020. It is a Europa stamp and shows the Ancient Postal Routes.  

Today's second card is a case of Girls Will Be Girls. It takes all kinds. These three could be triplets for all I know. They were on the cover of The New Yorker on July 30, 2007. 

I don't know the sender of this card. Every now and then I'll receive a card from somewhere in Canada and the sender often doesn't identify himself or herself. But that's ok , a little mystery is always good. 

The stamp is a new one issued this year, even though it shows a rooster and 2021 is the Year of the Ox. Strange  no doubt. I'll have more about that in a later blog, soon. 

Card # 3 shows a panorama of the old town center of Regensburg, at the riverside with thunderclouds overhead. To the  left you can see The Stone Bridge or Steinerne Brucke, the oldest remaining bridge in Germany and all Europe . This is a 12th century stone bridge across the Danube. For more than 800 years, until the 1930s, it was the only bridge across the Danube. Louis VII of France and his army used it to cross the Danube on their way to the Second Crusade. It served as a model for other stone bridges built in Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries: the Elbe bridge (now Augustus Bridge) in Dresden, London Bridge across the Thames, the Pont d'Avignon across the Rhone and the Judith Bridge (predecessor of the Charles Bridge ) across the Vitava in Prague.

The bridge is 308.7 metres in length with 16 spans and arches.

Chrissy used the Pied Piper of Hamelin stamp from last year. 

Here's another card from Dominique. It shows a few of the buildings in the commune of Collonges-la-Rouge in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France. The whole village is built entirely of red sandstone and its marketplaces date back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

Dominique used a stamp from 1965 showcasing Bourges Cathedral.

This next card is the final one for this time. Of course no blog of mine should end without at least one aircraft card. This one is not exception. It's an Air France Sud Aviation Caravelle on the ramp at Frankfurt. The Caravelle was developed in the early 1950s and had its maiden flight in May 1955. Air France flew its first Caravelle on May 6, 1959 from Orly to Rome, Athens and Istanbul. The airline continued to operate these aircraft until 1981, utilizing 54 Caravelles. 

Pilots praised the Caravelle for its gentle touch and its large wings , making it easier to ensure a kiss landing.

  

Johanna used 2 Flower definitives along with a stamp from 2020 commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Allied Military Government Stamps.

That's all for this time my friends. Thanks going out today to Andreas, Chrissy, Dominique and Johanna. It was great to receive your cards. 

Take care now -- wash your hands, wear a mask and keep your distance. 

Happy Valentine's Day

BLOG # 1502

Well it's Valentine's Day. I'm sure you have a kiss, a valentine, flowers and chocolate for your sweetie. The day is named after Saint Valentine. He died on this date in 269 AD. Actually he was arrested, jailed and executed, and not nicely. 

I guess one can say that he sent the first valentine. Legend has it that while in jail, St.Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it " From Your Valentine " . So there , now you know the reason for the day. 

I haven't received any Valentine themed postcards this year but I want to show two blank cards that I could have sent out if indeed I had a valentine out there. I guess I should have sent them to My Lovely Teena. Maybe next year. 

The first one is the New Yorker Magazine from Feb 10, 1951. I guess no matter where one might be , a valentine might show up for you. 

My second card is the New Yorker cover from Feb 13, 1960. I read very recently that most men are still looking for that special something for their valentine , late on the afternoon of Valentine's Day. I imagine this card shows just what it looks like. 

That's all I have to say about Valentine's Day today. My sweetie was good to me and I was good to her. What more needs to be said. 

Just this - wash your hands, wear a mask or two and keep your distance. 

  

Paula Koivuniemi, Saint-Cast, a Pin Up and a Corsair B767

BLOG 1501 -- Still In the Time of Covid 

Hey again, it's time for a few more cards. We're still in our Polar Vortex of extreme temperatures and wind chill. BRRR! It's sunny though, at least it's nice when you look out. 

Another good day for cards.

Let's start today with a card from Finland. It shows a picture of Paula Koivuniemi, a Finnish singer who was popular in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. She received nine gold albums and one diamond album. Sen Siksi Tein ( That's Why I Do It ) is the name of one of her albums from 1989. 

Harry used a stamp from a set of 2 issued in 2020, a Nordic Issue- Mammals in Scandinavia.

Today's second card arrived from France. It's a great look at the main beach of Saint-Cast, seen from La Garde Head. Saint-Cast is a commune in Brittany , in the northwest of the country. It's a port city on the English Channel.

  

Dominique used a stamp from 1968 Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Postal Cheques Service.

Next is a little pin up card from Austria, with the lady holding a measuring tape, the work of Merlin Enabnit .  Enabnit was born in Des Moines, Iowa. He produced 24 pin up illustrations during the 1940s. 

Stefan used 2 stamps. On the left, from 2020, is a Europa stamp, showing Ancient Postal Routes. The right stamp is exactly like the subject of the card. Unfortunately I couldn't find any info on this stamp. I hate it when that happens. 

Last card time !!

Of course it's one of my favourites ---- an  Airline / Aircraft card. A Corsair TUI , B-767, registered as G-OBYB. This aircraft is 24.8 years old having first flown in 1996. It was in service with Britannia Airways from 1996 until 2003. After that it bounced around between Garuda, Corsair, Thomson Airlines, TUIfly and finally Kalitta Air in 2017 where it was converted into a freighter. Corsair operated this aircraft under contract to TUI. It no longer flies for TUI and has adopted a new livery and new aircraft. Corsair now only operates Airbus A330 aircraft. It has 5 in its fleet with 5 on order. 

Jean Pierre used a 2020 stamp commemorating the 800th Anniversary of Amiens Cathedral.

There you have it, all done for another update. Thanks for today's cards go out to Harry, Stafan, Dominique and Jean Pierre. 

One more time - wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance

Two Planes, One Building and BLOG 1500

 ***************** BLOG # 1500 *********************

Hello again. Well it's another bitterly cold day here in Airdrie.  It's sunny but the temperature is -26 C and the windchill is -39C. So it's another good day to be inside. 

Hey , you're reading Blog # 1500 of Gem's World Postcards - Enjoy.  A lot of people have contributed to getting to #1500. Everyone who has ever sent me a postcard, thank you. There would be no blog if not for all of you  -- you know who you are . Thanks to My Lovely Teena for putting up with me and also proofreading many of my blog updates. 

My first two cards today are Airline / Aircraft cards , one of my favourite theme, but not everybody's I'm sure. So bear with me please. 

This first card shows an Air France Airbus A310 on the ground in Paris in May of 1998. It is painted in a special livery for the World Cup 98. Air France also had this livery on B747s, A340s and A320s. 

This aircraft F-GEMD first flew in Nov of 1984. It was part of the Air France fleet from Jan 1985 until Apr 2002. After leaving Air France it entered service with Federal Express and was then converted into a freighter in May 2009. F-GEMD is now stored at Victorville, Calif. 

Jean Pierre used 2 copies of the latest Marianne definitives. The bird stamp on the right was 1 of 4 in a minisheet issued  in 2021. It highlighted Fauna - Birds. 

The second aircraft card gives us a look at an AeroGal A319, registered as HC-CKL. AeroGal was founded in Nov 1985 and operated as such until Oct 2009. Now known as Avianca Ecuador , it is based in Quito, Ecuador.  It operates within Ecuador, between the mainland and the Galapagos Islands and between Ecuador and Colombia. 

The aircraft HC-CKL first flew in Nov of 2002. From Dec 2002 until Aug 2010 it was in service with Mexicana Airlines. It then flew with AeroGal between Jan 2011 and Jun 2014. Stored for a couple of years it then saw service with Flynas from 2016 until 2020 when it was returned to its original lessor. 

On this one Jean Pierre used 1 of 2 stamps issued in 2021 , commemorating the 100th Anniversary of CHANEL No 5. 

My next card is from Germany and is a look at Der Oderturm, a 24 storey office building in Frankfurt. On the 24th floor is a restaurant called Turm 24.

Carsten used 2 Flower definitives along with another stamp from 2018. This one commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Peter Behrens.  Behrens was a German architect and inventor. He was responsible for one amazing invention which most of us use everyday - the electric kettle.  Thank you Mr Behrens. 

  That's a wrap for today and so ends Blog #1500.  Thanks for today's cards go to Jean Pierre and Carsten.  

One more time now - wash your hands, wear a mask and keep your distance.

Air Paris, Barbara, Dinan and Travellers

BLOG # 1499  -- Still in the Time of Covid

Good morning to one and all. This is a great day to update my blog,  a great day to stay inside . It's a beautiful, sunny day but bitterly cold. Outside temperature at this moment is -32C with a windchill of -39C . So not a day to hang around outside. 

My first card for today is a Postcrossing card from France. Patricia lives in Fontenay-aux-Roses , a commune located about 8.6 km from the center of Paris. Her card shows a September 1914 photo of a group of travellers awaiting transport, most likely a train. 

Not much physical distancing happening in that picture - little did they know that in just a few years, they would be facing the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919.   

Patricia used a couple of stamps on this card. On the right , from 2020, is a stamp celebrating the Trade of Business Art and Metal Engraving. The smaller stamp on the left was also issued last year. It is 1 of a set of 9 definitives showing Marianne the Engaged. Different forms of Marianne have graced French definitives for over 70 years. 

Today's second card is from Germany. Bea writes that she lives in the east of Germany in an area with many impressive rock towers, frequented often by hikers and climbers. Bea's card doesn't show anything related to that , but does give us a look at Barbara relaxing on a large pink inflatable. Good for her. 

 Bea used a 2020 stamp of the German Legend - The Pied Piper of Hamelin.

This next card is again from France , as will be my next . Dominique's card is a look at some of the old houses and shops on Apport Street in Dinan. This town in Brittany is a walled Breton town with some buildings dating back to the 13th century. It's known for its medieval ramparts, cobbled streets and half timbered houses. 

The stamp on this card dates from 1968. It celebrates Road Safety. 

Here's the last card for today. It's another fine addition to my Aircraft / Airlines card collection. This time it's a de Havilland 114 Heron 2D registered as F-BRSK with Air Paris. The DH-114 Heron was a small propeller driven British Airliner that first flew in May 1950. A total of 149 were built. F-BRSK was built in 1961 and first saw service with E S and A Robinson Ltd. It flew for Air Paris from 1970 until 1988 when it went to Air Lease International. It was later scrapped.   Strangely I couldn't find anything about Air Paris. They remain a mystery to me. 

Jean Pierre used a couple of stamps on his card. On the right is the Marianne definitive I showed earlier. On the left, from last year, a stamp commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Cugnot Dumpster. 

There you have it, my latest blog update is complete. Thanks for today's card go to Patricia, Bea, Dominique and Jean Pierre. Before I go I want to make mention of the fact that Postcrossing reached a milestone last month. I know I'm late bringing this up but that's just me. On Jan 24, 2020 Postcrossing reached 60 Million postcards received by its 801,961 members in 206 countries. Postcrossing started in 2005 and reached its first million cards in Apr 2008. It grew to 5 million in Aug 2010, 15 million in Dec 2012. It was 30 million in Jun 2015, 40 million in Feb 2017, 50 million in Dec2018 and then a couple weeks ago, 60 Million. I joined Postcrossing on Mar 9, 2006 and have received 2,935 postcards as a result.   So, Cheers and Congratulations to Postcrossing. 

So take care, stay safe - wear a mask -- I'm wearing two actually, wash your hands and keep your distance. 

Bangkok 1865

 BLOG # 1498 -- Still In Covid Times

Hello once again, Happy February to one and all. Cards are still a little scarce so I just have one card for today. I guess the scarcity of cards could be related to the scarcity of tourists due to the pandemic. I mean , who is travelling these days - certainly not me , although I sure miss going.  

My card today arrived from Thailand. It shows Rama IV in a procession to present monastic robes to the monks at Wat Pho, Bangkok, in 1865. A look at Thailand in the past. 

Jobbo used 3 stamps on this card. The first is from 1996, 1 of 4 in a set showcasing the Second International Asian Hornbill Workshop. Next is a stamp from 2018, 1 of 4 commemorating the 135th Anniversary of the Thai Postal Service. The last one, from 2002, is again 1 of 4 in a set showing Thai Temples. 

Jobbo, your comment on this card was quite interesting - -- ( Glad to see that I am still alive ). Yes I am still very much so, In fact  , I have wondered that fact about you. This card was the first I have received from you since Feb of 2020 - exactly a year ago. That last card was from Cambodia.  So, I am thrilled to see that you are also quite alive . Long live both of us. 

Thanks Jobbo for this card today. 

Take care now everyone, wear a mask, wash your hands and keep a distance.