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.