Puerto Plata, Saint-Tropez, Villa Belza, Bratislava Castle, Singapore B747 and Chateau de Queribus

    BLOG # 1588 ---  Day 468 of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine 

                                                                  GLORY TO UKRAINE                 

Here we go again. If you read my last update , you read that I didn't have a D country card for that day. Well I do today. It arrived a few days ago from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. If you want more on the process of getting this card in the mail system, you need to read Blog 1578 , dated April 20th, of this year. 

The card is a multi-view card of Puerto Plata. The top left shows a part of the Central Park in the city and the lower right shows a part of San Felipe Fort , which we toured while there. 

My Lovely Teena sent this card. She used one of the Dominican Republic's  Undenominated Air Express Stamps. Undenominated is the key word there as I think the sellers of these stamps set the price themselves as I found them at two different prices. And I think there is nothing Express about a stamp on a card that takes over a month to arrive. 

 

When all is said and done, I guess the main thing is that the card arrived at it destination.  

Next up are a few cards from France. This first one is a look at Chateau de Queribus, a ruined castle in the commune of Cucugnan. It has been a historical monumental since 1907. Standing high on a rocky ridge at 728 metres , the castle dates from the 10th or 11th century.

 Dominique used a stamp from this current year. The subject of the stamp is Artistic Careers - shown on this stamp is Fan Making.

Another French card. This one is from and shows Saint-Tropez. It's a coastal town on the French Riviera, known for its beaches and nightlife. 

Meelis used 2 stamps on his card. On the left, from 2017, is a stamp showcasing the Spring Philatelic Fair of 2017 in Montmatre. On the right , from 2021, a stamp Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of The Little Prince. 

Here is the last French card for this time. On this one we see the Villa Belza in Biarritz. This seaside town on the Bay of Biscay, on the southwest Basque coast is a surfer's paradise. With its sandy beaches Biarritz is a world famous surfing destination , with its surfing schools. Dominique's card shows the beautiful location of Villa Belza. 

Villa Belza was built in the late 19th century, between 1880 and 1895. It has been the setting for films and also a Russian Cabret. The villa has survived two fires and subsequent restorations. It has now been converted into apartments. In 2020 and apartment there was selling for 20,000 euros per sq meter. A tad pricy me thinks.

 

 

Dominique used a 2023 Nelson Mandela stamp. Mandela passed away in 2013. 

Next is my first Aircraft/Airline card since the last one! Here we have a beautiful B747 from Singapore Airlines. It is either 9V-SPK or 9V-SPL. I can't make out which for sure. Both aircraft were painted in the special " Tropical " livery . Aircraft 9V-SPK had a major accident at Singapore on 31 Oct 2000 with 83 fatalities. 9V-SPL was immediately repainted in the standard Singapore Airlines livery after the accident. The accident happened when the aircraft attempted to take off from a closed runway under reconstruction during a typhoon.  

Jean Pierre used 2 stamps from a number of years ago. On the left, 1 of 10 in a set of Trees. On the right, 1 of 2 in a mini-sheet, of Birds. It is part of a Joint Issue with Poland. 

Nice cancellation/postmark from Changi Airport. 

Now it's time for the last card for today. It arrived from Bratislava, Slovakia. It's a great view of the four towered Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the Danube river. The original was destroyed in a fire in 1811. It was finally reconstructed in the 1960's. 

Ana used 2 stamps here. The left one was issued in 2010, showcasing Cultural Heritage of Slovakia. The right stamp, from 2023, is 1 of 2 in a Religious Architecture set. 

It was part of a Joint Issue with Armenia. 

That's all for this time folks. Thanks for cards today go out to My Lovely Teena, Dominique, Meelis, Jean Pierre and Ana. Great cards from great people. 

Great Cards From Great People

          BLOG # 1587 ---  Day 457 of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of Ukraine 

                                                                  GLORY TO UKRAINE                 

                   

Hey, how goes the battle ? If you are looking to see some great postcards, this is the place. I have some wonderful cards, great stamps and pretty good postmarks/cancellations for your perusal.  Today I am highlighting the cards alphabetically by country. So here's an A card from Armenia. 

It is a nice view of Saghmosavang Monastery, a 13th century monastery situated atop the gorge carved by the Kasagh River. The monastery was constructed between 1215 and 1221 on the order of Prince Vache Vachutyan. That's Mt. Ararat in the background, Little Ararat on the left and Greater Ararat on the right. Even though located in the extreme east of Turkey, the mountain is the principal national symbol of Armenia and considered sacred by Armenians. 

 

Jobbo sent this card and used a definitive showing a throne decoration. It was issued in 2021. 

Good to hear from you again Jobbo. I thought maybe you had given up travelling. 

Next is a B card from Botswana. Lots of information on this card. The country's Flag, map, size, population , official languages and currency. Now I don't need to go there, just kidding . I'd love to go there. 

Jean Pierre used a World Post Day stamp from 2021. It is 1 of 4 in a set showing Bridges of Botswana. 

Here is another B card , again from Botswana and again sent by Jean Pierre. This card shows the some of the local residents of Botswana -- an Elephant, a Giraffe, a Puku, a Lion, a Hippopotamus and a Zebra. 

Jean Pierre used 2 stamps this time. The left stamp was issued in 2014 and is 1 of 14 in a set , all showing Birds. The right stamp is from a set of 4 issued in 2022, showing Baobad trees of Botswana. 

That's A and B taken care of, now it's on to C. 

How about Curacao. The card shows the colorful Handelskade. It's the harborfront street lined with brightly painted 18th century buildings that today house boutiques, art galleries and sidewalk cafes. 

This card has a story , and here it is. My Lovely Teena posted this back in November last year. We were on a cruise at the time and stopped at Willemstad. We love it there , Willemstad is a lovely place. Teena used a great Bird stamp. Here it is, not postmarked , no cancellation either. Needless to say, I don't like that at all. 

The card was posted on November 17th and went where ? I have no idea. But on May 23rd I received the postcard in a cover envelope. See it below. 

 Another mystery in the postcard world. I've now seen quite a few over the years. 

Well I guess a D country is next. Not happening - I don't have a Denmark , Djibouti, Dominica or a Dominican Republic card  at this time. Moving on to an E country - Estonia. 

Sent from Tallinn, this card shows Catherine's Alley. Arguably Tallinn's best arched street, it is thought to have been built more than 700 years ago. The southern side is lined with 15th - 17th century buildings. 

Meelis used a nice assortment of stamps on this one. The top left stamp was issued in 2020 to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of actor and director Voldemar Panso.  The right stamp is from 2022 and celebrates The Estonian Piano. The two smaller stamps are definitives from 2007.

Next up is this G country card, since I don't have any F country cards right now. G for Germany. Here we have a look at Koblenz, a German city on the banks of the Rhine and Moselle. The city was founded as a Roman military post around 8 B.C.

Dominique used a stamp from this year on this card. It is a EUROPA issue celebrating PEACE - The Highest Value of Humanity.

I think that's it for this time. I guess I'll have to do the rest of the alphabet the next time. Or at least some part of it. 

Today I want to thank Jean Pierre, Jobbo, Meelis Dominique and My Lovely Teena for these these great cards today,