Long Overdue Blog

BLOG # 1427

Well it's been a long time - 3 weeks in fact since my last update here. I was away for 8 days on a short  cruise . Since returning  I have been  experiencing technical problems  with my blog. I am writing this update under great difficulty. Obviously I am not savvy enough to fix what is happening. I know I caused it but have no idea how to reverse the problem . I just hope I get through this and am able to publish. I guess I am going to have to call out my IT person - my son.

I have received lots of cards during my absence and have decided to put them up here in two groups - one large group and one even larger. Today it's the large group. These cards are all from what I call regular contributors to my blog.

My first card is from Nagano , Japan. It's a look at a train that operates in the country. Barbara says it's not as fast as the Shinkansen or Bullet train, though.

Barbara used a number of stamps on her card.   The top left stamp was issued in 2019, 1 of a set of 10 showing Tradition and Culture. The other stamps are Definitives issued in 2015.

This next card is from France. It's a look at the Abbey of St Mary of Lagrasse. Lagrasse is a village in the Occitanie region of Southern France with a population of just over 560. The abbey dates from 783 when Charlemagne gave permission for its construction. The area around the abbey is renowned for its wine production.

Dominique used a stamp from 1963. It highlights the 36th French Philatelic Societies Federation Congress , in Caen.

Now here's a card from South Africa and a view of Blyde Canyon. On the left is Bourke's Luck Potholes, a popular geological attraction.  Blyde Canyon is one of the world's largest  and in located in the Mpumalanga region in eastern South Africa. This is the area , in the Zulu language, where the sun rises.

Bruce used a stamp from 2017. It is 1 of 5 in a beautiful set showcasing South African National Parks. Th
e one shown is Bontebok National Park, a species-specific park, established in 1931 to ensure the preservation of the Bontebok. It is the smallest of the country's national parks at just 27.8 square km.

Next is a card from Naples, Italy. It's a great view of the city showing the Spaccanapoli, the straight and narrow main street that traverses the old, historic center of the city. It is a main area for tourists.

Dominique used a S&SM Post stamp (label ) . It is only valid for the S & SM Network. It is not associated with Poste Italiane. But it did arrive. The card was written on Aug 12th  and  arrived here in Airdrie on Oct 18th. Not too bad for an unofficial .

Now it's an Aviation themed card from Thailand. This card shows the September 1970 cover of Aviation Magazine. Joe pilot is standing proud in front of his fighter jet holding his award.

Jobbo used a Flower stamp from 2016. It is from a set of 6.

It's greetings from Jordan now, another card from Bruce. A great view of Cardo Maximus, the colonnaded street in Jerash, north of Amman. The north-south street is 800m in length and was built in the first century AD.  It has manholes and underground drainage and still bears the ruts of  thousands of chariots , worn into the original flagstones.

 Bruce used a number of stamps on this card. The top left stamp, from 1999, 1 of 3 showing the Cradle of Civilization - Aquaba. The top right stamp, from 2018, 1 of 2 in a Euro-Mediterranean Trees set. The last stamp is from 2017 , 1 of 5 Arc de Triomphe of the Emperor stamps. These stamps were first issued in 2003 but reissued in 2017 with a surcharge.

Since this has been a rather long update, here is the last card for today. It's from Spain and it arrived with a most wonderful stamp which I'll get to later. The card shows the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. This museum of modern and contemporary art was opened in October 1997 by King Juan Carlos I. The fantastically designed museum was the building most frequently named as one of the most important works completed since 1980 in the 2010 World Architecture Survey.

Here is the amazing stamp that was used by Josep & Assumpta on this card. The stamp was issued this year for the Vitoria - Gasteir Euroleague Basketball Final Four.The exciting thing about this stamp is the netting on the basketball net. It was added after the stamp was printed and therefore you can actually feel the netting material. A cool stamp for sure.

So there you have it. A long overdue update finally sees the light. Thanks for today's cards go out to Barbara, Dominique, Bruce, Jobbo, and Josep & Assumpta. Take care. Hope to be back here soon.

Odds and Ends

BLOG # 1426

Hello again

Today it's a bunch of cards based on no particular topic. Let's start with this card from France. It's a great look at Le Cap Blanc-Nez. This is a cape on the Cote d' Opale in northern France . The cliffs of chalk , rising to 134 m , are quite similar to the white cliffs of Dover at the other side of the Channel in England.

Elodie used a 2019 stamp celebrating 130 Years of the Eiffel Tower.

My next card and stamp actually is a reproduction of an oil painting from 1562. The painting is called The Fall of the Rebel Angels and is is located at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. It was painted by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

Johan used a stamp exactly like the postcard and exactly like the painting. It was issued this year, 2019, which is the 450th Anniversary of the dealt of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. It is 1 of 5 different stamps in a minisheet.

Today's second card is from Kosice in eastern Slovakia, close to the Hungarian border. It's a look at the Museum of Aviation located there. The museum has over 60 types of civilian and military aircraft from various periods and countries. They include MiG -15, MiG-21 fighters and SU bombers.

Berta used a very attractive ( at least in my mind ) stamp from 2018. It shows an Ottoman Manuscript from the Basagic Collection. It was a Joint Issue with Turkey.

This next card arrived from Luang Phrabang, a province in the north of Laos. It shows a photo by Michel Huteau of Wat That Chomsi, built in 1804. The temple is found at the top of Mount Phousi and if you want to go, you'll have to climb 328 steps.

Jobbo used a stamp from 2016 showcasing a Lao Traditional Wedding.

Flying in now is an Air Baltic B737-300 - YL-BBL . This jet is 20.9 years old, and flew for EasyJet and Sky Europe before joining Air Baltic in 2006. It left Air Baltic's fleet in 2016.

Jean Pierre used a stamp from 2016, 1 of 2 in a Latvian Birds set.

I think it's time for a bridge card now. This is the Pont de Pierre or Stone Bridge. It is found in Bordeaux, France crossing the Garonne River. It was built between 1819 and 1822 and has 17 arches ( the number of letters in the name Napoleon Bonaparte ) , under whose orders it was planned  and designed. Interesting note about the bridge -- the bridge and its tide is an important point in the Itineraire a Grand Gabarit, the logistic schedule transporting parts for the Airbus A380 production.

Marie used a find selection of 4 stamps on her card. I'll work from left to right. The far left stamp is 1 of 4 in a Star Wars set issued in 2017. This one shows Luke Skywalker. The set were issued as Augmented Reality stamps and seem to come alive when scanned with a smart phone after the download of a special app. They were  issued to mark the 71st Autumn Philatelic Salon in Paris. The next stamp is from a booklet of 12 Flowers issued in 2016. Next , from 2019, 1 of 6 in a Sports minisheet. Last, on the far right, from 2018, 1 of 8 in a Tourism - Vacation in France set.

Up next is Drachenfels or Dragon Rock - medieval ruins located near Bonn. The area offers great views of the Rhine River Valley  .
Legend has it that a fire-breathing dragon lived atop the rock and he spent his time terrorizing residents of the surrounding villages. That is until he was slayed by a local hero.

Dominique used a Flower definitive along with a 2019 Microworld Palladium Chemical Element Stamp.

That ends another blog update . Thanks for cards this time go out to Berta, Johan, Elodie, Jobbo, Jean Pierre, Marie and Dominique. See you next time. 

People On Cards

BLOG  #  1425

Well people, today it's all people as planned . Some real, some not real !

We'll start the day with King Ludwig II of Bavaria. He became king at age 18 and was king for 22 years until his death in 1886. He was a strange fellow, to many he was the Mad King, to others the Swan King. He is quoted as saying " I wish to forever remain an enigma, both to myself and others " . True words indeed. He died under strange, mysterious circumstances on June 13, 1886 . Some say he was indeed murdered.

A German Postcrosser named Hannes sent this card along, using  one of the quite often seen Flower definitives.

 


Next is this beautiful Air Hostess from Air Baltic. She is one of 485 cabin crew at the airline.

Jean Pierre sent this card from Riga, and it has a map of Air Baltic's flights system on the reverse of the card. The stamp , issued in 2019, commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Art Academy of Latvia.

My next card is also from Latvia. However I'm not too sure of the card's meaning. First I thought she might be a nun or a nurse but I think I'm wrong on both counts. Maybe someone who knows the language will leave a comment and sort the card's meaning out for the rest of us. I also thought it might be something about fake items or fraud of some kind. She is holding a pair of Ray Ban glasses and maybe wondering if they are real or a knockoff. I have no idea.

The stamp is from 2015 and is 1 of 2 in a set showing Latvian Birds.

Next is a card showing a couple from Lithuania. Not sure if they're dancing or just hanging around. I don't seem to be sure of much today.

Dalia used a stamp from 2015 showing a Lithuanian Bridge.

Next is a lady relaxing on some smooth rocks by the shore. It is a photo by Klaus Ender.

Sabine used 2 of the long Flower definitive set.

Now we have a shopkeeper in Hong Kong. No doubt you can find everything you want and even some you might not want in his shop or the next one to it.

Cora used an Airmail stamp from 2019.

Now , here's a card from Korea. It shows an Iris Fairy. This is an illustration from the 1934 book A Flower Fairy Alphabet by Cicely Mary Barker. It`s a book of illustrated poems, in which fairies introduce the letters of the alphabet by describing the flowers among which they live. This is the poem for the Iris.

I am Iris : I`m the daughter
Of the marshland and the water.
Looking down, I see the gleam
Of the clear and peaceful stream;
Water-lilies large and fair
With their leaves are floating there;
All the water-world I see,
And my own face smiles at me.

Eunbin used these stamps:  The 2 on the left are Flora- Bird stamps from 1979. The middle stamp is 1 of 2 issued in 1999 celebrating World Heritage Sites in South Korea. The stamp on the right is dated 1984 but was issued in 1983. It is 1 of 2 stamps issued for the International Stamp Exhibition  Philakorea 84. It marked the 100th Anniversary of the Korean Postal System.

That`s all the People for this time. Thank for today`s cards go out to Sabine, Dalia, Hannes, Jean Pierre, Cora and Eunbin. Thanks for dropping in and do do it again. Take care.

Aircraft , Airplanes and Aviation

BLOG # 1424

It's time for a few more postcards. I have received quite a few cards lately and putting them all up here on the blog has proved quite challenging. I decided to put them in groups of what they represent. Last blog was European Cities. Today I was torn between Aircraft or People. I thought the only fair way was with a coin toss. I actually tossed a coin and Aircraft won. Now I know not everyone is as enthusiast about aircraft as I am , but fair is fair. Blame the coin toss not the tosser. The People cards will be next time.

Here's the first of today's aircraft line-up

JA8130 , a Japan Asia Airways B747.
It entered service with Japan Airlines in 1979. In 2004 it flew with Japan Asia Airways and in 2005 with Kalitta Air. It's time with Kalitta Air was short, it ended up stored and later scrapped. Note the Sumo Wrestler on the fuselage, just past the wing.

Pai, a Postcrosser from Taiwan sent this card along. The left stamp if from a set of 4 Fruits stamps issued in 2016. The other 2 stamps, from 2013, are from a set of 6 Greetings / Tourism stamps.

C-FYLD Air Canada A340
Part of Air Canada's fleet from 1998 to 2008. Subsequently operated by Gestair Cargo, Iberia and Aerolineas Argentinas. The card shows this aircraft in a Star Alliance livery.

This card arrived from
 Canada, compliments of Jean Pierre. The stamps are a couple of Beneficial Insects from 2007 and a Circus Stamp from 1998, 1 of 4 in the set.

RA-75909 , IL-18 of  Aeroflot Russian Airlines
This 4 engine turboprop airliner first flew in 1957.

Diana from Southern Siberia sent this card. She used a nice selection of stamps. On the left is a 2018 issue commemorating the 2100th Anniversary of the Birth of Alekandr Solzhenitsyn. The middle stamp is 1 of 4 in a 2004 set featuring Wolverines. On the right, from 2003, 1 of 3 from a Contemporary Russian Art set.

F-GSPD , Air France B777.
One of the earliest 777 to enter the AF Fleet. It is 20.8 years old and was delivered to Air France on January of 1999. As I write this on Sunday Oct 13, F-GSPD operated from Paris to Toronto and back to Paris.

Jean Pierre used a stamp from this current year on this card. It is 1 of 2 in a mini-sheet Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between France and Poland. Featured on the stamp is Josef Haller von Hallenburg.

N2059, Air France A318
This aircraft was built in 2003 and delivered to Air France , registered as F-GUGB. The A318 is the smallest airliner in the Airbus A320 family. Only 80 were built and Air France is the largest operator of the aircraft. There was an incident involving this particular aircraft on March 28, 2017 at Paris - Charles de Gaulle.  Now I'm not a pilot so I leave it to those interested and their research to figure out just what happened. Suffice to say, there were no injuries.

Jean Pierre used a 2019 Marianne International rate stamp.

F-GMVD , Air France Express Saab 2000.
This aircraft was delivered to Air France in 1996 and is pictured at Geneva in 1998. It has seen service with  Hendrick Motorsports in 2006, Canal Air in 2009, and Meregrass in 2010 . The last Saab 2000 built was delivered in 1999 , with a total of 63 built.

Once again Jean Pierre used a most wonderful stamp, an Airmail stamp no less. How often do you see an airmail stamp ? It was issued in 1979 to celebrate the International Aeronautics and Space Exhibition held at Le Bourget.
The stamp shows an Ariane Rocket and a Concorde.

     YL-BAL, Air Baltic British Aerospace Avro RJ70
The Avro RJ70 first flew in 1983 and was first operated by Air Baltic in 1996. This particular aircraft flew for Transwede in 2007 and Malmo Aviation in 2009. Air Baltic is the flag carrier of Latvia with its headquarters in Riga. This picture of Air Baltic was taken at Hamburg in June of 1996.

Jean Pierre sent this card from Vilnius, Lithuania. His stamp is from 2018, 1 of 2 issued for the Winter Olympic Games , that were held in PyeongChang, South Korea.

There you have it, another update , even if they are all aircraft, but that's how it goes sometimes. For these great cards, I have to thank Jean Pierre, Pai, and Diana. As mentioned earlier, next time it will be People, so stay tuned.