The Netherlands

May 31, 2014

Anneke writes that she is a 32 year old girl from the Netherlands who loves to fish!  She says it is the most relaxing way to enjoy nature in her opinion.  That is why she sent me this card!

She sends her greetings!

De Hengelaars (Hannes Wallrafen 1991)

These stamps are quite interesting, aren't they?  I haven't seen them before.

Estonia

May 30, 2014

Kaire sent this card to me from Estonia.  She wrote that she is writing from her summer place and only brought a few cards with her.  She apologized for not having a card that matches my wish-list, but then said this one shows both ends of the lifecycle of yarn :-)!

She writes that she likes to knit and crochet, and she usually has a couple of works going on at once. To limit the number of unfinished projects she has a rule: She can't start anything new if she hasn't finished two older works before.  That works well for her.

She sends her best wishes.

Interesting stamps.  I have no idea if these are normal stamps for Estonia or not.  

Finland

May 30, 2014

This is a repeat card, but this time it comes from Finland!

Elsa (?) didn't say anything on the back except her town's name and the date she sent it (26.5.2014).

The stamp is quite cute! I really like the priority sticker too.

Germany

May 30, 2014

Horst wrote a fast and friendly note on the back of this card.

Hello!  Happy Postcrossing and best wishes from Germany.

Russia

May 22, 2014

Marina writes that she lives on Ural.  The Ural mountains are on the border between Europe and Asia, but her city is in the European part.  She says her city is a big industrial city, and its population is about 1 million people.

She sends her best wishes to me.

A bird's-eye view of the monastery of St. Nicholas

Russia - Writer

May 22, 2014

Anna sent this interesting card from St. Petersburg to me.  She writes that she is working as a scientific researcher and is an organic chemist.

About the card she writes that this is Mika Waltari - a famous Finnish writer.  She didn't know about him until this card was given to her by a friend from Finland!

Her favourite film is "Night on Earth" by Jim Jarmusch.

In closing she says that the day she sends the card is Victory Day but the weather is bad and she's at home.  She sends her best wishes.

Mika Waltari

The large stamp is rather beautiful.  A nice Olympic stamp.

Thank you so much Anna!

Germany - Movie Card

May 20, 2014

Angelika sent this cool movie card from Cologne, Germany.

She writes that her favourite movie is a German one by the most popular television actor in Germany, Vicco von Bulow (Loriot).  The title of the movie she likes is "Papa Ante Portas".

She closes with her best wishes.

I actually have seen this film!  I watched it on the Pay movies in a hotel room one night. In English, it is called Unknown. It's quite exciting, plus....Liam Neeson!

The stamp is rather cute too.  Too bad the cancellation mark covers so much of it.

Germany

May 19, 2014

This card arrived from Germany recently.  The sender sends her best wishes, and notes that her name is Sandra. She says that she and her boyfriend live in a city not far away from Munster.  She also says that she is a huge fan of audio books. She sends her regards.

The Brocken Ghost

The Brocken Ghost (or Spectre) is a real thing, mostly.  It's an optical illusion that you can read about here. Don't you love learning about things from postcards?

Czech Republic

May 19, 2014

Marie sent me this great card from the Czech Republic.

She wrote that she is sending this card with Czech actor Jan Werich.  He's important to her, because he played or wrote roles of people who have life wisdom which passed on in a funny way.  He made a very significant artistic DVD with Jiri Voskovec (V&W).  Her favourite quote of Werich's is : If somebody already is, then he should see to it that he be, and when he sees that he be and is, then he must make sure that he is what he is, and is not what he isn't - as is the case in most cases. [I think it may lose something in translation.]

Jan Werich (1975)
by Taras Kuščynskyj

About the stamp, she says Vlasta Burian  was nicknamed the King of Comedians, who is very famous even now when his movies are still running on TV.  

She closes by sending Greetings from the Heart of Europe. Thanks Marie!

Finland

May 16, 2014

This beautiful card was sent by Johanna, an archaeologist. She says that she isn't a huge fan of historical movies, except Gladiator.  She thinks it is very well done and an accurate description of Rome (although Rome isn't her field of study) and she loves to watch it again and again. :-)

About the painting, she writes that the painting is by Albert Edelfelt, who is one of Finland's most loved and studied painters.

She closed by sending me her best wishes.

Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905) --Idylli, 1878

This stamp is very beautiful too.    I love the priority sticker as well!

Belarus

May 15, 2014


Olga writes,"Greetings from Belarus!"

"Hope you like my card with old castle ruins (Golshany). Mystical place, is not it?  My name's Olga.  I live in Minsk with my family (my husband and daughter Sasha). I like crochet very much too."

"Have a good spring time, scenery days, warm mood, and all the best for you.  HPC!  Best regards"

Thanks very much Olga.  I'm always happy to hear from another crochet fan!

Turkey, by way of Germany

May 13, 2014

Wiebke sent this card while she was on holiday in Turkey.  She is a German Postcrosser, so it was really nice of her to remember to send her postcards!

She writes that right now she is on holiday in Alanya in Turkey.  She took a trip to a place called Autalya which she calls beautiful and amazing, but the next day, she is returning home.  She wants to let me know that she was on the trip with her boyfriend.  The holiday was his birthday present to her :-)

She hopes I'll receive a lot of post cards, she wishes me all the best and Happy Postcrossing!

 This looks like a lovely place to holiday!

These are some stamps from Turkey...very interesting!

Czech Republic - Art

May 12, 2014

Maja sent this beautiful card and stamp to me from the Czech Republic,  She writes that she is in high school, but she would like to be an au pair and then work in a Kindergarten somewhere abroad, not in Czech.

She continues that she loves kids and animals (dogs and snails..which she collects.)  She bids me to take care.

Fruit - 1897

 The card was in my favourites listing, so I really appreciate receiving it.  Thank you Maja!

And just look at this lovely stamp!  It is huge.  It says that it is a work called Zodiac.  I think it is lovely.  It was on the card sideways, but I turned it to make it easier to see.

A great postcrossing!  Thank you so much :-)

United States of America - Quilt

May 12, 2014

This lovely quilt card came from Pennsylvania in the US.

Jeff wrote me a very nice message on the back, and I'll excerpt some of it here for you.

He says that his area of Pennsylvania is home to the Amish & Mennonite people.  He also tells me that there are some Amish in Canada too.

He writes that he didn't have any cards in my topics, but he did have this card with an Amish Quilt on it.  He thought that because I like crochet, I might also like this quilt.  He continues by saying that his grandmother was an avid quilter, she made quilts for each of her 20+ grandchildren before she died.  He has a beautiful crazy patch quilt.  It is quite a family heirloom!

Log Cabin Circa 1900-10/Wool
66 x 78/ Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
William and Connie Hayes

 And these are fabulous stamps that Jeff put on the back of his card too.  I haven't seen either the Shirley Chisholm or the Jimi Hendrix stamp before.  Very cool!

I didn't know very much about Shirley Chisholm, but I read up on her and I wish I had known more about her before now.  Thanks for putting her on this card.

Spain

May 12, 2014

I received this card from Spain recently.

It has a short and sweet message on the back of the card.  The sender said, "Hello!  A postcard of a little village near de French and Andorra border.  Best wishes, Luiseme50"

 View of Sant Victor de Figols d'Organya

Thanks for the card!

Netherlands - Movie Card

May 9, 2014

Renate sent a lovely movie card from the Netherlands.  It shows a movie that I adore, The English Patient.  I have read the novel by Michael Ondaatje too and it is excellent.

Renate writes that she loves movies.  She lists off a few of her favourites including, (500) Days of Summer, When Harry Met Sally, Little Miss Sunshine and Bridesmaids. She mentioned a few non-English movies too, but I haven't seen them unfortunately.  She sends best wishes to me and my husband, and wishes me a happy Postcrossing.

I love this card!  Thanks Renate.

What an interesting stamp.  I'm not sure what a buffalo has to do with grapes...but I'd be happy to find out! Anyone know?

Germany

May 9, 2014

This colourful card arrived in my mailbox and I was thrilled to see it.  The Dalai Lama recently visited my area of Japan and brought his grace and good humour with him.

Torsten sent this card and says that he works as a chemistry technician in a large company.  His favourite movies are Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Star Wars, Hunger Games, historic movies and funny movies like Scary Movie, & Naked Gun.  He closes with many greetings and best wishes.

Dalai Lama greeting a child with the Tibetan sign of respect.

These stamps are really beautiful, especially the bust of Nefertiti.

Kagoshima Gotochi Card

May 9, 2014

I'm back!  Finally there were new cards in my mailbox today.  One of them was this beauty.

A friend who I know from my women's group sent me this lovely Gotochi card from her prefecture. She tells me that she has only seen the cranes once, during her first year in Japan.  That was 17 years ago and she was living nearby.

This is my second sixth year Gotochi card.  I really like this one.  

Thanks so much Annette!