Ibaraki - Gotochi Cards Part 2

June 14, 2016

This is the second group of Gotochi Cards that I purchased in Ibaraki last month.  I am always on the lookout for Gotochi Cards that I don't already have.

Sorry, just to reiterate, I do not swap Gotochi Cards outside of Japan.

Lotus Root

Chestnut

 The post office worker seemed to be quite happy that I was buying so many Gotochi cards at once and gave me these 4 mini cards.  I wasn't able to buy the normal sized waterfall card, so it is very nice to be able to have a small one. The waterfalls are called Fukuroda Falls and are ranked as the third most beautiful falls in Japan!

Mini Gotochi Cards

Gotochi Cards - Ibaraki Part One

June 13, 2016

While I was in Ibaraki last month I picked up the Gotochi cards for the prefecture.  I had received one before as a Postcrossing, but I managed to get most of the others.

Here are the first three Gotochi cards that I bought.

Mito Natto

Natto is one of the most horrible foods that you can buy in Japan (in my NOT so humble opinion) but Ibaraki proudly put it on their first Gotochi card.  Apparently they use small soybeans and "mature" it for three months.  Most natto has the smell of stinky gym socks after a marathon so I do not intend to even try this stuff.

Melon 

Izura Rokkakudo

This building was built as a place for deep thought.  It was built by Tenshin Okakura and he fell in love with the area when he visited the beach and built his vacation house.  

It was swept out to sea by the tsunami in 2011 but has since been rebuilt. 

Seasonal Post Office Card

June 11, 2016

I was in Ibaraki Prefecture last month for a few days and of course made a run to a nearby post office to pick up some Gotochi Cards.  I got a few, but I also picked up this card to celebrate Spring.  I like it a lot.

I probably could have bought this one in my own prefecture, but I hadn't seen it before.  Very cute.  I like the four leaf clover!

Germany - Teapots

May 31, 2016

This great card came from Germany and was sent by Anja.  She didn't write a lot, but she was friendly on the back of her card.

"Hello and greetings from Germany.  My name is Anja and I live in a small village in northern Germany.  It is very nice here.  I wish you many beautiful postcards from around the world. Anja"

Anja used an envelope for her card, so I have included the stamps from the envelope.  

Finland - Food/Art

May 31, 2016

This beautiful card with great stamps came from Laaksonlilja in Finland.  She wrote a lot on the back of her card, and it was full of movie opinions with a bit about the food on the front.  In other words, my kind of card!

She writes,"Finnish strawberry cake is best dessert in summer especially made from fresh Finnish strawberries.  Anyway, I'm a movie fan too.  Yesterday I watch on a DVD: Clouds of Sils Maria it's a story about aging actor. (Juliet Binoche, Kirsten Stewart) On movie theatre I last saw this year Allegiant (Divergent - trilary) waiting to see a movie Carol (Cate Blanchette).  I also like old movies like Casablanca, because I like Ingrid Bergman - movies, of course Humphrey Bogart is excellent too.   Best Wishes, Laaksonlilja"

These are interesting stamps plus stickers.  I quite like them.  

Norway - Tea

May 30, 2016

Lidia sent this great card from Norway to me.  She wrote a lovely chatty note on the back, the kind I really like.

I have just added tea related cards to my list of Postcrossing Druthers.  I am a bit of a tea hoarder.  I love the stuff, so pictures of tea and tea cups please me a lot!

Lidia writes,"I hope you don't have this card yet:) I love tea much more than coffee, it's color, it's smell, it's taste - and no sugar - thank you :-) Otherwise, I like reading, but the facebook and youtube takes over too often, unfortunately :( I wish it didn't.  I also have 3 kids, 21, 14 and 12, and I am a Christian - this is my life, ha ha :-). Have a wonderful life!! Best Wishes - Lidia"

Tea Time
Photo by Rozmarina

 One of the stamps is of course printed on, but the other is quite nice.  I know that lighthouses are very popular with some people. This one is rather beautiful.

Hong Kong

May 30, 2016

Dennis sent this card to me and used some lovely stamps on the back.  He also writes about his visits to Japan on the back of his card.

He says, "This is a greeting from Hong Kong.  I have never been to Yamagata, my nearest place I have visited is Kanita, Aomori-ken.  Take the cross strait train from Hakodate, Hokkaido to there. I'd like to send you a positive energy card with Chinese saying, "If you want to fly high, you should forget the horizon!" こんばんは [Good Evening] Dennis"

I really like these little stamps, particularly the Aquarius stamp because, yes, I am an Aquarian! 

Just a reminder that you can click on the card or the stamps to see them open in a larger window.

Germany

May 25, 2016

Mona sent this card from Germany with a note on the back about her town and herself.  It was interesting reading.

She wrote, "Greetings from Germany.  I'm Mona, 24 years old and I live and study in a 100 000 people town, (you will laugh, it is the second biggest town in my federal state Thuringia) called Jena. You ask about favourite films. I must say, I don't know so much. I prefer to read books.  Further hobbys are playing guitar, traveling, writing letters.  Happy Postcrossing.  Wish you all the best.  Mona"

Jena

Morocco - Movie Related

May 24, 2016

This lovely card arrived in my mailbox a few days ago.  Eva of Mail Adventures sent it to me with a lovely note on the back.  I won't post all of it but some of it is quite interesting and not overly personal.

Eva wrote, "...this postcard was a gift, and I thought you would like it.  Since our exchange, I wanted to send you something "Moroccan". This area is a noted film-making location (For example; Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Game of Thrones, ..Babel, Kundun...)."

In any case, I love it!

Ouarzazate

 These are really interesting stamps too.  I like them a lot!

Thanks so much Eva!

United States - Food

May 16, 2016

This interesting card came from ThirdPotato in the states.  He wrote a nice note on the back for me too.

He wrote, "Greetings from Atlanta,  Georgia! Here in the South, food is a major part of our culture, some unique food & drinks from the south are
-sweet iced tea
-sweet potato pie
-pecan pie
-fried chicken with waffles

I love exploring the unique restaurants of Atlanta.  There are a lot of fusion foods like Korean Tacos, Indian Burgers and more!  I hope you enjoyed this cultural trip! ~ThirdPotato"

Orange Sherbet before 1865
Sherbet, an ancient combination of ice and fruit,
 has appeared on dessert menus since time immemorial.
Orange Sherbet is one of the oldest and most established varieties.
(from back of card)

Russia

May 7, 2016

Aline sent this card from Russia.  She was so excited to send it that she forgot to write the registration code on it and I had to ask Postcrossing to look it up for me.

She wrote, "Hello!  I'm Aline and I studing at the school.  I love surprise and nature, also I love birds very much!  Pigeons forever!  Smile :)"

This card is very antique looking, right down to the rounded corners and design on the back of the card.

The big stamp below is interesting.  It looks religious in nature, but I can't be sure.  Any readers know?

Russia

May 6, 2016


This postcard came to me from Russia.  Irina wrote a nice note on the back of the card and even recommended a movie for me.  And that is always a good thing!

Irina said,"Hello!  I am Irina! I am fond of taking photos, playing the piano and stud[y]ing foreign languages.  As you asked, I would like you to recommend a very interesting Russian movie "Yolki". It is about adventures of different people on New Year Eve. I hope that you won't be disappointed!"

Panoramic view of the Neva River and Vasilyevsky Island

I think this is an interesting way to cancel the stamps!

Russia

May 6, 2016

This blue card came from Olga in Russia.  She wrote a very nice note on the back of it.  I'm not really sure how this relates to my preferences however.  I say I don't mind ad cards that relate to my interests, but this one doesn't seem to, unless I'm missing something.  Oh well.  On with the card.

"Hello!  How are you? It's very nice to meet you.  My name is Olga and I live in Russia City of Samara.  I'm 42.  I have a son.  He's 14.  We live with 2 cats - Neko and Kame.  I love Japan.  I listening to J-Pop (jonnys).  I watch TV-Shows and dorama.  (Kat-Tun).  Bay.  "

When I thanked Olga I had to admit that I don't watch Japanese TV and I don't listen to J-Pop.  There are very few J-Pop artists that I don't mind listening to!

Ukraine - Book

May 6, 2016

This book-y card came from Maria in the Ukraine with a nice note about Postcrossing meetings.

She wrote, "Hi!  My name is Maria. Postcrossers in my city have meetings every 2-3 month and we become friends with other postcrossers, sometimes we go to other cities to meet postcrossers there. Now we (11 persons from Kiev, Kharkiv, Lviv) are going to Odessa.  Maria"

Turkey - Movie Card

May 6, 2016

I adore movies.  Everyone that knows me knows I adore movies.  I write a movie column and I have a Facebook page (sorely underused) devoted to movies. I was very happy to receive this card in my mailbox recently.  Not only is it for an Academy Award winning film, but it is mostly black and white and a very striking card besides that.  Yes, you could say that I love this card!

The card reads, "Hi from Turkey. I hope you like the card. I really like this movie. I'm a psychologist and I love the film because of this. I love watching Japanese Movies. In May 2015 I did a Japanese Movies Marathon and I watched 146 movies. I love their culture. I hope one day I can visit anywhere in Japan.  Love, Seniz :)"

The stamp was also quite unusual.  I turned the scan because it was put on sideways and I wanted to show it off better.  Quite interesting!

Thank you for a great postcrossing!

Russia - Black & White/Books

May 2, 2016

This cool card with great stamps arrived in my mailbox from Russia.  For the last few weeks I have been receiving a lot of cards from Russia.  This one comes from a woman who shares a love for one of my favourite actors!

"My best wishes for you from St. Petersburg, Russia.  My name is Julia.  I am 43 Y.O. I have a daughter of 13.  I love reading, cooking and travelling  I love Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth.  He is one of my most favourite actors.  Hugs, Julia"

I don't know who the man on the books is.  It isn't written on the card.

These stamps are so gorgeous, but sadly the cancellation mark covers a lot of the one on the left.  It makes it hard to see.

Thank you Julia!  I love Colin Firth too :-)

Russia - Tea

May 2, 2016

May starts off with this fabulous card from Russia.  How much do I like it?  I just added tea and teapots to my wishlist of postcards. This card was sent by a woman who wrote a lovely little note on the back.

"Hello!  My name is Venera.  I live in the small town near Kazan.  When we are ill, we drink tea with linden flowers.  I like time when linden blossoms.  I like knitting also.  Happy Postcrossing! Venera"

Isn't this a beautiful card?  I love this, probably because I have a similar teapot.

I really like these stamps.  I believe I haven't received them before.

Thanks Venera!  A lovely Postcrossing.