Latvia

November 6, 2018

This card came to me from Ruslan in Latvia. He wrote a short note on the back of the card and told me about his day. I like that kind of thing very much!

He wrote;

Hello Helen!

Greetings from Latvia! I live to run and ride my bicycle. Yesterday morning I did my ride and I fell from bicycle and broke my rib! Now I need to rest for 3-4 weeks!

Best wishes,

Ruslan

This is a beautiful stamp. I really love it!

Russia

March 18, 2017

I am back...mostly!  My internet connection is not perfect, and I haven't had time to re-activate my Postcrossing account, but I did receive a few cards while I was offline and thought I would show you one of them now.

I received this beautiful card just before I moved so I wasn't able to post it for you as I had planned.  It has a very dreamy quality, as I'm sure you will agree when you see it.  It comes from Russia and was sent by Alyona.

Alyona wrote a lovely note to me, here is what she said,

"Hello Helen!

Many warm greetings from northern Arkhangelsk.

(something in Russian)

Solovetsky Islands are one of the most beautiful sights in our region.

I've been there several times and dream

of going to Solovki again. Amazing architecture, 

beautiful nature and fantastic atmosphere.

No doubt this place is worth visiting!

Lots of sunshine and warm spring days,

Alyona

These are the great stamps that were on her card.  Very nice!  I like the architecture.

Latvia

November 28, 2016

I got this interesting card from Latvia, it was sent by a woman named Santa.  She wrote a little about the card, which is great, because I don't read Latvian!

She wrote,
"Hello Helen,
greetings from Latvia!
My name is Santa, I'm 28. On the front is a recipe for traditional Latvian food we eat during Summer Solstice festivals.  It's homemade cheese with caraway seeds.  I hope you'll like the card! Best wishes,
-S.-

Latvia - Handicrafts

January 12, 2016

I received this fabulous card from Kristine and I really liked it a lot.  It has a lot of mittens on it.  I  tried to knit a pair of mittens once, but my mother had to help me with the thumbs.  I loved them, but sadly ended up losing them somewhere.  I was quite sad about that.

Kristine writes, "Hello!  Greetings from Europe, greetings from Latvia.  And happy New 2016 year!

As winter with snow and frost arrived here, - sending you card with nice mittens in traditional patterns.  My granny also is making such for us.  Love them.  Warm and beautiful.  We are enjoying skiing and skating.  Happy Postcrossing!  Kristine"

Knitted Mittens.
Latvia.  18th c till the beginning of the 20th c.
National History Museum of Latvia

The bird you see on the stamp is, I believe, a Eurasian golden oriole.  The Wikipedia article is here.

Thanks Kristine :-)

Latvia

April 13, 2015

Linda sent this great card of a doll in national dress.  She wrote a very short but sweet note on the back of the card.  "Happy Postcrossing! Great summer! A lot of sun and love!  With love, Linda"

An interesting stamp. I haven't seen this one before!

Latvia

March 24, 2015

Mara wrote an explanation of Latvian customs for Easter on the back of her card.  It was interesting, except it sounds a bit like it was copied from Wikipedia. I couldn't find it when I searched for it, so perhaps she did write it.  I'll put a bit of what she wrote down.

"Traditional Easter activities include painting eggs with natural colors, egg rolling and egg battles, swinging in the highest place, predicting the weather and performing traditional ceremonies for promoting fertility and strengthening health.  Best wishes, Mara"

It's very informative.

Riga - The Livs Square

These are interesting stamps.  The one with the trees is a little scary!

 

Latvia

June 10, 2014

This card comes all the way from Latvia.

The sender, Diana, says that she lives in a small town in the North East of Latvia.  Her district is bordered by two countries, Estonia and Russia.  The population in her town is around 9,000 people.  She sends her greetings from Latvia :-)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nocholas in Ventspils.

Kaltene

An interesting Olympic stamp, plus a few flowers!

Latvia

November 25, 2013

This card has a short message on the back.

Greetings from Latvia! I live near at Rundale Palace. You can look in Google.  Kristaps

He used some interesting stamps, lovely and Christmassy!