China - Food

 June 25, 2020

This lovely card arrived back in June from Caiute.  She wrote a short but friendly note on her card.

She said;

Hello! A greeting from China! My name is Caiute. This food is "Instant Spicy Steampot", from Chengdu City. I like it.  Best Wishes!

The fish and the kitty on the back of the stamp is a big sticker. I was able to get a good copy of it for you.

Netherlands - Books

 June 12, 2020

This card came from the Netherlands from Mattias.  I grew up reading Puffin Books, so even though I didn't read this particular one, this was a fun card to receive. He wrote an interesting note if a bit scattered in topics!

He said,

Hoi Helen! I 🧡 books! From childhood. So it was no surprise that I studied for librarian. I worked for 2 decades in a library and was truck driver on a library on wheels. Fun to go to "remote" and little villages. I still enjoy books and read novels and biography most. And discovered Marie Kondo some time ago! Her books are helpful to me. Now I read from Erica FATLAND=the Frontier; a travel through all Russian neighbour countries. It's 700+ pages.

Happy Day.    Mattias

I think that this may have been a Christmas stamp leftover, but I'm not sure!

Taiwan - Movie Card

June 2, 2020

This card arrived back in June and was a nice surprise. I haven't seen the movie on the front however. It came from Penny in Taiwan. She wrote a lovely friendly note and used amazing stamps on the card.


She wrote,
Hello Helen,
I have been to Yamagata for 2 time, both of them are going to Zao, cause I want to see the Jyuhyo (Snow Monsters) with blue sky! And I saw it in second time trip! Lucky me.

Penny

[Mt. Zao in Yamagata-ken is famous for strange snow formations in winter. The snow covers the trees, but the strong winds carve the snow and it looks like snow monsters. I've never seen them as Zao is more than 2 hours away and the roads aren't great in winter!]

I don't know anything about this film, I've never seen it or even heard of it!

These stamps that Penny used are amazing. I am not sure which one I like most.

Thank you Penny!

Czech Republic - Food

March 24, 2020

Belka sent this card from the Czech Republic in January, but it didn't arrive here until the end of March. Slow mail perhaps?

She wrote a long note on the back and my readers know that I enjoy that!

She wrote;

"Hello Helen.

Many greetings from the Czech Republic, Europe. This card shows a typical Czech Eastern [Easter?]  sweet bread (I do not know how better call it.) It is full of raisins and candied fruit. Around the card are Eastern [Easter?] eggs drawn by wax and then colored - the wax makes white pictures on the egg. It is my favourite technique, but unfortunately less and less people (women) color eggs for Easter [Easter?] .

Best regards. Belka

This looks so delicious!

An interesting stamp, it commemorates a Czech artist.

Russia - Food

March 13, 2020

This card came to me in an envelope from Katya in Russia. She sent along a translation of the recipe on the card which was a lovely thing to do. She also wrote a lot, which is nice to see!

She wrote,

"Hello Helen!
Konnichiwa! You received this postcard from 30 y.o. Ukrainian girl Katya. Now I live in Kaluga city, Russia, with my husband, our 3, 5 y.o daughter Tonya and our 1,5 y.o. cat Pixel. My hobbies are foreign languages (I know English & Spanish, learning Korean), music, Spanish and Asian culture. I love Japanese & dream to travel there some day!

I want to look at flowering sakuras!

As you like food, this card with a berries cake is for you.

Happy Spring!

Katya"


Along with the postcard and translation, Katya sent some cool notepaper in different fruit shapes.  It's really nice to receive envelopes with fun stuff in them.

This is just part of the envelope Katya sent.  Look at the very cool stamps she used!

France

March 11, 2020

This card came from Emmanuelle in France. She wrote a lovely message on the back about her area of France and her work. I like finding out about people in other places!

She wrote,
"Hello, Bonjour Helen,
Best greeting from France. I am 34 years old and I live in Chateaunova[?]. There is at 250km of Paris, it is center of country. Region of good wine, castles and goat of cheese. I love travel but I work a lot. I take care of disabled persons.

Have a great day

Emmanuelle"

Sadly, there was no title to tell me where this is.  Also, it has cancellation marks on the card. 

China - Flowers

October 8, 2019

This pretty card with amazing stamps came to my door in October and I'm just now blogging about it. Sigh.

Alfred sent this card with a very short note on the back.

He wrote,

"Hi! Greetings from China!  These days the weather is very hot. I hope a cool autumn.  Alfred"

I love the bottom stamp (is that a pun?). I think it might be the story of The Emperor's New Clothes.

United States - Art Card

July 5, 2019

Yufang sent this card to me from the US. She used great stamps on the back and wrote a chatty note about herself and movies that she loves on the back.  I love this kind of card!

She wrote;

Hello Helen!

Greetings from New York City (Brooklyn). USA! 

My name is Yufang, came from Taiwan 16 years ago. I love to read, play piano, and collect stamps. My favorite movies are "Scent of a Woman", "Amelie", and lots of good action movies.  I definitely love Daniel Craig's Bond movies! He actually lives about 10-minute walk from my house! :-) Hope all is well! Yufang

PS. You live in my dream country!

Woman reading in a Forest - Gyula Benczur

Look at these wonderful stamps!  Greta Garbo, Love and Celebrate! How wonderful.  I've never seen such a good example of the Garbo stamp before. I love it!

Finland - Actress in Black & White

June 24, 2019

Eleanore sent this lovely picture of Audrey Hepburn to me from Finland.  She wrote about herself and Audrey Hepburn and about an interesting coincidence...

She wrote:

17.6.2019        +28℃ (too hot for me....)

Hi! From Finland :-) I have to tell you that I just sent a postcard to Alberta, Canada! I got the address yesterday. :-D What a coincidence.  Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorite actresses so photos and cards of her are dear to me. :-)

My name is Eleanore by the way! :-D I'm a 25 years old nursing student. I wish you the best in life. :)

Audrey Hepburn

 A Moomin stamp from Finland!

France

June 22, 2019

Francoise sent me a card of Japan, although she lives in France.  I would say it is a bit like sending coals to Newcastle though!

It's a lovely card and she put a friendly note on the back.

She wrote,

I send you a card of your country, fun is not it, I like this series a lot: as a travel, I wish you a beautiful summer wear well.

Francoise

Toshodai-ji, Honshu island, Japan

The big stamp on the right depicts a view from the cave paintings at Lascaux.

Czech Republic

May 7, 2019

This interesting multicard came to me from Yvona in the Czech Republic. She wrote a note on the back in very small writing, so was able to say quite a lot! I wish I could do that, but it doesn't work for me!

Yvona wrote;

Hello Helen!

Greetings from the Czech Republic! My name is YVONA, I am 54 years old and I have 2 adult daughters and 2 little grandchildren. We live in DECIN, a small town in the north of Cz, but I work in USTI NAD LABEM where I also spent all my childhood. We have a family house close to a forest with hens and goats in our garden.

Last time I watched movie, Bohemian Rhapsody, I love it a lot, because I've loved QUEEN :)

Best wishes, YVONA

I really like these stamps, but I have no idea if they are real people or from literature or what their significance is.  Readers?

Poland - Movie Related

April 24, 2019

This great card came to me with a great discussion of movies on the back, lovely stamps and was almost a perfect card for me.  I'm not a fan of Taxi Driver, although I do know how influential the film was and is.  However, I'm always there for another movie fan!

Piotr wrote,

April 17, 2019
Warsaw  +16 C

Dear Helen!

I like a lot of different films and it would be difficult to point to my favourite. Sometimes the subject moves me, ("Into the Wild"), sometimes music ("Three Colours: Blue") or actors ("The Graduate") or atmosphere ("Blade Runner"). I really like artistic film posters however - I am sending you a postcard with one work of Polish School of Posters. The original poster can be bought for $1000!

All the best for you!

PIOTR

Andrzej Klimowski 1978 - Taxi Driver

Look at all of these cool stamps on the card.  I think they are amazing!

Portugal - Crafts

Mar 22, 2019

Ana sent this card from Portugal way back in March. Apologies but April and May have been crazy busy months so I didn't update this blog.  

Ana wrote;

Hello, my name is Ana, and I live in Portugal, my country is small, but cozy, has good food, good beaches, good climate.

Have a good week

Ana


I'm not sure what they are doing, but it looks like needlepoint.  

 This is an interesting stamp, I'm not sure what it is about!

Germany - Movie Related

March 13, 2019

This card arrived on a rainy day and for some reason, the postal worker must have carried the card uncovered to our mail slot. The back of the card is all streaky and the ink is very blurry. It's quite hard to read, so please forgive me if I don't transcribe it correctly.

Manon wrote,
Guias de!
...so we said in Bavarial Germany for a Hello! I'm Manon 48 years old and I live by Munich. Gumving is a surge City with 41,000 People.

Best wishes!

Manon

Quite an interesting stamp. I don't think I've seen the red one before. I think it shows the story of The Valiant Little Tailor.

Spain - Black & White

October 4, 2018

This beautiful card came from Montse in Spain.  She wrote an enthusiastic note on the back and told me why she picked this card, which is something I love to hear. 

She wrote;

Hola Helen!!

Sorpresa!![Surprise]

My name is Montse and work in the postal service, I love music and traveling. I chose this postcard for you. I hope you like it!!! - He has "Duende" in the world of Flamenco, a person who possesses a special talent, whether in singing or dancing.

Salvdos[Regards] --Montse

Tato Olivas - "Flamenco"

Look at these amazing stamps and cancellation stamp.  The stamp on the left is textured too, and very cool!

Russia

July 11, 2018

This card came from Ann in Russia.  She wrote a very short note, but it was friendly enough!

She wrote;

Hi, Helen!
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." A. Einstein. It's my favorite quote.

Hope you like it!
Happy Postcrossing! Ann.

Architectural ensemble with "Ivan the Great" bell tower
Moscow Russia

 Really interesting stamps.  I have no idea what they represent though.

Netherlands

June 21, 2018

This card came from Johanna in the Netherlands.  She wrote a friendly message about getting around in her area.  It's quite different than in my part of the world!

Johanna wrote;

Hi Helen,

The famous Kinderdijk mills are about 10 km away from where I live.  The area always is very crowded with tourists.

If I should like to go there it is possible to travel by waterbus over the river: no parking problems, and the bicycle has free transport.

Happy Postcrossing,
Johanna

Werelderfgoed Kinderdijk

 These stamps are in one strip, the margins are just as interesting as the stamps themselves!

Canada - My Hometown!

June 18, 2018

This fabulous, super, wonderful card came to me from my home province of Alberta in Canada.  The sender very kindly wrote a friendly note and sent a card from my hometown!

Glenn wrote:

Hey Helen,
Hello from Airdrie, the small town just north of Calgary that's grown now to over 65,000. Thought I'd send you a little bit of Edmonton. It's the New Rogers Place. I guess when you com back this way, you'd see big changes in Edmonton. I know Calgary has sure grown in the last 25 years.

Take care 'eh.
Glenn

I really enjoyed getting this card, even though I haven't seen Rogers Place yet.

Rogers Place, located in the Ice District, is a multi-use indoor arena in
 Edmonton, Alberta. It is mainly used for ice hockey and other indoor
sports, but is also configurable as a venue for concerts or other events.

Some lovely Canadian stamps on offer too.  Of course, fitting in the hockey theme, there's a hockey stamp, also Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second and some Art (but not a Garfunkle).

Thanks Glenn, I always enjoy receiving cards from Canada, it doesn't happen all that often sad to say.

France

June 11, 2018

This card was sent by Valy in France.  She wrote a friendly note on the back, used lovely stamps and even put a sticker on the card.  Nice!

She wrote,

Hello
i was born in brittany west of the France, i am 100 kilometers from Paris

Bise de France

Valy

Greetings From...
La Normandie - France

I'm not too sure what these stamps represent, but they are not ones that I see all the time.  Hurray!

Germany

May 7, 2018

This card arrived just after Golden Week, the yearly week (or almost week) that closes most of Japan.  It was a lovely card to receive just when we were all getting back into the swing of things.

Kurt wrote a short but friendly note on the back.

Greetings from Bavaria, South Germany.  I'm living in a town near this castle.  the mountains belong to the Alps.
Happy Postcrossing!
Kurt

Royal Castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau-Germany

I like the Snoopy stamp.  I'm not a huge fan of Charlie Brown and the Gang, but this stamp is cute!