1172 - 1184 with Christmas wishes

1172 – From Dai Li in China.  I always like envelopes from China – they are so attractive.  And in this one was the Chinese red envelope (紅包, hóngbāo). 

And a beautiful miniature stamp sheet.

1173 – From Annina in snowy Finland (FI-1955477), a snowy painting by Arvo Laihonen.  It is entitled Lentävä lammas which according to Google Translate means ‘Flying sheep’.  Somehow I doubt that’s what it really means but then again Lammas in English is 1^st August so it surely doesn’t mean that either.

1174 – My first card from Macedonia and the 54^th country that I have received cards from. It’s always a real thrill to get a card from a new country.

  

And this postcrossing card (MK-4177) from Iva was made even more perfect by being a map.

And its stamps.

1176 – From Maryna in the Ukraine (UA-865355) came this work of art from Canadian illustrator, Claudia Tremblay.  There are some more of her lovely works on her blog.

And its stamp.

1177 – From Kasia in Poland (PL-812166) a map of the natural history of Malopolska.

Małopolska or Lesser Poland (also Little Poland) is a historical region of Poland; its capital is the city Kraków. It forms the southern part of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland. Historical Lesser Poland is much bigger than the current voivodeship which bears its name, stretching from Częstochowa in the west to the lands northeast of Lublin in the east. In the late Middle Ages, Lesser Poland gradually became the centre of Polish statehood, with Kraków being the capital of the country from the mid-11th century until 1596.

The card had stamps and a perfect miniature stamp sheet

And this lovely little sticker with the clever addition of arms and legs.  Postcrossers are often so imaginative and take so much trouble.

What more could one ask for from a card?  Daughter-who-takes-photos also thought it was absolutely super.

1178 – A Christmas card from Siggi in Germany which Daughter-who-takes-photos thought was lovely too. 

 

1179 – From Chris (the Flamblogger) came this view of Oceanside, California. 

1180 – From Germany with Susanne’s usual delightful patterns and stickers on the back –

 

1181 - I can't get used to cards which say the children are excited 'for Santa to visit and for summer break.  It goes against all my innate logic to have a Santa who comes arrives in the summer but that's what happens in Jamie's world down under!

1182 – Although this card is labelled Tokyo it came from Nelly, Hugo and Theo in France with Christmas and New Year wishes.

1183 – These Greenfinches came from a German postcrosser, Gisela (DE-2732108).

 

1184 – MaryLou and Greg in the San Diego, California (US-2541193), sent me this postcard of the lovely Audrey Hepburn.

The Museum in Suwalki, Poland

Card no 398 -  Joanna (postcrossing number – PL-630087 )

Suwalki Museum, 1913/14

Country Card Sent From: Poland

Place Card Sender Lives: Suwalki

Date Received: 13^th February 2013

Distance Travelled:  1,058 miles

Time Taken:  45 days (not posted till 8th Feb)

Suwalki Museum, Kościuszki Street, Suwalki, photographed in 1913/14. 

Kościuszki Street is the main artery of the town.  It has both sacred and secular buildings representing the old part of the town.  Their classical architecture, characteristic of the 19th century style, is most attractive. The architects included Piotr Aigner, Antonio Corazzi, Henryk Marconi and a Polish architect Karol Majerski.

These were the stamps on the envelope in which it was sent.

Christmas Greetings

   Card no 332 – Marta

This Christmas greeting was from Marta in Poland. 

The pretty stamp is part of a series of Polkish mansionss and manor houses.

This one is a Manor in Janowiec near Puławy.

The Brda waterway - the world of silence

Card 317 - Karolina

This water trail in Poland is ideal for those who enjoy peaceful and quiet surroundings of unspoilt nature. It meanders near reserves of cormorants and grey heron and passes by coniferous forests which are home to peregrine falcon.

The Brda is considered one of Europe's most attractive kayaking routes thanks to its scenic landscape, frequent rapids, winding courses, crystal-clear water, and clean air. The Brda waterway runs through the Bory Tucholskie National Park. Those who are fond of wilderness may start their trip from Nowa Brda. Charzykowy on Lake Charzykowskie and Swornegacie on Lake Witoczno are two other convenient starting points. There are waterside hostels and bivouac sites for those kayaking or canoeing down the route.

Karolina who sent me the card has a summer house between Pieczyska and Koronowo.

I will mention the stamps on this card in a separate post.