Mountain Hike

Something's on my mind...can you guess what? :) Last year was the first in 20 years that I haven't been across the national border. The horror...Not a good year, but this one should rectify that..! (fingers crossed)

UNESCO - Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica, Poland

These are the largest timber-framed churches in Europe, built in the mid 17th century following the Peace of Westfalia treaties. They bear testimony to the quest for religious freedom and are a rare expression of Lutheran ideology in an idiom generally associated with the Catholic Church.

The imperial consent to build the churches was hard to come by, and eventually imposed strict conditions: they were to be built outside any town boundaries in strictly defined areas, only with wood and clay, could not feature a tower, and should be finished within a year. Still, they endured the test of time to this day - considered the masterpieces of skilled handicraft, they remain without peer in their technological complexity and size.

No wonder these churches are a WHS! Thank you Sebastian and Sabina for your additions to my UNESCO collection :)

Poznań Old Town, Poland

                   Woźna Street - view of the old market and tenement houses, XVI c

Poznań is a city on the Warta River in west-central Poland, best known for its renaissance Old Town; today it is an important cultural and business centre. The Old Town is called Stare Miasto in Polish, and is centred on Stary Rynek, the Old Market Square where the historic Poznań Town Hall (Ratusz) stands. It represents the glory of Poznań, from its foundation in 1253.

What I find most inviting is the mention of  traditional Saint Martin's croissants, which are produced specially for the patron's day, which is also National Independence Day. Many thanks to Eunice for one of my favourite postcards (and stamps) from Poland :)

Bohemian Waxwing

The Bohemian waxwing is...a bird i never heard of before! Looking up a Croatian name, never heard of that one either. Beautiful creature...It has a circumpolar distribution, breeding in northern regions of Eurasia and North America. Its breeding habitat is coniferous forests, usually near water. This waxwing is migratory with much of the breeding range abandoned as the birds move south for the winter. Alas this 'south' just about misses my country...which is a shame, because they can be very tame in winter, entering towns and gardens in search of food (rowan berries being a particular favourite, again not native here so that explains them not wanting to fly here!)

Cats On Chain Postcards

Chain postcards are a great way of giving 'life' to blank postcards you keep at home because you just love them too much to swap them :D These are two latest examples, thanks to Leon who organises chain postcard groups on facebook..:))

Many thanks also to Ana of Portugal and Thealren of Ireland, and Karina of France and Ewa of Poland. Esp. love all the flowers on the 2nd postcard :))

Feeding Time

A wonderful photograph that speaks more than a thousand words...thank you Karolina..:))

Stoły Mountain Cottages, Poland

One would think the winter has just begun and I am already dreaming of spring...but its been so warm these days, 15 degrees and sunshine, that you can still find flowers in the fields and the orange tree is showing new buds again! We are far from white Christmas...Very nice view of the mountain meadows, thanks Magda :)

Silesian Folk Costume, Poland

Silesia is a region of Central Europe now located mostly in Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. I love this photo and the colours of the costume, wanted to have it in my collection for a while. Sadly there is no stamp, and the sender was surprised that I made notice of it. If it is cheaper for her, can I really complain? I guess not, but I may still be somewhat disappointed...!

UNESCO - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Poland

The full title of the site being: the Mannerist Architectural and Park Landscape Complex and Pilgrimage Park; Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a breathtaking cultural landscape of great spiritual significance. Its natural setting – in which a series of symbolic places of worship relating to the Passion of Jesus Christ and the life of the Virgin Mary was laid out at the beginning of the 17th century – has remained virtually unchanged. It is still today a place of pilgrimage.

Thanks to Natalia for this splendid aerial view :)

September Officials

Now here is my story with the official postcards...I haven't sent any for quite some time, almost a year I think. Then I've decided to remind myself what it was like...and sent four. Since they were registered I've received 12 postcards to register, and I have a +9 ratio. Still not sure how come! Here are the last five total-surprise postcards:

 SG-112436

 RU-1927060

 

BR-274187 

RU-1932664 

PL-749033

Overall impression? Its a nice selection of postcards from frequent countries, if I had more resources I would send more, but with lots of going on in private swaps arena I don't feel encouraged to expand my field of action! What I miss most is the element of surprise, which subsides with time...

Nebula NGC 6302

A nebula is is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionized gases. NGC 6302, also called  Butterfly Nebula, is a bipolar planetary nebula in the constellation Scorpius. The structure in the nebula is among the most complex ever observed in planetary nebulae.

Thanks to ewejka and CaCrr :)

Today's theme on Sunday Stamps #125 is Stamps with unusual shapes, or unusual size - as its a totally interesting and challenging assignment I have added examples to both my cover and my postcard blog, in hope to cover as much variety as possible (though many have already been posted in previous years..!) If interested you can see other people's posts here:

                                                     

                                              

UNESCO - Old City Of Zamość , Poland

Today i feel like representing some really lovely late additions to my Unesco collection :)

Zamość is a renaissance town situated in the south-eastern region of Poland, close to the border with Ukraine. This card shows the magnificent Great Market Square which measures exactly 100 meters in both width and length, and is surrounded with the Town Hall and and a complex of medieval residential buildings (kamienice) that were built by the wealthy merchants.

I hope to visit this 'Pearl Of Renaissance' one day. I love it how collecting unesco cards broadens my views and teaches me things! Thank you Agata/moonlitka for the swap :)

New European Autumn Donkeys!

I do have a solid internet connection at home, and can occasionally add a new post :) esp important to update my donkey collection! I've also received many splendid cards for my new UNESCO collection - alas i dont have scanner here...so these are still cards from the working era aka the early autumn.



From private swap with bogdanovskaya, this cute card from Spain :) Thank you!

A grand RAS card from Fabienne - she remembered me on her holiday so this donkey joined the team here, very happy, thank you! xD

This awesome postcard is from a private swap with Wanda ( I got three other gorgeous animal cards from her as well, i hope i can post them here too some time soon..!) This little family is just adorable, thank you!

I do wonder about the X-cancellation though..? First time i see this..!

The National Emblem Of Poland

The White Eagle is the national emblem of Poland, and the Mermaid of the capital Warsaw; i dont know why exactly but the latter surprised me..! The cherries on the stamp look scrumptious :)
Thank you magdalena/Dziabka for this swap!

The Battle Of Grunwald, Poland

That was quite a pause, as i went home for the last days off, before i leave this job permanently in a few weeks...i am sort of getting panicky, cos i havent posted so many great cards, and my time at this pc is running out..!

 PL-256165

Jan Matejko (1838-1893)

The Battle Of Grunwald, 1878

Poland has become quite omnipresent in postcrossing recently. The sender of this card wrote that this is the most famous polish painting - showing what is also known as The First Battle Of Tannenberg, a historic event which took place in 1410 during the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War. A very expressive piece of art, i thought..!

Whiskey Day!

Whiskey/Bourbon cards are among my favourites - simply because i enjoy the products in real life :))) I can't even remember when i tried my first whiskey; but please attribute that to my poor memory, rather than the possibility that i have drank spirits since the days of yore!

'Jack Daniels is a brand of sour mash Tennessee whiskey that is among the world's best-selling liquors' The distillery claims a founding date of 1866. Although it should be classified as a straight bourbon, the company chooses to market it simply as Tennessee whiskey.

Jack Daniels is a favourite of mine (or one of ), and of many people i know.
Thanks to Wanda from Poland, this fine card is now a part of my collection :D

Crown Royal is a blended Canadian whiskey; it is the top-selling Canadian whiskey in the United States. The distillery is situated on the shore of lake Winnipeg, Manitoba. The story says that this whiskey was devised especially for King George VI to soothe his severe tootache! This is also why it was/is packaged in a crown-shaped bottle and dressed in a royal purple bag.

I have never tried this whiskey - in fact i have never seen it in croatian stores. But next chance i have to visit the brilliant Whiskey Store in London, i will look for it :) esp as i'm tempted by the fine 'recipe' on the back of this card..!

Thank you SouthernBelle for this surprise in wishlist tag :D