black and white with scenery

some black and white Holstein cows ignoring the tulips, with a canal in the foreground

a black and white Spitz dog (Fino) and his companion, a brown Spaniel (Tiny) with some mountains and a lake in the background painted in 1791

some black faced sheep in Ireland with mountains and possibly water in the sky.

some landscapes with animals for Thursday Postcard Hunt

NaBloPoMo 

cents

 20 centimes coin from Switzerland showing the head of Liberty (designed in 1879)

 

2 cent stamp from Netherlands  (1946)

water

For all of my life, I have always lived near water - in many cases within walking distance of a lake, a creek, canal, river, or a pond.  I cannot imagine living somewhere without a body of water,  but I also cannot imagine going through some of the cataclysmic flooding such water can bring.  Any floods near me have been, well, not devastating.

I am fortunate to live near Niagara Falls.  And it's fortunate that I really like it there.  Sure, there is a bit of tacky touristy hell there, but the falls themselves are magnificent and I will happily drive past them at any time of the year.  Especially in winter.

Oceans are okay, though with the latest tsunami threats in the Pacific, I'd be happier on a calm cruise in Estonia.

maybe add a few islands

or a waterfall

Rivers in a city are especially attractive as they provide an opportunity for bridges.  I have been known to go miles out of my way for a waterfall or bridge.  (I've been to Milford Sound, but not Prague)

sometimes, you can't really escape water, and that's fine with me

my happy place: anywhere near water

tchochtkes

anyone else remember that time when garden gnomes were being 'kidnapped' and taken on trips with their photos in front of famous landmarks before being returned?

matryoshka

klompen

some tourist souvenirs for Thursday Postcard Hunt

(I will admit to having all of these! the gnomes were my mother's, which I thought were tacky, and a little creepy looking.  but I took a couple after she died and they stand like sentries on my balcony.  they have not been taken on any trips.  the matryoshka dolls collection increased when I was given several from a friend who thought her mother's collection was a little creepy.  I love them)

Next month, we'll move on to some travelling ideas of our own.

fading

Although this is from China, it seems to be an image of Singapore (I recognize The Merlion).  Turns out it's a joint issue.  I do like the watercolour effect.

And, what looks like a foggy view of Amsterdam beyond the Magere (Skinny) Bridge

birds

This kemphaan is seriously endangered as a breeding bird in the Netherlands and extinct in Belgium

 

 

 

These budgerigars are golden faced blues (from a photo by Leila Jeffries).  They are small parrots and the most popular to be kept as pets in North America and Europe

Below is a kestrel, a small member of the falcon family.  They are highly adaptable and can live anywhere from mountains to the seaside, to urban areas (even nesting at Notre-Dame Cathedral)

one bite

PostNL wrapped this postcard in plastic with a letter of apology for the "damaged" card.  Except it wasn't actually damaged... it was meant to show a bite taken off the chocolate bar!

a basket of kitties

 Jip en Janneke

CATURDAY

towering in the city

Three very different towers for today's Thursday Postcard Hunt, each, in their own way helping you to orientate yourself in their respective cities

First up is in Kuala Lumpur,  the Petronas Twin Towers (aka KLCC - Kuala Lumpur City Centre - Twin Towers), an interlinked pair of 88 storey skyscrapers which are visible from many places in the city.  Completed in 1996 in a Postmodern Islamist style.  As well as offices, a shopping mall, an oceanarium and a park inside the towers, there is that double decker skybridge at levels 41 and 42.

Contrast that with this Munttoren, part of one of the original gates in the medieval city wall of Amsterdam.  Built in the late 1400s, much of it was destroyed in a fire in 1618, and rebuilt in Amsterdam Renaissance style in 1620 with four clockfaces and a carillon of bells.  The bells chime every quarter hour.

Fun fact, when I lived in Amsterdam and still getting used to the horseshoe shaped streets and canals, I would often get disoriented and only realize it when I was back at the Munt for the nth time.  It was my first time living in a city that was not laid out in a grid pattern and it took me a looong time to get used to it!

Lastly, there is the CN Tower in Toronto.  The land it stands on was reclaimed from Lake Ontario, so while you can see it for miles you know that there is not much south of the tower except the lake.  It opened in 1976.  Today it is not so isolated as it appears in this 1980s postcard and many, many super tall buildings have gone up on the waterfront.  It is hard to remember that those two black buildings just to the right were once the tallest buildings when they were built in the late 1960s!

semi finals part deux

thing three

 

 

 

England v Netherlands

thing four

Colombia v Uruguay

happy

 corona

windmills

 

the Old Mill in Whitstable

below, somewhere in Netherlands

Zaanse Schans holds a special place for me as I lived near there and used to ride my bike through the area.

some windmills from Kent and North Holland for Thursday Postcard Hunt

spring

Every day is a new adventure with spring. New growth everywhere. Gardens change almost daily and I look forward to all those firsts: first robin, first snowdrop, first tulip! the magnolias and cherry blossoms, then the fresh brilliant green of new leaves. This is my favourite season.

Hama-rikyū Gardens in Tokyo

fields of tulips near Lisse in the Netherlands

pick your own strawberries

 

 

 

 

Easter also appears in spring, as do these adorable little guys

Spring for Thursday Postcard Hunt

nature

There is one thing I most admire about the US - it has excellent National Parks. This particular one is along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia (75 miles from Washington D.C.) and has 500 miles of trails. As the postcard shows, it is famed for its waterfalls, bird watching and deer. The name Shenandoah may or may not mean "beautiful daughter of the stars"

Germany has an island garden in Lake Constance. Apart from several gardens, there is also a palm house, butterfly house, and a baroque palace. The history of the garden is quite interesting - and goes back to Teutonic times.

In The Netherlands, you can find the Keukenhof, truly the most beautiful spring garden in the world. But you must plan your trip - it's only open for 60 days of the year from March to mid May. There are other flowers that bloom, but the main attraction are the 800 different varieties of tulips. 2024 will be the 75th anniversary.

Or, maybe you'd be interested in scuba diving at Canada's only Marine National Park. There are 24 shipwrecks to be found under the clear waters of Lake Huron. The name comes from Shakespeare's The Tempest where Ariel laments "full fathom five thy father lies". Five fathoms, or nine metres, was considered a fatal and irretrievable depth.

 

 

some parks, gardens and nature reserves for our first Thursday Postcard Hunt under the theme: tourist sites

All new visitors are welcome, indeed encouraged, to join in by sharing their own postcards

horseshoes

Anton Pieck

canals

 

The Canal Ring of Amsterdam - Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht

snacks

 

the speculaas and the stroopwafels are favourites. those dropjes (licorice) not so much.

sand and sea

on the North Sea coast, one of the most popular beaches in Holland

proost

I was introduced to this beer while living in Amsterdam and for some reason I saved a few (empty) bottles and  brought them back as souvenirs. When I got home, I discovered our bottles were a different colour, so of course I had to collect them as well.

tulpen

It was so sad to hear of the millions of tulips that had to be destroyed because of the coronavirus.
Here, in Southern Ontario, the tulips are just coming into bloom.