JAPAN - HAPPY NEW YEAR

2014 - Year of the Horse

The horse is the seventh symbol in the Japanese Zodiac. In the past, horses and people lived and worked side by side, and their mighty bodies and their power made them the symbol of “life”. This sign represents “liveliness” and “openness”. Horses are cheerful, sociable, and decisive. They are also versatile and excel in many fields, but tend to get bored easily and leave things unfinished. They exhibit a vain streak and are big spenders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received from: cixo, naomi703, Megumaru

 

 

Beautiful Japanese stamps.
 

JAPAN - LIGHTHOUSES

Ashizuri Lighthouse

 

Cape Ashizuri is the southernmost point of the island of Shikoku, Japan. The cape is a part of the Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park and the cliffs here featuring a sparkling white lighthouse are a popular sightseeing point. The small town of Ashizuri lies just north of the cape, at the intersection of two highways. The cape is only a few kilometers away and easily reached on foot along a seaside walking path.  The Ashizuri lighthouse was built in 1914.

 

 

Nice stamps.

Received from: CraftyTokyoMama

MACEDONIA - MAPCARDS

Macedonia

Macedonia is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991. A landlocked country, the Republic of Macedonia is bordered by Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. The country's capital is Skopje. It has more than 50 lakes and sixteen mountains higher than 2,000 m (6,562 ft).  The country's large abundance of natural and cultural attractions make it an attractive destination of visitors. Macedonia has a rich cultural heritage in art, architecture, poetry, and music. It has many ancient, protected religious sites.

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: anagahan 

PORTUGAL - LIGHTHOUSES

Cabo da Roca

 

 

 

 

 

The Cabo da Roca Lighthouse is a beacon/lighthouse located 165 metres above the Atlantic Ocean, on Portugal's and continental Europe's most westerly extent Cabo da Roca. The lighthouse stands 22 metres at its base (its light commands a 165 metre beam from sea level). In addition to the main tower, the complex is composed of nine buildings, since prior to electrification, it was necessary to marshall a team to maintain the lamp, store valuable equipment and produce the Acetylene necessary to run the torch. Currently, the lighthouse supports a team of three lighthouse keepers, in order to monitor the lamp and signal/communicate between Cabo da Roca and Ericeira.

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: Ninocas

 

Lighthouse on the Capelinhos Volcano

 

It is situated on Faial Island, Azores. The lighthouse marks the old position of the Ponta dos Capelinhos. This is the area where the last volcanic eruption in all of the Azores occured. The eruption happened over a thirteen month period from 1957-58 and an entire town was buried in ash from the eruption. The only nearby building that was not buried by the eruption was the lighthouse but its first floor was covered by the ash.

 

 

Nice stamps.

Received from: ooBieneoo

RUSSIA - LIGHTHOUSES

Lighthouse Baljuzek

Lighthouse Baljuzek lies in Russia at the Japanese Sea.

 

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: Chertania

 

 

Kaliningrad Lighthouse

 

 

Received from: 4ajka

CHINA - LIGHTHOUSES

Chinese Shaped Card

 

 

A beautiful postcard in shape of a lighthouse.

 

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: Sirius7777777

GERMANY - LIGHTHOUSES

Lighthouse Westerhever

One of the most beautiful lighthouses on the german coast is undoubtedly the Westerhever one. Situated prominently on the tip of the peninsula of Eiderstedt on the german northwest coast, it often stars in various advertisements and is one of the most photographed buildings in this area.

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: Steffelchen

 

 

 

 

Lighthouse near Neuendorf

 

It is situated on the Isle of Heddensee in the Baltic Sea in the north of Germany.

 

Nice stamps.

Received from: Tigerente01

Molenfeuer

This lighthouse, called "Molenfeuer", meaning "Breakwater Lighthouse" is now far away from its breakwater. It was originally built in 1963 as part of the construction of East Germany's main sea port Rostock-Warnemünde. Until 1983, it was located at Warnemünde's main breakwater. In 1983, it was replaced by a new lighthouse (on the postcard) and moved to the town's Maritime Museum. In 2003, the town hosted the International Gardening Exhibition. After the exhibition ended, the area was turned into a permanent, public park and the old lighthouse – as a loan from the Maritime Museum - marks the center of the park. The lighthouse is 41 feet high and was moved 3.25 miles inland from its original location.

 

 

Nice stamps.

Received from: Werdergirl 

Pilsum Lighthouse

The Pilsum Lighthouse was built in 1891 on Germany's North Sea coast. It is located on a dyke near the village of Pilsum in the municipality of Krummhörn. It has guided ships through the narrow channel since 1915. In the First World War its light was extinguished in order that enemy ships could not navigate the route. After that it was no longer needed, because the channel was changed. The height of the structure is 11 metres; the height of the light about sea level is 15 metres. Today the tower is one of the best-known symbols of East Frisia.

 

Nice stamps.

REceived from: Willi

NEW ZEALAND - LIGHTHOUSES

 

Cape Egmont Lighthouse

 

 

It was originally erected on Mana Island and it was moved to Cape Egmont in 1877. Mount Egmont (Mount Taranaki) is an active but quiescent volcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island.

 

A beautiful stamp.

Received from: Lyndle

LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg

The city of Luxembourg is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It stands at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg. The city contains the Luxembourg Castle, established by the Franks in the Early Middle Ages, around which a settlement developed. Places of interest include the Gothic Revival Cathedral of Notre Dame, the fortifications, the Grand Ducal Palace, the Gëlle Fra war memorial, the casemates, the Neumünster Abbey, the Place d'Armes, the Adolphe Bridge and the city hall.

A nice stamp and postmark.

Received from: Kiwi88

LAPLAND

Autumn in Lapland

Lapland is the largest and northernmost of the regions of Finland. The changing of the seasons in Lapland is dramatic and distinctly noticeable. Lapland’s main seasons are spring, summer, autumn, and winter that lasts for around half a year. As the first night time frost of autumn sets in and the days get shorter, the vegetation starts preparations for the coming winter. The leaves of trees change colour from green into vibrant shades of golden yellow and glowing crimson to crown the period of natural colour and splendour called ruska. Ruska begins in the north where the best time to experience these remarkable colours of nature are after the first week in September. Ruska arrives in southern Lapland around a week later than in northern Lapland. Apart from admiring the countryside during ruska, the autumn is otherwise a good time to head for Lapland’s nature. The forests are full of berries and mushrooms just waiting to be picked. 

 

A beautiful stamp and postmarks.

Received from: Elenna

USA - MASSACHUSETTS

Boston

Franklin Park, previously known as West Roxbury Park, was renamed in honor of Boston born patriot Benjamin Franklin, who documented in his will that he wished for a portion of his estate to be given to a worthy cause. The park brings together rural scenery, a woodland preserve, and areas for active recreation and sports. Franklin Park also has six miles (10 km) of roads and fifteen miles (24 km) of pedestrian and bridle paths to explore.

The Public Garden, also known as Boston Public Garden, is a large park located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts. The Public Garden was established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. The bridge crossing the lagoon, designed by William G. Preston, opened in 1867. It was the world's shortest functioning suspension bridge before its conversion to a girder bridge in 1921. Its original suspension system is now merely decorative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful stamps (and many extra stamps in the envelope).

Received from: jtw

ICELAND

Hornbjarg

View of the magnificent cliffs at Hornbjarg, the northernmost point of the West fjords. Kálfatindur is the highest point at 534 m. Hælavíkurbjarg is the site of one of the largest bird breeding and nesting cliffs in Iceland.

 

 

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: BirgittaH

JAPAN - KEIKO SENA

Keiko Sena was born in Tokyo in 1932. Her apprenticeship in creating children's picture books with Takeo Takei,an early pioneer of Japanese children's literature. She has written over 35 books and her most popular series is the I Don't Want. Miss Sena lives in Zushi in Kanagawa, Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful stamps.

Received from: sktour

GERMANY - CASTLES

Trifels Castle

Trifels Castle is a medieval castle at an elevation of 500 m (1,600 ft) near the small town of Annweiler, in the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany. It is located high above the Queich valley within the Palatinate Forest on one peak of a red sandstone mountain split into three. Trifels Castle is also famous as the site where King Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart) was imprisoned after he was captured by Duke Leopold V of Austria near Vienna in December 1192 on his return from the Third Crusade. The present-day castle is in large parts not true to the medieæval original. It is characterized by a large well tower outside the ring wall, linked to the castle by a bridge. The surrounding rocky landscape is a popular venue for mountaineers.

 

 

 

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: Eisi21

LIGHTS OF THE NORTH

Lapland

Lapland is the largest and northernmost of the regions of Finland. Lapland lies largely north of the Arctic Circle. The climate is subarctic and vegetation is sparse, except in the densely forested southern portion. North of the Arctic Circle polar night characterises the winter season and midnight sun the summer season—both phenomena are longer the further north one goes. The Aurora Borealis can be seen in all parts of Lapland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: anuemilia

MONGOLIA

Singing sands

Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park is a national park in southern Mongolia. The park was established in 1993, and expanded to its current size in 2000. The park, at nearly 27,000 square kilometers, is the largest national park in Mongolia, stretching 380 km from east to west and 80 km from north to south. The park lies on the northern edge of the Gobi desert. The higher elevations contain areas of steppe, and reach elevations of up to 2,600 meters. A number of rare plants and animals are found in the park, including the elusive snow leopard and the Gobi Camel. Areas of sand dunes are found, most famously the Khongoryn Els - the Singing Sands. Another major tourist destination is Yolyn Am, a mountain valley that contains a large ice field through most of the year.

Received from: 4ajka

CANADA - MAPS

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces. Its provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia has long been a centre for artistic and cultural excellence. The province has numerous National Historic Sites, the most notable being the Habitation at Port-Royal, the Fortress of Louisbourg and Citadel Hill (Fort George) in Halifax. Nova Scotia has two national parks, Kejimkujik and Cape Breton Highlands, and many other protected areas. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tidal range in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A nice stamp.

Received from: Purpleferret

Irina Dumina

Received from: 4ajka

Victoria Kirdiy

Received from: 4ajka

BRAZIL - MAPCARDS

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is on a strip of Brazil's Atlantic coast where the shoreline is oriented east–west. The Centre, the core of Rio, lies on the plains of the western shore of Guanabara Bay. The greater portion of the city, commonly referred to as the North Zone (Zona Norte), extends to the northwest on plains composed of marine and continental sediments and on hills and several rocky mountains. The South Zone (Zona Sul) of the city, reaching the beaches fringing the open sea, is cut off from the Centre and from the North Zone by coastal mountains. These mountains and hills are offshoots of the Serra do Mar to the northwest, the ancient gneiss-granite mountain chain that forms the southern slopes of the Brazilian Highlands.

 

 

 

 

Nice stamps and one big extra stamp sent in the envelope with the postcard.

Received from: Feliciano