A Scottish Piper

The Scottish Piper at the famous old blacksmith's shop

Gretna Green

A handsome fella wearing kilt :)) Gretna Green from the description is a village in South Scotland famous for runaway weddings xD

I happened to see a Scottish Piper playing the bagpipes twice - once on a ceremony in Rochester, England; once at a wedding in Edinburgh, Scotland. Both very lucky coincidences :) and both times it gave me goosebumps..!

Thank you Anu, and for cool stamps - I really enjoy our swaps <3

UNESCO - Yellowstone NP, USA

Yellowstone National Park is believed to be the oldest national park in the world ((1872). It is mostly situated in the state of Wyoming, and for a small part in Montana and Idaho. The most recognisable images are those of the Old Faithful Geyser and bison herds, but the park is so vast that many many more natural features can be found there - lakes, waterfalls, forests, hot springs, endangered and threatened species...

This postcard shows the Mammoth Hot Springs; the colours represent a variety of bacterial algae that survive at various water temperatures :)

I love the special cancellations! Thank you Kate - i hope you had a great time on your road trip :))

Something I'd love to do one day. I suppose it would take months to see all the treasures of the american natural scenery...!

UNESCO - Komodo And Ujung Kulon National Parks, Indonesia

Two excellent Unesco cards from Indonesia - although the 1st qualifies for my lizard collection also :)

Komodos look so cool! They are the largest living species of lizard, growing up to the amazing 3 meters in length and can weigh up to 70kg (so like me, just lankier heh). They are endemic species with 'vurnebale' conservation status, living only on five Indonesian islands. There are so many interesting facts about these unique animals, but I have to stop here!

Ujung Kulon National Park is situated at the western-most tip of the Java island, including the volcanic group of islands Krakatoa and other nearby islands. The park is the last refuge of the critically endangered Javan Rhinoceros - only 35 were indentified.

It always saddens me to realise so many unique animal species are on a verge of extinction. I would like to somehow be involved in their preservation...something to look into.

Thank you shinta, you always bring a smile on my face with your lovely cards, stamps and messages! :)))

North Korea - Mansudae Assembly Hall, Pyongyang

What a happy moment, to receive my 1st written&stamped card from North Korea! :)) it was a bit of a task to find out which building this is - The Mansudae Assembly Hall, the seat of civilian legislative government in the DPRK, housing the People's Supreme Assembly.

Different stamps were used and so finely cancelled - thanks soooo much Jo!

New Zealand - Native Animals

Two absolutely gorgeous animal cards from Adrienne!

Such a strange and unique bird, the kiwi. I still remember seeing it in a zoo in Germany as a kid - it was the most exciting experience of the day-trip. We had to enter a dark hallway, and were told there is only a slight chance we'll actually see one. And there it was, so outworldly and cute <3

Tuatara is actually not a lizard, but a part of a separate distinctive lineage...which flourished some 200 million years ago. Wow. The average life span is 60 years, but they can live to be over 100 y.o. Needless to say, its an endemic species of New Zealand, as well as the kiwi. What an amazing place to watch wiildlife..!!

Thank you so much Adrienne, and for the round kiwi stamps :)))

UNESCO - Versailles, France

The Hall Of Mirrors is the central gallery of the Palace Of Versailles, the grand royal castle made the centre of political power in the 17th century by The Sun King Louis XIV.

Sent by Ulla, who also used the gorgeous the lovely Le Puy-en-Valey stamp, thank you :)

Not A Postcard - But A Current TRAIN Of Thought

I wanted to post two different maps but then I found this one and thought OH BRILLIANT it is exactly what I want to do! But if I want to do it this winter I need to start playing the lottery xD It is more likely I'll just do Southeast Asia, although I'd just LOVE to combine it with the Transsibirean..! It would be possible if I was able to refrain from the pleasures of everyday life...postcrossing included. Stop smoking (what else is left to do in this working environmemt though?), skip weddings (and they do come rarely on the whole), and what not. So!

But I am still looking for travelling buddies to join me in november/december!!

Donkey - Shaped Card, Croatia

I have a sort of a small collection with this kind of card - same donkey, different city views inside. Beside Rovinj I think I also have Pula and Zadar. Hvala Ady :)