New Kitties On The Block

Just as I had to decide to pull a brake on my ever increasing postcrossing activities, I have discovered a new type of postcards while in Zadar, which I thought would normally be a very nice addition to my offers, darn it! As it is not so often that one comes across uniquely illustrated postcards around here. I have sent myself one example, to see how it would fare in transit. It is very sturdy, which makes the postmark even less visible than usual, but on the other hand it is more likely to arrive unharmed. In any case I think the kitties are cute!

Duckling

 

To jump, or not to jump..? After all, it's just a bucket...

I have sent this postcard to the Central PO in Zagreb to be sent back with a special postmark - I wanted to see if it still works! Well why wouldn't it...some might say. But in this country anything is possible. I have jumped into a new job (again it had to be only for the season) and into the forum tags and swaps - as a result already received some great mail 💓 I am curious about the official postcards though, still haven't received any. I am also trying to scan all my collections - was successful with olives, Sagittarius and Absolut Vodka, as they are only (half) a dozen each; but donkeys await..!

Have a nice sunday all 😊

A New Surge

 

I have suddenly gotten a new urge to check the postcrossing forum (after many years) and have immediately joined a Round Robin group, tagged a few times, and sent a few official postcards :) Not the best timing, as I am between jobs (again!) and the prices of everything and anything have gone up, BUT...let's see what happens :)

The postcard is a new one of my home town - I love the colour of the sea. However overall the choice of postcards has simply deteriorated over the years. I look at some that I have sent a decade ago and I feel sad that most of those postcards are not available anymore...I should look into printing some of my own designs; any tips on good printing sites are most welcome..!

Mali Losinj, Losinj Island

Mali Losinj is a well-known resort town on the south side of Losinj Island, connected to Zadar by a ferry line. Even though its a popular tourist spot, when I hear of it I think of my dad and his stories how he served the army there and walked the whole island. This was of course at the time of former Yugoslavia, and it makes me wonder how much things have changed since then. 

I also wonder how this postcard reached me without any stamps..!

Beli, Cres Island

Wow I didn't realise I have this little place on a postcard...the reason I wow about it is, I planned to go there last week, but sadly all my plans failed because of a series of unfortunate events. Beli is a small town on the NE part of Croatia's largest island Cres. Coming from Rijeka via ferry I would have had to walk for about 15 km to reach it from the ferry port, as there is no public transport available. And why, one might ask? Beli homes a rescue centre for Griffon Vultures, as one of the few colonies left in this part of Europe is in that area. I've been wanting to see these unique birds for ages now...I guess I'll just have to wait a bit longer.

The thing is, Cres is not as overridden with tourists as some of the other (more accessible) islands. It is actually close to land on the northern side but very long, and it continues to the island of Losinj. I planned to walk the whole length. It still makes me sad to think of it, sniff. I think I have a postcard of the end point too...Coming next.

In The Wheat Field

One of the older postcards, sent as a birthday card. Back in the day non-view cards were easier to obtain, now its a proper challenge. I find it interesting that it was printed in Zagreb but it says: um Brugge, Belgium (on the back). In any case these kind of postcards make me feel rather nostalgic...Even if I'm not an overly romantic individual ;)

That's Amore

It so coincided that I was looking into some older postcards to post today, and also came across Ana's entry for Sunday Stamps which is about letter H. In this case H stands for 'Hrvatska', which is the native name for our country Croatia. Some philately enthusiasts might be interested in the fact that the light blue stamp at the top is the very first stamp issued in modern-day Croatia, back in 1991. The rest of the stamps were issued in 1992, and I feel very pleased to have all these on postcards - them being from the time when my main hobby was writing letters rather than exchanging postcards. One of my penpals from Zagreb liked sending postcards with love theme...such postcards are hard to find these days, if impossible. 

I haven't participated in Sunday Stamps (link) for quite some time, today it was more of a lucky chance, I hope to make a habit of it again. I am sure there is more interesting H-stuff to check via the link, I mean I know there is ;) 

UNESCO - Stari Grad Plain, Croatia

The ever-elusive Croatian WHS site...Though at least this view is attainable, which offers a partial view of the plain in the back. That said, I had to travel to Hvar myself to get this for my collection - and it was October already, the number of tourists significantly dwindled and in proportion shops were closing down for the season and the choice of postcards was lacking. There was only one souvenir shop that had these postcards and there were only 6 left! So in all, I should count my blessings :D (I believe these days the new Croatian WHS of Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards will be even tougher to find on postcards).

Stari Grad Plain on the Adriatic island of Hvar is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since it was first colonized by Ionian Greeks from Paros in the 4th century BC. The original agricultural activity of this fertile plain, mainly centring on grapes and olives, has been maintained since Greek times to the present. The site is also a natural reserve. 

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 :))

Benkovac, Croatia

This postcard was sent on the 7th of April, the day I passed my driving exam...I spent three months driving in Benkovac, a small town in Dalmatia's interior which I never have visited before in my life. Now I know every street, and yes every traffic sign...Oh but I haven't gone up to the fortress, now I realise! Just didn't have the time with the given schedule.

The town is quite old, even before the Roman conquest the area was inhabited, by the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians. In 1409 King Ladislaus of Naples sold his rights of Dalmatia to the Republic of Venice and the Benkovac area became a border region. New fortresses around the border were built - Korlat, Kličevica, Polača, and behind them Benković i Perušić - this postcard is showing Benković, which the name may suggest :) These days the town is known for its monthly agricultural fair.

Professor Balthazar Says Hi!

Let's start the New Year with greetings from the Croatian animated professor who made our childhoods more interesting :) A friend surprised me with this card, and for Xmas market in Zagreb they even placed a huge sculpture in the town centre. I think I have a photo somewhere :)

Professor Balthazar is a Croatian animated television series for children about an old inventor that was produced between 1967 and 1978. It was created by animator Zlatko Grgić. From 1971 to 1973, episodes were featured on the ABC-TV children's program Curiosity Shop. The cartoon inventor was the basis for the show's puppet character, Baron Balthazar, and the cartoons were shown as animated sequences of the Baron's tales of his adventures and inventions back in "downtown Bosnia".

Kornati National Park

This is one of my favourite views of my 'workplace' which is further in the background but in the national park. I am spending my last days here for this year, and if I'm lucky then for good. I've sent this card for another special cancellation, trying to keep to maritime images :)

Well Hello There

After a long while I've (accidentally of course) found a new donkey postcard, and have decided to send it in an envelope to a nearby PO for a special postmark, just as a test if everything would go smoothly. And it did! Though 1/3 postcards still travelling to faraway Down Under, but hopefully not for long.

Mail Around The World!

It is only recently that I've started considering special postmarks - I used to get them from time to time on some of the postcards and covers, but I am not living near any philately office, sadly. When I checked the programme of issuing special cancellations on the official Croatian Mail site, I realised most of them are being used in the central post office in Zagreb...I was hoping there would be at least a bit more variety re: locations. Even when there are other locations, they are still quite far away. But I was in Zagreb last autumn just in time to ask for this special cancellation on the new stamp of the same theme - celebrating 100 years of birth of Ivan Generalić, a notable Croatian naïve art painter :)

I love naïve art! Perhaps not in every form, but this kind originating in a small village of Hlebine in northern Croatia really appeals to me. My great wish is to have one of those paintings on my wall someday :)

The choice of the card was purely accidental - once in the PO I was browsing their postcards to see if there is anything I'd like to have in my collection, a single example of this card was hidden behind many that I didn't like, and I LOVE it! <3 p="">

Prišnjak Island And Lighthouse, Croatia

Before I leave for a week (but will try to sneak in a post or two) here is something that reminds me of my trips home from work - we pass this lighthouse every time, its right 'behind the corner' from my hometown Murter and when I see it I know we are almost there :) I had one postcard and one matching stamp left - for some reason there are no postcards of it to be found anymore :/

Have a great week ahead everyone!

 

UNESCO - Historical Complex Of Split With The Palace Of Diocletian, Croatia

 

The ruins of Diocletian's Palace, built between the late 3rd and the early 4th centuries A.D., can be found throughout the city. The cathedral was built in the Middle Ages, reusing materials from the ancient mausoleum. Twelfth- and 13th-century Romanesque churches, medieval fortifications, 15th-century Gothic palaces and other palaces in Renaissance and Baroque style make up the rest of the protected area.

I have been to Split last week and finally managed to send postcards that would encompass the main sites of Split's Unesco :) The last postcard is a reconstruction image - nowdays private establishments are incorporated into the main frame, which makes it quite unique. 

Croatian Multiviews

 

 

I have chosen these two postcards not for their theme but for this week's Sunday Stamps, which have Churches, castles, and fortifications as a topic. Croatian Post has issued sets of three under the name Towers and fortifications for six year in a row, being 2001-2006.

The first postcard shows a little Istrian town of Labin; the stamp is from the set issued in 2003, showing the Kostajnica Fortress  today also known as 'Zrinski castle', first mentioned in the 15th century.

The second postcard shows the Zagreb Cathedral, officially the tallest building in the country. The stamp is from the initial set issued in 2001, showing the Klis Fortress near Split - probably best known for its defense against the Ottoman invasion of Europe in the early 16th century.

Each stamp in the series shows an overall view of the fortress as well as its ground plan.

For other entries on the theme browse here:

Porer Lighthouse, Croatia

Today's theme on Sunday Stamps has inspired me to post this card which is all about Croatian Lighthouses :) I believe many involved in postcrossing are familiar with the image of Porer Lighthouse, built in 1846 and situated on an islet of the same name, 2 miles southwest of Istria's southernmost cape Kamenjak. The islet is mere 80 meters in diameter and the lighthouse goes up to 34 meters.

The set of stamps was issued in 2008 and shows three lighthouses of the northern Adriatic - Pinida, Vnetak and Zaglav. Yea I have sent this postcard to myself cos I love having stamps of the same theme as a postcard hehh :))

If you want to see more Croatian lighthouses feel free to visit my cover blog.

And by all means, check what the others have posted ;)

Euroasian Owls

The Tawny Owl or Brown Owl (Strix aluco) and the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) are the handsome fellas here. I have them on some other postcards too, but one can never have enough of these unique birds. Four years ago there was a regional fare in my town, and one of the stands was promoting a local falconry centre. I hope they come back soon!