Alderney

Alderney is the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands - it is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. The island's  area is 3 square miles, and the population close to 2150; which are similar numbers to my island, in fact we might be bigger on both accounts..! Makes it that much more special to receive postcards from there, thank you Petr :)

Föhr, North Frisia

I have worked on the North Frisian island of Föhr for six months, and only towards the end have I realised that I haven´t sent but a few postcards from there - and when I came home, that I haven´t sent a single view card..! Oh how silly, honestly.

Föhr is the second largest of the North Frisian Islands on the German coast of the North Sea - which are all popular tourist destinations for Germans. Being settled already in neolithic times, Föhr had been a part of mainland North Frisia until 1362, when the coastline got destroyed by a heavy storm flood known as Saint Marcellus´s flood, and several islands were formed. The northern part of the island consists mainly of marshes, and the southern part of sandy geest (gravelly soil with heathland vegetation).

A dialect of the North Frisian language called Fering is still spoken there; there are still many Uthland-Frisian type of farmhouses to be seen or even visited; and the traditional costumes can still be seen worn for special occasions - like confirmation, which I rushed to see because of it. It is really an enjoyable and surprisingly unique corner of the earth. However it takes getting used to being dependant on the hourly ferries, which then dock in a minor harbour and you need to take a further train, and usually yet another train to get to a place of interest. On some days off I spent more time on the public transport than at the visiting point 😅 still managed a postcard or two, as will be seen in my future posts.

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.

Isle Of Lewis

The full name of the island is actually Lewis and Harris; the northern part of the island is called Lewis, the southern is Harris, but both are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. It is part of the Outer Hebrides, and is the largest and the most populous of the Scottish Isles. Stornoway is the main town, and the civil parish, including the town and various nearby villages, has a population of about 12 000.

The ship was docked in Stornoway, but first I had a nice little tour to go through, encompassing a few important sites. The Callanish Stones were erected in the late Neolithic era, and were a focus for ritual activity during the Bronze Age. They are standing stones placed in a cruciform pattern with a central stone circle. The Gearrannan Black House Village  consists of nine restored traditional thatched cottages, which were lived in till 1974 and were the last group of blackhouses to be inhabited in the Western Isles. The buildings were generally built with double wall dry-stone walls packed with earth, and were roofed with wooden rafters covered with a thatch of turf with cereal straw or reed. There was a tweed-weaving demonstration - Harris Tweed is a tweed cloth handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides. Well why not throw in a photo while at it :) (oh and later on I had the most delicious sandwich in Stornoway, in a small tucked-away deli. I regret not buying the caviar crisps! Never found any anywhere else.)

Isle Of Skye

Skye is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillins, the rocky slopes of which provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. The island's largest settlement is Portree (bottom right), known for its picturesque harbour.

Having gangway photo shoot that day I stayed in Portree; just a short walk away lots of green and picturesque nature. This was one of the ports where one reaches it with tender boats from anchored ship.

Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin Island, Seychelles

Another lovely island view, to continue this week's posts with more getaway destinations! As one may suspect, I am not very happy with where I am in my life right now...but fingers crossed for some positive changes. The weather has been too nice ( yes there is such a thing!) lately, sunny and no winds, but the morning/evening fog and the mist don't really make it seem healthy. Also, last night there was a 5-second-thunder feel of an earthquake to be experienced, something not very common in these parts. Well that was a quick update on local going-ons , now lets enjoy this tropical view of the Praslin Island! Sent by Samuel and Visha a few years back, it was a splendid surprise, thank you! :))

La Galera, Venezuela

Starting off this week with this lovely view of the fishing village La Galera, part of the Juan Griego urban area situated on the north coast of the famous Isla de Margarita. Sent by dear postcrossing friend Luis Alberto, many thanks for this possibly last postcard from Venezuela I'll receive for a while...Things have been extremely rough for the people of Venezuela in the last years, and I can only hope this will resolve soon, with a positive outcome for this beautiful country.

Mainau Island, Germany

Mainau is an island in Lake Constance, on the south shore of the Überlinger See. It is called a Blumeninsel (Flower Island) because of its parks and gardens - the Italian Rose Garden is laid out geometrically with pergolas, sculptures, and fountains, and includes some 500 rose varieties; the Mediterranean terraces contain exotic pot plants, including palm trees, agaves, cacti, and bougainvillea; Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden, created the island's arboretum, which now contains 500 species of deciduous and coniferous trees, many exotic and valuable. There is also a Butterfly House, which can be visited all-year-round to enjoy the site of nearly 80 different species of butterflies.

My sister visited this island, I believe her family enjoyed it very much :)

UNESCO - Natural System Of Wrangel Island Reserve, Russia

Located well above the Arctic Circle, the site includes the mountainous Wrangel Island, Herald Island  and surrounding waters. Wrangel was not glaciated during the Quaternary Ice Age, resulting in exceptionally high levels of biodiversity for this region.

Wrangel Island is a breeding ground for polar bears (having the highest density of dens in the world), seals, walrus, and lemmings. During the summer it is visited by many types of birds. Arctic foxes also make their home on the island. Cetaceans such as bowhead whales, gray whales, and belugas can be seen close to shore. Here we can see the musk ox which was introduced to the island in 1975.

I wonder how difficult it is to visit this remote place! Thanks a lot Nastya :)

Sipandan Island, Malaysia

Sipadan is the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600 metres from the seabed. It is located in the Celebes Sea off the east coast of Sabah, East Malaysia (which is on the island of Borneo). It was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands of years to develop. Sipadan is located at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world. More than 3,000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this ecosystem.

Fantastic! Thanks Aileen :))

 

UNESCO - Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve, France

How satisfying to have a complete Unesco site that comprises different views! All thanks to Catherine, who sent me this complete set. Beautiful nature I'd love to see one day.

The nature reserve, which is part of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica, occupies the Scandola peninsula, an impressive, porphyritic rock mass. The vegetation is an outstanding example of scrubland. Seagulls, cormorants and sea eagles can be found there. The clear waters, with their islets and inaccessible caves, host a rich marine life.

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!

 

Ihuru Angsana, Maldives

This little island is part of the North Malé Atoll and is mere 200 metres long and wide - with a small jetty receiving visitors i.e. guests staying in the bungalows hidden between the palm trees. Paradise! I need to finally start playing the lottery :P

The beautiful Hawksbill Sea Turtle on the stamp is sadly critically endangered...

Many MANY thanks to Kun Hu and a friend ;))

 

Views Of Menorca

A lovely view of the Port Of Mahon, which is the capital of the Balearic Island Menorca. The town's population is about 30 000 inhabitants and it has the second deepest natural harbour in the world. And what an awesome beach, the colour of the sea is just amazing..! Thanks to my nomad friend :))

Maps Of Isle Of Wight

Isle Of Wight is a country and the largest island in England, situated in the English Channel some 5 miles off the coast of Hampshire. I have fond memories of visiting the island as it was my first 'proper' holiday, staying in b&b and sightseeing..! One of the highlights was surely visiting a donkey farm, and I regret to this day that I wasn't able to adopt one of them..!

UNESCO - Surtsey, Iceland

 

Surtsey, a volcanic island approximately 32 km from the south coast of Iceland, is a new island formed by volcanic eruptions that took place from 1963 to 1967. It is all the more outstanding for having been protected since its birth, providing the world with a pristine natural laboratory. Free from human interference, Surtsey has been producing unique long-term information on the colonisation process of new land by plant and animal life.
The stamp shows the Snæfellsnes, a peninsula in western Iceland named Iceland in Miniature.

UNESCO - Fraser Island, Australia

Fraser Island lies just off the east coast of Australia (appr. 200 kilometres north of Brisbane). At 122 km long, it is the largest sand island in the world. Majestic remnants of tall rainforest growing on sand and half the world’s perched freshwater dune lakes are found inland from the beach. The combination of shifting sand-dunes, tropical rainforests and lakes makes it an exceptional site.

Many thanks to Jemma, who also used some awesome stamps showing the geological wonders of the Antarctic :))