Mr SnowFox

Amid the newest heat wave, a bit of refreshment coming from the north - well actually I sent this to myself this winter before the job fiasco lol and was very pleased that I have found new stamps in a tiny post office on the island. Foxes are the cutest, aren't they?! 

Shamanka Rock On Olkhon Island, Baikal, Russia

If I was given a choice to choose just one trip for the rest of my days, that would def be the continuous rail route from Europe to SE Asia, and with new routes being open or in planning, a return-trip could be quite epic! There is of course the classic Trans-Mongolian Route, which stops at many places in the Russian Federation incl. the WHS Lake Baikal. 

The lake's largest island ( and the world's  fourth-largest lake-bound island ) is the Olkhon, and one of its most prominent spots is pictured here - the Shamanka, or Shaman's Rock. The indigenous Buryats, adherents of shamanism, believe the island to be a spiritual place; they believe that Burkhan, a modern religious cult figure of the Altai peoples, lives in the cave in this rock, one of nine most sacred places in Asia.

I was quite...no, VERY surprised that I haven't posted anything about Baikal yet..! I am sure I have more postcards to show, I must have been waiting for all of them to be in one place. But these views are so calming and reminiscent of 'real winter', I just had to pop them in here. Thank you Angela :)

 

Glacier Tramping In New Zealand

After watching a debate on TV about censoring the hate speech on social media, and then continuing to have this debate amongst ourselves, a relaxing view like this was very much needed. Sometimes I really wish to get away from it all, the human primitivity that still very much exists under a cloak of technological progress. New Zealand definitely springs to mind as the final destination..! Though I'd probably never climb a glacier. My adventures are limited to surviving in my own country.

Once again thanks goes to Tianyi Shi :)

Gerlache Strait, Antarctica/Chile

Just one more! As its still a bit chilly ;) The card is showing Antarctica but is sent from Chile, one of the two countries closest to Antarctica. This is a view from the Gerlache Strait which separates the Palmer Archipelago from the Antarctic Peninsula (the Danco Coast). The Belgian Antarctic Expedition, under Lt. Adrien de Gerlache, explored the strait in January and February 1898, hence the name.

Another great card from Alvaro, with Copa America stamp, thank you! :))

UNESCO - City Of Safranbolu, Turkey

From the 13th century to the advent of the railway in the early 20th century, Safranbolu was an important caravan station on the main East–West trade route. During its apogee in the 17th century, Safranbolu's architecture influenced urban development throughout much of the Ottoman Empire. It has preserved its original appearance and buildings to a remarkable extent.

As you may guess, the name of the town derives from saffron, since this was a trading place and a center for growing this most valuable spice. Today saffron is still grown at the village of Davutobası which is 22 km east of Safranbolu and probably one of the best quality saffrons in the world.

No name on the card to say my thanks...for this beautiful view of the snow-covered traditional houses.

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Valldemossa, Mallorca, Spain

One absolutely adorable place, this is...Valldemossa is a village and municipality on the island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. With a population of around 2,000, it is a quiet and traditional town with narrow streets and lanes constructed with blonde stone, as are the houses. Many doorways of houses feature a religious symbol of Mallorca's patron saint, Saint Catalina Thomàs to protect their houses from harm, a tradition set many years ago.

In the 1830s the Spanish government confiscated monasteries, and the historic estate was sold to private owners, who have since hosted some prominent guests. These have included the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin and his lover the pioneering French writer George Sand, who wrote a notable account of A Winter in Majorca, describing their 1838–39 visit. 

Valldemossa is surrounded by fertile land where olive and almond trees are grown and it has changed very little since it was first inhabited, despite the increase in tourism trade - it is part of Cultural Landscape Of The Serra De Tramuntana unesco whs, with the terraces also visible on these postcards. But I have covered that in a separate post :) And here is a photo of me posing smugly heh :)

The Great Wall In The Snow

I have covered the Great Wall in another post, but there are always different views of this magnificant site, it being so huge and all...and I do LOVE snowy views! Thanks Jarod :)

Charles Bridge Under Snow

What a great card to win in a lottery, right?! Would love to see this in person. Thank you George :)

Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

Mont-Tremblant is a city in the Laurentian mountains of Quebec, Canada, approximately 130 kilometres north-west of Montreal - it is one of the most popular ski resorts in the country. So picturesque, right..?!

Hohenzollern Castle, Germany

Hohenzollern Castle is the ancestral seat of the imperial House of Hohenzollern.The third of three castles on the site, it is located atop Berg Hohenzollern, a 234 m bluff rising above the towns of Hechingen and Bisingen in the foothills of the Swabian Alps of central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The first fortress on the mountain was constructed in the early 11th century. 

Germany is so wonderfully abundant with castles, and yet I have seen only a few so far. On the stamp is another one, Marksburg, one of the principal sites of the UNESCO World Heritage Rhine Gorge. Danke sehr Diana ;)

Soldattorps In Sweden

Soldattorps are soldier cottages in use in Sweden and Finland for centuries up to the early 1900s. Now they are a pefect getaway (!) for holidays, Karin said to have had a cafe in one of them which must have been just lovely!

UNESCO - Las Médulas, Spain

In the 1st century A.D. the Roman Imperial authorities began to exploit the gold deposits of this region in north-west Spain, using a technique based on hydraulic power. After two centuries of working the deposits, the Romans withdrew, leaving a devastated landscape. Since there was no subsequent industrial activity, the dramatic traces of this remarkable ancient technology are visible everywhere as sheer faces in the mountainsides and the vast areas of tailings, now used for agriculture.

The 'devastated landscape' looks almost romantic here...half-covered with snow. Many many thanks to Beatriz, and for a selection of stamps too :))

 

Jerusalem In The Snow

The spring is here, but I still enjoy the snow views :) many thanks to Oleg, who used such fantastic stamps!

Scott Base, Anctarctica, New Zealand

And how much do I love this card?! Such a splendid view of the Scott Base, a research facility located on Ross Island in Antarctica and operated by New Zealand, with Mt. Erebus in the background  (with 3794 metres the second highest volcano in Antarctica).

What also made me really happy is the Ross Dependency stamp issued in 2013, this is info on wikipedia but since the cancellation doesn't say its posted from Christchurch I guess the info on its usability is wrong..? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postage_stamps_and_postal_history_of_the_Ross_Dependency

In any case many many thanks to Amy!

UNESCO - Petäjävesi Old Church, Finland

 

I have re-discovered a whole another folder with older postcards to include in my blog (I seem to be making it a habit), including this wonderful snow view of the Petäjävesi Church - situated in central Finland, it was built of logs between 1763 and 1765.  This Lutheran country church is a typical example of an architectural tradition that is unique to eastern Scandinavia. It combines the Renaissance conception of a centrally planned church with older forms deriving from Gothic groin vaults.

Thanks goes to Sini who also used a matching stamp :))

 

Lviv, Ukraine

Snowy panoramic view of an UNESCO town, great stamps, whats not to like? Thank you Marina :)

UNESCO - Historic Centre Of Prague II

As I have many postcards of the wonderful Prague it would be a shame not to post them here just because I did one post on it a long time ago :) The St. Vitus Cathedral with its stained glass windows is an amazing sight, as is the view on and of the numerous bridges, I think all would agree..! I have Radana, Ana and Nat to thank for the last two cards :))

 

 

 

Armenian Donkey

A truly heart-warming piece of mail in my mailbox this week - my first written & stamped postcard from Armenia shows the cutest donkey doing his work in the snowy mountains of Armenia. This is so great on so many levels, thanks so SO much Radim! :))

UNESCO - Aachen Cathedral, Germany

With its columns of Greek and Italian marble, its bronze doors, the largest mosaic of its dome (now destroyed), the Palatine Chapel of Aachen has, from its inception, been perceived as an exceptional artistic creation. It was the first vaulted structure to be constructed north of the Alps since antiquity.

Dajti National Park, Albania

Mount Dajti National Park has a surface area of 3300 hectares, is situated 26 km east of the capital and considered the 'Natural Balcony of Tirana'.  In winter, the mountain is often covered with snow, and it is a popular retreat to the local population of Tirana. This must be one of the lodges or restaurants situated in the area. Many thanks to Jelena who recognised my love for snowy views :)