Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - February '24

 Beautiful cards from Canada, Germany, Russia and Belgium

 

Lyle Korytar

 Yes, this is an American stamp but the card is from Canada. 

Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

The area around the lake has several walking/hiking trails that are, from time to time, restricted. The trail most commonly taken by tourists is The Rockpile Trail, which is along the actual Moraine. The trail is approximately 300 metres (980 ft) long, with an elevation change of 24 metres (79 ft). The view of the lake from the top of the rockpile is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada. That view of the mountains behind the lake in Valley of the Ten Peaks is known as the "Twenty Dollar View", as Moraine Lake was featured on the reverse side of the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill. - in: wikipedia

Card sent by Varun.

 

Photo by: Jakob Radlgruber

Grace surprised me with this wonderful card from my favorites. 

Wallfahrtskirche Maria Gern is the pilgrimage church of Berchtesgaden, often regarded as one of the most beautiful churches in Bavaria. Established somewhere between 1708 -1710, the church was built on the site of an older chapel. Maria Gern is home to a rare and significant image of Madonna and Child, which dates back to 1666. The Roman Catholic church boasts of pretty interiors, complete with beautiful frescoes and stucco work, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, by Christoph Lehrl and Joseph Schmidt. - in: https://cityseeker.com

 

Speaking of surprises, Tanya decided to send not 1 but 6 cards, all depicting beautiful churches. They are all very beautiful but my favorite is this one of the Church of the Resurrection. This church dates from 1756 and was brought from the village Patakino to the Museum of Wooden Archictecture in Suzdal, Russia.

The museum was founded in 1968. The wooden constructions from all over the Vladimir region were brought to the museum. Noteworthy that all buildings are actual constructions that people lived and worked in. Thus, a typical village with all the features of ancient Russian settlement was reconstituted on the left bank of the Kamenka River.

 

Lara also checked my favorites and sent me this lovely card. 

When you think of Belgium, you’re likely to think about quality Belgian chocolate, beer, classical European architecture, and, of course – Belgian waffles. However, there is another product that makes Belgium unique, and, in particular – the city of Bruges. In the 16th-century, the city of Bruges adopted a tradition of weaving lace into thousands of shapes and patterns, contributing to Belgium’s textile industry’s success.

There are two main lace weaving techniques that are practiced in Belgium – the Bobbin Method, also known as the “Brussels Method” (since it is mainly sold in Brussels), and the Bruges Method that uses a loom. The people of Bruges are experts in producing lace so delicate that it is not meant for mass production due to the long and arduous process of weaving it.
All throughout Bruges you can find little shops selling intricate lace items. The shops are usually run by 50-90 year old women, who continue to weave lace by the traditional bobbin method. These artisans preserve the centuries-old tradition and produce quality lace item of various fabrics, colors and patterns. Belgium’s entire lace weaving industry is comprised of about 1,000 weavers that produce everything manually, without any motorized machines or other technological aids. The country doesn’t even have a single lace factory because it honors the ancient tradition of weaving and wishes to keep it alive. - in: https://www.craftsclubworld.com