CA-1679259

 Medicine Hat is a very curious name for a city. Several legends tell how this city in Alberta got it's name. 

* The Famine Legend: A brave journeyed to the South Saskatchewan River to save his starving people. A river serpent demanded the sacrifice of his wife in exchange for a "holy bonnet" that would give him the power to hunt and survive.

* The Battle Legend: During a conflict between the Blackfoot and Cree tribes, a medicine man lost his headdress in the river, creating an omen that gave the region its name.

 

 

Photo: Len Grant

CA-1679259, sent by Curt.

Once again, Canadian mail services ruined the stamps. Why??!

With its tall spires, St. Patrick's Church has long been a Medicine Hat landmark. Erected between 1912 and 1914 and designed by American architect Manley N. Cutter, it is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in western Canada.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * March '26

March MFS RR's cards from Russia, Canada, Finland and Netherlands.

 

This beautiful building is the Astashovo Terem, the house of the peasant Martian Sazonov in Kostrona region. Inesa saw the card of my favs. 

The House of Martian Sazonov (or Astashovo Terem) is a stunning 19th-century, fairytale-like Russian wooden palace built in 1897 in the Kostroma region. Commissioned by local peasant-turned-entrepreneur Martian Sazonov, the ornate building was restored in the 2010s from a dilapidated state to serve as a boutique hotel and museum.

Photo: Don Harmon

Laurence used such beautiful stamps to send this card but Canadian mail services ruined them. Was it really necessary to cross them out like that? 😒

On the back of the card: Banff Avenue with Stoney Sqauw Mt. (left) and Cascade Mountain, which presides over the busy mountain town of Banff. This is the administrative centre of Banff National Park, as well as a tourist service centre. The park occupies 2.564 square miles on the east slope of the Canadian Rockies.

 

 Kuva: Heikki Rytkönen

Cute bear card alert. Isa also found this one on my favs.

The brown bear is Finland's national animal, and ancient Finns held it in such reverence that they used dozens of different names to avoid speaking it aloud. Today, with a population of around 2,000, Finland has one of the highest bear densities in Europe. The way to see wild brown bears is to spend a night in a purpose-built hide in the forests of Eastern Finland: you settle in during the afternoon, and bears typically appear in the long light of the Finnish summer evening.
The main hubs are Kuhmo and Suomussalmi in Kainuu, where bear-watching operators run overnight excursions. June is the prime month, with near-endless light, active bears, and a good chance of seeing cubs born that spring. Finland's wildlife operators manage feeding stations under strict regulations, and guides are careful not to disturb natural behaviour. - in: https://www.visitfinland.com/

 

 www.papersisters.de

A new Happy Postcrossing card sent by Annerie. Postcards always brigthen up my day.

CA-1655106

 I'm not a big fan of Leonard Cohen, but I really like urban art and that's why this card was on my favorites wall. 

On the occasion of the anniversary of his death on Nov. 7, 2016, Leonard Cohen was honoured by mural, located on Crescent Street in the heart of Montréal.

 

Photo by Jocelyn Léonard

CA-1655106, sent by Andrea.

The mural is the result of a collaboration between two artists: El Mac, the internationally renowned American “street“ portrait artist, and Gene Pendon, a Montreal-based artist with a fine arts degree from Concordia University. Montreal residents and visitors can admire the city’s largest mural from several key viewpoints. 

The mural is a part of MU’s Tribute to Montreal‘s Great Artists series.  - in: https://artpublicmontreal.ca

World Portcard Day

 October 1st is World Postcard Day, and it's the perfect excuse to join a meetup with other postcrossers or just write postcards from the comfort of your home. There were several meetups around the world, and a considerable number of postcards were created to celebrate the date. During the month of October, I received these 3 postcards.

 

Illustration by Uran Duo

 Many postcards were created to celebrate the day, but this is THE official postcard.

 The theme of the postcard is the most classical of postcard sentences, “Wish you were here” and was beautifully designed by Uran Duo is the artistic name of two married freelance illustrators based in Fujian, China.

This postcard was sent by Marie from Canada, but I received another one as an official from Germany.

 

created by xanafgsantos

Gracinha remembered me on that day and sent me this postcard.

And from the USA came this postcard from a meeting in Kansas City, sent by Nova, one of my American penpals.

PT-1

 PT-1 was the very 1st official card ever sent through Postcrossing and I guess we can call it the "father" of all Postcrossing cards. It was sent by Paulo to Ana in July of 2005 and that's how it all started. This card here is a commemorative re-edition of that card and celebrates the 20 years of Postcrossing and friendships. 

This very special card was sent by Marie. She's probably the non-Portuguese postcrosser I've been in contact with the longest. We exchanged our 1st cards back in 2008 and we still keep sending each other cards every now and then. How lovely is this?!

 

Photos: Jean Guichard

Three beautiful lighthouses but where are they from? I had no idea but google images was very useful once again and gave me their locations. They are all Canadian lighthouses. 

The white lights are both located on Prince Edward Island.

The light on the left is the Panmure Head Lighthouse,a 17.7 metres (58 feet) octagonal, tapered, wooden tower, located at the north end of a sandy beach on Panmure Island, on the east coast of Prince Edward Island. It is Prince Edward Island's oldest wooden lighthouse and Heritage site.

The lighthouse has been a symbol of the local fishing and farming community of Panmure Island for over 150 years. With its classic design, and visual prominence in relationship to the land and water, it has often represented Prince Edward Island in provincial tourist material and continues to be a major tourist attraction in this area. - in: https://www.tourismpei.com

The white light on the right is Souris East Lighthouse, erected in 1880. It is a white and red square tapered wooden tower with a round lantern. The light stands 14.3 meters above the cliff on Knight Point overlooking the town of Souris. The Souris East Lighthouse has always been the symbol of the town and area. An atached dwelling was removed in 1959, and the light was changed to electricity in 1961. In 1991, Frank McIntosh, the last lighthouse keeper on PEI, retired from the Souris East Light. - in https://pointseastcoastaldrive.com

And the red light is La Martre Lighthouse, erected in 1906 and named after nearby Marten River. It is still operational and is jewel of the Gaspé coast.  Though fully automated at night, La Martre is the only light in Quebec that operates with a non automated system of weights and cables during the day, specifically for visitors’ viewing pleasure.

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

Toronto - Canada

Views of Toronto's downtown featuring the Roger's Center, CN Tower and the Financial District. 3 of these cards were sent by Marie.

Photo by Buddy Moffet

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario.

The city has 2.6 million residents, according to the 2011 Census. Based on these official census figures, it is currently the fifth most populous city in North America.

 

Toronto is at the heart of the Greater Toronto Area, and of the densely populated region in Southern Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe. Its cosmopolitan and international population reflects its role as an important destination for immigrants to Canada.

 

Toronto is one of the world's most diverse cities by percentage of non-native-born residents, with about 49% of the population born outside Canada.

 Toronto's Downtown is made up of Canada's largest concentration of skyscrapers and businesses that form Toronto's skyline. Since 2022, Downtown Toronto has the second most skyscrapers in North America exceeding 200 metres (656 ft) in height, behind only Midtown Manhattan, New York City. in: wikipedia

Rideau Canal - Canada

A visit to the historic Rideau Canal is a must if you're traveling to Ottawa. “The canal” as it’s known locally, is the heart beat of Canada’s Capital in any season. In the warmer months, the canal is a haven for walkers, runners, in-line skaters and cyclists, who stroll along its scenic, rolling green banks. But in winter, the Rideau Canal turns into the Rideau Canal Skateway, aka, the world’s largest skating rink!  The skating period runs from December to the beginning of March. After March the ice begins to gradually melt, reducing the thickness of the ice, starting the navigation period.

 

Photo: R. Edgar

CA-1433165, sent by Georgie.

Built between 1826 and 1832 by Colonel John By of the British Royal Engineers, the stone-walled canal received a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2007 and is the only such site in the entire province of Ontario!
Having to dig and clear through the savage Canadian wilderness over six long years, about 1,000 workers perished during the waterway’s construction from malaria or accidents, and were buried along its picturesque banks. Of the 202 kilometres (126 miles) stretching from Kingston to Ottawa, 19 kilometres (12 miles) of the canal is man-made and was dug out by hand. The canal — with its 45 locks located in various Ontario communities, was originally built for a military purpose to establish a secure supply and communications route between Montreal, Québec and Kingston.

According to UNESCO, as a World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal represents a “masterpiece of creative genius” and meets the 10 different criteria needed to secure such a prestigious designation. The canal is “the best-preserved example of a slackwater canal in North America, demonstrating the use of this European technology on a large scale,” UNESCO says. It is also the only canal dating back to the nineteenth century “North American canal-building era” to remain operational with most of its original structures intact. - in: https://ottawatourism.ca

World Postcard Day

This year the choice of the official postcard for World Postcard Day was surrounded by some controversy. The design of the winning postcard was based on a stock image, not an original artwork, which disrespect the rules of the contest.

As a result, that postcard was disqualified and the design that received the second highest number of votes was then chosen. How beautiful is this?!!

 

Winner of the WPD contest 2023 - Lisa Saputra (Indonesia)

The talented author of the winning design is Lisa Saputra, an indie children’s book illustrator from Indonesia. 

The card was sent by Marie from Canada.

Moraine Lake - Canada

Wow, this is what I call a breathtaking scenery. That's because of views like these that I want to fly immediately to Canada and explore the canadian parks. 

 

Its waters are the most amazing colour, a vivid shade of turquoise that changes in intensity through the summer as the glaciers melt. Set in the rugged Valley of the Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and rock piles, creating a scene so stunning it almost seems unreal. Sit lakeside and absorb the sights and pure mountain air, or explore further by canoeing and hiking. It’s an iconically jaw-dropping place that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

 

CA-75031, sent by Heather.

Glacier-fed, its brilliant blue-green colour is a result of light refracting off the rock flour (fine particles of rock) in the glacier run-off which flows into the lake. At an elevation of 1,885 metres (6,183 feet), the lake does not begin to melt until June. Water levels, and its vibrant colour, peak in late June. 

The access road to Moraine Lake is only open during summer months from June to October. Dates may vary and are dependent on weather conditions. - in: https://www.banfflakelouise.com

CA-1254698

 One day I'll visit Canada's National Parks. I'll start my tour in Banff, Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885 as Rocky Mountains Park.

 

 Banff National Park Poster by Cameron Stevens

CA-1254698, sent by Simon.

From Banff’s humble beginnings as a 26 square kilometre hot springs reserve, Banff National Park now consists of 6,641 square kilometres of unparalleled mountain scenery nestled in the heart of the magnificent Canadian Rockies.
Each year, millions of visitors come to Banff to marvel at the emerald waters of Lake Louise, walk amongst the flower-filled heavens at Sunshine Meadows, and drive beneath the towering jagged peaks lining the Icefields Parkway. - in: https://banffnationalpark.com/

 

Niagara Falls - Canada

Niagara Falls is Canada's most famous natural attraction, bringing in millions of visitors each year. Even though this is Canada's most famous natural attraction, I only have these cards from there. The 1st card was sent to my grandma a few years ago, when my uncles visited our family in USA. The last one is and official and the other two were sent by Ara and Heidi.

Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the American state of New York.

From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lies on the border of the United States and Canada with the American Falls entirely on the United States' side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also on the United States' side, separated from the American Falls by Luna Island.

Paul Albert Augustino

Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America that has a vertical drop of more than 50 metres (160 ft).

Photographer: Galyn Hammond

Niagara Falls was formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. - in: wikipedia

 

CA-1238097, sent by Beth.

The Jet Dome travels down the Niagara river and past 18 miles (28 kms) of exhilirating scenery to the churning white waters of the famous Niagara Whirlpool.