Greetings from Italy - Direct Swap with Giada

I was happy when Giada responded to my post looking to swap cards. Canada was the last country she needed and I didn't yet have Italy, so the timing was perfect! When I read this card I think I would love to try and eat my way through all 500 different types of pasta - my favourite!!! I was especially happy when I saw the stamp Giada chose. I {love} Nutella almost as much as pasta - perfecto! Thank you Giada!

OFFICIAL Card - Italy

Kris sent this showing a cute little bird I had not heard of before, a Gruccione or European Bee-eater. The card is printed by the WWF and from the colour of the back looks like it is an old one She must live close to Germany as the stamp and cancellations are from there. She shared as site she is part of Comecookandeat.org - sounds interesting and so something my husband would absolutely hate to be part of! How about you, does something like that project interest you?

OFFICIAL Card - Latvia

Valerija lives outside of Riga and sent me this card her friend picked up last year while travelling to Rome. Nice card, however I did have to chuckle. My second official card from Latvia and neither show me anything of the country. Oh well, live to dream, maybe one day I'll receive sights from that country!

OFFICIAL Card - Italy

Giovanni is a veterinarian living near Verona, Italy. The card shows what he describes as a typical fresco you would find in an old house. Love the size of the stamps, they are both just shy of 2"!

Direct Swap - Vatican City from Rita

At the beginning of March I responded to a post Rita made in the Forum. She was offering cards sent from Vatican City with a very unique and special "sede vacante" stamp. That was a new phrase for me so naturally I was very intrigued with her offer. I was pleased when she agreed to swap and in return I sent her a card showing Rideau Canal in Ottawa as she collects UNESCO sites. Here is a bit more information on the history of the issue that I was able to find.

Rita's card arrived today and it is a great addition and truly rare piece to add to my collection. The four views show, clockwise from upper left - an aerial of Saint Angelo Castle, the Tiber river and Saint Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI, Pieta by Michelangelo and an interior view of St. Peter's Basilica. Thank you so much Rita!

OFFICIAL Card - Italy

Lamberto is the Postcrosser from Italy who has sent the most postcards to date - over 4500!!! Last week I was one of his lucky recipients. This card he sent me shows views from Belluno, in the Dolomite Mountains. The wording says "Belluno between history and tradition". The stamps he used are nice and as he didn't want to cover up the narrative are all over the back of the card.

OFFICIAL Card - Italy

I received this card yesterday from Paola in Novara, Italy today.The card shows beautiful night views around her home town. Funny thing she wrote me - she had just sent me this card a month ago under a second account she has. What are the odds of her drawing my name twice?!? Neat huh?

OFFICIAL Card - Italy

It took a month for this card to travel last September from Bergamo, Italy to me. Stefania lives in the northern part of Italy and sent me this card of Tuscany as it is where she used to holiday when she was young. She writes "the card doesn't show the sea but I assure it's blue and beautiful". I have no reason to doubt it! Italy is high on my places I would love to travel to - the views, the history, the food & wine - need I say more!

OFFICIAL Card - Italy

A nice surprise to find another card from Italy in my mailbox today. It is not too often that I receive cards from this country let alone two in less than a week. This card shows views in and around Belllinzago Novarese, a "comune" (municipality) 90 kms northeast of Turin in the northern part of Italy. Its population is less than 10,000. Looks like a nice peaceful place!

OFFICIAL Card - Italy

Today I received this card from Veronica in Tuscany, Italy. I was smiling at the very first sentence - "Ciao Susannah! I'm Veronica...." the reason for the smile - that is my younger sister's name!  I have had a few cards from Veronica's over the year but "in real life" have never met any others. From there on it just got better, she wrote a lovely note about her city and life and how she can't think of living elsewhere - that is so refreshing to read, to know that someone is happy and appreciates it. I can see why - waking up to fields of sunflowers everyday would have me smiling too! She also tells me about a big Hallowe'en celebration in the city she works in, you're right - maybe that is a plan for a future birthday celebration!