OFFICIAL Card - Singapore

At first glance I didn't realize this was an ad card. The two women are simply beautiful in their Kurta (although the explanatory link is nowhere as nice as some of these). The card is a curious one as it is advertising Singapore as a premier destination for health care. The website as advertised diverts you to here, where "medical travel" is listed as an industry. Personally, I find this interesting and baffling at the same time. I'll take my "free" local health care any day and am grateful for it everyday! Lisa wrote me a lovely message about her family, her upcoming travels and her country.

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

Just when I say I haven't seen a Finnish card in awhile......I get a Finnish card! This is not one I would have thought of perhaps if I drew my name, however it came to mind for Marja-Leena. The cartoon is advertising this restaurant with the text translating to "Have a nice summer".

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

It's official - I now have a Moomin card in my collection. Tarja collects Moomin mugs and when she purchased one recently they were giving away this card. Without doing a full Google translate, as there is a lot of text on the back, I believe Arabia is a dishware/home decor company and this card helps to support UNICEF and celebrate Tove Jansson's, the creator of Moomins, 100th. I must admit while I thought they were cute I could not fully understand the excitement of collecting them. Now that I have one in my hand and see how cute it is in person, I do get it a bit more. What about you, are you yeah or nay with Moomins?

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

This card took a longer time than most to arrive from Finland - 31 days, maybe because it is so big - 5x8! It is an ad card for Hame Castle. What is odd is this castle is in the same city as this card I just posted about yesterday. I never noticed until now! The back of the card has lots of printed text about the castle, current show, even the hours. To be honest I don't mind one bit. While it would have been nice to read a bit about Merja, the lady who sent the card, or about her experience at the castle, it was a nice change just to read this. The stamps depicts Finland's current President, Sauli Niinisto.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

If I thought four days from Germany was fast, this card made it in 3! What is it with German Post?!? That is amazing! Simone wrote telling me about herself and her hobbies. This card is actually the artwork from a book cover as seen here. I cannot get the page to translate for whatever reason so other than the title - "Of Sleep and Disappearance" I can't really say much else other than it is a nice illustration of a crane.

OFFICIAL Card - Taiwan

Chin-Yu sent this card which took over 50 days to get to me! My mail usually is not that slow. The view she describes as being an ancient wood-made house. The card is actually an ad-card for Ultrahard, which looks like a funky design/stationary/fashion store. Looks like it would be a neat place to shop.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Amelie is a university student living in Dresden, Germany. She wrote telling me about recent floods in her region and the efforts she and others are making to help repair things. The card she chose for me is a fun one. It is an ad-card for the reality show "German Idol" advertising the new season. She said it used to be much more popular than it is now. That's usually the way it goes, especially with reality TV. The text translates to read - "You've always been the blue sheep in your family?". Once again, if an ad-card matches your wish-list does it matter that it is a freebie? What are your thoughts?

OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

Juliette lives in Ukraine and picked this card up at a jazz festival she went to. She wrote that there were really cool bands and at least one from Canada every year. The card, from the band Plaistow, is not done any justice by my less than great scanner. The feather are amazing! Something truly different for me.

 

OFFICIAL Card - Taiwan

Emilly from Taipei, Taiwan sent me this ad card from a local hotel chain - Zenda Suites. Most times I don't mind an ad card if they somewhat match my wish list or are "nice" - yes, a highly subjective phrase I know. What got me about this one is she states on her profile that she doesn't like them. I always have to wonder then why someone who doesn't want them themselves feel it is OK to send?!?!

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

Ellie from Apeldoorn, Netherlands sent me this art card last week. From translating the back of the card I believe it is a card to support a local charity - Sunflower Association. The bird is a painting by British artist Mark Chester. Ellie wrote telling me she was at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games - lucky her!

OFFICIAL Card - France

I received this card from Martine in Lyon, France last July. It is an ad-card for an outdoor hotel as seen here. That could be a really comfortable or really weird nights sleep or both!

OFFICIAL Card - USA

This card came in the mail today from Denver, Coloado. They did not sign it nor do they have their name on Postcrossing. This is an ad-card for a clothing store  PACSUN. One look at those bathing suits and I know I am not their target market! All they wrote was this - No one looks back on life and remembers the nights they had plenty of sleep. True but for someone who is still woken up by their kids at least 3 to 4 times a week I do cherish it!

Direct Swap - Helen from Netherlands

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Helen from Amsterdam. She liked some of the Niagara Falls cards I had sent out and said she had a card of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam to offer. I agreed and yesterday I received these cards from her in an envelope. The first is of the Royal Palace. It is interesting to see as it seems like it is right in the middle of everything. Rightly or wrongly when I think palace I think of Buckingham Palace which is so set back and fenced. This is neither. The next card has lovely purple flowers and is an ad-card from the Alzheimer Society in the Netherlands. The last card is one that Helen drew herself - impressive although the colours really don't come out in the scan. I've popped her card in the mail today - hope she gets it as quickly.

My scanner is totally acting up and won't let me scan the envelope - it is a stamp we've seen before and one day I'll try to remember to try again.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

I received these cards from Michael in an envelope in the beginning of February. While I realize everyone has their own style, personally I prefer my cards mailed as is as opposed to inside an envelope. Somehow without the "travel lines" it doesn't feel as if it has been on a journey. While the cards themselves are each great it was a touch disappointing as all that was written, actually typed, on one was a request to have me send him a card. Kind of feel like I am not the only one who has heard that one. But as I said everyone has their own style and that is OK even when different to yours.

This first is a vintage card with various scenes in Berlin. The next an ad-card for Kulturland-Brandenburg which according to Wikipedia it is a network of cultural networks supporting the cultural infrastructure of the country of Brandenburg and ensures cooperation with other relevant projects, provinces and the neighbouring country of Poland - who knew?!? The last card is one Michael made from a photograph taken from his balcony - the sun setting over Berlin Centre. Quite the variety I received that day!

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

I received this card from Mira in Finland in the middle of February. It is advertising the Finnish Event "Nordisk Biblioteksuge" which is "Nordic Library Week". This card is from the event in 2007. Great card, especially for me, as I am at our local library at least twice if not more a week.

OFFICIAL Card - Netherlands

This card from Lidia arrived at the end of January. It is an ad-card for a local restaurant on Texel Island. Many people on Postcrossing don't care for ad-cards and actually request that you do not send them one. It is as if the fact you didn't pay for the card makes it less attractive. Personally, I don't mind them as it gives me a different glimpse at something that I wouldn't normally know about. To me, this looks like a touristy street scene. The difference on the back I learn I can park my boat if that is how I choose to visit Haven van Texel and if I bring this card I get a complimentary Dutch liquor - and there is no expiry date LOL!

OFFICIAL Card - Belarus

This card did put a smile on my face. I think I would order tequila before I would have a Jagermeister and even then those days are long over! While ad cards are not usually on my "wish list" of favourites I do like the colours and the Cyrillic along the bottom is neat even though I have no idea what is says.