OFFICIAL Card - Russia

This card brings back so many memories! The view shows the Moscow Kremlin Cathedrals. If I was better organized I would dig up the pictures of me in front of some of these beautiful buildings. Vlad sent this to me and it arrived the day before his birthday. He was turning 15 and wrote he wants to be a translator or an ambassador in the future. Both are really cool choices!

Direct Swap - Kathy from Guernsey

Kathy lives in Guernsey. She was offering these cards for swap via a Postcrossing group on Facebook. I don't know what just instantly struck me about this card but it did. I was so happy when she agreed to swap. The views show the Little Chapel, which is said to be the smallest chapel in Europe and quite possibly the world. The mosaic work on it is wonderful. Kathy wrote to me about the history of the chapel as well as her recent visit there. In return I sent her a card with polar bears - an animal her daughter adores. Since then we have arranged another swap with both cards currently travelling. Nice to have another great connection around the world.

OFFICIAL Card - Ukarine

Oksana lives in Kyiv and sent this card of one of her favourite cities - Lviv, which she describes as the cultural capital of her country. She shared some of the nicest words about this city and her memories. The view shows the Dormition Church.

OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

Elena lives in Kiev and chose this card for me as it is one of her favourite places. The view is of St Andrew's Church. Love how the image is framed by the beautiful spring flowers.

 

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Svetlana from Tomsk is a lawyer. She shared her hobbies with me and also her dream - one day she would like to open an exhibition of her photographs of her hometown. You know what they say, "If you build it, they will come"! The card is a vintage photo of a church and the text on the back reads "All Saints of the Russian Land". When I Google this the image looks so different I honestly can't tell if it is the same place or not. Take a look here and tell me what you think.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Teresa sent this card of her hometown, Osnabruck, Germany. The views include the old town hall in the lower left and St. Peter's Cathedral in the upper right.

OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

Inna from Rivne, Ukraine sent this fantastic card showing the Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans in Chernivsti. In 2011 it became a UNESCO site. Stunning architecture!

Direct Swap - Armenia from Yana

Yana was travelling to Armenia and was willing to swap cards with me via a Forum post she made. She chose this card I had from Queen Elizabeth's Coronation, however asked that I hold off until I received hers. I would have sent it then as I used what I considered to be the "perfect stamps" - 3 stamps with the Queen from 2010, 2013 and this one, commemorating 60 years since her Coronation. The fact she wanted to wait to me is the true sign of an honest person! I was thrilled when this card arrived from her showing Tegher Monastery, another new country for me. The cancellation on this card is one of the neatest I've seen.

Direct Swap - Egypt from Ellen

Ellen is a nurse from England who was working in Saudi Arabia. Through the forum she offered to send cards from there. We agreed to swap and she received my card without any difficulty. Her card never arrived. Sadly, the cards she sent to others never made it either. To make it up to those she made arrangements with she offered cards from Egypt as she was going on a short holiday there. I was happy that this one came without any difficulties. Not what I would have expected at all. Glad she chose this for me as a camel ina desert is what pops to mind and this helps to expand my thoughts on the country.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

This card was sent from Kevelaer, Germany. I cannot read the senders name, nor is it on their profile. They wrote that they live near this small village which annually has 800,000+  visitors coming on pilgrimage. The village also host one of the biggest stamps and card swaps in Germany.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

While I know many Postcrossers may not care for your typical touristy card this particular one ticks all the boxes for me. I like multi views as I think you kind of get more bang for your buck. Add in my more of my favourites - map and a flag and I don't think you could get a better picture of things.  May not be for everyone but certainly is for me. Andreas lives in Celle, Germany and was the sender of this fabulous card.

OFFICIAL Card - Ukraine

Without even conciously trying, I am slowly builind a nice collection of UNESCO sites. With close to 1000 different places, I don't ever think I will have a card from each one, however really enjoy the ones that come my way. Inna lives in Melitopol, Ukraine and sent this view showing Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

This over sized watercolour card depicting Church of the Savior on Blood in St Petersburg, Russia was sent to me by Vlad a student at the Maritime Academy. When I visited the city (Leningrad at the time) churches weren't high on the list of things to show us and in all honesty I don't remember if we went or not. I will have to dig through my pictures to see if anything there will ring a bell.

OFFICIAL Card - Poland

More views of Warsaw made their way into my mailbox this time compliments of Alicja. She lives there while studying for her PhD in psychiatry. The views show the Town Square and Gothic Town Hall, which is an UNESCO site. The University of Warsaw and the Town Square once again with St Elizabeth's church.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Dietmar from Germany sent me this card showing Ludwig Street which leads into the central square of Munich known as, Odeonsplatz. This is his hometown. Also in the view is the Theatine Church and the Alps. Love the little extra part of the stamps that were included too.

OFFICIAL Card - Belarus

Lena lives in Grodno, Belarus and sent this card showing several different Catholic and Orthodox Cathedrals in her hometown. The one on the bottom I received once before on this card. Just a slightly different angle. Lena also used 2012 Olympic stamps - they look really neat with the gold ink!

OFFICIAL Card - Finland

Leyla lives in Helsinki and sent me this vintage card of her hometown last week. It shows many different views including, Helsinki Cathedral, in the upper right. She wrote telling me Helsinki was founded by Sweden's King Gustavus Vasa in 1550. Love the stamp Leyla used. The Northern Lights is something  I would love to see in person.

OFFICIAL Card - Poland

I received this multi-view of Kolo, Poland last week from the user Kusiu0. The main picture shows the Town Hall and along the bottom ruins of a Gothic Castle and churches.

OFFICIAL Card - Germany

Milena lives in Augsburg, Germany and 4 days after mailing me this card it arrived. Another fast delivery via German Post! I have been enjoying night views more and more when I receive them. It really gives a different feeling to a picture. This one is of her hometown and shows Perlach Tower, the Town Hall and St. Ulrich's Church. She wrote telling me about her day and her adjustment back home after living in Sweden for a year. Lucky!

OFFICIAL Card - Russia

Masha lives in Vologda, Russia. She wrote telling me her city in an ancient one founded in 1147. There are many tourists who come to visit and many churches. This view shows The Church of St. Andrew in Fryazinovo (1670-1687). Oddly, when I try to Google anything it only has images no other info about this place. Who knows why. It does look neat, so close to the water and with such a unique coloured roof.