Svolvaer

Svolvær is the administrative centre of Vågan Municipality (9,200 inhabitants) in Lofoten, Nordland County, Norway. The town itself has a population of 4,378 as of 1 January 2006. Svolvær was separated from Vågan as a town, and municipality of its own, in 1919 - but it was again merged with Vågan January 1, 1964. The place is first mentioned in 1567 ("Suoluer"), but it is probably much older.

Svolvær is located in Lofoten on the south coast of Austvågøy, facing the open sea to the south, and with mountains immediately to the north. The most famous mountain, Svolværgeita, was first climbed in 1910. Svolvær is partly located on smaller islands, such as Svinøya, connected to the main island by way of the Svinøy Bridge. Sheltered by the mountains to the north and west, the Svolvær area has less fog and experiences somewhat higher daytime temperatures in summer than the western part of Lofoten, but the same mountains also create more orographic precipitation on rainy days (weather forecast). Precipitation is heaviest in autumn and winter; October averages three times as much rain as does June. Svolvær has an average frost-free season of nearly 6 months. My friend Sissel sent me this lovely card.

Flowering trees

Thank you Merja for this pretty card of flowering trees.

Five Finger Lighthouse

From its location on a small island south of Juneau, the Five Finger Lighthouse has guided ships through Alaska’s scenic Frederick Sound since 1902. After fire destroyed the original wood station in 1933, a concrete, Art Deco – style tower and lantern were erected. The lighthouse was automated in 1984. This nice card was sent to me by Maria.

Churchboat of Siitama

Merja sent me this card with a serene background and about twenty people straining at the oars. This is a Churchboat of Siitama Village in Finland, built in 1875. It has 10 pairs of oarlocks. And, is 15.5 m long. Some of you may wonder, where this place Siitama is? It is a village in Västra Finlands Län, Finland. It is 102 miles (164km) north of Helsinki and 97 miles (156km) north of Espoo.

Land of the Midnight Sun

The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at latitudes north and nearby to the north of the Arctic Circle, and south and nearby to the south of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Given fair weather, the sun is visible for a continuous 24 hours, mostly north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle. The number of days per year with potential midnight sun increases the farther poleward one goes from the equator. Although approximately defined by the polar circles, in practice midnight sun can be seen as much as 90 km beyond the polar circle, because the sun is a disk and not a point, and the exact latitudes of the farthest reaches of midnight sun depend on topography and vary slightly year-to-year.

Where is the Land of the Midnight Sun? The sun shining at midnight in the arctic or Antarctic summer is known as the midnight sun. Norway is popularly called the “Land of the Midnight Sun” because this phenomenon has been more frequently observed in that region by visitors from western Europe and the United States. The description would be equally applicable to other high latitudes above the Arctic Circle, such as northern. Russia, northern Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland, where in midsummer the sun does not sink below the horizon at any time within the twenty-four hours of the day. Instead of setting as it does in our latitudes, the sun in these regions merely goes around and around above the horizon, being part of the time in the north. In Iceland, for instance, during June and July, daylight is perpetual and a person can read a book by natural light at any time of the night. Within a distance of about four minutes of arc from the North Pole the sun rises and sets but once a year; in other words, the year is composed of one day and one night, each six months ‘in length. The number of sunrises in a year increases from one at the Pole to 365 at a short distance south of the Arctic Circle. Strictly speaking, only the northern part of Norway lies within the domain of the midnight sun. Similar conditions with the seasons reversed exist in the Antarctic. On March 21 the relative positions of the earth and sun are such that the latter illuminates exactly one-half of the surface of the former, and on that date night and day are equal in length in all parts of the world. Three months later, when the earth has completed a fourth of its circuit around the sun, the North Pole is turned toward the sun and the South Pole away from it. Another three months later the days and nights are once more equal in length everywhere on the earth. By December 21, when the earth has completed three-fourths of its circuit around the sun, the South Pole is turned toward the sun and the North Pole away from it. Of course, the land of the midnight sun is also the land of midday night. In the far north and the far south a person can observe the interesting phenomenon of a sunrise and sunset at the same time. This card sent to mr by Sissel depicts the Land of the Midnight sun appropriately.

Turun Kevat 2012

Or, to put it simply – The Stamp and Card Exhibition, held in Turku, Finland on the 10th and 11th of March, 2012. The flag shown on the card is that of Åland,

and so are these beautiful stamps. This card was sent to me by my friend Pia.

The Tall Ships’ Races 2008

The Tall Ships' Races are races for sail training "tall ships" (sailing ships). The races are designed to encourage international friendship and training for young people in the art of sailing. The races are held annually in European waters and consists of two racing legs of several hundred nautical miles, and a "cruise in company" between the legs. Over one half (fifty-percent) of the crew of each ship participating in the races must consist of young people. Between 1973 and 2003 the races were known as The Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Races, having been sponsored by Cutty Sark whisky. From 2004 to 2010 the races were supported by The City, Province, and Port of Antwerp. The current sponsor of the Tall Ships' Races 2010–2014 is the city of Szczecin in Poland.

The card displayed is about the 2008 Races when the finishing Port was Den Helder in Holland. For those who seek to combine sailing with maritime history, Den Helder offers the perfect blend. A major port town of 60,000 inhabitants, just 80 km north of Amsterdam, Den Helder is the Netherlands’ no. 1 seaport for offshore yachting. But take a step back in time, and Den Helder offers you breathtaking maritime monuments and naval fortifications, dating back to Napoleonic times and even the Republic’s Golden Age. Den Helder is the homeport of the Royal Netherlands Navy, has major fishing and offshore industries and offers no less than six marinas.

During The Tall Ships’ Races 2008, more than 90 vessels of the STI fleet found berths in and around Oude Rijkswerf Willemsoord, once the ancient Napoleonic dockyard of the Royal Netherlands Navy, now fully restored as a nautical theme park. Offering museums, dry-docks, cinemas, restaurants and a marina in a beautifully restored historical setting, Willemsoord is a maritime monument of truly European stature. Den Helder is a port well-known to many Tall Ships and other sailing vessels that took part in our 1993 and 1997 Sail events. Captains and crews may well remember the quality of our liaison service, our technical facilities and the extensive programmes for trainees, crews and officers. It is not surprising that the races in 2013 would once again be in Den Helder. This lovely card was sent to me by my friend Ineke from Holland.

A Little Russian Soldier

Little Danila, all of Six sent me this pretty card.

Uspenski Cathedral

Uspenski Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary). Its name comes from the Old Church Slavonic word uspenie, which denotes the Dormition. Designed by the Russian architect Alexey Gornostaev (1808–1862), the cathedral was built after his death in 1862–1868. The crypt chapel of the cathedral is named after the holy Alexander Hotovitzky, who served as vicar of the Orthodox parish of Helsinki 1914–1917.

The Cathedral is set upon a hillside on the Katajanokka peninsula overlooking the city. On the back of the cathedral, there is a plaque commemorating Russian Emperor Alexander II, who was the sovereign of the Grand Duchy of Finland during the cathedral's construction. Main cathedral of the Finnish Orthodox Church in the diocese of Helsinki, Uspenski Cathedral is claimed to be the largest orthodox church in Western Europe, although Finland is normally included into Northern Europe. In 2006, about 516,500 tourists visited the church. The card presents a view from Kruununhaka to Katajanokka and Uspenski Cathedral. Ella had sent me this lovely postcard.

Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a street in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strips of real estate in the world. Several French monuments are also on the street, including the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde. The name is French for Elysian Fields, the place of the blessed dead in Greek mythology. The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is known as "The most beautiful avenue in the world", La plus belle avenue du monde in French. Thank you Maria for this lovely card.

Helsinki Harbour

What you see in the card is the South Harbour, which is a bay, and harbour area immediately next to the centre of the city of Helsinki, Finland. It is the largest passenger harbour in Finland, and 5.4 million passengers travel through it every year. Most of the harbour's traffic is to Stockholm, Sweden and Tallinn, Estonia, and cruises. In summertime, there is also a lot of small ship traffic.

The bay is bordered by the districts of Katajanokka, Kaartinkaupunki, Ullanlinna and Kaivopuisto. The waterway leading to the South Harbour is 9.6 metres deep. The most critical point on the waterway is the Kustaanmiekka strait, with a width of 80 metres. The waterway has a speed limit of 30 km/h, except for the Katajanokka area, which has a speed limit of 10 km/h. Helsinki is situated on a superlative natural harbor. The coast of Finland is surrounded by thousands of small islands, and Helsinki is hidden behind these islands. Helsinki's harbour is an important focal point of the city's urban environment. Waterbuses leave from Helsinki's municipal dock for tourist attractions in the surrounding islands. A huge outdoor produce market is located along side Helsinki harbor. The huge ships that you see carry people, mostly to Sweden and back are always prominent in Helsinki's harbour. Also, seen is the beautiful Helsinki Cathedral. Ella sent me this lovely card.

James Bond, 007

James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis, Christopher Wood, John Gardner, Raymond Benson, Sebastian Faulks and Jeffery Deaver. Additionally, Charlie Higson wrote a series on a young James Bond and Kate Westbrook wrote three novels based on the diaries of a recurring series character, Moneypenny.

The fictional British Secret Service agent has also been adapted for television, radio, comic strip and video game formats as well as being used in the longest running and the second-highest grossing film franchise to date, which started in 1962 with Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as Bond. As of 2012, there have been twenty two films in the Eon Productions series, with a twenty third, Skyfall, due for release on 26 October 2012. The film will star Daniel Craig in his third portrayal of Bond: he is the sixth actor to play Bond in the Eon series. There have also been two independent productions of Bond films, Casino Royale, a 1967 spoof, and Never Say Never Again, a 1983 remake of an earlier Eon-produced film, Thunderball.

The films are renowned for a number of features, including the musical accompaniment, with the theme songs to the films having picked up Academy Award nominations on several occasions. Other important elements which run through most of the films include Bond's cars, his guns and the gadgets he is supplied with by Q Branch. Thank you Maria for remembering my favourite screen character.

France - Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge is a cabaret in Paris, France. It was built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche.

The Moulin Rouge is best known as the spiritual birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance. Originally introduced as a seductive dance by the courtesans who operated from the site, the can-can dance revue evolved into a form of entertainment of its own and led to the introduction of cabarets across Europe. Today the Moulin Rouge is a tourist attraction, offering musical dance entertainment for visitors from around the world. Much of the romance of turn-of-the-twentieth-century France is still present in the club's decor. My friend Maria sent this card.

Cyprus - Agia Napa

The holiday paradise of Cyprus, with its lovely golden beaches, clear sea waters, wonderful dreamy nights and its pleasant and warm-hearted inhabitants has maintained a simplicity of life which is in full accord with the historic traditions of Cyprus. Geographically, Ayia Napa is situated near Cape Greco, just south of Famagusta, and forms part of a larger area known by the name of "Kokkinochorgia" (a name derived from the red-colour of its soil). Before it developed into a cosmopolitan tourist centre with its majestic beach Cyprus hotels and holiday apartments, Ayia Napa was a purely agricultural village. Today, despite its enormous development, its people still find time to engage in their old occupations, namely farming and fishing. Merja sent me this nice postcard.

According to a local tradition, one day a hunter who happened to be in the area, was greatly astonished when a hare, which was being chased by his dog suddenly disappeared. The dog kept up the hot pursuit and followed the hared to his refuge, which was none other than a cave. The hunter, guided by the dog's persistent and excited baking’s soon located the mouth of the cave. On entering, he gasped with surprise, because before his very eyes was the icon of Virgin Mary which was soon to become famous all over the island. It appears that during the persecutions of the Christians in the 8th and 9th century A.D. some Christians carefully selected this cave to serve as a hiding place for the Virgin Mary of Agia Napa, which was later shortened to Agia Napa. The inhabitants of the neighbouring villages, in honour of Virgin Mary, conducted liturgies in the cave itself. This location continued to be inhabited until the 15th century. Tradition has it that when this location became renowned and important as a holy shrine, it attracted the attention of a young, noble lady from Venice who then lived in famagusta. Her father had strictly forbidden her to marry the man she loved on the pretext that he was a commoner and so she left home and found refuge in Agia Napa. She soon had a church and some monastic cells built and in this way the monastery came into being. The present monastery was built around 1500 but inside the church there is a cave, which suggests it, may have been used as a place of worship in a much earlier period. During the latter part of the Venetian rule (1489-1570) the monastery became quite famous, acquired extensive wealth and even survived the persecutions by the Turks during the Ottoman rule.

From the very first moment, the visitor to Ayia Napa feels a sense of belonging, at home in this welcoming environment. Here, Cypriot hospitality is an accepted part of everyday life.

Louisbourg Lighthouse

Louisbourg Lighthouse is a historic Canadian lighthouse at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, and is the site of the first lighthouse in Canada. Construction began on the lighthouse in 1730 to assist navigation to Fortress Louisbourg. It was completed in 1734. A fire in 1736 destroyed the lantern but the stone tower was unharmed and a new lantern was installed in 1738. Lighthouse Point played a decisive role in both sieges of Fortress Louisbourg as, once captured, it provided a commanding gun battery location to bombard the fortress. This lighthouse was badly damaged in 1758 during the Final Siege of Louisbourg and abandoned by the British after they demolished the fortress. Stonework ruins from the first tower are still visible at the site. The government of Nova Scotia in 1842 built a square wooden lighthouse with a black stripe. The lighthouse was a large 2 ¹⁄₂-story wooden building supported by a massive masonry base. It included the keeper's dwelling in the base of the light. A foghorn building was added in 1902. This lighthouse was destroyed by fire in 1922. The foundation remains visible today and has been excavated and stabilized by Parks Canada archaeologists.

The lighthouse today. An octagonal concrete lighthouse decorated with neoclassical architectural features was built in 1923. The tower is a twin of the Georges Island Lighthouse in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Louisbourg lighthouse was destaffed in 1990. The lighthouse is a popular look off point and in 2008 became the start of a coastal walking trail. Interpretive plaques mark the ruins of the previous lighthouses.

Muchalls

Muchalls is a small coastal ex-fishing village in Kincardineshire, Scotland, south of Newtonhill and north of Stonehaven.

Muchalls is situated slightly north of a smaller hamlet known as the Bridge of Muchalls. At the western edge of Muchalls is the historic Saint Ternan's Church. The rugged North Sea coastline near Muchalls features numerous cliffs, sea stacks and headlands, not infrequently in haar. The Grim Brigs headland is situated at Muchalls southern edge and Doonie Point headland is approximately 1.5 kilometres south.

Charles Dickens visited Muchalls in its heyday as a Victorian resort and declared that Muchalls was a remarkably beautiful place. Footage was recorded in Muchalls for the 1990 film Hamlet. Muchalls is the birthplace of Richard Henry Brunton considered the father of Japanese lighthouses.

Muchalls is situated slightly to the east of the ancient Causey Mounth trackway, which was constructed on high ground to make passable this only available medieval route from coastal points south from Stonehaven to Aberdeen. This ancient passage specifically connected the River Dee crossing (where the present Bridge of Dee is situated) via Gillybrands, Muchalls Castle and Stonehaven to the south. The route was that taken by William Keith, 7th Earl Marischal and the Marquess of Montrose when they led a Covenanter army of 9000 men in the battle of the Civil War in 1639. From Muchalls Castle to the sea is a secret cave about one mile long which smugglers once used. The cave is said to be haunted by the green lady. The cave has been boarded up at the castle end and at the sea and (near the bridge of Muchalls) it has collapsed just below the railway line. Brenda sent me this lovely card.

Povorotni Lighthouse

Povorotni Lighthouse is located in the Russian mainland in the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. It is interesting to note that a similarly named lighthouse exists on the Far Eastern Rusian coast on the Primorski Krai. Maria sent me this pretty card.

Inukshuk

The English Bay Inukshuk is a popular attraction. Located off the popular Vancouver Seawall, This simple yet stunning piece of art identifies with the Canadian land it has been built on. Sitting on the edge of a small peninsula with a circular walking path with the Burrard Inlet, Cascade Mountain range and ocean lines behind, it is a picturesque and popular site no matter the weather or time of day as the Inukshuk is lit up at night. Hundreds of tourists a day have their photo taken with this iconic Vancouver art piece and it was the symbol for the 2010 Winter Games.One of the most iconic Canadian images in the last decade has become the inuksuk, which can be seen coast to coast on road sides, as art forms and in Vancouver's case, as a two story granite sculpture on a small jetty by English Bay created by artisan Alvin Kanak from the North West Territories in 1987 as a gift for the World Expo.

The history behind the Inukshuk is its use in the northern region of Canada where these built forms are used as a point of reference, or navigation, necessary since in the winter months pathways are indistinguishable and the landscape all appears the same. These stone 'signposts' mark hunting grounds and directions to settlements. Traditional Inukshuk however, are not built in the shape of a person, the figures that appear human like are usually refered to as inunnguaq.

The inukshuk is a familiar image as it was the chosen symbol for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is called 'Ilanaaq', the Inuktitut interpretation for the word: 'friend'.

Linda sent me this lovely card.

Speyer Cathedral

Speyer (formerly known as Spires in English) is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities. The first known names were Noviomagus and Civitas Nemetum, after the Teutonic tribe, Nemetes, settled in the area. Around the year 500 the name Spira first appeared in written documents. Spire, Spira, and Espira are still names used for Speyer in the French, Italian, and Spanish languages. Speyer is dominated by the Speyer Cathedral, a number of churches and the Altportal (old gate). In the cathedral, beneath the high altar, are the tombs of eight Holy Roman emperors and German kings.

The Speyer Cathedral, officially the Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St Stephen, in Latin: Domus sanctae Mariae Spirae (German: Dom zu Unserer lieben Frau in Speyer) in Speyer, Germany, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Speyer and is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Bamberg. The cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Mary, patron saint of Speyer ("Patrona Spirensis") and St. Stephen is generally known as Kaiserdom zu Speyer (Imperial Cathedral of Speyer). Pope Pius XI raised Speyer Cathedral to the rank of a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church in 1925.

Begun in 1030 under Conrad II, the imposing triple-aisled vaulted basilica of red sandstone is the "culmination of a design which was extremely influential in the subsequent development of Romanesque architecture during the 11th and 12th centuries". As the burial site for Salian, Staufer and Habsburg emperors and kings the cathedral is regarded as a symbol of imperial power. With the Abbey of Cluny in ruins, it remains the largest Romanesque church. It is considered to be "a turning point in European architecture", one of the most important architectural monuments of its time and one of the finest Romanesque monuments. Speyer Cathedral, a basilica with four towers and two domes, was founded by Conrad II in 1030 and remodelled at the end of the 11th century. It is one of the most important Romanesque monuments from the time of the Holy Roman Empire. The cathedral was the burial place of the German emperors for almost 300 years.

In 1981, the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites as "a major monument of Romanesque art in the German Empire". Sabine of Ludwigshafen sent this nice painting of the Cathedral to me.

Clogs from Holland

A clog is a type of footwear made in part or completely from wood. Clogs are used worldwide and although the form may vary by culture, within a culture the form often remained unchanged for centuries. Traditional clogs were often worn in heavy labor. Today they remain in use as protective clothing in agriculture and in some factories and mines. Although clogs are sometimes negatively associated with cheap and folkloric footwear of farmers and the working class, some types of clogs are considered as fashion wear today, such as Swedish clogs or Japanese geta. Clogs are also used in several different styles of dance. When worn for dancing an important feature is the sound of the clog against the floor. This is one of the fundamental roots of tap, but with the tap shoes the taps are free to click against each other and produce different sound to clogs.

Wooden shoes have been popular in the Netherlands for about 700 years. Wooden shoe wearers claim the shoes are warm in winter, cool in summer and provide support for good posture. The wood also absorbs perspiration so that the foot can breathe. Wooden shoes, as icons of Dutch culture, appear in customs such as the practice of young Dutch men presenting their fiancees with a pair of carved wooden shoes. In Holland, wooden shoes are worn by farmers, fishermen, factory workers, artisans and others to protect their feet. Nails, fishing hooks and sharp implements that might pierce a regular boot will not go through a wooden shoe. On boats and docks and in muddy fields, wooden shoes also keep feet dry. This pretty pair of clogs were sent to me by Judith from the North of Holland.

Earthmoving Vehicles

BelAZ is a Belarusian manufacturer of haulage and earthmoving equipment such as the one shown on the card. It is located at Zhodzina. The factory opened its doors in 1948 and has produced over 120,000 vehicles for use in the erstwhile Soviet Union. BELAZ is a site for one of the largest Commonwealth of Independent States investment projects. The factory finalized two of the three scheduled phases of the technical re-equipment and upgrades. The Quality Management System applied in research and development, fabrication, erection and after-sale service of the equipment complies with international ISO 9000 standards.

The range of business applications of these companies is as broad as the list of their partners and geography of supplies and deliveries. They supply quarry equipment, communal machinery and passenger transport, provide technical service and transportation of raw materials. The companies this group comprise of the dealers of such leaders of heavy engineering industry as BELAZ, MAZ, BELKOMMUNMASH, KOMMMASH, LINCOLN etc. The client base of CBS GROUP includes such major cement manufacturers as Holcim, Heidelbergcement, Cemex and Lafarge. They assisted their partners in building the large power stations in the Pamirs, extracting alumina in Africa, building roads in Cuba and mining coal in Kuzbass. Olga from Gomal in Belarus sent me this card.

Lady Suranari – The Brave Lady

Thao Suranari is the title of Lady Mo, (also known as Ya Mo (1771–1852), who was the wife of the deputy governor of Nakhon Ratchasima, the stronghold for Siamese control over its Laotian vassals, at the time of the Vientiane King Anouvong's attack on Korat in 1826. Anuvong's forces seized the town and evacuated the town's inhabitants. Lady Mo is credited as the leader who saved the city by harassing the invading force. Varying stories describe her plot of getting the invading soldiers drunk, or leading a rebellion of captured prisoners on the route back to Vientiane. Consequently Lao troops were dispersed, and forced to retreat quickly. Eventually, Bangkok sent troops led by General Sing Singhaseni who defeated Anuvong with the total destruction of Vientiane. The Title Thao Suranari (or Lady Suranari – The Brave Lady) was awarded to her by King Rama III in recognition for her bravery.

A statue of Thao Suranari stands in the centre of Nakhon Ratchasima city, and is a popular object of devotion, while a festival in her honour is held in the city at the end of March and the beginning of April each year. The statue was designed by Phra Thewaphinimmit (1888–1942) and sculpted by Silpa Bhirasri. Bhirasri's was an Italian, whose real name was Corrado Feroci. Feroci came to Thailand in 1923, upon invitation to teach art. His name was changed to Bhirasri after Italy surrendered to that Allies during WWII. This was done to avoid arrest by the Japanese forces which occupied Thailand the time. The Thao Suranari statue was erected next to the Chumphon gate on January 15, 1934.

Thao Suranari Monument is a memorial by locals, and was built in 1933. The local people come from other provinces as well to pay homage here and ask for blessings. Amiley sent me this nice card.

A Girl outside the Window on a Rainy Day.

A lovely picture postcard sent to me by Wu Wei Yi from Taiwan. And Wow! just look at those lovely stamps on the card.

Lighthouse at Thy

A lighthouse built with logs at Thy in Denmark.

St. George Reef Light

Maria sent me this nice lighthouse picture postcard. The St. George Reef Light is an inactive lighthouse located six miles (10 km) off the coast of northern California near Crescent City. A rare wave-washed sentinel where the ocean hits from all sides, its beacon and fog signal warned ships of the nearby treacherous rocks and reefs. The light's location was selected because the area had a history of serious maritime accidents and its construction was a direct result of the wreck in 1865 of the Brother Jonathan. However, this site, battered by stormy waters, presented challenges to the designer as well as hazardous conditions for construction workers and, later, for lightkeepers. Unlike the typical lighthouse design by federal architect Ammi B. Young, which consisted of a separate keeper's cottage and light tower, the living quarters and light tower at St. George Reef Light were housed in the same medieval fortress-like structure on top of a 50-foot (15 m) high foundation.

The light was first illuminated on October 20, 1892. It stands 144 feet (44 m) above the waterline. The first complete survey of the rock was done in 1882, and construction began in 1883, with the blasting of the rock into a stepped pyramid to form the core that anchored the caisson to the rock. Construction was erratic for several years due to lack of funds allotted by Congress. Work was finally completed in 1891, but the lighthouse awaited arrival of its lens from France until the following year. When the light finally became operational in 1892, the total construction expense came to $752,000- making it the most expensive lighthouse ever built in the US and more than double the initial estimate.

Paphos Lighthouse

The Paphos Lighthouse can be seen from all over Paphos. It can easily be accessed by visiting the Paphos Archaeological centre in Paphos. The Lighthouse is only a few metres away from the Odeon and so you can take some good pictures from the top of the lighthouse if you are fit enough to climb up to the top. The lighthouse is not the cleanest of places inside and it smells of bird feces and climbing to the top will not be possible for everyone, due to the difficulty of climbing the stairs. From the top of the lighthouse you can see some fantastic views.

Alderney Lighthouse

The Alderney Lighthouse (also known as Mannez Lighthouse) is a stone lighthouse built on the North-East coast of the island of Alderney. It was constructed in 1912 to protect shipping from the dangerous waters of the Alderney Race and the numerous rocks surrounding Alderney.

The Alderney Lighthouse was constructed from granite in 1912 under the guidance of local businessman William Baron. It was electrified in 1976, and automated in 1997, when the last resident lighthouse keeper left. Before its construction there were several notable wrecks off Alderney, including the Leros. It still functions as a lighthouse, but is open for guided tours during the summer months when it is linked with the rest of the island by the Alderney Railway.

In March 2011 the lighthouse was downgraded. The light reduced from 24hrs with a 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) range to dark hours only with a 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi). This downgrade meant that the main beam was switched off, the lens shrouded and the light pulse now provided by a pair of LED lamps fixed to the sides of the tower. The fog signal was stopped at the same time. Thank you Maria for this nice card.

Lighthouse on Vesterålen

This picture is of one of the lighthouses of the Vesterålen (Western Islands) District of Nordland County, located off the north-western coast of Norway just to the north of the Lofoten Islands. (The Vesterålen also extends northeastward across the border into Troms Count. Located entirely north of the Arctic Circle, the mountainous islands have a stunning beauty and attract many visitors. The major islands are connected to each other and to the mainland by bridges. Thank you Maria for this nice card.

Finnish Frigate Osmo

This pretty picture was painted by the famous artist John Sychold.

Bugs Bunny

I was just thinking of posting something which would make all of us laugh a little, when the postman came to the rescue with this delightful card. Bugs Bunny is an American animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic grey hare or rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most notably the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of theatrical short films. His popularity there led to his becoming a corporate mascot of the Warner Bros. Company. Bugs has appeared in more films than any other cartoon character and is the ninth most portrayed film personality in the world.
According to Bugs Bunny: 50 Years and Only One Grey Hare, Bugs was born on July 27, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York in a warren under Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In reality, he was created by many animators and staff, including Tex Avery, who directed A Wild Hare, Bugs' debut role, and Robert McKimson, who created the definitive "Bugs Bunny" character design. According to Mel Blanc, the character's original voice actor, Bugs has a Flatbush accent. Bugs has had numerous catchphrases, the most prominent being a casual "Eh... What's up, doc?” usually said while chewing a carrot. Thank you Barb for starting my day with Good Ole Bugs!

The Kykkos Monastery

The Holy, Royal and Stavropegic Monastery of Kykkos, is located 20 km west of Pedoulas, and is one of the wealthiest and best-known monasteries in Cyprus.

The Holy Monastery of the Virgin of Kykkos was founded around the end of the 11th century by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081 - 1118). The monastery lies at an altitude of 1318 meters on the northwest face of Troödos Mountains. There are no remains of the original monastery as it was burned down many times. The first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III started his ecclesiastical career there as a monk in 1926. He remained fond of the place and returned there many times. His request to be buried there materialised after his death in 1977. His tomb lies 3 km west of Kykkos monastery and remains a popular tourist destination. Merja gave me this nice maxi card.