Sister Mountain

Sister Mountain one of the many picturesque peaks in the Far East of Russia, namely in the Primorye. It is very popular amongst tourists. The stark volcanic top emerges from the autumnal colours of the sides of the mountain. Thank you Sveta for this lovely card.

Asian black bear

The Asian black bear, also known as the moon bear or white-chested bear, is a medium-sized species of bear, largely adapted for arboreal life, seen across much of the Himalayas and the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent, Korea, northeastern China, the Russian far east and the Honshu and Shikoku islands of Japan. It is classed by the IUCN as a vulnerable species, mostly due to deforestation and active hunting for its body parts. The species is morphologically very similar to some prehistoric bears, and is thought by some scientists to be the ancestor of other extant bear species. Though largely herbivorous, Asian black bears can be very aggressive toward humans, and have frequently attacked people without provocation. The species was described by Rudyard Kipling as "the most bizarre of the ursine species." But, the little fellow on the card seems to be more interested in tree climbing. Thank you once again Sveta.

Old Ironsides - USS Constitution

USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. Launched in 1797, Constitution was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. Built in Boston, Massachusetts, at Edmund Hartt's shipyard, her first duties with the newly formed United States Navy were to provide protection for American merchant shipping during theQuasi-War with France and to defeat the Barbary pirates in the First Barbary War.

Constitution is most famous for her actions during the War of 1812 against Great Britain, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane and Levant. The battle with Guerriere earned her the nickname of "Old Ironsides" and public adoration that has repeatedly saved her from scrapping. She continued to actively serve the nation as flagship in the Mediterranean and African squadrons, and circled the world in the 1840s. Retired from active service in 1881, she served as a receiving ship until designated a museum ship in 1907 and in 1934 she completed a three-year, 90-port tour of the nation. Constitution sailed under her own power for her 200th birthday in 1997, and again in August 2012, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her victory over Guerriere.

Constitution's stated mission today is to promote understanding of the Navy’s role in war and peace through educational outreach, historic demonstration, and active participation in public events. As a fully commissioned US Navy ship, her crew of 60 officers and sailors participate in ceremonies, educational programs, and special events while keeping the ship open to visitors year round and providing free tours. The officers and crew are all active-duty US Navy personnel and the assignment is considered special duty in the Navy. Traditionally, command of the vessel is assigned to a Navy Commander. She is berthed at Pier 1 of the former Charlestown Navy Yard, at one end of Boston's Freedom Trail. Thank you Charli for this lovely card.

Minsk - Upper Town

Minsk is the capital and largest city of Belarus, situated on the Svislač and Niamiha rivers. It is the administrative centre of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). As the national capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administrative centre of Minsk Region (voblast) and Minsk raion (district). In 2009, it had a population of 1,836,808.

The card shows a nice view of Upper Town of Minsk, with Svislach River in the foreground and the main churches.

Minsk’s Upper Town is “Where Angels Fear to Tread” is popularly believed.  Minsk’s few remaining historic buildings cluster around the handful of surviving churches that cling grimly to the small hill in the center of the old town that seems to have protected them just as well from the architectural purges of Stalin as it once did from the seasonal floods of the Svisloch River. The architecturally anomalous Holy Spirit Cathedral and its attached monastery complex dominate all with a unique Vilna-Baroque façade and a prime position on the very summit of the upper town. Equally worth looking out for are the Virgin Mary Catholic Church with its attached former Jesuit College and the heavily fortified Saints Peter and Paul Church that was once built into the city wall.Finally remember to drop by the reconstructed Town Hall for a quick look into the city’s somewhat glorious past and it’s hopefully glorious future.  My friend Larissa from Minsk sent me this nice card.

Turku Föri

A truly unique city ferry serves the Aura River, taking passengers from Turku to Åbo and back again in just a few minutes.

Föri (comes from the Swedish word färja) is a light traffic ferry that has served the Aura River for over a hundred years, first taking passengers in 1904. Beloved by Turku citizens, the little orange ferry runs nonstop back and forth across the Aura River approximately 500 metres after the last bridge heading toward the mouth of the river.This card was made specially for the Turku Stamp Club. It depicts the "Föri " of Turku. The stamp on the card (shown) is a customised stamp, also designed for the Turku Stamp Club.

 
Föri takes around a minute and a half to cross the river and starts back when the passengers have been replaced with new ones. Hop aboard – it's free! Thank you Pia, I will, very soon!

Sausages on Hot Stones

'Makkarra', or sausages, which for instance can be cooked on the hot stones in the sauna are very popular in Finland.  Nakkimakkara or literary knock-sausage is popular and pretty much the same as wiener-sausage or frankfurter.

Sausage in natural casing, especially suitable for barbecuing/grilling. Regular barbecue sausages are mainly made with pork, but also a variety of other meats may be used, like chicken, reindeer, salmon,etc. Besides using various meats, the sausage meat may be flavoured with different spices, herbs, peppers, cheese, etc. Nowadays also vegetarian "sausages" are available for grilling. Barbecue sausages are popular "junk food" in Finland, especially in summertime when outdoor grilling is widely practised.

After a sauna session, there’s a customary light meal of sausages (like the one shown on this card sent by Merja), beer and soft drinks, or coffee and pastries.   Tourists might gain a deep understanding of how integral, even holy, the sauna experience is to Finns, whose humour and easy-going charm practically guarantee a fun evening.

Lake Baikal

My friend Tatiana from Irkutsk sent me this card with a view of the famous Baikal. 

Lake Baikal meaning "rich lake" is the world's oldest lake, at 25 million years (possibly older), and deepest, averaging 744.4 m (2,442 ft).

Located in the south of the Russian region of Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast, it is the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world, containing roughly 20% of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water.

At 1,642 m (5,387 ft), Lake Baikal is the deepest and among the clearest of all lakes in the world. Similar to Lake Tanganyika, Lake Baikal was formed as an ancient rift valley, having the typical long crescent shape with a surface area of 31,722 km² (12,248 sq mi). Baikal is home to more than 1,700 species of plants and animals, two thirds of which can be found nowhere else in the world and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It is also home to Buryat tribes who reside on the eastern side of Lake Baikal, rearing goats, camels, cattle and sheep, where the regional average temperatures vary from a minimum of−19 °C (−2 °F) in winter to maximum of 14 °C (57 °F) in summer. Lake Baikal is nicknamed "Older sister of Sister Lakes (Lake Khövsgöl and Lake Baikal)".