Belarus – Mir Castle

Mir Castle is a unique monument of Belarusian architecture, it was built by duke Ilinich in early 16th century near village Mir (Grodno Region) instead of wooden feudal farmstead, which existed there in 15th century. This is a square-planned building with towers at the corners. The fifth tower had a drawbridge and a forged grille chersa which could urgently stop a sudden attack. The castle was well adapted for gunshot defense. Its walls had two rows of loop-holes, and its towers were intended for heavy cannon shooting from them. The basis of the volumetric castle's composition is its high towers which jut out beyond the wall-line. All of them have the same structure - tetrahedral core with octahedral top, but they differently decorated which gives original decorative value and beauty to the castle. Since 1568 the Mir Castle was owned by Dukes Radziwils, who finished its building in Renaissance style. A three-storied palace was built along the eastern and northern walls. Its plastered facades were decorated with lime-stone portals, plates, balconies and porches. During excavations they collected a lot of glazed tiles with vegetable and geometrical ornaments, and coats of arms of the castle's owners. Earth walls were made around the castle with bastions at the corners; a water moat surround them. To the north of the walls an Italian garden was laid, to the south - an artificial lake. Despite numerous destruction's (the heaviest were during 1812 war) the Mir Castle survived till now; and at present it is being successfully restored. This monument is under UNESCO's auspices. This lovely card was sent to me by Maria.

Cyprus – Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a former American professional basketball player, active businessman, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. His biography on the National Basketball Association (NBA) website states, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.
After a standout career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Tar Heels' National Championship team in 1982, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line in slam dunk contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball. In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat". Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball at the beginning of the 1993–94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards. This cool maxicard from Cyprus was given to me by Merja.

Cyprus – The Green Line of Nicosia

The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus runs for more than 180.5 kilometres (112.2 mi) along what is known as the Green Line and has an area of 346 square kilometres (134 sq mi). The zone partitions the island of Cyprus into a southern area effectively controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus (which is the de jure government for the entire island save for the British Sovereign Base Areas), and the northern area controlled by the Turkish army. The term Green Line refers to the cease fire line that de facto divides the island nation of Cyprus into two, cutting through the capital of Nicosia. It was first established in 1964, when Major-General Peter Young was the commander of a "peace force", a predecessor of the present UNFICYP. After stationing his troops in different areas of Nicosia, the general drew a cease-fire line on a map with a dark green crayon, which was to become known as the "Green Line". The Green Line became impassable following the July 1974 invasion by Turkey which intervened by air, sea, and land, capturing approximately 8% of Cyprus territory in response to a short lived Greek Cypriot coup (Greek-inspired coup d'etat that sought to overthrow the government of President Makarios. Three days later, the coup was dissolved, and the elected government was re-established). When the coup dissolved, the Turkish Armed Forces advanced to capture approximately 37% of the island and meet the "Green Line". The meandering green line marks the southernmost points that the Turkish troops occupied during the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus in 16 August 1974. With the self-proclamation of the internationally unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Green Line became its de facto southern border.

This line is also referred to as the Attila Line on some maps, named after the Turkish code-name for the 1974 military intervention: Operation Atilla. The closed off zone has become a haven for Cyprus' wildlife, an example of an involuntary park. Traffic across the buffer zone was very limited until 2003, when the number of crossings and the rules governing them were relaxed. My Dear Friend Merja sent me this lovely card.

Moldova – King Petru Aron

Peter III Aaron, bastard son of Alexandru cel Bun, was a Voivode (Prince) of Moldavia on three separate occasions: October 1451 to February 1452, August 1454 to February 1455, and May 1455 to April 1457. The first two were during a civil war with Alexăndrel. Aron ascended to the throne after assassinating Bogdan II, while the latter was at a wedding in Rauseni. Immediately, his rule was challenged by Alexăndrel, whom Petru managed to defeat in March 1455, forcing Alexăndrel to take refuge in the fortress at Cetatea Albă. Petru confirmed his father's commercial privileges awarded to Polish traders in Moldavia, and took an oath of vassalage to King Casimir IV. In 1456, Petru agreed to pay the Ottomans a tribute of 2,000 gold ducats, in order to ensure his southern borders, thus becoming the first of the Moldavian rulers to accept the Turkish demands.

The real challenge to his throne came with Bogdan II's son Ştefan cel Mare. The young prince had been given the protection of Kingdom of Hungary captain-general John Hunyadi and, after John's death, that of Vlad III Dracula (Vlad Ţepeş) - the new Prince of Wallachia. According to the interpretation of the account in the Chronicle (Letopiseţ) of Putna, Vlad had offered Ştefan his full support for his venture. In April 1457, after two battles, Petru was deposed and had to flee, taking refuge first in Poland and then in Székelyföld. There, he played a part in increasing the tensions between Ştefan cel Mare and King Matthias Corvinus. Following Matthias's incursion and subsequent defeat at the Battle of Baia (December 15 1467), Petru was captured and executed.

Petru Aron issued new billon (is an alloy of a precious metal (most commonly silver, but also mercury) with a majority base metal content (such as copper). It is used chiefly for making coins, medals, and token coins.) and copper currency - on the grosh design but struck in better silver, probably as a part of a reform in monetary standards. My Dear friend Leisea sent me this nice maxi card.

Cyprus – Euro Coins

A slight digression from postcards. But, I just could not stop myself from sharing these beautiful coins with you. I am sure numismatists would appreciate it. Beautifull FRESH and NEW UNCIRCULATED coins from the original rolls in 2008. This is official and original legal money within the euro-zone! Issued by Cyprus the New Euro Country in 2008 - Brand New 8 Coins Euro Set, presented to me by my Dear Friend Merja. The coins are displayed here, both sides showing. The description of the Coins in brief is as follows:-

The Mouflon : a subspecies group of the wild sheep Ovis orientalis . Populations of Ovis orientalis can be partitioned into the mouflons ( orientalis group) and urials or arkars. The Kyrenia ship: a wreck of a 4th century BC Greek merchant ship that sank in open waters less than a mile from the anchorage of Kyrenia .The Idol of Pomos: a prehistoric sculpture from the Cypriot Village of Pomos. It dates back to the Chalcolithic period, circa the 30th Century BC .
€ 0.01€ 0.02 € 0.05 The Mouflon € 0.10 € 0.20 € 0.50 The Kyrenia ship
€ 1.00 € 2.00 The Idol of Pomos

Singapore - Philatelic Museum

The Singapore Philatelic Museum is a museum about the postal history of Singapore and its stamps. The museum, located at 23-B Coleman Street in Singapore, was formerly part of the Anglo-Chinese School, completed in 1906. In the 1970s, the building became the Methodist Book Room until it was restored to become the present museum. Singapore Philatelic Museum opened on 19 August 1995 to promote interest in and the appreciation of Singapore's history and heritage in philately. Besides the permanent galleries, the theme galleries offer a host of changing exhibitions throughout the year. These include displays from the private collections of renowned philatelists, travelling exhibitions from overseas and themed exhibitions to commemorate new stamp issues. The museum has a stamp shop, and is popular with stamp collectors. There are files where visitors can inspect all of the Republic of Singapore stamps issued. Also on exhibit is a German forgery of a British postage stamp printed during World War II which intentionally has a printing error which mocks King George VI.
Shashi and I visited this fantastic Museum on 26^th April 2011. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Any and Every tourist to Singapore should unfailingly include it in his, her or their tour itinerary. You will never regret it. Shashi even posted this special card from there for me, with the special postmark of the Day.

Montenegro - Maritime Museum of Kotor Montenegro

The rich maritime history of the Boka Kotorska and Montenegro is best seen in the buildings and among the collections of the well-known Maritime Museum of Kotor. Along with numerous historic manuscripts and exhibits, of great interest to visitors are the scale models of old ships and boats. Brave seamen sailed over the world in such ships. This is well illustrated on this card sent to me by Karoly Bunyik. Their portraits, picture of ships, a multitude of photographs, parts and instruments of old ships bear witness to the development of maritime navigation and make this collection unique in the world. In this museum the curious visitor may familiarise himself with the history of the many centuries of tradition of the famous Boka Navy.