Australia- Land of contrast

Lovely postcard along lovely stamps, including one to commemorate the birth of Prince George, Cocos Islands and platypus! (remember you can click on the images to make them bigger)

Since there's so much to say about Australia, let's talk a little bit about each of it's regions:

• New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)

New South Wales is Australia's most populous state. The Harbour City of Sydney is Australia's largest city. The coast of New South Wales is lined with beach side communities, each one offering experiences for the traveller. A little inland are the mountain ranges of the Blue Mountains and Snowy Mountains, as well as the purpose built capital city of Canberra, excised from New South Wales. 

• Northern Territory 

From the red deserts surrounding Uluru and Alice Springs up to the tropics of Darwin and Kakadu National Park, the Northern Territory is stunningly beautiful, and easier to access than you might think.

• Queensland  

Famous for its sunny warm weather, Queensland offers coastal exploration from the vibe of the Gold Coast to the tropics of the Great Barrier Reef to the bustling city of Brisbane. It is also home to tropical rainforests of the Daintree National Park, and the island resorts of the Whitsundays.

• South Australia 

Renowned for the fine wines of the Barossa Valley, the beauty of the Flinders Ranges and the outback, the wildlife and nature on Kangaroo Island and the beaches and events and culture of the City of Churches, Adelaide.

• Tasmania 

Separated from the mainland by Bass Strait, Tasmania has rugged beauty of Cradle Mountain and the west, the beaches of the east, and the complete wilderness of the south. Hobart was the site of the second European settlement in Australia, and many historic sites are well preserved. 

• Victoria 

Small, vibrant and with something for everyone, Victoria has dramatic surf beaches along the southwest and central coast, green rolling farmland and photogenic national parks. The diversity of rural Victoria is very easy to access due in part to its size and well maintained roads. Australia and Victoria's sporting, shopping, fashion and food capital is Melbourne.

• Western Australia 

A vast state. The south-west contains the state capital and major city of Perth closely surrounded by the wildflower, wine growing and scenic destinations of Margaret River and Albany. In the far north are the tropics and the beach side destination of Broome. Small townships, roadhouses, mining communities and national parks scattered around the long distances between.

*Source 

Thank you Xue!

Guadeloupe

I really love this postcard because it's one of those "hard to get postcards from" places, also I had heard about this place before but I didn't knew anything about it so it gave me the chance to learn about a new place!

Guadeloupe, sometimes known as the Butterfly Island (French: I'ile Papillon), on account of the shape of two of its major islands, is a group of islands in the eastern Caribbean and is a French overseas department. It is located southeast of Puerto Rico. Rum production is a very integral part of Guadeloupe's economy.

Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands: 

• Basse Terre: green and lush vegetation, mountainous with a sulphuric volcano.
• Grande Terre: flat and dry with a lot of beaches, some of them very touristic.
• Marie Galante: the biggest island out of mainland Guadeloupe.
• Les Saintes (2): composed of Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas, one of the most beautiful bays.
• La Désirade: Natural and relatively untouched.
• Petite Terre: uninhabited and untamed.
• Saint Martin: the French part of Saint Martin adjacent to Sint Maarten, the Dutch part.
• Saint-Barthélemy: the jet set island.

*Source

Merci beaucoup Olga!

Berlin comic

First of all I want to thank all of those that keep visiting even tough all my last entries start with "I'll be updating soon" and I take ages to do so, I'm really sorry about that and I'll try harder to make some time for my blog!

In other news, we have here a really cool postcard from Berlin! I think this comic style is very cool and creative and on top o that we have a stamp with a Madonna, just lovely! 

Danke Yvonne!

Happy World Post Day!

World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in the Swiss capital, Berne. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969. 

The purpose of World Post Day is to create awareness of the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries. The celebration encourages member countries to undertake programme activities aimed at generating a broader awareness of their Post’s role and activities among the public and media on a national scale.

Every year, more than 150 countries celebrate World Post Day in a variety of ways.

UPU's website 

And even though I haven't been updating as much as I'd like to I couldn't let this day go by without not writing anything and since it's a celebration day for us snail-mail lovers I will be having a little contest in the following days, so keep tuned to participate and win written and stamped cards from Mexico! 

Le pain au naturel

Another lovely card for the collection, I just can't stop looking that ship stamp that eventually has turned into one of my all time favorites! 

We have:

*Fougasse aux lardons 

*Mini-pains au pavot et mini-pains au sésame 

*Couronne 

*Marchand de bière 

*Panière 

*Ficelle aux céréales 

*Tourte 

*Pain aux céréales 

*Ficelle au pavot

*Ficelle au sésame 

*Ficelle nature 

*Mini-pain au levain

*Mini-pain rustique 

*Mini-pain aux céréales 

*Ficelles gourmandes aux olives et aux lardons 

*Pain aux raisins 

*Pain aux noix 

*Pain aux olives

*Pain auvergnat 

*Saint-Jean

*Pain au levain

*Pain au basilic 

*Pain de mie 

*Pain intégral

*Sel de Guérande 

Danke Birgit! 

Athens

Greek stamps are awesome!

The Greek capital is undergoing a radical period of urban renewal that did not stop with the 2004 Olympics. The magnificent Acropolis, crowned by the iconic Parthenon temple, rises above the city, watching the sprawling modern metropolis evolve. Athens is now a conspicuously wealthier, more sophisticated cosmopolitan city. The shift is evident in a gradual gentrification and the new art and leisure precincts around town, and in the lifestyles of the hedonistic, trend-conscious Athenians. Stylish new restaurants, shops and revamped hotels continue to open.

Perhaps the most significant change is in the historic centre, virtually unrecognisable since cars were banished, with most significant ancient sites linked in what has become Europe’s longest and arguably most stunning pedestrian promenade. This huge archaeological park has reconciled past and present, with the city’s cultural and social life once again taking place around the ancient monuments and surrounding neighborhoods.

It is the oldest city in Europe, yet still in a state of transition. 

Most visitors will leave impressed with its vibrant street life and relaxed lifestyle, where people take time out for endless coffees and evening strolls, dine out until late and enjoy the city’s nightlife, long after the rest of Europe has gone to bed. 

*Source

Ευχαριστώ (efharisto) Elena!