Austria: Vienna

On Wednesday I got two postcards: one from Austria and one from Hong Kong.

The card from Austria shows various views of Vienna. Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria and one of its nine States. It is also the second largest German-speaking city and the seventh largest city of the European Union. One of the four major UN office sites is located in the Vienna International Centre. The Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is since 1996 on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Vienna's Historic Centre followed 2001.

The card was signed during the Postcrossing Meet-up in Vienna.
Stamp:
Postcrossing (issued 21-05-2016)

Thank You very much Thomas!

Hong Kong: Golden Bauhinia Square

On Wednesday I got two postcards: one from Hong Kong and one from Austria.

The card from Hong Kong shows the Golden Bauhinia Square. The Golden Bauhinia Square is a public area named after the giant statue of a golden Bauhinia blakeana, the flower on Hong Kong's flag. It is located outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the ceremonies for the handover of Hong Kong and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region were held in July 1997. Every day a flag is raised ceremonially on the square. 

Stamps:
Hong Kong Hiking Trails (from set of twelve) (issued 13-10-2016)
Definitives (three from set of sixteen) (issued 24-07-2014)

Thank You very much Phoebe!

My Trip to Hildesheim

On Tuesday I was in Hildesheim and there I bought some cards for my collection.

The Hildesheim Cathedral Museum is the treasury and diocesan museum of the Diocese of Hildesheim. It shows artifacts from thousand years of church and art history. After five years of renovation the museum was reopened in April 2015. 

The Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim is an archaeological museum. It houses important collections of Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Peruvian art and the second largest collection of Chinese porcelain in Europe.

The Church of Saint Andrew's is one of the main churches of Hildesheim. It has the tallest church tower in Lower Saxony. It was the first Lutheran church in Hildesheim and in 1542 Johannes Bugenhagen preached there. In 1995 the Bugenhagen Fountain was placed in front of the church.

At the Saint Michael's Church I was able to buy a special cover celebrating the 1000th anniversary of the church from 2010.

Russia: Saint Michael's Castle in Saint Petersburg

On Monday I got two postcards: one from Russia and one from Germany.

The card from Russia shows the Saint Michael's Castle in Saint Petersburg. The Saint Michael's Castle was built between 1797 and 1801 as a residence for Emperor Paul I. It was built in a combination of French Classicism, Italian Renaissance and Gothic. Due to his fascination with medieval knights and his constant fear of assassination Paul I ordered the new royal residence to be built like a castle, but ironically he was killed in his own bedroom just 40 nights after he moved to his new residence. Today the Saint Michael's Castle houses the Portrait Gallery of the Russian Museum.

With a matching stamp:
Kaluga Oblast (issued 30-11-2011)
EUROPA (issued 15-03-2017)

Thank You very much Olga!

Germany: University of Leipzig

On Monday I got two postcards: one from Germany and one from Russia.

The card from Germany shows the Paulinum of the University of Leipzig. The University of Leipzig was founded in 1409 and is thus the second oldest university in Germany. Famous former students include Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Angela Merkel. 

Stamp:
100 years of the Monument to the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig (issued 10-10-2013)

Thank You very much Mariel!

covers from Monaco

On Monday I got not only two postcards but also two covers from Monaco.

Stamps:

Centenary of the Battle of Chemin des Dames (issued 10-03-2017)

The Battle of Chemin des Dames, also known as Second Battle of the Aisne, was fought between the German Empire and France in April and May 1917. The battle began as part of a meticulously planned Franco-British offensive, but had to be abandoned after many French divisions mutinied and ended with a tactical victory of the German Empire.

Prince Louis II of Monaco volunteered to serve in the French Army in August 1914 and also fought in the Battle of Chemin des Dames.

with First Day Special Postmark

International Dog Show (issued 27-02-2017)

Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival (issued 03-01-2017)

The stamp is embossed. 

with a special postmark from the Salon Philatélique de Printemps in Paris

Legendary F1 Drivers - James Hunt (whole set) (issued 08-03-2017)

with First Day Special Postmark

Stamps:
Legendary Race Cars (issued 08-03-2017)
with a special postmark from the Salon Philatélique de Printemps in Paris
Bicentenary of the Palace Guards Corps (issued 10-03-2017)
The stamp sparkles.
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much William!

Czech Republic: Archdiocesan Museum of Olomouc

On Saturday I got a postcard from the Czech Republic.

It shows the Archdiocesan Museum of Olomouc. The Archdiocesan Museum of Olomouc preserves and shows the works of art of the Olomouc Archdiocese. Its collection represent thousand years of Moravian culture and its picture collection is the second largest in the Czech Republic. It was also one of the first museums in the Czech Republic with a lecturing department. In 2015 the Olomouc Premyslid Castle and Archdiocesan Museum got the European Heritage Label.

Stamp:
150 Years Alfons Mucha (from set of two) (issued 26-05-2010)

Thank You very much Eva!

Eva also sent me a cover which included more cards of the Archdiocesan Museum of Olomouc and two other cards about the European Heritage Label.

cover from France

On Saturday I got not only a postcard but also a cover from France.

Stamps:

Marianne 0,05€

Salon Philatélique de Printemps in Belfort (issued 04-04-2016)

with a special postmark from the philatelic shop in Boulogne-sur-Mer

Inside were two French FDCs.

55 Years of the Algeria Ceasefire (issued 15-03-2017)

Law on trade and industry credit (issued 13-03-2017)

Thank You very much William!

My Trip to Helmstedt

On Saturday I was in Helmstedt and there I bought some cards for my collection.

Helmstedt is a town in eastern Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt and was once a member of the Hanseatic League. 

In 1576 the first Protestant university of the northern Holy Roman Empire and first university of the Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was founded in Helmstedt. It soon became one of the largest universities in Germany. The university's main building, the Juleum, is a major example of the Weser Renaissance style. In 1810 the university was closed. The Juleum now houses the District and University Museum of Helmstedt.

In the 20th century Helmstedt was located near the most important border crossing between East and West Germany. The Zone Border Museum collects documents about the history of the border in the District of Helmstedt.

Italy: Palace of Caserta

On Friday I got three postcards: one from Italy, one from Serbia and one from Canada.

The card from Italy shows the Palace of Caserta. The Palace of Caserta is a Baroque palace constructed in the 18th century by the Bourbon Kings of Naples. It is one of the largest palaces in the World. The palace is a popular filming location, for example parts of Star Wars Episode I and II were filmed there. Since 1997 is the Palace of Caserta on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Italian Mail (from set of three) (issued 01-07-2010)
140 years Corriere della Sera (issued 05-03-2016)

Thank You very much Giulia!

Canada: Dawson City

On Friday I got three postcards: one from Canada, one from Italy and one from Serbia.

The card from Canada shows Dawson City in winter. Dawson City is the second largest city in the Yukon Territory and was until 1953 its capital. In the late 19th century it was the centre of the Klondike Gold Rush. It seeks for the inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Update: Since 2023 is Tr’ondëk-Klondike on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Dinosaurs (from set of five) (issued 13-04-2015)
The stamp is foiled.
Year of the Rooster (from set of two) (issued 09-01-2017)
UNESCO World Heritage (from set of five) (issued 16-01-2017)

Thank You very much Joanna!