Germany: Hanover Adventure Zoo

Yesterday I got two postcards from Germany. One of them comes from Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony. I sent the card to me when I was there.
The card shows a polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in the "Hanover Adventure Zoo". The zoo was opened in 1865 and in the 1990s the zoo was modernised with new natural compounds. The zoo is now divided in seven theme worlds (Zambezi, Gorilla Mountain, Yukon Bay, Jungle Palace, Outback, Mullewapp, Meyers Farm). The polar bear lives in Yukon Bay which is the latest theme world (opened 2010). It constitutes the Yukon Territory in Canada and domiciled the animals of the North.

Stamp:

"Fachwerkbauten in Deutschland" (from set of two) (issued 07-04-2011)



Germany: Frankfurt on the Main

Yesterday I got two postcards from Germany. One of them comes from Frankfurt on the Main. Frankfurt is the largest city in Hesse and the fifth largest city in Germany. Frankfurt is the seat of the European Central Bank and thus one of the four "capitals" of the European Union. It is a traffic junction, the train station is also junction and the airport belongs to "World's busiest airports by passenger traffic". Frankfurt is also important financial centre.

The card shows the skyline of Frankfurt. The office buildings belong to the highest in Europe. Therefore the city is sometimes called "Mainhattan".

With sweet children's book stamp:
Janosch-sailing boat (from set of two) (issued 01-03-2013)

Thank You very much Svea!

Russia: Kaliningrad

On Wednesday I got a postcard from Russia or more precisely from the Kaliningrad Oblast. The Kaliningrad Oblast is the easternmost place in Russia. The Oblast is also a exclave divided from the rest of Russia by Lithuania and Belarus. It is bordered by Lithuania, Poland and the Baltic Sea. It is also the headquarters of the Baltic Fleet.

The postcard shows sights in the administrative centre of Kaliningrad Oblast which is called Kaliningrad.

Stamp:
Russian Kremlins-Ryazan Kremlin (from set of twelve) (issued 01-10-2009)



Thank You very much Nastya!

Luxembourg: Luxembourg City

Yesterday I got my first postcard from Luxembourg.

Luxembourg (officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) is a landlocked country in Europe. It is bordered by Belgium, Germany and France. It is a Benelux country and a member of the EU, of the NATO and of the OECD.

The card shows the central station and the historic centre (since 1994 UNESCO World Heritage Site) of Luxembourg's capital Luxembourg (City). Luxembourg is the biggest city in Luxembourg and a important financial centre. The city is also the seat of the Court of Justice of the European Union and of the Court of Auditors and thus one of the four "capitals" of the European Union.

Stamp:

Eisch Valley (from set of two) (issued 16-03-2010)

(unfortunately without postmark)

Thank You very much Yvonne!

Second Blog!

Yesterday I started a second blog where I will show all complete stamp sets that I got through the week!

My stamp collection

Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek

Yesterday I got two postcards: one from Canada and my first card from Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It borders on China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Until 1991 it was a part of the Soviet Union.

The card shows the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. Bishkek is the cultural, ecological and political centre of the country. 

Stamps:
Chyngyz Aitmatov (from set of eight) (issued 13-08-2009)
and Definitives (issued 10-05-2008)

Thank You very much Alexander!

Canada: Rideau Canal

Yesterday I got two postcards: my first card from Kyrgyzstan and one from Canada. I wait over two mounths for the card from Canada! The card shows the Rideau Canal. The Rideau Canal was opened in 1832 and thus it is the oldest continously operated canal system in North America. It connects the city of Ottawa at the Ottawa River, Canada's capital, to the city of Kingston on Lake Ontario. Since 2007 it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

With nice Stamps:
Franklin the Turtle (whole set) (issued 11-05-2012)

Thank You very much Jess!

Russia: Surfing

On Friday I got a postcard from Russia showing a surfer. The card was in transit for nearly three months!

Stamp:

XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi (from set of three) (issued 03-10-2011)

(the skier is compiled so you can feel "him")

Thank You very much Elena!

cover from Kiel

On Thursday I got a cover from Germany with a postcard showing Schleswig-Holstein's capital Kiel inside.

Stamp:

Lighthouses-Büsum (from set of two) (issued 06-06-2013)

and an advertising seal for the Kiel Week.

Thank You very much Karen!

India: Taj Mahal in Agra

On Thursday I got my first postcard from India. The card shows the Taj Mahal in Agra. The Taj Mahal was erected by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666). It is a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (1593-1631). It was built between 1631 and 1648 by twenty thousand workmen. It is since 1983 a UNESCO World Heritage.

Stamps:
Commonwealth Games-Stadiums (whole set) (issued 01-08-2010)
and India's Old Post Offices-Agra H.P.O. (from set of two) (issued 12-04-2013)

Thank You very much Arnab!

Taiwan: Dragon Dance

Yesterday I got four postcards. Two of them were from Taiwan. One of them shows the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance. It is a highlight of the New Year Celebrations in China and in China Towns in the whole world.

Stamps:

Fengshan Lungshan Temple ATM Label,

Greetings (two from set of twenty) (issued 12-11-2009)

and a pair of two Berry stamps (from set of two) (issued 17-04-2013)

Thank You so much George!

Taiwan: Year of the Rabbit

Yesterday I got four postcards. Two of them were from Taiwan. One of them shows two rabbits celebrating the Year of the Rabbit 2011. The Rabbit (Chinese: 卯 măo) is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese Calendar and the next Year of the Rabbit will be 2023. The people born in the Year of the Rabbit are docile, talented and ambitious.
There is also a matching stamp on the front site of the card:
Year of the Rabbit (from set of two) (issued 01-12-2010).

Stamps:
Berries (from set of four) (issued 17-04-2013),
Greetings (from set of four) (issued 22-05-2013)
and twice a Flower stamp (from set of four) (issued 14-10-2009)

Thank You very much George!

Germany: Richard Wagner

Yesterday I got four postcards. One of them was from Germany. The card shows Richard Wagner. Richard Wagner was born on 22nd May 1813 and died on 13rd February 1873. He was one of the most famous German composers and he writing text, music and stage direction made the opera to a Gesamtkunstwerk.

With matching stamp:
200th Birthday of Richard Wagner (issued 02-05-2013)
and a great special postmark from Bayreuth celebrating also Wagner's 200th Birthday

Thank You so much Natalie!

China: Giant Pandas

Yesterday I got four postcards. One of them was from China. The card shows two Giant Pandas. The Giant Panda (scientific name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a bear only living in Chinese provinces Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi (and some zoos in the whole world). The Giant Panda is the sign of the WWF.

Stamps:

Thank You very much Zhizhi!

France: Cherbourg

On Tuesday I got two postcards: One from Indonesia and one from France. The card from France shows Cherbourg. The city has a port and a marina. The port is the base of the French Navy.

Stamp:

50 years Élysée Treaty (issued 02-01-2013)

(a joint issue with Germany)

Thank You so much Deborah!

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The German issue (issued 02-01-2013):