cover from Switzerland

 Yesterday I got not only eight postcards but also a cover from Switzerland.

Stamp:
Webstamp

Inside were seven Swiss postcards.
The first card shows the Seealpsee in the Swiss Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. The Seealpsee is a lake known for its clear water. It is a popular tourist destination.

The second shows the Klöntalersee. The Klöntalersee is the largest lake in the Swiss Canton of Glarus. It was used as a reservoir for electricity production since 1908.

The third shows the Etang de la Gruère in the Swiss Canton of Jura. The Etang de la Gruère is small bog lake. It is located within a nature reserve.

The fourth shows the Tannalp in the Swiss Canton of Obwalden.

The fifth card shows the Pragel Pass. The Pragel Pass is a mountain pass in the Swiss Canton of Schwyz.

Another card from the cover shows the Werd Island. The Werd Island is small island in Lake Constance belonging to the Swiss Canton of Thurgau. On the island there is a convent.

The last card shows the Schipfe in the Swiss Canton of Zürich. The Schipfe is a residential district in Zürich, Switzerland's largest city. It is located by the river Limmat.

Thank You very much Sarah!

USA: Salem

On Saturday I got six postcards: one from the USA, one from Hong Kong, one from the United Kingdom, one from Indonesia, one from Germany and one from Belgium.

The card from the USA shows various views of Salem. Salem is a city in the US State of Massachusetts. It was founded in 1626 and was one of the most important Puritan seaports in America. The city is World-famous for the Salem Witch Trials held in 1692 and 1693. The Witch House (lower left corner) is the only still standing building in Salem with direct connections to the witch trials. It was once the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin and houses today a museum. The House of the Seven Gables (upper right corner), which also houses a museum, had inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write his novel of the same name. The Witch Dungeon Museum (upper left corner) and the Witch Museum (lower right corner) are two museums about the Salem Witch Trials.

Stamps:
Summer Harvest (two from set of four) (issued 11-07-2015)
Penguins (issued 01-06-2015)

Thank You very much Crystal!

Belgium: Menin Gate in Ypres

On Saturday I got six postcards: one from Belgium, one from the USA, one from Hong Kong, one from the United Kingdom, one from Indonesia and one from Germany.

The card from Belgium shows the Menin Gate in Ypres. Ypres is a city in Flanders.

During World War I Ypres was at the centre of various battles between German and Allied troops. The city was attacked by German troops because it stood in the path used according to the Schlieffen Plan. The First Battle of Ypres was fought between October and November 1914. The Second Battle of Ypres, which was the one of the first battles in which poison gas was used, was fought between April and May 1915. The Third Battle of Ypres, fought between July and November 1917, ended without much won ground but many casualties.

The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing marks one of the main roads leading to the front line. It commemorates the British and Commonwealth soldiers killed during the Battles of Ypres, who do not have known graves, It was unveiled in 1927.

Update: As one of the Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front) in Belgium and France this site is since 2023 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With related stamp:
Centenary of World War I (from set of five) (issued 06-10-2014)

Thank You very much Gerda!

Germany: Tetrahedron in Bottrop

On Saturday I got six postcards: one from Germany, one from Belgium, one from the USA, one from Hong Kong, one from the United Kingdom and one from Indonesia.

The card from Germany shows the Tetrahedron in Bottrop. Bottrop is a big city in the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was a centre of the mining industry and is today the only city in the Ruhr Area with an active mine. The Tetrahedron is a walkable steel structure used as look-out. It is one of Bottrop's most famous sights.

Stamp:
Gliding Flight on the Wasserkuppe (issued 03-01-2011)

Thank You very much Sibylle!

Indonesia: Solar Eclipse

On Saturday I got six postcards: one from Indonesia, one from Germany, one from Belgium, one from the USA, one from Hong Kong and one from the United Kingdom.

The card from Indonesia shows the Solar Eclipse on 9th March 2016. The Solar Eclipse was total and started in Indonesia, where it was clearly visible in many parts. 

With great matching stamps:
Total Solar Eclipse (whole set) (issued 23-02-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark
The stamps refer to the Javanese myth of Batara Kala swallowing the sun and thus causing the solar eclipse.

Thank You very much Shinta!

United Kingdom: Llandrindod Wells

On Saturday I got six postcards: one from the United Kingdom, one from Indonesia, one from Germany, one from Belgium, one from the USA and one from Hong Kong.

The card from the United Kingdom shows various views of Llandrindod Wells. Llandrindod Wells is a town in Wales. It was once a popular spa town.

Stamps:
Christmas (from set of eight) (issued 03-11-2015)
Christmas (from set of seven) (issued 08-11-2011)

Thank You very much Jemma!

Hong Kong: Mei Ho House

On Saturday I got six postcards: one from Hong Kong, one from the United Kingdom, one from Indonesia, one from Germany, one from Belgium and one from the USA.

The card from Hong Kong shows the Mei Ho House. The Mei Ho House is the last remaining example of a Mark II building, a kind of public housing. It houses today a youth hostel.

Stamp:
Public Architecture (from set of six) (issued 31-03-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Joe!

Italy: Aquileia

On Friday I got four postcards: two from Italy, one from Japan and one from Germany.

One of the cards from Italy shows the Roman Harbour and the Patriarchal Basilica in Aquileia. Aquileia was one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire. It was a centre of the amber and metal trade and of the production of glas. Later it played an important role in the christianisation of Central Europe. The Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia are since 1998 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a great stamp:
Italian Mail 0,10€ (from set of three) (issued 01-07-2010)
50 years WWF Italy (issued 22-04-2016)

Thank You very much Cristina!

Italy: Via Garibaldi and Palazzo Doria-Tursi in Genoa

On Friday I got four postcards: two from Italy, one from Japan and one from Germany.

One of the cards from Italy shows the Via Garibaldi and the Palazzo Doria-Tursi in Genoa. Genoa is the sixth largest city of Italy and Italy's largest seaport. It is also the capital of the Italian Region of Liguria and was once the capital of the independent Republic of Genoa. In 2004 it was the European Capital of Culture. The Via Garibaldi is a street in Genoa's historic centre. It was built from 1550 onwards and was once known as Strada Nuova. The Palazzo Doria-Tursi is just one of the many palaces on the Via Garibaldi. It houses Genoa's city hall and a museum. The Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli in Genoa are since 2006 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Women in Art (from set of three) (issued 01-03-2002)
Centenary of World War I (from set of four) (issued 24-05-2015)

Thank You very much Irene!

Germany: Ludwigshafen am Rhein

On Friday I got four postcards: one from Germany, two from Italy and one from Japan

The card from Germany shows various views of Ludwigshafen am Rhein. Ludwigshafen am Rhein is a big city in the German State of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is the second largest city of its state. The headqarters of BASF, the largest chemical producer in the World, is located there. 

Stamp:
Variable Value stamp (from set of two) (issued 24-10-2008)

Thank You very much Julia!

Japan: Hikone-byobu

On Friday I got four postcards: one from Japan, one from Germany and two from Italy.

The card from Japan shows the Hikone-byobu. The Hikone-byobu is a painted folding screen created in the 17th century. It is considered to be one of the earliest Ukiyo-e paintings and is a National Treasure of Japan. It is housed in the Hikone Castle Museum.

Stamps:
Definitive (three from set of twelve) (issued 2015)
Cats (from set of twenty) (issued 22-04-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!

Czech Republic: Postcrossing Cycle

Yesterday I got a postcard from the Czech Republic.

The card shows a brilliant illustration of how Postcrossing works. The first step to take part in Postcrossing is to write a postcard, which you have to send to the requested in the second step. In the third step someone will receive your card, register it and send the next card. So a cycle of sending postcards starts. 

With a matching stamp:
Postcrossing (issued 05-09-2015)

The card was printed in a cooperation between Postcrossing and the Sběratel collector's fair. It is limited to 1000 pieces.
The card was sent from Vladena's family Postcrossing meet-up.

Thank You very much Vladena!

cover from Austria

Yesterday I got not only a postcard but also a cover from Austria.

Stamp:

The Future Factor (issued 28-01-2016)

On the stamp there is a compiled text. 

Inside was my first card from Guatemala.

Guatemala is a country in Central America bordering on Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. It is the most populous country of Central America. Guatemala's capital is Guatemala City.

The card shows various views of Tikal. Tikal was one of the most important Mayan cities, but it was abandoned in the 10th century. The ruins of Tikal are today located in thick jungle. The Tikal National Park is since 1979 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is a cultural and natural site.

Thank You very much Marco!

USA: Bismarck

Yesterday I got three postcards: one from the USA and two from Germany.

The card from the USA shows the State Capitol in Bismarck. Bismarck became the capital of the Dakota Territory in 1883 and is since 1889 to capital of the US State of North Dakota. To attract German settlers the city, which was earlier known as Edwinton, was named after German chancellor Otto von Bismarck in 1873. 

The card was sent via PostcardUnited: USA- 7365

With great stamps:
USAirmail (from set of two) (issued 02-01-1976)
Pueblo Pottery (from set of four) (issued 13-04-1977)
Legend of Sleepy Hollow (issued 10-10-1974)
National Postal Museum (from set of four) (issued 30-07-1993)
Year of the Ox (issued 05-01-1997)

Thank You very much Dede!

Germany: Mönchengladbach

Yesterday I got three postcards: two from Germany and one from the USA.

One of the cards from Germany shows various views of Mönchengladbach. Mönchengladbach is a city in the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia. In 1921 Mönchengladbach became a big city and in 1975 it was merged together with Rheydt, another big city. The Abteiberg Museum (lower left corner) is a museum of contemporary art. The Water Tower (upper left corner) is one of the most important sights of Mönchengladbach. Mönchengladbach is the only city in Germany with two main railway stations, one in Rheydt and one in Mönchengladbach (lower right corner).

Stamp:
500 years German purity law (issued 07-04-2016)

Thank You very much Marcel!