Belgium: Belgian Specialities

On Thursday I got a postcard from Belgium.

It shows various specialities of Belgium.

Belgian beer (lower left corner) is produced since the 12th century. Almost 1500 types of beer are produced in the country. The Beer culture in Belgium is since 2016 an Intangible Heritage of the UNESCO.

Stamp:
Supermoon (from set of five) (issued 22-11-2016)
with a special postmark from Brussels.

Thank You very much William!

Germany: Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia

On Wednesday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows the building of the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia. The building of the Landtag was constructed between 1981 and 1988. It is located in Düsseldorf and was the third newly-constructed building of a Landtag in Germany after World War II. 

Stamp:
Lighthouses (from set of two) (issued 07-07-2016)

Thank You very much Marcel!

Sri Lanka: Polonnaruwa

On Tuesday I got two postcards: my first card from Sri Lanka and one from Germany.

Sri Lanka is an island country in the Indian Ocean. In 1948 the country became independent from the United Kingdom. Due to its rich cultural heritage it is a popular tourist destination. Sri Lanka is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. Colombo is the country's capital and largest city.

The card shows the Galpotha in Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka. Since 1982 is the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Unseen Sri Lanka (from set of twelve) (issued 02-12-2016)

Thank You very much Nimasha!

Germany: Brühl

On Tuesday I got two postcards: one from Germany and my first card from Sri Lanka.

The card from Germany shows various views of Brühl. Brühl is a town in the German State of North Rine-Westphalia. In the 16th century it became the residence of the Prince Bishops of Cologne. Today it is a popular tourist destination.

The Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust were built in the 18th century at the behest of Clemens August of Bavaria, the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. They belong to the most important baroque and rococo buildings in Germany. Since 1984 are both castles on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Max Ernst Museum (left column middle and lower pictures) was opened in 2005. It houses a large collection of paintings and sculptures of Max Ernst, the pioneer of the Dada movement and Surrealism, who was born in Brühl in 1891. 

Stamp:
Lighthouses (from set of two) (issued 07-07-2016)

Thank You very much Marcel!

Thailand: King Bhumibol

Yesterday I got a postcard from Thailand.

It shows the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Bhumibol Adulyadej was the King of Thailand between 1946 and his death in October 2016. After his death the most Thais are deeply mourning the loss of their beloved King.

You can read more about Bhumibol's life on my History Blog.

With a matching stamp and another great stamp:
72nd Birthday of King Bhumibol (from set of nine) (issued 10-09-1999)
Thaipex '05 (from set of four) (issued 03-08-2005)

Thank You very much Jobbo!

Germany: Hubertusburg

On Saturday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows Hubertusburg. Hubertusburg is a Baroque palace and hunting lodge in Wermsdorf in the German State of Saxony. The forests around Wermsdorf were used as hunting ground since the 16th century and between 1721 and 1724 the palace was extended by Augustus the Strong. In 1763 the Peace of Hubertusburg was signed at the palace.

Stamp:
Naumburg Cathedral (issued 06-10-2016)

Thank You very much Julian!

Germany: Heinrich Schütz House in Weißenfels

On Friday I got two postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the Heinrich Schütz House in Weißenfels. The Heinrich Schütz House was the residence of the composer Heinrich Schütz between 1651 and his death in 1672. It is the only house of the composer which survived until today and houses a museum since 1985.

Stamp:
500th birthday of Lucas Cranach the Younger (issued 01-10-2015)

Thank You very much Elisabeth!

Germany: Imhoff Chocolate Museum

On Friday I got two postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the Imhoff Chocolate Museum in Cologne. The Imhoff Chocolate Museum is a museum about the history and the modern production of chocolate. It was opened in 1993 and is today one of the most visited museums in Germany. Since 2006 is the Swiss chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli the museum's partner in producing exhibits.

Stamp:
Lighthouses (from set of two) (issued 07-07-2016)

Thank You very much Marcel!

cover from France

On Friday I got not only two postcards but also two covers including one from France.

Stamps:

Marianne 0,05€, 0,10€

Les Légendaires (from set of two) (issued 16-09-2016)

Inside was a stamp booklet about the Chinese New Year (issued 28-01-2017).

Thank You very much William!

cover from Germany

On Friday I got not only two postcards but also two covers including one from Germany.

Stamps:

Crocus (issued 11-08-2005)

10 years Maastricht Treaty (issued 13-11-2003)

with a special postmark about the 25th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty

The Maastricht Treaty undertaken to integrate Europe was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. Upon its entry into force on 1 November 1993 it created the European Union and led to the creation of the single European currency, the Euro. The Maastricht Treaty has been amended by the treaties of Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon.

Finland: FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017

On Thursday I got two postcards: one from Finland and one from France.

The card from Finland was printed for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017. The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017 take place in Lahti between the 22nd February and the 5th March 2017. It is already the seventh time that Lahti hosts the championships. Until now the most successful countries are Norway, Germany and Russia. 

With a matching stamp:
Personalised stamp "FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017"
with a special postmark about the event

Thank You very much Sini!

France: Ault

On Thursday I got two postcards: one from France and one from Finland.

The card from France shows Ault. Ault is a commune in the Somme department. It is known for the good water quality.

Stamps:
Marianne 0,05€, 0,10€
50 years Neuwirth Law (issued 17-02-2017)

Thank You very much William!

Romania: Postcrossing

On Tuesday I got two postcards: my first card from Romania and one from the USA.

Romania is a country in Southeastern Europe bordering on Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Ukraine and Moldova. It joined the NATO in 2004 and is since 2007 a member of the EU. Bucharest is the country's capital and largest city. 

The card was printed for the Postcrossing Stamp Launch Meet-up in Bucharest.

The card was signed during the meet-up.
With the new stamp:
Postcrossing (issued 24-02-2017)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Mihnea!

USA: Monticello

On Tuesday I got two postcards: one from the USA and my first card from Romania.

The card from the USA shows Monticello in Charlottesville in the US State of Virginia. Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson, who had designed the house himself in the Neoclassical style. It now houses a museum. Together with the University of Virginia is Monticello since 1987 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
New Year (issued 27-12-1999)
Purple Heart (issued 07-08-2007)

Thank You very much Kati!

cover from Germany

On Tuesday I got not only two postcards but also a cover from Germany.

Stamp:

200 years Die Weser (issued 08-12-2016)

Inside were two postcards.

The first one shows the Lutherhaus in Eisenach. The Lutherhaus is one of the oldest surviving half-timbered houses in Thuringia. It is said that Martin Luther lived in the house when he went to school in Eisenach between 1498 and 1501. The house now is home to a museum about Martin Luther and the Bible.

The second one shows various places in Eisenach which have a connection with Johann Sebastian Bach. Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach in 1685. He was baptised in the Saint George's Church, where Martin Luther already had given sermons, and later went to the same Latin School as Luther. In 1695 he moved to Ohrdruf. In 1907 the World's first Bach Museum was founded in Eisenach (lower row middle picture).

Thank You very much Sandy!