CYPRUS

Cyprus is a small country with a long history and a rich culture.  The earliest known human activity dates back to the 10th millinium BC.  There are many UNESCO WH sites all around the island.

Read  here for more on Cyprus.

CYPRUS - Fortress of Paphos

The entire town of Paphos is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Paphos was the capital of Cyprus for a long period of time in antiquity.  It is out of the seas of Paphos that Aphrodite, Greek Olympian goddess of Love and Beauty is said to have risen and it was in Paphos that the worship of the goddess flourishes.

This fortress of Paphos was according to an inscription above the main entrance, "built by Ahmed Fasha in 1592AD."

CYPRUS - Mountain village street scene

The city of Larnaca is built on the site where ancient city - Kingdom Kition once stood.  Kition was the birth place of Zeno, the Greek philosopher, who founded the stioc school of thought and the 2nd home of Vesus's friend Lazaros, Lazaros was ordained as Bishop of Kition by the Apostles Balnabas and Paul.

CYPRUS - Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque

Hala Sultan Tekka mosque was built in 648 AD on the spot where Umm Haram died when she fell of her mule. According to tradition Umm Haram was related to the Prophet Mohammad. It is now one of the most important holy places of worship for Muslims, ranked immediately after Mecca, Medina in Saudi Arabia and Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. The mosque was first renovated in 1816 and more recently in 2002.

CYPRUS - Nicosia

Lefkosa (Nicosia) has been the capital of Cyprus since the late Byzantine period (11th century).  It antiquity it was known by name Ledra. The city centre, the old 'Chora', surrounded by 16th century walls. with museums, old churches and medieval buildings.

CYPRUS - Pantocrator. Wall-painting in the dome of the church of Panayia tou Arakos, Lagoudera (1192 A.D.)

The 12th century church of Panayia tou Arakos is one of the 10 Byzantine period painted churches in Moodos mountain.  This church contains some of the finest frescoes of the late comnenian style (1192).  This church along with the churches of Asinou and of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, are considered to be the most important Byzantine period churches in Cyprus.

CYPRUS - Outdoor Oven

This kind of outdoor oven is quite common here. Lemesos is the 2nd largest city between two ancient city - Kingdoms, Amathus and Karios.  Lemesos castle was built on the site of an earlier castle where, according to tradition, Richard the Lion heart, King of England married Benengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191.

CYPRUS - Tombs of the Kings

The Tombs of the Kings are one of the major archaeological attractions of Paphos. these monumental underground tombs carved out of solid rock dated back to the 3rd century BC and some are decorated with Doric pillars.  High ranking officials rather than kings were buried here but the magnificence of the tombs gave the locality its grand name.  Thanks Moon for the great explanation on the card!

CYPRUS - Paphos

"Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. It was a centre of the cult of Aphrodite and of pre-Hellenic fertility deities. Aphrodite's legendary birthplace was on this island, where her temple was erected by the Myceneans in the 12th century B.C. The remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and tombs mean that the site is of exceptional architectural and historic value. The mosaics of Nea Paphos are among the most beautiful in the world." sources here

CYPRUS MAXICARD - Chrismas 2014

Icon of the Birth of Christ originally from a church in the occupied part of Cyprus and repatriated in 2013 from Munich.

CYPRUS MAXICARD - Chrismas 2014

Icon of the Birth of Christ originally from a church in the occupied part of Cyprus and repatriated in 2013 from Munich.

CYPRUS MAXICARD - Chrismas 2014

Icon of the Virgin Mary, Glycofilousa, Agia Zoni church.

Ammochostos, repatriated in 2013 from Munich.

VATICAN - Roma, Basilica di San Pietro

A swap with Asya from Russia, she sent a wonderful St Peter's Square card. Thank you Asya!

St. Peter's Square (Italian: Piazza San Pietro, Latin: Forum Sancti Petri,) is a massive plaza located directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, the papal enclave inside Rome, directly west of the neighbourhood or rione of Borgo.

USA - Montana's Mountains and Rivers

2 cards arrived in my mailbox, both from United State.  The first card is a swap with Andrea, thank you!

"Montana is a state in the Western United States. The state's name is derived from the Spanish word montaña (mountain). Montana has several nicknames, although none official, including "Big Sky Country" and "The Treasure State", and slogans that include "Land of the Shining Mountains" and more recently "The Last Best Place".
Montana is ranked 4th in size, but 44th in population and 48th in population density of the 50 United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller island ranges are found throughout the state. In total, 77 named ranges are part of the Rocky Mountains."

BELGIUM - Galerie de la Reine "Corne Port-Royal" - Brussels

Nadine of Montgomery, Alabama sent me chocolate shop card in Brussels. She wrote in her card that when she was in Germany they would travel 2 hours just to get to his shop. Thank you Nadine for the card.

"CORNÉ PORT-ROYAL (GALERIE DE LA REINE) Backed by 80 years of experience, Belgian chocolatier, Corné Port-Royal, continues the tradition of time-honoured recipes and gourmet craft. Some fifty craftsmen work daily to manufacture chocolates to recipes that have remained unchanged for almost a century!" from here.

NETHERLANDS - Old map of Goningen

Today, 2 cards arrived in my mailbox. The first card is from Netherland which shows an old city map  of Goningen by Joan Blaue (1598 - 1673). Thanks to Raisa for the nice card.

PALESTINE - Hebron (Old City)

The second card shows an ancient house of the Old City of Hebron which was mailed on 21 December 2014 and arrived today 24 March 2015.  It's took 94 days or 3 months to reach me. Thanks to Zahra for my second card from Palestine.

"Hebron (Arabic: About this sound الخليل (help·info) al-Khalīl; Hebrew: About this sound חֶבְרוֹן) is a Palestinian city located in the southern West Bank, 30 km south of Jerusalem. Nestled in the Judaean Mountains, it lies 930 meters above sea level. It is the largest city in the West Bank, and the second largest in the Palestinian territories after Gaza, and home to approximately 250,000 Palestinians, and between 500 and 850 Jewish settlers concentrated in Otniel settlement and around the old quarter. The city is divided into two sectors: H1, controlled by the Palestinian Authority and H2, roughly 20% of the city, administered by Israel. The settlers are governed by their own municipal body, the Committee of the Jewish Community of Hebron. The city is most notable for containing the traditional burial site of the biblical Patriarchs and Matriarchs, within the Cave of the Patriarchs. It is therefore considered the second-holiest city in Judaism after Jerusalem. The city is venerated by Jews, Christians, and Muslims for its association with Abraham. It is viewed as a holy city in Islam and Judaism."

THAILAND - Cover

Today I received 3 envelopes from Philatelic office ie. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.  And I must say, I'm always satisfied with my order from Thailand philatelic, they always put nice stamps on the cover.

Audrey Hupburn

Audrey Hepburn came to my mailbox. Thanks to Marina a Russian postcrosser for the card.

CROATIA - Trogir

Here's a card from Trogir, Croatia. Trogir is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, with a population of 10,818.  Trogir is unique among Dalmatian towns for its profuse collection of Romanesque and Renaissance architecture (which flourished under Venetian rule); this, along with its magnificent cathedral, earned it World Heritage status in 1997.

The card was mailed from the city of Trogir, thanks to Filip.

ENGLAND - Hexham Abbey

Today's card is from Germany, a Postcrossing card from Ruth, showing the Hexham Abbey. Hexham Abbey is a place of Christian worship dedicated to St Andrew and located in the town of Hexham, Northumberland, in northeast England. Another parish church card to add to my collection, thanks Ruth!

CYPRUS - Cyprus Lemons

Today's card comes from Cyprus. Cyprus offers high quality citrus fruits and lemons were produced 4 times a year.  Thank you Sandra for the nice Cyprus card!

UGANDA - Greetings from Uganda

Today, 2 cards arrived in my mailbox. The first card is from Uganda.  The card was mail on 18 Sept 2014 and arrived today, travelling for more that 5.5 months or 174 days. Making this card the longest travelling card for me.  I wonder if the card got stranded long in one country? Thanks to Karungi for the card!

RUSSIA - Great Cathedral of the Don Mother of God

Second card is from Postcrossing, Ulia send me this lovely Cathedral card. 

You could read more about the Monastery here.

"Founded in 1591 to commemorate Boris Godunov's repulsion of a Tartar invasion under Khan Kazy-Girey, the Donskoy Monastery is one of the most impressively fortified in Moscow, and has had a turbulent and fascinating history."

UGANDA - Birds of Uganda

Thank you Hassan for my first card from Uganda, country #134.  The card was mail on the 12/1/15 and arrived today, 4/3/15, travelling for 52 days.  It shows the grey crowned crane, the national bird of Uganda.

"Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are 15 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Uganda."

The stamp was 1 of set of 5 issued on 2012 Medicine (cancer & AIDS).

UGANDA - The Face of UGANDA

Postcard with local on them are the best. Love this card, thanks Hassan for these 3 wonderful cards.

The stamp was an issued from 2012 Medicine (cancer & AIDS).

UGANDA - Kibuli Mosque, Kampala

Another great card from Hassan shows the Kibuli Mosque at Kampala. A great collection for my mosque theme. You could read more about the mosque here.

"Kibuli Mosque is the biggest Muslim religious site in Kampala. It is also the oldest mosque in Kampala. Located on Kibuli hill, it is of religious, cultural and historical significance. The land on which it is built is the oldest hill in Kampala, originally owned by the Kabaka of Buganda, he donated most of it to have the Mosque constructed. Kibuli Mosque is also counted among Kampala’s Landmark buildings because of it’s religious and historical significance."

Hassan used stamp issued from 2012 Medicine (cancer & AIDS).