CALIFORNIA - Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero

What a lovely surprise to received an envelope from postrcrosser Melissa.  It really makes my day! She sent these lovely lighthouse, old U.S. FDC of Yellowstone and some United Nations in New York city stamps.  Thank you so much Melissa.

The description on the back of the card:

"Pigeon Point Lighthouse open in 1872 and was considered a major landmark on the hazardous voyage between Monterey Bay and San Francisco.  Its 115-foot (35 m.) tower is one of the tallest on the Pacific Coast.  It is shown at the anniversary lightning of its original first order Fresnel lens, comprised of 1,008 prisms."

FDC - America first national park, Yellowstone

Thank you very much Melissa!.

INDIA - Humayan's Tomb, Delhi

 Thanks to postcrosser Mukund for the card.

"Humayan's Tomb, Delhi, the first built with several innovations, set at the centre of luxurious gardens with water channels, as the precursor monument to the Taj Mahal (built a century later).  It was built in 1570 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1993 for its cultural importance. The tomb set on an irregular octagonal plinth has a raised dome of 42.5 height, covered by marble slabs and decorated with canopies."

MOZAMBIQUE - Bazaruto Archipelago

My first written and stamp card from Mozambique, country #142.  Thank you a million Carlos.

I was lucky enough to get this card as the address was miswritten but somehow the card still get in my mailbox.  I think the postman have known my name very well. :)

"The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of five islands in Mozambique, near the mainland city of Vilankulo. It comprises the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina (also known as Paradise Island) and Shell. Nyati Island locates in further south.

The group belongs to the Vilankulo and Inhassoro districts of Inhambane Province. The islands were formed from sand deposited by the Save River, which has since shifted its course."

LITHUANIA - Bench

Today 2 cards come to my mailbox.  The first card is from postcrosser Donata.  Thank you!

CHINA - Chinese Traditional Architecture

The second card is from postcrosser Sine showing Chinese Traditional Architecture.  Thank you for the card and nice stamps.

NETHERLANDS - Kinderdijk Windmills

Today 6 cards arrived in my mailbox.  Happy days..This big and square card is from postcrosser Petre of Hague. Amazing view of windmills.

"Kinderdijk is a village in the Netherlands, belonging to the municipality of Molenwaard, in the province South Holland, about 15 km east of Rotterdam. Kinderdijk is situated in a polder in the Alblasserwaard at the confluence of the Lek and Noord rivers. To drain the polder, a system of 19 windmills was built around 1740.

This group of mills is the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands. The windmills of Kinderdijk are one of the best-known Dutch tourist sites. They have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997."

ESTONIA - Old Barn

The barn of a North Estonian farm, mid 19th century. Thanks to postcrosser Helle for the nice card and stamps.

RUSSIA - The Bolshoi Theatre

I think this is the old picture showing Bolshoi Theatre judging from the vintage picture and their outfit.  I wonder what year was this picture taken!  Anyhow, this is a great card from postcrosser Daria.  Thank you so much for the card and wonderful stamps.

"The Bolshoi Theatre  is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The theatre's original name was the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow.

The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world. The main building of the theater, rebuilt and renovated several times during its history, is a landmark of Moscow and Russia (its iconic neoclassical facade is depicted on the Russian 100-ruble banknote)."

HUNGARY - Heroes' Square, Budapest

Thank you to Sava for Budapest card and was mailed from Serbia.  Great card and wonderful zodiac stamps. 

GERMANY - Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen

Amazing panoramic view of Stilt House Museum on Lake Constance. It is the UNESCO world heritage site since 2011. This card arrived in envelope with some nice used Germany stamps. Thanks to postcrosser Rainer.

"Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen (German for 'Stilt house museum') is an archaeological open-air museum on Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Unteruhldingen, Germany, consisting of reconstructions of stilt houses or lake dwellings from the Neolithic Stone Age and Bronze Age.

The museum consists of a number of exhibits displaying archeological finds from the area and period.The archaeological open-air museum is laid out over a large area with reconstructions of lake pile dwellings from 4000 BC to 850 BC. The museum was opened in 1922 with various reconstructions being added up until the present day."

SWEDEN - HKH Crown Prince Victoria of Sweden

Another postcards that arrived in an envelope from postcrosser Pirkko from Finland. It such a sweet surprise to see another extra 2 maxicard of Aland and Finland in the envelope. Thank you so much!

"Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland (Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée; born 14 July 1977), is the eldest child and heir apparent of King Carl XVI Gustaf. If she ascends to the throne as expected, she will be Sweden's fourth queen regnant (after Margaret, Christina and Ulrika Eleonora) and the first since 1720."

ALAND MAXICARD - Canoe on Aland, 1991

Thanks to postcrosser Pirkko.

FINLAND MAXICARD - Christmas Stamps in 1980 depicting old Christmas Fun

Thanks to postcrosser Pirkko.

MONGOLIA - Otgontenger Mountain, Zavkhan

Another wonderful view of Mongolia, shows Otgontenger Mountain and the sky looks so blue and no cloud. So lovely..  Thank you so much Andrew for the card.

"Otgontenger (Mongolian: Отгонтэнгэр, lit. "youngest sky") is the highest peak in the Khangai Mountains in Mongolia. Its summit is currently calculated to reach an elevation of 4,008 meters above mean sea level (some earlier topographic maps record a maximum elevation of 4,021 m). The mountain is located in Zavkhan Province and is the only peak in the Khangai range that is capped with a permanent glacier. The south face of Mount Otgontenger is the most extensive granite wall in Mongolia."

BELIZE - Scenic Rivers and Rare Wildlife

The card reads:

Eco and adventure tourism has grown in recent years and much of the country has been designated as protected areas to preserve our scenic rivers, exotic plants and rare wildlife for future generations.

Thanks to Rose for my first card from Belize, country #141.

NETHERLANDS - Amsterdam

Thanks to postcrosser Sonja for the card.

RUSSIA - Krasnodar. The Thawing 2007

Krasnodar. The Thawing

2007

Painter Alexander kalinitchenko

Thanks to postcrosser Vladimir.

SLOVAKIA - Bojnice Castle

A swap with Danci. thank you for the nice romantic castle.

"Bojnice Castle is a medieval castle in Bojnice, Slovakia. It is a Romantic castle with some original Gothic and Renaissance elements built in the 12th century. Bojnice Castle is one of the most visited castles in Slovakia, receiving hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and also being a popular filming stage for fantasy and fairy-tale movies."

"Bojnice Castle was first mentioned in written records in 1113, in a document held at the Zobor Abbey. Originally built as a wooden fort, it was gradually replaced by stone, with the outer walls being shaped according to the uneven rocky terrain. Its first owner was Matthew III Csák, who received it in 1302 from the King Ladislaus V of Hungary. Later, in the 15th century, it was owned by King Matthias Corvinus, who gave it to his illegitimate son John Corvinus in 1489. Matthias liked to visit Bojnice and it was here that he worked on his royal decrees. He used to dictate them under his beloved linden tree, which is now known as the "Linden tree of King Matthias". After his death the castle became the property of the Zápolya family (see John Zápolya). The Thurzós, the richest family in the northern Kingdom of Hungary, acquired the castle in 1528 and undertook its major reconstruction. The former fortress was turned into a Renaissance castle. From 1646 on, the castle's owners were the Pálffys, who continued to rebuild the castle."

ECUADOR - Military Band

My first card from Ecuador, country #140.  Thanks to Laura for the band (military) card taken back in 1931 in Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador.

GUAM - Guam City

A swap card from Guam.Thanks to Chanel.

Guam offers visitors everything form relaxing sun tanning, to breath-taking scenery, to extreme surfing and diving.

NETHERLAND - Breda Town

Thanks to postcrosser Hezety for the Breda card.

"The Grote Markt, the main square in the Dutch city of Breda . It is close to Havermarkt and Reigerstraat in the center of town.
Here are the famous Our Lady of the mausoleum of Engelbrecht II of Nassau and the old town hall of Breda . Also on the Market a few historical buildings.'

SCOTLAND - Mapcard

A wonderful map card of Scotland, thanks to postcrosser Margaret.

SPAIN - Menorca

Thanks to Cristina for the card from Menorca.

"Minorca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Majorca. Minorca has a population of approximately 94,383 (2010)."

Cristina used stamps with the image of King Felipe VI and was sent from Es Castell (Es Castell is a small municipality in eastern Minorca in the Balearic Islands, Spain.)

GERMANY - Recipe card

Thanks to postcrosser Anne for the recipe card and nice stamps.

NETHERLANDS

Thanks to postcrosser Hanneke for the card.

FINLAND - MapCard

Thanks to postcrosser Anne for the nice map card.