TENNESSEE - MEMPHIS, River City

From postcrosser Jamie a card showing the bridge in Mississippi river. Thank you!

"Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the fourth Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers."

SWAZILAND - Malolotja Nature Reserve

New country in my list, country #143 is Swaziland.  Thanks a lot to Carlos for the card of Malolotja Nature Reserve.

"Malolotja Nature Reserve covers 4,447 acres (18,000 ha) of mountain wilderness on Swaziland's north western border with South Africa. The park includes Ngwenya Mountain, Swaziland's second highest mountain (1829 m), and Malolotja Falls which drop 292 feet (90metres), the highest in Swaziland.  Habitats include short grassland to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and Afromontane forest."

AUSTRIA - Graz

Another card from Sava from his trip to Austria. The card shows the city of Graz and was sent from Serbia, I think mail came relatively  fast this past weeks.

"Graz is the second-largest city in Austria after Vienna and the capital of the federal state of Styria (Steiermark). On 1. January 2015 it had a population of 309,323 (of which 276,526 had principal residence status). In 2012 the population of the Graz Larger Urban Zone who had principal residence status stood at 599,049.

 Graz has a long tradition as a student city: its six universities have more than 44,000 students. Its "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centres in Central Europe."

UKRAINE - Odesse

These cards are from swap in official postcrossing.  The card shows the city of Odessa and the second card show Poppy seed buns.  Looks yumm....Now, I am hungry for some bun..

"Odessa or Odesa is the third largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,003,705. The city is a major seaport and transportation hub located on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. Odessa is also an administrative center of the Odessa Oblast and a multiethnic major cultural center."

The description at back of the card says; 

Compat is very well known in Odessa and far  beyond.

This is more than compote that children have drunk gallons after getting tired of running around the yard.  We are talking about the one that has gathered all the familiar dishes from our childhood and introduced them in cafes, which you will find delicious, very cozy and fun.

You are welcome to visit Compot for breakfast, freshly baked croissants and pastry every day from 8 am.  = This refer to the Compot Cafe.=

MAXICARD - Estonia Lighthouses

Awesome maxicard from postcrosser Evgenlia from Russia. She bought this card from her trip to Estonia. Thank you!

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."