CHINA - Miao Village, Guizhou Province

Thanks to postcrosser Yujia for the great view of Miao village, love the green view of the village.

"Miao Village is about 37 kilometers from Leishan County and about 80 kilometers away from Kaili. It takes about an hour to travel to Xijiang from Kaili by automobile. It is one of the biggest of the Miao villages in Guizhou Province, much of the rest of the town is still traditional architecture and people walking on the farmer’s paths can see the nice scenery that includes a river valley with terraced fields, intricate wooden houses built in their architectural style, and farmer’s working the land with their oxen. The women still dress up in lots of ornamental silver jewelry."

LUXEMBOURG - City Flowers IV by Sandra Jacobs

Thanks to Valerie for the card and nice stamps.

RUSSIA - The Smolny Cathedral

The cathedral look so lovely with the blue sky background, it matches the cathedral color! Thanks to Saniya for the card.

"Smolny Cathedral was originally intended to be the central church of a monastery, built to house the daughter of Peter the Great, Elizabeth, after she was disallowed to take the throne and opted instead to become a nun. However, as soon as her Imperial predecessor was overthrown during a coup, carried out by the royal guards, Elizabeth decided to forget the whole idea of a stern monastic life and happily accepted the offer of the Russian throne."

TURKMENISTAN - Modern Ashgabat

Yippee..my first card from Turkmenistan, country #145.  Kjersti wrote  in her card that Turkmenistan is one of the least visited countries in the world, but there is a lot of great things to see and do here.

Thanks a lot Kjersti for sending this card from your vacation. It sure looks like a nice place to visit.

"Ashgabat (Turkmen: Aşgabat,; Persian: اشک آباد‎; Russian: Ашхаба́д, tr. Ashkhabad]) between 1919 and 1927, is the capital and the largest city of Turkmenistan in Central Asia, situated between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag mountain range. The 2001 census estimated a population of 695,300, while the 2009 census estimated a population of 1 million, primarily Turkmen people, with ethnic minorities of Russians, Armenians, and Azerbaijanis."

This card from Turkmenistan now completes the Central Asia part of my world collection!

GUERNSEY - Flavour of Guernsey

This card shows the multi view of Guernsey.  Thanks to Maya from Jersey for sending a card from Guernsey. Such a nice view, I would love to spend a day there..

ROYAL FAMILY

The card shows the royal family at the royal wedding of Price William and Kate Middleton on 29 April 2011.  Thank you to postcrosser Alex from Moscow, Russia and he is only 8 years old, such a young postcrosser.

CROATIA - Plitvice National Park in Autumn

A mailbox full of joy today!.  The first card is from Anja, such a spectacular view! She writes that the national park is the biggest and the most magnificent in Croatia with 16 lakes connected or separated with travertine barriers.

The card look so alive, I hope I could visit the park someday. Thank you Anja!

"Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatian: Nacionalni park Plitvička jezera, colloquial Plitvice, pronounced [plîtʋitse]) is one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe and the largest national park in Croatia.

The national park was founded in 1949 and is situated in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia, at the border to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The important north-south road connection, which passes through the national park area, connects the Croatian inland with the Adriatic coastal region."

The stamps was issued on 7 Nov 2012 in a set of 2 featuring Museum of the Krapina  Neanderthal Man (C).

CROATIA - Labin

The second card from Anja shows her very small town of Labin (about 10 000 inhabitants).  It is situated at the west of Croatia, at Istra peninsular, only 2 km from Adriatic Sea.

The city looks so colourful and lovely in purple color. Thank you Anja for 2 wonderful cards.

The stamp used was issued on  15.4.2015 in a set of 3, featuring Croatian fauna, Woodland Animals.

PENNSYLVANIA - Mapcard

This Pennsylvania map card is the newest  addition to my map card collection. Thank you Sarah for the swap.

NORTHERN CYPRUS - Lala Mustafa Mosque (St. Nicholas)

I am very happy to get my hand on a card from Northern Cyprus, a new addition to my collection, #144. Considering how difficult to get the written and stamps card from here, it is indeed a bonus to me, Many thanks to my dear stamp friend, Valeri from Cyprus.

The 14th-century Gothic Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which has since been turned into a mosque named Lala Mustafa Camii, is the most important monument in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus.

 "The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque originally known as Saint Nicholas's Cathedral and later as the Ayasofya (Saint Sophia) Mosque of Magusa, is the largest medieval building in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus. Built between 1298 and c. 1400, it was consecrated as a Catholic cathedral in 1328. The cathedral was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman Empire captured Famagusta in 1571 and it remains a mosque to this day."

Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs), officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti), is a self-declared state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. Recognised only by Turkey, Northern Cyprus is considered by the international community to be part of the Republic of Cyprus.

NETHERLANDS - Royal Family

From postcrosser Dini with a card of the Dutch Royal Family. 

The card reads; Kinnklijke family at closing koniginnedag on balcony.  

30 April 2011.

"Koningsdag or King's Day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Celebrated on 27 April (26 April if the 27th is a Sunday), the date marks the birth of King Willem-Alexander.

From 1890 to 2013, the day was known as Koninginnedag or Queen's Day. The holiday was first observed on 31 August 1885 as Prinsessedag or Princess's Day, the fifth birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, heir to the Dutch throne. On her accession, the holiday acquired the name Koninginnedag. When held on 31 August the holiday was the final day of school summer vacation, leading to its popularity among children. Following the accession of Wilhelmina's daughter Juliana in 1948, the holiday was moved to Queen Juliana's birthday on 30 April."

REPUBLIKA SRPSKA - Banja Luka

Another swap with Sanda, this time we swap for fridge magnet and cards. These card shows the view of Banja Luka city. Thank you Sanda!.

"Republika Srpska (Serbian Cyrillic: Република Српскa,[repǔblika sr̩pska]; literally "Serb Republic") is one of two constitutional and legal entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The entities are largely autonomous. Its de jure capital city is Sarajevo, but the de facto capital and administrative centre is Banja Luka"

"The Dayton Agreement ended the Bosnian War and created the federal republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), made up of two entities, the Bosniak and Croat-inhabited Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), and the Serb-inhabited Republika Srpska (RS)."

FINLAND

Thanks to postcrosser Aamo for the card and stamp.  It come with this sticker on and I do not know what this sticker is for and was afraid to peel it of the card as it could damage the card :(
It would be nice to  know a bit about the tower..

The stamp was issued on 8/9/2014 in the set of 3 by the The Finnish post office, Itella Posti Oy. Featuring images from the iconic gay erotic artist Tom of Finland.  Cool stamp!

NAMIBIA - Swakopmund Mole and surroundings

What a nice card from Namibia showing Mole and its surroundings area. Thanks to Marlinda for the swap.

"In 1899, architect FW Ortloff's sea wall - better known as the Mole - was intended to enhance Swakopmund's poor harbour and create a mooring place for large cargo vessels. Unfortunately, Mr Ortloff was unfamiliar with the Benguela Current, which sweeps northwards along the coast, carrying with it a load of sand from the southern deserts. Within less than five years, the harbour entrance was choked off by a sand bank and two years later, the harbour itself had been invaded by sand to create what is now called Palm Beach. The Mole is currently used as a mooring for pleasure boats. " from here.

MOZAMBIQUE - Greeting from Vilanculos

Thanks to Carlos for yet another beautiful card showing Moçambique !

"Vilankulo (or Vilanculos) is a coastal town in Mozambique, lying in the Vilanculos District of Inhambane Province. Vilankulo is named after local tribal chief Gamala Vilankulo Mukoke, and some of the "bairros" (suburbs) are named after his sons. During colonial times the name was changed to Vilanculos since the Portuguese do not use the letter K much, and commonly use the 'ssh' sound of the S. At independence the name was changed back to Vilankulo – with a K and no S. Today the district is called Vilanculos and the town Vilankulo, and many residents have Vilankulo as their last name."

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!