BELARUS - Traditional Window Frames

Before the plastic windows there are a tradition to decorate windows with window frames made of wood and paint them in different colors. In some villages in Belarus you can find some of this frames,  Thanks to postcrosser Alex for the card and information.

Empress Sisi

Thanks to postcrosser Gala for the Empress Sisi card. We have swap before and its a nice surprise to received her card from official pc.

RUSSIA - Karelia, Kem, the Cathedral of the Assumpion in 1711 - 1717

The third card from Vladimir shows Karelia, Kem, the Cathedral of the Assumpion in 1711 - 1717.

"The cathedral with the exception of frame passage is made from a single log, without a single nail. Unlike other in Kem Cathedral of the Assumption, there is one interesting detail - the top of the iconostasis is illuminated through a window cut through the ceiling. Thanks to this source of light, invisible to visitors, her back to him, one can observe an unusual effect of "glowing" iconostasis." Source

More awesome architectures picture of Russian church, can be seen here.

RUSSIA - St Nicholas Cathedral, Novgorod

Thanks to Vladimir for the swap.

Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Novgorod (Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Yaroslav's Court) - one of the ancient Novgorod churches. By age second only to St. Sophia Cathedral . It was founded in 1113 on the territory of Yaroslav's Court Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich .

RUSSIA - Kizhi. Chapel from Korba village. 17th Century

This is an old picture postcard of Karalia, Kizhi, Chapel from the village of Korba, 17th century.

Thanks so much Vladimir for this great addition to my churches theme collections.

FDC - Russia, Folk Musical Instruments

Thanks to Vladimir for the 2014 FDC showing Folk musical instruments Russia.

RUSSIA - The Church of Prophet Elijah

Thanks to postcrosser Kseniya for the meet-up card in CheeyaBinsk, Russia.

"The Church of Elijah the Prophet is the pride and joy of Yaroslavl and the favorite tourist attraction. It was built in 1647 – 1650 and is one of the most complete and best-preserved monuments of Yaroslavl. Built on the site of two churches, the Intercession and Elijah, the church is considered a real masterpiece of ancient Russian art. The main structure of the temple is a massive building on high foundation topped with five heads resting on light drums. The drums are decorated with arches and columns and surrounded by the rows of kokoshniks. But the main thing is, of course, the interior painting, made by famous Kostroma masters. They have no equals in beauty, richness and brightness of colors."

MALAYSIA - 2nd Meet up Card

Thanks to Mazz for sending me the Kuala Lumpur - Selangor Meetup card.  Too bad I could not join this meetup, otherwise my signature would be in one of those.. :)

RUSSIA - Beauty of Dombay, Karachay - Cherkess Republic

Thanks to postcrosser Alex for the beautiful Dombay card.

"Dombay is situated within the Teberda Nature Reserve (zapovednik) and is a popular tourist destination. The area attracts people for its skiing and hiking trails and natural beauty of the Caucasus Mountains. The settlement is located at the elevation of 1,630 meters (5,350 ft) above sea level, with its skiing area occupying the slopes of Mount Mussa Achitara, between 1,800 meters (5,900 ft) and 3,200 meters (10,500 ft) above sea level. Dombay-Ulgen, the highest peak of the Dombay area, is 4,046 meters (13,274 ft). Dombay is surrounded with snow-capped mountains and glaciers all year round."

FAROE ISLANDS MaxiCard - Total Solar Eclipse, 2015

The Moon orbits Earth and Earth revolves around the Sun. The moon completes its orbit around Earth in just under a month, thus passing between Earth and the Sun 12-13 times a year. This phase is called the new moon. If the Moon is right in front of the Sun in this phase, we have a total solar eclipse. Generally, however, the Moon passes either above the Sun or below the Sun, because the Moon’s orbit around Earth is not in the ecliptic, which is Earth’s orbit around the Sun.

On March 20 the Moon in fact passed right in front of the Sun in a shadow zone, which rapidly moved up The North Atlantic Ocean west of the Faroe Islands. Therefore, the solar eclipse on March 20, 2015 was total in the Faroe Islands. Source

FINLAND - Joensuu Orthodix Church of St. Nicholas

The Orthodox St. Nicholas Church of Joensuu was completed in 1887. It’s one of the most significant samples of Orthodox wooden church architecture in Finland. The most valuable artefact is the iconostasis painted in St. Petersburg. The original six bells are also casted there.

CHINA - Jiangnan

Thannks to postcrosser Merry for the card.

CZECH REPUBLIC - Hazmburk

The ruins of Házmburk Castle are a typical and unmistakable dominant feature on the Czech landscape. The view from the isolated hill of the landscape of the Central Bohemian Uplands is unforgettable. 

Thanks to postcrosser Pavel for the card.

Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola, King and Queen of Belgium

Thanks to postcrosser Monique for the card.

NETHERLANDS - Windmill

Thanks to postcrosser Gert for the windmill card.

SERBIA - Boynik, Memorial Graveyard

The Memorial and Graveyard in Boynik, Southern Serbia. "Never again 17th February 1942" it says.

RUSSIA - The Cathedral of the Resurrection, Arzamas

The Cathedral of the Resurrection in the city of Arzamas, Nizhny Novgorod region. Thanks to Sergey for the swap.

"The cathedral was built during the 28 years since 1814, with the money donated by the townspeople. The author of the architectural project was Michael Corinth (1788-1851), born in Arzamas, a master of classicism, a disciple of the famous architect Andrei Voronikhin.

Finishing work lasted for 21 years. The painting is made in the cathedral school pupils academician AV Stupin. The main altar was consecrated in 1840. In Soviet times, the cathedral has been decided to blow up, but because of the strong perturbations residents managed to keep the temple. In 1932 it was closed, there was a museum of atheism, it was thanks to the museum preserved the original appearance and unique interiors of the temple, and many Orthodox shrines Arzamas, who were brought here from the destroyed temples.

In the midst of World War II in 1943, after numerous requests believers cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church." Source

RUSSIA - Church of the Intercession

I could not find much info on this wooden church but I think it is the same church as written here.  Thanks to Sergey for the swap.

"Church of the Intercession, 1731. Originally from the village of Starye Kluchischi, it is a wooden church with a refectory."

Russia - Life of Russian

 Thanks to postcrosser Kate for the card.

EL SALVADOR - Nahuizalco

My second card from El Salvador, all thanks to Cesac for sending from his trip. Thank you so much, dear friend!