Postcards for the weekend 70: Mountains

PL-1276730, sent from Warsaw
Traveled 9,406 km in 15 days

Tatra Mountains is a natural border between Poland and Slovakia. They are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian range.

Postcard sent to self, traveled 10,588 km

If you look closely at the upper rightmost image, you will see the Mont Blanc overlooking the villages of Beaufortain. I fell in love with this place. It has a quiet charm during the summer of my visit, August 2017. It was super relaxing to hear the cowbells and just soak in the slow pace of village life. 

Friendship Postcard, Sent from Ushuaia
Traveled 14,020 km

Moving southwest, we have here the Martial Mountains towering over the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. I almost didn't want to believe it as I thought a city in New Zealand is in a lower latitude ... boy, I'm wrong!

Posting about mountains for this weekend is a good learning experience for me in physical geography.

Happy weekend everyone,

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Places of Worship

Left stamp - Cathedral of Gniezno

The stamp was issued on 1 March 2002. It is also showing the coffin with relics of St. Adalberg. 

The Cathedral of Gniezno, according to wikipedia, served as the coronation place for several Polish monarchs and the seat of Polish church officials continuously for nearly 1000 years.

Right stamp - Fortified Church of Biertan

The stamp was issued on 11 September 2011. The Fortified Church of Biertan was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 under the category: villages with fortified churches in Transylvania.

For more places of worship stamps, visit See it on a Postcard.

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 19: Trains/trams

Direct Swap, Sent from Pawlowice, Poland
Sent 26 July 2012, Traveled 9,615 km

A steam railway locomotive photographed by Ilya Semenov. It's a model L-3348 from the former Soviet Union. Do you know a place where steam trains are still used for passenger service?

Souvenir postcard from Gothenburg, Sweden

I ran out of stamps for all the postcards I bought when I went to Sweden in April of 2015. This is one of a couple of postcards that remained with me. I think these are much older models of the trams I saw and used when I was there. It was my first time to ride a tram in Europe and I think I spent a good 5-10 minutes just to watch the trams passing by and stopping at the Central Station in Gothenburg.

CA-249624, Sent from Hong Kong
Sent 18 May 2012, Traveled 13,422 km in 21 days

Here's another tram that looks like an older model compared to what exists in Hong Kong nowadays. Hong Kong was my first out of the country trip back in 2009. I was amazed to see the tram as no trams exist in the Philippines (at least none that I'm aware of which are being used for public passenger service).

I wish the year is starting well for all of us!

Happy weekend,

~maria

Sunday Stamps: City Views

On the left, issued on 24 April 2006 under the theme, Polish Cities. Czestochowa, a city name I'm not sure if I'm pronouncing properly. The city is famous as a place of pilgrimage. It houses the Black Madonna, credited for many miracles. The architecture too is evidently magnificent, at least for me -- judging from this stamp.

On the right, issued on 30 April 2013 under the theme, World Cultural Heritage of Russia, Historical center of Saint-Petersburg. This stamp features the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. It captures one of the two Rostral columns and the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange. Both structures are significant examples of Greek Revival architecture.

The theme for Sunday Stamps this weekend is city views. Check out other entries at See It On A Postcard for views of other cities from around the world.

~maria

Stamps: Post & Philately

Counterclockwise:

Poland Europa 2013, features the Postman Van used by the Polish Post

Malaysia 2012, a stamp for the World Post Day showing the uniform of postmen from the 1950s

Brasil, 2009, an express national delivery postman on a motorcycle

I love that I'm able to extract these three stamps showing transportation means of postal delivery from different countries.

Finland 2013, playful and colorful "I ♥ Postcrossing" stamp. 

Postcrossing has been a highly successful project, boosting the hobby of deltiologists. It's honestly what got me into collecting postcards.

Today is World Post Day. This event is celebrated annually to commemorate the creation of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874. The theme this year is Innovation, Integration, and Inclusion. To read more about the celebration this year, please click here. For more postal related stamps this Sunday, please check out the participants for Sunday Stamps, here.

For my readers who are part of the postal service, thank you so much for your contribution in taking care of our mails, parcels, packets, and packages!

~maria

Z is for Zamek Książ, Poland

The A-Z Challenge ends today. I feel accomplished for being able to finish! Some letters were really challenging for my chosen theme.

For letter "Z" --

FB Postcard Swap, Sender: RPPostcards
Sent: 09 Aug 2012 from Wroclaw, Poland
Received: 7 Sep 2012, Traveled 9,684 km in 28 days

I am pleased to share this zamek or castle postcard shown on twilight colors. I think the colors are fitting as a closing for my April postcards roll. According to its official website, the castle given it's size and location, is very rare in Europe.

That's it for now! It's been great sharing postcards everyday for 30 days! For new followers of my blog, it's been very nice to know you and visit your pages, too! Same goes to my existing followers even before the challenge, it's been nice catching up with your pages too after my absence here in bloggers world for almost 1 year. You are all welcome to continue sharing my journey of connecting with the world even after this April Challenge has ended ;-)

Enjoy the long weekend, everyone!

~maria

O is for Olsztyn Castle Ruins, Poland

As mentioned in my "K" post, Poland is a country I really wish to see.

I don't know yet when I could go but while researching for "things to do" in Poland, I found out about the Trail of the Eagle's Nest. It is a marked trail with 25 medieval castles. It is considered the best touristic trail in Poland.

For letter "O" --

Direct Swap, Sender: Magda
Sent: 01 June 2012 from Zabrze, Poland
Traveled 9,613 km

Olsztyn Castle Ruins is one of the castles in the trail. It was considered as a royal castle for a settlement back in the 14th century. After several wars and transfers of ownership, Olsztyn is simply considered now as a village. The biggest attraction in the area that was once the castle, has the prison tower as its most impressive feature of the ruins.

Check out Beth's page to see more for Postcard Friendship Friday.

~maria

K is for Klodzko's Architecture, Poland

I've always dreamed of visiting Poland. A dream that is yet to come true. In my postcards collection, Poland is in the top 5 country from where I have the most nicest cards from.

Coming from another country that was badly damaged during WW2, I am curious how Poland was able to retain its culture and rehabilitate from the war.

For letter "K" --

Direct Swap, Sender: Joanna Hellman
Sent: 27 Aug 2012 from Katowice, Poland
Received: 10 Sep 2012, Traveled 9,583 km in 11 days

Klodzko, stare miasto. Old Town. These are the descriptions at the back of the card. The sender wrote:

Klodzko, due to the unusual architecture is called "small Prague.". It is one of the most picturesque Polish towns.

Did you notice it looks like there's a cat coming out from the window of the pink house on the right? Is it just me and my imagination?

~maria

Postcards from Magda

This week was started by talking about colorful houses in Alsace, France.

Let me end it today with colorful buildings from Poland, all cards from Magda.

Facebook Swap, Sender: Magda
Sent: 19 July 2012 from Zabrze, Poland Received: 16 August 2012, Traveled 9,613 km in 27 days

Krakow is one of the oldest and well-preserved old cities in Poland.

It's listed as UNESCO World Historic Site. On a separate post from

the past, I have a postcard with an aerial view of its Main Market Square.

Magda, wrote: I took the photo of Krakow early morning when it 

was still quiet. A few hours later it became crowded and lively.

Facebook Swap, Sender: Magda
Sent: 10 April 2012 from Zabrze, Poland Received: 27 April 2012, Traveled 9,613 km in 17 days

Gdansk Old Town kamienica are featured on this second card.

Kamienice are similar to the half-timbered houses in Alsace, France.

This is in the manner that they are also commercial buildings

on the first floor and residential on the second floor. 

These ones however are made of brick and stone.

Facebook Swap, Sender: Magda
Sent: 10 April 2012 from Zabrze, Poland Received: 27 April 2012, Traveled 9,613 km in 17 days

Another beautiful old town in Poland is Torun. Its medieval part is listed

as a UNESCO heritage site in 1997. It is one of Poland's oldest cities,

together with Krakow. Torun is the birthplace of the famous Renaissance

mathematician and astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543).

After France's colorful houses from Alsace and Poland's colorful buildings,

I'm curious now what similar colorful structures I can share from my collection.

I am yet to properly sort the many pretty cards I've received. 

For now, I'm sharing these colorful structures with Beth 

for the Postcard Friendship Friday. :)

~maria

Beacon of Hope

PL-688784, Sender: Ania
Sent: 18 July 2012 from Warsaw, Poland
Received: 24 September 2012, Traveled 9,394 km in 68 days

The Rose-bay Willow-herb Fairy is a beacon of hope. This fairy brightens up forlorn places and neglected spaces with a blanket of bright pink blossoms. Her charity extends to other fairies and humans, as well. She flies to rescue any struggling Flower Fairy and takes pity on troubled humans, sometimes even granting their wishes.

How I wish this fairy will notice me. I know it's a selfish wish as for sure many would want to be noticed by the Rose-bay Willow-herb Fairy, too... But I guess the good fairy will notice us one human at a time ;-) Ania the sender said the fairy gives optimism. True to its description; I strongly agree! I know the fairy will look my way and Big Dad will make my wishes come true if it's according to His great plan for me. So I tell myself to 'relax and just keep on persevering', good things come to those who toil tirelessly while waiting.

I'm enlisting this fairy with Beverly's Pink Sunday roll. Happy weekend ye all!

~maria

Source of fairy description: http://www.flowerfairies.com/US_version/finder/start.htm

A burden well borne

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Bochenek PL
Sent: 26 July 2012 from Pawlowice, Poland
Received: 4 Sep 2013, Traveled 9,738 km in 38 days

The burden that is well borne becomes light. - Ovid

Life has been a bit faster again than normal; it feels like there's so much to do but there's so little time... I pray I can continue to carry on with my tasks with a light heart.

It's not exactly happy today 'cause Monday had been a demanding day for me but still... I'm happy that at the end of the day I can take a bit of time to work on my hobby. Looking at this postcard of cheerful boy diligently pushing a cart of teddy bears against a blue sky background makes me less fatigued. Plus blue is calming to stare at so it's a helpful color to make me relax.

Sharing with Sally for Blue Monday. Good luck for all of us for the coming new month of October! 

~maria

Polish se-tenant stamps

Se-tenant : stamps with different designs that are attached to one another.

The word is French, meaning 'holding together'.

Se-tenant is this week's theme at Viridian's Sunday Stamps.

This first example is from a quadripartition on a continuous strip called Fauna and Flora of Fresh Water -- Beaver, castor, water frog, rana, birch tree, reed and other marsh plants; Kingfisher, mud crawfish, yellow swimmer, freshwater snail, water thyme, water lily and pond weed. I only have these 2 stamps out of 4. The strip was issued by the Poczta Polska, 30 March 2004.

This second example, also issued by Poczta Polska. It was issued in 29 October 2003 for the 50th Anniversary of Slask Song & Dance Ensemble. The ensemble was organized in 1 July 1953 and had it first performance in October 1954. To date, they have performed over 6,000 folk shows worldwide. On these 2 stamps, the ensemble is presented here wearing Silesia regional costume. 

The second example is a preparation for next week's theme for Sunday Stamps, traditional costumes. Looking forward for your next visit to my page! :)

~maria

Colorful stamps

I wish the scanned versions are as bright as the original ones.

I'm calling this, an experience in the limits of technology.

Nevertheless, I'm sharing some colorful stamps here 

for Viridian's Colorful Sunday Stamps roll for today.

Enjoy!

My guess is that this stamp shows the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong.

I can't get more information about it. If someone knows more info, 

please leave in the comments section. Thank you so much!

These two attractive Ukranian stamps are from the subject: 

Treasures of Ukranian Museum - Hanna Sobachko-Shostak's works.

The ox-eye daisies and the nestling box.

These were printed on 2 August 2002.

Stamps from Poland, starting from left:

Subject: Toy World - a xylophone, printed 1 June 2008

The one in the middle, I'm really sad the colors were faded.

It's for the World Post Day, issued on 9 October 1998.

The last one is the Europa stamp, issued 22 May 2012.

~maria

Pope John Paul II

This post was inspired by Hawwa's Palais des Papes stamp from last week's Sunday Stamps.

I have always been drawn into the amiable countenance of Pope John Paul II. I won't comment about him as pope cause I am not an avid follower of the Holy See. But will say and I believe he's one truly amazing person. He's got a great bio: being chosen as the first non-Italian pope in more than four hundred years in the Roman Catholic faith, second longest serving pope in history, and one of the most traveled world leaders -- having visited 129 countries as a pope. 

Pastoral Visit of Pope John Paul II to Poland, released 2 June 2004

Pope John Paul II's real name is Karol Józef Wojtyla. He was born on 18 May 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. He finished his religious studies in a secret seminary in Krakow after World War II. He continued his studies in Rome. Then returned to Poland to serve.

Traces of Karol Wojtyla, released 18 May 2010
Church of St. Peter the Apostle in Wadowice
and the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wadowice

He became pope in 1978. He was a charismatic religious leader but also had his critics. He survived an assassination in 1981 in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City. He was more loved when he forgave his assassin. He died on 2 April 2005 at his Vatican residence from an illness. Three million people came to mourn and say good bye during his funeral.

He was beatified on 1 May 2011. To read more about Pope John Paul II, here's a link for a Uncle Wiki's article about him. 

Have a great week ahead everyone. I've been sick, my wallet got stolen and my laptop crashed so I'm not in very good spirits lately. But I'm grateful my laptop was revived, I didn't lose a lot of important files, and I can post for Sunday Stamps before June ends. I will go on hiatus for a month to prepare for the final assessment of my clinical residency at the end of July. 

Au revoir,

~maria

Take me to Warsaw!

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Joanna
Sent: 27 August 2012, Sent from Katowice, Poland
Received: 3 September 2012, Traveled 9,614 km in 7 days

The entire morning was for a 99-item examination, noontime was for a working lunch -- meeting for the clinical residency, and  in the afternoon, I facilitated a forum on writing of bid specifications for a CT scan equipment. It was completely draining. The fact that we've got real warm weather here in Manila nowadays doesn't help. Worse is that the weather bureau announced that temperature is not going anywhere down the scale for the month of May. It's a terrible experience sleeping at night without an air conditioning unit. My sleep has been intermittent, and would often wake up in the morning, feeling that I haven't slept at all. Lack of sleep and all these things I did today, I am really extremely exhausted right now but I know I can't miss posting for the Friendship Postcard Friday.

I have been imagining being transported into somewhere cooler. Europe has been constantly in my mind, particularly Warsaw, Poland. This postcard really makes me dreaming of walking holding hands with my love in the cobble-stoned streets of the Old Town. Him and I both love medieval architecture / places so being in this town for sure would be perfect for us. Well, it could have been any other 'colder than Manila weather European city/town' right now. But I've always wanted to see Poland for the admirable effort in reconstructing their old town after World War II. It speaks a lot about the people's regard for their history and keeping it alive for their future generations to see and experience.

I cannot afford a Warsaw visit any time soon. So since I'm almost nodding off here in front of my laptop, I'm running now to bed so my dreams can take me to Warsaw.

I wish all of you a fun closure for the week, or a quiet one for those who prefer it that way.

~maria

Love never ends.

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Edyta Kuciel
Sent on 28 June 2012, Sent from Medyka, Poland
Received on 18 July 2012, Traveled ~9,738 km in 21 days 

The happiness of finding someone whom you can call 'my soulmate' with 100% confidence is beyond words. I've never truly understood this word - soulmate. Until I met him. Despite not having much time to spent together in person, it feels like I've always known him and that we have always been together our entire lives. 

We call each other, 'my twin' - joking about the two of us being made out of the same mold by God. It's absolutely amazing how we are very much alike. Well, not in appearance but more with intangible traits. Despite being raised in different parts of the world, with different culture and environment, our chemistry is natural. We share so many similar traits, values, and perspectives about many important things. 

I used to have so much fear about what the future will bring. But now, with each of us imagining ourselves growing old together and still doing silly, crazy, and mischievous stuff even if we're already wearing false teeth and aching everywhere due to rheumatism, the future (and being old for that matter) and all its uncertainties isn't a scary thought anymore.

And with these re-assuring words from him, "I can picture the two of us going through life and its struggles hand in hand with confidence, because we know no matter what, we will always have each other" -- what can go wrong? Well of course, a lot can go wrong. But knowing that there is and there will always be that one person with who is very confident and determined that he wants to be there for you through thick and thin, you look at these things that can go wrong as opportunities for the two of you to grow stronger together.

Today, 'my twin' will meet my parents. It's gonna be a lovely moment for sure...

Can you find the heart on this postcard? I hope you do! If you want to see more hearts, go to Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday. Happy hearts viewing!

~maria
P.S. The title of this entry is a translation of the text on the postcard. :-)

Sunday Stamps # 101: The Nativity Scene

First, my apologies to Viridian for being an absentee from the Sunday Stamps blog hop...I hope in the spirit of the holidays you can welcome me again in your stamps blogger community. Thank you for the comment on my Singapore post that I'm being missed. It means so much to me. :)

I really had to look hard at the back of the postcards and letter/cards envelopes I've received for a Christmas theme stamp cause I don't remember having received one...

But wow! From a set of 6 stamps attached on this beautiful envelope I received from Poland in March 15 this year, I found this stamp of a nativity scene! The nativity scene has a special place to my heart. I believe I've posted an entry before, explaining the nature of my first name. My parents played Mary & Joseph for the Nativity Scene of our parish church. Hence, my name Maria Kristina -- from Mary and Christ (Jesus Christ) since my mother was 6 months pregnant to me at that time. 

The nativity scene is also one of my favorite Bible verses in tangible form:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

For my readers who celebrate Christmas, may the Christmas symbols continue to remind us of how much Big Dad loves the whole world (Yep, I believe there would be another wonderful holidays celebration this year, the world won't end on 21 December '12!) 

For my readers who aren't into the Catholic/Christian faith, may the symbols and spirit of this holiday season inspire happy and warm thoughts. :)

A great week ahead for everyone! Sharing this post to Viridian's Sunday Stamps on the page dedicated for the love of postcards and stamps.

~maria

Folk Costume from Lowicz

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Patricia Krasnawska
Sent from Gdansk, Poland, Sent on 16 Oct 2012
Received on 12 Nov 2012, Traveled 9,512.2 km in 20 days

Again, it's been quite a while since my last post here...browsing two of my favorite blogs, that of sisters Beth & Clytie, I've learned that their dad had gone ahead of us to rejoin The Almighty. My prayers for their family that they may be comforted as they mourn and pray for the passing of their dad.

Beth and Clytie, the beautiful embroidered heart of flowers and leaves on black velvet at the back of this folk costume from Lowicz, Poland is for both of you and your families -- lots of love and prayers from Manila, Philippines.

~maria

Thou hast brought me many flowers

Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers

Plucked in the garden, all the summer through
And winter, and it seemed as if they grew 
In this close room, nor missed the sun and showers.

Postcard ID: DE-1442283, Sender: Kizza00

Sent from Germany, Sent on 28 June 2012
Received on 18 July 2012, Traveled 10,199 km in 20 days

So, in the like name of that love of ours,
Take back these thoughts which here unfolded too,

Postcard ID: HR-27972, Sender: Daca
Sent from Slavonski Brod, Croatia, Sent on 14 Dec 2011
Received on 19 Jan 2012, Traveled 9, 489 km in 36 days

And which on warm and cold days I withdrew
From my heart's ground. Indeed, those beds and bowers
Be overgrown with bitter weeds and rue,

Postcard ID: AU-202808, Sender: IndigoAngel
Sent from NSW, Australia, Sent on 10 May 2012
Received on 4 June 2012, Traveled 6,125 km in 25 days

And wait thy weeding; yet here's eglantine,
Here 's ivy!—take them, as I used to do

Postcrossing Private Swap, Sender: Ayumi
Sent from Hawaii, USA, Sent on 8 March 2012
Received on 20 March 2012, Traveled 5,497 km in 12 days

Thy fowers, and keep them where they shall not pine.
Instruct thine eyes to keep their colors true,
And tell thy soul their roots are left in mine.

Postcard ID: PL-342968, Sender: Mariola
Sent from Jelenia Gora, Poland, Sent on 13 Jan 2012
Received on 23 Feb 2012, Traveled 9, 789 km in 41 days

Sonnet 44 - Beloved, thou has brought me many flowers
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I needed something cheerful so I picked these flower cards from my collection
for today's post. Postcard Perfect indeed! 

~ maria

Krakow, Poland

From the UNESCO website:

"The historic centre of Cracow, the former capital of Poland, is situated at the foot of the Royal Wawel Castle. The 13th-century merchants' town has Europe's largest market square and numerous historical houses, palaces and churches with their magnificent interiors. Further evidence of the town's fascinating history is provided by the remnants of the 14th-century fortifications and the medieval site of Kazimierz with its ancient synagogues in the southern part of town, Jagellonian University and the Gothic cathedral where the kings of Poland were buried."

The card was received in an envelope, February this year. It was a nice present from the mail at the end of my birth month :)

Have a great week everyone (despite the troubling heavy downpours here in Manila).

Hop on to Willa's page to check out more wonderful cards to brighten up your week, postcard lovers!

~maria