andalucia

 

descending dragon

I had this post ready before Typhoon Yagi slammed into Vietnam leading to an ever rising death toll, evacuations and untold damage to towns and villages and infrastructure

Halong Bay has been on my list of magical places to visit for a long time.  It is well known for its towering limestone karsts rising up from the water.

Legend has it that to help Vietnam defend itself from invaders in its early days of becoming a country, the gods sent a family of dragons from the heavens as protectors.  They began to spit out jewels and jade which turned into islets and islands, which have been slowly eroded into interesting and impressive formations from the movement of the waves over the centuries.

a basket of kitties

 Jip en Janneke

CATURDAY

to infinity and beyond

Opened on the eve of the Summer Games in 2004 for the Olympic Flame to cross 

joining Rio on the Peloponnese peninsula to Antirio on mainland Greece over the Gulf of Corinth

no longer in use, this bridge opened in 1929, two months before the Wall St crash

 postmarked 1954

 

a bridge that was started in 1954 and completed in 1957, the five mile long Mackinac connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan over the Straits of Mackinac that separates Lakes Huron and Michigan

There is a driver assistance program where, for a fee, you can have someone drive your vehicle for you if you are fearful. Around 1,000 people take advantage of this every year.

 

pei

The smallest province in Canada, PEI is known for its beaches, red soil, potatoes and seafood.  Sadly, Green Gables is not represented on this postcard

I have noticed that Marina posts maps on Monday and I thought I'd follow along.  No particular theme, just random maps pulled out from my collection.

coral cay

 

Green Island is 8 miles, or 13 kms, off the coast of Cairns and maybe has a population of 20? (according to 2021 census). It was formed about 6,000 years ago by waves depositing sand, coral and other debris onto its coral foundation.

This would be one place I'd like to see, but the world on stamps is huge and I, for one, am excited for next week to see what sites are on your wish list.

an aerial view for Sunday Stamps

napping

 I can sleep anywhere...

CATURDAY

arches

The Huron Street Bridge

One of the most photographed spots in Stratford, this bridge was built in 1885.  It was meant to be a triple arch, but the river (Avon) was too narrow, and now it is the only double arched aqueduct road bridge still in use for road traffic in North America.

Below is the Stone Arch Bridge, built 1847.  It has a 90 foot span and a 60 foot arch at its centre making it "the largest stone arch in New England".  It is now part of the Cheshire Rail Trail.

more houses of learning

two quite different styles of libraries from the early 1900s

house of learning

 it's back to school for many students

It is unusual to have a classroom with a bay window.  I once went to an open house of a school conversion to condos, and I am imagining that this building would lend itself to some lovely apartments

map

 a county battered

by Typhoon Shanshen

two meals

braised pork rice and a stir fry from Taiwan