Christmas in July

 

frosty and rudolph made an appearance on tv last week, when the temperature reached 34C (93F)

I've been dreaming of a bit of cold snow, and I'll bet the mail carrier might also not mind after these last few days (and coming days) of an unrelenting heatwave.

 

Next week: any stamp(s) with any connection to the letter 'A'

not a pet

 

CATURDAY

wonders of travel

Is there a more dramatic arrival to anywhere? In this case Princess Juliana Airport in Sint Maarten with its one runway and planes flying low over Maho Beach

or a more space agey piece of LAX than this Theme Building

 or more elegant than this wonder of Victorian engineering

blue sea

 

stamp from the Singapore World Stamp Exhibition

... featuring the deep blue sea

Starting in August, I thought we'd go back to the alphabet theme.  Any stamp, any theme or country, that is related to the letter of the week.  It may be the words on the stamp, or a description in any language. It's been a few years since we last did this, but I'm feeling like I'm repeating themes too frequently lately so this opens up the options.

furbaby

 

CATURDAY

pass

 I am glad I was in Venice several decades ago before all the current craziness.  Fighting through massive crowds of tourists and selfie sticks to see the beauty of this city does not feel like it would be enjoyable.  Plus, the charm of local culture is gone.

       this is as crowded as I feel comfortable with (1910s)

And, even without the current political climate, I have never wanted to go to Florida.  I even turned down an offer of free accommodation from some friends who had a condo they used during the winter.  I would rather have spent time exploring the states I'd have to drive through to get there than spend time in Daytona. 

 

 

 They do have a dizzying array of linen postcards, though.

 

 I could also include Disney World - or any of the Disney theme parks - in my list of places I'd not like to visit.

I'd rather visit a theme park that is unique to country you find it in.

summer

 

I think I recognize the names of 7 cities from various Postcrossers and my previous knowledge of Helsinki as the capital.

serpent

 

The Ogopogo lives in Okanagan Lake.  A 25 metre (or more) humped snake like creature with the head of a horse.  Since no one has actually seen the Ogopogo, its description varies.  Some Native peoples regard it as a sacred spirit, with its demonic view coming about from a miscommunication between the Syilix and the early European settlers.  It might be that the serpentine shape of the deep Okanagan Lake fjord has a spirit  form as well as a physical form (as do the mountains).  Or it might the remnants of a dinosaur.   Now, it is a big tourist attraction, with a large plastic statue on the shoreline (perfect for selfies).

comfort

 this poor kitty (card) looks like it's been through the wringer

CATURDAY

far away lands

I fell in love with Norway while watching the 1994 Olympics 

I'm pretty sure I could miss out on this experience at Preiskestolen.  I would be happy to be on a boat cruising Lysefjord and looking UP at the 604 metre cliff.

However, I would not want to miss out seeing a Stave.  How would a 900 year old wood church smell, I wonder? 

I don't know what triggered my fascination with Japan, but it would be my top dream destination if I could choose anywhere in the world.  I would prefer to be with someone who was Japanese and could translate and explain...

It helps that I love the food - sushi, sashimi, ramen... not to mention  over 300 flavours of Kit Kat!

I wish I had a more modern card of this exclusive and expensive shopping street. Not sure I could afford much anyway, which would make me less interested. 

  I would maybe last an afternoon before wanting to escape.  I would be much more interested in the train journeys and the shrines and temples.

The Kumano Nachi Shrine and a waterfall! (Nachi-no-Otaki, the tallest in Japan)

Izumo Taisha Shrine

Hong Kong was never really on my radar as a place I'd want to visit, it was just a place I'd heard of.  Then, with all the attention during the time of the handover, it became more interesting.

 the stunning vistas from the harbour and the mountains.  The city is densely packed with people and skyscrapers, but also with parks and gardens (over 1,600 covering more than 40% of the land area!)

'the second coolest street in the world'

This is more interesting shopping

the states of austria

summer fun

 I am more of  a hibernator in summer than winter.  heat (and humidity) and I are not best buds.

Maybe a road trip would be in order (is that van air conditioned?) 

This series is from prolific illustrator and designer Gavin Ryan.

I'm not sure this poor soul in Blackpool is having fun at the seaside.  I did not find these saucy postcards funny when I first came across them.  Apparently they were created as a reaction to prudish Victorians (I may have have been a prude.  Or just 14). They seem even more inappropriate now. The people were always fat.  I'm not sure why I even have this one - it may have been part of a 'lot'.  

One thing that will get me moving in summer is checking out flowers.  This is the Victorian era Halifax Public Gardens,  located at the appropriately named Spring Garden Road and Summer Street.  There are free historical tours several times a day throughout summer.

How about a bit of canoeing and fishing.  Although you can fish all year round, I always think of it as a summer thing (I don't fish, except when I was younger and at a cottage, or camping) Maybe these guys are looking for bass, pike, musky or carp.

Or a round or two of golf. This is Royal Troon Scotland which last held The Open in 2016.  This year, it will be at Portrush in Northern Ireland (July 13 - 20)

Or, a spot of tennis. Though this is hardly a casual match.  This year being held from June 30 to July 13, (ending just in time for golf)

perching

 this is totally what my cat would do

CATURDAY

touring canada

from the French charm of Quebec City to the turquoise, crystal clear waters of Georgian Bay (with some of the best scuba diving for shipwrecks)

 

 

 

 

to the wilds of the far north in Yukon 

cows

 

dairy cows were first brought to Australia n 1788

my guess is that these are Jerseys 

lancy cat

 

 

 

 

 

 

thinking of you and sending you all of life's best today and always

 

 

 

CATURDAY 

tchochtkes

anyone else remember that time when garden gnomes were being 'kidnapped' and taken on trips with their photos in front of famous landmarks before being returned?

matryoshka

klompen

some tourist souvenirs for Thursday Postcard Hunt

(I will admit to having all of these! the gnomes were my mother's, which I thought were tacky, and a little creepy looking.  but I took a couple after she died and they stand like sentries on my balcony.  they have not been taken on any trips.  the matryoshka dolls collection increased when I was given several from a friend who thought her mother's collection was a little creepy.  I love them)

Next month, we'll move on to some travelling ideas of our own.