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.

message in a bottle

 

of the sea

hooked

 

CATURDAY

faces

 A Taoist man with his face painted for a temple parade in Taiwan

I can't quite tell what is behind this look...

truly the oddest Easter card I've received.  but just look at those cheeks!

and, these adorable wee ducklings

activities

There are plenty of stamps featuring men but I wanted to find some who were doing things, rather than sitting in a portrait, or posing.  In this case, we have some anonymous men racing, plowing, and planting.

sepia

 

CATURDAY

sandstone

Colorado River doing its best incised meander.  The rock is Navajo Sandstone and the drop to the river is 1,000 feet.  The best time to visit - and see the colours - is at sunrise or sunset. 

60 million years ago, this land was relatively flat, then about 5.5 million years ago geological forces pushed the land upwards.  A couple hundred miles away is the Rainbow Bridge, also of Navajo Sandstone.  What makes this a bridge rather than an arch is that it was formed from water cutting through sandstone.

pillar boxes

Although I don't have the actual stamps, I do have this set of 2002 PHQ cards - which I think I prefer

and, I was pleased to discover, after getting them, that the engraver was Czeslaw Slania (1921-2005)

Note: the colour changed from green to red in 1874 and the blue box was for airmail.

 

maybe Joy can enlighten us if she has seen any new pillar boxes with the CRIII cypher? 

 

cheshire grin

 

CATURDAY

thatch

rooftops

Storks are the national bird of Belarus. Their nests are high off the ground, in trees or rooftops, or pylons.  They evolve over time as the pair return year after year  and expand, alter and redecorate. Some nests have grown to 2 metres wide and could be decades old (and are, eventually, passed on to other pairs)

Some people's nests have thatched roofs that require repairs every 10-25 years or so.  It can be eyewateringly expensive, but is environmentally friendly and the materials are sustainable.  And is so pretty.  With the wildfires we are experiencing, it is a good thing that it is not a common practice here.

Some architectural details for Thursday Postcard Hunt.

epic

 'creepy crawlies' of a different sort

once a year, millions (!) of red crabs take over this island in the Indian Ocean  crab migration

cat and cock

 

CATURDAY

red

 an iconic VW Beetle (something I've always wanted)

an iconic Routemaster

Portland got its streetcars in 2001 with a vintage trolley (replica) operating until 2005

fading

Although this is from China, it seems to be an image of Singapore (I recognize The Merlion).  Turns out it's a joint issue.  I do like the watercolour effect.

And, what looks like a foggy view of Amsterdam beyond the Magere (Skinny) Bridge

jammin'

CATURDAY
 

splashes of colour

Some unusually colourful houses (for Canada) in St John's

 
under less sunny skies, is this street in Helsinki

and some unusual colours on this lighthouse on the North Sea

more yellow in Vienna