purple

 

To me, this orchid looks more pink, but everything I've read online about the bulbophyllum longiflorum thouars says it has 'purple spotting'. It's common name is 'pale umbrella orchid'

but, I think we can all agree that this card from Czech Republic is definitely purple

as is this purple moon

yellow houses

the most visited museum in Austria is where the Mozart family lived from 1747 to 1773 

this was the home of the Liechtenstein family until 1935 when the Nazi's took it and then the Czechs and  Prince Aloys II left for Vaduz. They never got it back and are still in legal battles over it.

flora and fauna fun

 

from the Czech Republic

flora 

 
 

 

and fauna

Certain that there must be a story behind this wine guzzling goose, I discovered it is a stamp for St Martin's Day which has a Czech tradition of eating a roast goose with a young vintage of a "svatomartinski vino" - the first wines of a new vintage of fresh, fruity wines that are meant to be drunk within a few months.

post

 

For the second time in less than a year the postal workers stopped working, but they are back now (on rotating strikes, but so far not in my area) so I've gotten back into checking my mailbox every day and sending cards through Postcrossing.

Our vans are a little different - less boxy - than these ones from the early 1990s, (same colours)

 

a couple of interesting and very different postboxes both from 2011

day 16 of NaBloPoMo

water

For all of my life, I have always lived near water - in many cases within walking distance of a lake, a creek, canal, river, or a pond.  I cannot imagine living somewhere without a body of water,  but I also cannot imagine going through some of the cataclysmic flooding such water can bring.  Any floods near me have been, well, not devastating.

I am fortunate to live near Niagara Falls.  And it's fortunate that I really like it there.  Sure, there is a bit of tacky touristy hell there, but the falls themselves are magnificent and I will happily drive past them at any time of the year.  Especially in winter.

Oceans are okay, though with the latest tsunami threats in the Pacific, I'd be happier on a calm cruise in Estonia.

maybe add a few islands

or a waterfall

Rivers in a city are especially attractive as they provide an opportunity for bridges.  I have been known to go miles out of my way for a waterfall or bridge.  (I've been to Milford Sound, but not Prague)

sometimes, you can't really escape water, and that's fine with me

my happy place: anywhere near water

czech

I am quite intrigued by the engraved and illustrated stamps from Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic (Czechia) and have not yet seen a stamp that was a photograph.

I haven't gotten enough Slovakian stamps to see if they have continued this tradition, but looking online, I think they have.

from 1955

jewellery

glassware

and from 2003, these aquarium fish which I believe are angel fish

red

 

the male cardinal is a bright spot in winter, especially where I live when most of the colourful birds have moved south

red is a popular colour for mailboxes in many countries

and decorators often suggest a pop of red somehere n a room, so this red chair would be welcome

plus a bonus red envelope for your Christmas cards

lost in translation

 

I'm not really sure what kind of fruit this is (mango?), though I suspect the Chinese script in the corner gives a clue (if I could read Chinese)

 

This one from Belarus was also tricky.  Turns out it is a 'common raccoon dog' which is not at all a raccoon.  Or a dog.  It is a canid that is closely related to a fox. They are widespread in eastern Europe and Asia.

 

The Moravian Museum is easily translatable.  Okay, I had to google translate 'zemske' (regional)

and, this is obviously the Bavarian Forest, in full winter  splendour

 

some foreign languages for Sunday Stamps

time in the city

 Perhaps the most famous clock tower

A vintage timepiece (c1934) as a shop sign for Möbel Hansson, an antique store in Stockholm

 

 

 

 

 

a clock in the medieval Old Quarter of Torun Poland

but, the pièce de résistance

is this astronomical clock in Prague, 

the oldest clock still in operation (since 1410)

cartoon animals

I had never heard of Moomins until I joined Postcrossing. One day I'll get around to reading a book (if I can find one)

another new one for me was this mole, Krtek. I have found a few episodes on youtube and was pleased to discover that it is all speechless (except for a few exclamation noises) making it even easier to follow.

 

sometimes, animals can even embarrass their mates

 

I haven't read this book, but I LOVE the film version

castles, palaces

 Hluboká Castle was extensively renovated in the style of Windsor Castle after a visit to Queen Victoria's coronation by the last owners, the Schwarzenbergs. It has 140 rooms and 11 towers. Like Windsor Castle, the grounds are free to visit and wander through.

And, speaking of Windsor Castle

It is the largest and oldest occupied working palace in Europe (since 1100). It has survived sieges of the 12th and 13th century, the Civil War in the 17th century, neglect during the 18th century, and a fire in the 20th century.

for Thursday Postcard Hunt

puppies

 

Czech mountain dog

some cute puppies born in 2021 for Sunday Stamps

easter

one of the first spring flowers - a pasque flower from Slovenia, designed by Julija Zornik (2007)

a decorated egg from Poland, designed by Agnieszka Sancewicz (2014)

and a decorated chick, designed by Anna Khunova (1998)

Happy Easter 

for Sunday Stamps

castle

A medieval castle in Bohemia. It was built in the 13th C to protect the crossroads of an important merchant route. The 50 metre high cylindrical tower dominates and is known as Indica. Opened to the public in 1801, it is the oldest castle museum in Central Europe. This was chosen as the 2017 Europa theme of castles

 

For Sunday Stamps - towers, castles, or fortresses

orloj

received from Czech Republic, the Astronomical Clock has been keeping time for over 600 years

a modern house

Vila Tugendhat, 1930
architect: Mies van der Rohe

received from Czech Republic

orloj

A monument to Mikulas of Kadan, a master clockmaker who, with mathematician and astronomer Jan Simels, created the astronomical clock in Prague in 1410 seen below.