chateau

 Fontainebleau

and a long view

Fountainebleau is one of the largest French royal chateaux.  It was a favourite hunting lodge of the kings but was gradually transformed into a genuine palace and became a museum and a Unesco World Heritage Site 

hello

CATURDAY 

Tours, Chambord, Chinon, Villandry, Ambroise, Loches

greenery

 

It is always exciting when the first green leaves start popping up

but having a permanent green liveried tram would help get you in the mood for spring

then again, you could immerse yourself in the green of a canal cruise in the Ardennes

1er avril

 

C

I was looking through my fishes for a carp and came across this 'csuka', which translates to pike in English.  Below, is a 'ponty' which translates to carp in English.

also known as 'Chambak', on the left is a magnolia and at bottom a thistle with the pretty name of Carline

louis

Celebrating French history.  Designed by Albert Decarie

The 'Sun King' with the  Palace of Versailles in the background, into which he moved the court and government in 1682 making it the de facto capital of France.  He reigned for an astounding 72 years and 110 days.  born 1638, died 1715 

An older Louis - Louis Hébert, born 1575 in Paris, died 1627 in Quebec City - was the first French apothecary in the New World.  The stamp, designed by Clermont Malenfant, shows Louis surrounded by objects of his trade, including a mortar and pestle as well as a sprig of balsam fir and silverweed, both useful as herbal medicines.

egret

 

These don't look so 'little' to me, but the translation is "little egret" which weighs about 310 g, or almost 11 oz.  I rather like the rhyming scientific name.  Above is  the Reddish Egret (700-850 g or 25-30 oz), which is far better displayed on a souvenir sheet than just the stamp.  The $5 in Eastern Caribbean Dollars is equal to 1.58 euros, 1.38 pound sterling, 1.85 USD, and 2.54 CAD

Audubon's depiction of these egrets was made 1827-38.  

a man and his cat

 

Georges Perec was a French novelist, essayist and filmmaker.  He liked to write books using a curious wordplay - for example a novel without using the letter 'e', and another using only the vowel 'e'.

Perec had a succession of cats, all named Duchat.  This stamp is from a photo done in 1978 by Anne de Brunhof (granddaughter of Jean de Brunhof of Babar fame)

birds

This kemphaan is seriously endangered as a breeding bird in the Netherlands and extinct in Belgium

 

 

 

These budgerigars are golden faced blues (from a photo by Leila Jeffries).  They are small parrots and the most popular to be kept as pets in North America and Europe

Below is a kestrel, a small member of the falcon family.  They are highly adaptable and can live anywhere from mountains to the seaside, to urban areas (even nesting at Notre-Dame Cathedral)

lyon

Joseph Marie Jacquard, a weaver, inventor and merchant who lived from1752 to 1834 in Lyon.  He is perhaps best known for inventing the Jacquard loom (1804) which simplified complex patterns such as brocade and damask.

Lorne Greene, a Canadian actor, best known for playing Ben Cartwright on the tv show Bonanza.  Interesting fact: he was born Lyon Green in 1911.  He died in 1987.

headshots for Sunday Stamps

(and for anyone paying attention... I have no idea why the font keeps changing size)

salut

back to France

for the Paralympics

and, just in time, I received the latest Marianne (2023) 

This is Marianne of the future designed by Olivier Balez and engraved by Pierre Bara

sailing

 

Marseille

semi finals

 thing one...

 

 

 

 

 France v Spain

thing two

 

 

 

 

Canada v Argentina

marianne

Let's start off our world tour of Olympic participating countries with the host: France

the 2018 version of Marianne designed by 'YZ', a French graphist (or graphic designer) living in Abidjan, and engraved by Elsa Catelin

 

 

Olivier Ciappa's 2013 version of Marianne and youth

Marianne and stars designed & engraved by Yves Beaujard released in 2008

This 2003 version was designed by Eve Luquet and engraved by Claude Jumelet

 

 

New versions of these stamps are released every five years by the president.  I have yet to receive any 2023 ones

In case you've lost count, France is hosting the Olympics for the sixth time this summer.

northern hemisphere for Sunday Stamps

movement

running in France

and dancing in Dahomey

return of the sun

We are in the exciting grips (and endless media coverage) of Eclipse fever in my part of the world and are praying for a clear day - or at the very least, a clear hour between 3 pm and 4 pm tomorrow!

this is called 'return of the sun' by Inuit artist Kenojuak (1980)

and below, we have the Europa 'flaming sun' from 1972

showing the sun over Niagara Falls, Hopewell Rocks, and Spillars Cove in Newfoundland and Labrador

I have my glasses ready!  Happy viewing to anyone who is in the path of totality, or even in the outskirts (sorry, Eva!)

poisson d'avril

 a French tradition

planes, trains, automobiles

 

I have shown this one before, but I like it so you're getting to see it again. It's a jet flying out of Ottawa airport in 1964.

France's high speed train, which is now 42 years whisking you through the countryside. 

 

 

and, finally, a Ferrari with Gilles Villeneuve (1950-1982)

 and, tangentially related...

A very funny man, who died far too young in 1994. Starred in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (with another great, funny man, Steve Martin) in 1987. In much less speedy circumstances, the two were trying to get home in time for Thanksgiving (happy turkey day to viridian. and Marina? not sure where you are)

movember

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

Asterix, with a more substantial moustache

 

 

 and a whisper of a 'stache on Bob Marley

Movember started in Australia in 2003. In 2007, Canada, the UK, and Spain joined the fun charity. There are now 22 countries participating, with over 1250 men's health projects funded.

 

opera

The most iconic of them all, I think.

Construction started in 1959 and it was finally opened in 1973

From the modern to a more classical design.  Also known as Palais Garnier, it was constructed between 1861 and 1875.  You may know it from the Gaston Leroux book (and musical) Phantom of the Opera

I have thoroughly enjoyed The Met: Live in HD series at the cinema over the years, and on a one time visit to NYC, managed to get rush seating (it was thrilling!).  The Lincoln Centre was built in 1966

 

The Oslo Opera House (2008) was the largest cultural building constructed in Norway since 1300. Unlike The Sydney Opera House, it was completed ahead of schedule and under budget!  Instead of 'sails', it has a flat 'iceberg' design which is not so obvious in this postcard.

some performing arts theatres for Thursday Postcard Hunt