Gratulerer med dagen Norge! / Happy Birthday Norway!

17 May is like probably the most important day in Norway since it is the country's Constitution Day, which is the National Day of Norway.

The Constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17 in the year 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark–Norway's devastating defeat in the Napoleonic Wars.

So for the birthday of my most beloved country in the world, here are a few Norwegian cards which I thought that thematically would be appropriate for today =)
In case you wanna read a bit more about the Norwegian's most important day of the year, take a look here - Understanding 17 May

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First comes an official card which even though shows the Norwegian flag, was actually sent from Poland, but don't get me started on that now, let me tell you a few words about the flag instead :)

It was adopted on 13 July 1821, by a resolution by the Norwegian parliament, the Storting.

The idea for this flag belongs to Frederik Meltzer, Member of Parliament from Bergen. He got the idea of adding a blue cross to the Danish flag during a meeting in the parliament. The discussion on the flag circled around considerations about reflecting the past, that is the Danish colours, which enjoyed great popularity, and considerations that the union with Sweden should also be reflected in the flag. So we can say that the red and white came from the Danish flag, the blue from the Swedish. At the same time, the colour combination red, white, blue was also attractive to the Parliament because it reflected the colours of liberty, as in the flags of France, the USA, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

here is that Polish stamp issued in 2009 for the World Post Day.



I have no idea how I obtained the following two cards (most probably a swap) - all I know is that I found them in the 2010 pile.

On both of the cards you can see a map of the country along with some beautiful nature scenes located in different parts of it (the one above actually shows views from the north of the country only).

The next map card - I received it twice....and funny thing is that both senders sent it like just a few days apart...what a telepathy!! :D
One was sent by Sissel and one by Cathrine - I can freely say my two most regular Norwegian contributors :))

Both Sissel and Cathrine have said on the cards that the map is a bit inaccurate - I don't know if it's cos its maybe an older edition or something...but still makes it a really nice map-card.

Among else it says that
- the country is a Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary system of Government
- monetary unit is the Norwegian krone
- religion: Protestant
- main export: oil and gas, ships and offshore platforms, fish, paper
- capital: Oslo
- largest lake: Mjøsa
- highest mountain: Galdhøpiggen, 2469m
- average life expectancy: women - 80 years, men - 73 years  (what the hell are you doing to your men Norway?? or should I ask that the Norwegian women maybe? :P)
- national anthem: Ja, vi elsker dette landet

speaking of mountains, it reminded me of this thing I read yesterday - it is not the latest news, actually it is like more than a year old, but I still thought it may be worth sharing this article about the Future Library Project that is taking place in Norway :)

here are the two stamps that came along with these cards - the above one featuring the Revtangen, Klepp, Rogaland was issued in 2009 in a set of 6 Tourism stamps, while the one below was issued in 2011 in a set of three stamps for the Year of the Architecture.

For the end of this post I will share with you a small anecdote from my recent Spanish trip that is related to Norway :)

See, we were visiting Benidorm one day, and just as we parked the car, another car parked in front of us, and I don't know why I took a look, but something just got my attention and I realized the car was Norwegian! I couldn't really believe it and I just stood there waiting for the people to get out of the car in order to talk to them, in my terrible basic Norwegian! To make it worse, I was so excited that I couldn't even think of the simplest of words at the moment!! And I don't know who was more shocked, me, that I came across Norwegians at a random place in Spain, or them, that they came across someone at a random place in Spain who actually spoke Norwegian (or better said, had her attempts to do so :D) It was hilarious cos as I've probably mentioned before, spoken Norwegian is a nightmare to me, so not only they talked to me in Norwegian, they often had to translate in English what they had actually said cos my brain was duh? huh? what??!! Yeah, the joke's on me, I know, but frankly I am also proud of myself cos I didn't run away as I usually do when I have to talk in a language I am not fluent in (like Spanish or German), but on the whole contrary, I was waiting for them to get out of the car in order to exchange a few words.
They were an older and really lovely couple, so a big hug to them in case they ever come across this post and remember that clumsy girl in Benidorm who tried to talk to them in Norwegian :D

Jyväskylä, Finland

A Finnish card I received in 2009...I think that I've been doing well in my attempt to take into consideration more and more cards received long time ago instead of just focusing on the latest ones :)

On the card you can see the Kuokkala Bridge in the Finnish town of Jyväskylä, which is located in the central part of the country.

Elias Lönnrot, the compiler of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, gave the city the nickname "Athens of Finland". This nickname refers to the major role of Jyväskylä as an educational center, and as the first place in the world to provide education in Finnish.

I didn't know that Athens was like reference to education....for me it just the capital of Greece, and the goddess of wisdom (though her name is Athena, not Athens actually...)

the stamp was issued in 2007 in a set of two Antiques' stamps.

Cats, cats, cats....and a Poem

As for my last post today comes one of my longish, annoying ones, with a bunch of cards, and today's subject is Cats.

Now, I know that time ago I said no more cat cards and I didn't really plan on posting some, until recently I received this card which kinda changed my mind and inspired me to do a cat-post.
The card itself is not a cat card at all, but had a reference to a poem which is the main 'offender' of why this post was born. And here it is...

Stray Cat

by Francis Witham

“Oh, what unhappy twist of fate Has brought you homeless to my gate? The gate where once another stood To beg for shelter, warmth, and food For from that day I ceased to be The master of my destiny. While he, with purr and velvet paw Became within my house the law. He scratched the furniture and shed And claimed the middle of my bed. He ruled in arrogance and pride And broke my heart the day he died. So if you really think, oh Cat, I’d willingly relive all that Because you come forlorn and thin Well…don’t just stand there…Come on in!”

It is both so heartwarming and heartbreaking and I'm sure that anyone who has ever kept a cat would be kinda touched by it and find it all so true.

So for the love of all adorable cats out there, here come a few on cards (I tried to make a variety of the countries where these came from so at least in case you are not into cat-cards, you may enjoy the stamps =)


I have no idea now who sent me this first one, but I'm glad to have it cos it is adorable beyond words.

If this cute little fella came to your door, how can you not bring it in?? Look at that adorable face and eyes!! Gosh, I'm such a sucker when it comes to cats. If I could I'd rescue all the stray cats out there (and unfortunately there are way too many here =/)


Next comes a great Nouvelles Images card sent by Bryon, showing different breeds of felines.

I have to admit that in general I prefer stray cats to the famous breeds' ones, and I'd never really go for a cat (or dog) for which I'd have to pay money - I'd always rescue some poor little fella from the streets and I really encourage other people to do so, since those little creatures are the ones that truly NEED your help.
Among else, this card reminded me that it's been really a while since I've posted something from the NI series here...

And what makes a cat card perfect?? Well, cat-stamps of course! :D These are from the amazing 2010 Adopt a Shelter Pet - series (just what I was saying above).

Thank you soooo much Bryon!!



Next is a card I received from Larisa in 2012...

....showing this photographer-wanna-be. However I think that (s)he is easily distracted so I wouldn't expect some booming career here :P

On the back we have one of the 2008 definitives, the Moscow Kremlin from the Kremlins' set of 2009, and one from the set of 4 stamps issued in 2010, showing Head Dresses of the Republic of Tatarstan.



Another one from the NI series received as an official in 2013.

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The expression on both the girl's and the cat's face are just priceless, for different reasons. The little girl is so delighted and there is something evil in her smile, while the cat has this 'oh my God, here comes my torturer, the fun days are over' kinda look.

The card came with a number of stamps, which I rarely get to see on the official ones from the Netherlands :)
First is a 5c definitive issued in 2003, then we have the blue 10c stamp which is from a set of 5 Numeral stamps issued in 1976. The top-right corner stamp was issued in 1992 commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Dutch Pediatrist Union. The one below featuring Wilem Jansz Blaeu is a Charity stamp issued in 1983, while the very last one is from 1991 from a set of 3 Summer stamps.

Thanks a bunch to Anne for this one!!


This one with the surreal green eyes came as an official from Great Britain and is actually a resent card since the first one went, who knows where..

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This one reminds me a lot of Kimi...even though his eyes weren't green as this, but that face and that look are just the same...and cannot believe that it's been almost a year without him =/

The stamp is a Christmas stamp from a mini-sheet of 7 stamps issued in 2012.



So besides a photographer wanna-be, today we also have a reader wanna-be.

The looks on this one's face is just heart-melting...and look at those lovely paws!! I don't know why but there is just something particularly adorable about little kittens' paws ❤

A number of nice stamps on the backside of this one. At the very bottom is a stamp from the Polish Farmhouses set issued in 2001. The top row starts with a stamp issued in 2004, showing Sandomierz, from the Polish Towns series. In the middle is a stamp issued in 2006 as part of the Polish Alphabet issue (so one stamp for each letter - so 26 in total. The last stamp was issued in 2009, from the Tytus, Romek and Atomek set (a Polish comic-book series).

Thanks a lot to Patycja for this one!




This double-cuteness arrived in 2009, for the Winner of the Month lottery at the PC forum.

Being a WOTM is a really great experience! Unfortunately I don't take much part in the forum activities now, and this also includes the lottery in question. However, I still have a number of cards received as part of it, that haven't been shown yet (and I was a winner twice actually during my PC career :)))

This card arrived from Steffi who attached two stamps - a lighthouse one from the set of 2 issued in 2009 and one definitive from the flowers' set issued in 2005.



Looks like a pretty vain cat this next one with a killers' look! :)

It arrived as a surprise from dear Essie in 2010 - yeah, another one of those 'shame on me it took me so long to post it'. But better late than never, no?

a very very cute stamp issued in 2009, representing Multi-cultural Finland.

Essi dear, kiitos!!!



I decided to close this post  with another card from Bryon cos this one is like one of the most unique cards I have received!

The card is an Edward Gorey's illustration that is part of the Cats & Dogs boxed postcard set.
And I think it makes a perfect postcard here when it comes to address, space for writing and additional stuff - therefore had to scan both sides, but deleted (most of) the text, cos otherwise one just cannot get the idea about the coolness of the card :)

It came with three different stamps, starting with the Polar Bear one issued in 2009. Next is a great tiger stamp issued in 2011, trying to raise awareness about the endangered species, while the last one showing two Love Birds was issued in 2006.

Big thank you again to Bryon! :)

Well, I guess you have had more than enough of your daily cat dose :)

Thank you for dropping by! Till next time...

Monterrey, Mexico

as I said, no more trains for today :)

received in 2009...yep, 2009 indeed, from Jhonatan, as a result of a private swap....from the days when my mailbox would be all head-over-heels for receiving a card from Mexico :)
It may look like a single view, but actually it is a few iconic places in Monterrey combined in one picture, like for example the Commerce Beacon, the Fountain of Life, the Obispado Museum and the distinctive Saddle Mountain (or "El Cerro de la Silla").

the stamp is a definitive from a set of 4 issued in 2009, representing ceramic objects.

From Tokyo with love, Japan

ok, last for today we are going to Tokyo...another somewhat neglected country - no Japanese post since February 2012...and ive acquired a few Tokyo cards in the meantime, so here are they all...

however, before I get down to the cards, I wanted to share something with you that is somehow related...namely, two videos of a Tokyo choir singing...Macedonian traditional songs! I was just speechless when I watched these for the first time because these people DO actually sing in Macedonian..and on one hand it seems so amazing, on the other it's kinda funny..I really wonder if they do understand the words, but needless to say their pronunciation is just surprising! in the most positive way!
the first video shows them during practice, the second one is a performance on stage with the probably best Macedonian opera singer, Blagoja Nacoski, who is the one responsible for these Japanese people having the chance to learn something Macedonian. Hats down to him for that!!





this is just one of those moments when you get that fuzzy feeling in your heart..




I just admire the clarity with which they sing the words of a language that they probably never have heard before....



ok, now onto the Tokyo cards...where just each and every one of them seems to be showing the Tokyo Tower...

First is an official received back in 2010...

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And what's the Tokyo Tower actually? - It is a communications and observation tower, which with its 333 metres is the second tallest structure in Japan.
It is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations. Ill mention the bridge a bit later...

I love it how  Satomi, the sender, included the vignette or whatever additional part of the stamp this is...looks amazing! It was issued in 2007 in a set of 10 stamps for the Letter Writing Day, representing Poetry and Paintings...and if I could identify it right, this one shows the waka poet Sarumaru no Dayū


the following two cards are blank, so I can just take wild guesses about the origin and year of arrival..

first one is a night view of the Tokyo Tower.....

...while the second one shows the Rainbow Bridge...a somewhat similar card to the first one, except this one shows a wider picture of the same place..even the colours are the same :)

the Rainbow Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing northern Tokyo Bay, whose construction started in 1987 and was completed in 1993. The bridge is 798 metres longwith a main span of 580 metres. Its name has been decided by the public - a good one I must say!
There are lamps placed on the wires supporting the bridge, which are illuminated into three different colors, red, white and green every night using solar energy obtained during the day.
Sounds like something the Japanese would think of :)))


and well, the last card was in my favourites for a long while and then I finally received it in the favourites tag last year thanks to Masako!

There is just something special about the perspective of the card that makes it soo appealing...not to forget the predominant dark-blue colour. Just love it!!

and Masako used to great train stamps! the left one is a locomotive from a set of two issued in 1975, showing the Class 9600 Locomotive No. 69820
. the other stamp was issued in 1977, again in a set of two, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Japanese Underground Railway.

Well, that would be all for today folks...just four posts, but so many cards...hope you liked some of them...

till next time, stay well!

Alcobaça, Portugal

And life goes on...with a bunch of more great cards to show!

I received this one for the vacation RR this Saturday as well...showing the Alcobaça Monastery...in Alcobaça, of course, in central Portugal.
The church and monastery were the first Gothic buildings in Portugal, and, together with the Monastery of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, it was one of the most important of the mediaeval monasteries in Portugal. Due to its artistic and historical importance, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1989.
It is considered as one of the most magnificent gothic monuments in the country. In the church are the tombs of Pedro I of Portugal and his murdered mistress Inês de Castro. Over the centuries this monastery played an important role in shaping Portuguese culture.

the stamp is from a set of 3 Education stamps issued in 2013. It is supposed to represent School Mail.


And I have this other card showing a part of the Alcobaça Monastery, that I received back in 2009...it was sent blank inside an envelope with a bunch of other cards...when I still didn't care too much if I received one written and stamped or a dozen in an envelope...now it is strictly written and stamped..I more care about quality than quantity..I dont need to just pile up cards which do not have the traces and feeling of having travelled...I think you know what I mean ;-)

Boka Kotorska, Montenegro

I was so so so thrilled when a week ago or so I received some postcards from dear Sissel! I missed her in my mailbox and missed her around! So it is so heart-warming when you find such surprises in the mailbox!

And I can't believe it she's been so near me this time!! I hope that during one of her future travels, she will drop by here as well *wink wink* :)

Here she sent me a cool map card of the Boka Kotor Bay in Montenegro...driving along its coast offers you one of the most splendid views in the whole country! The bare thought of the Adriatic Sea makes me sigh...haven't been there for a while...there was this opportunity to go there for a day or two with my dad in September...Im not actually sure what his plan and intentions were, but I didn't really care...to his question: "Do you want to go by car to Budva (the most famous place in Montenegro)...." my answer was an immediate YES...didn't question the conditions or anything...unfortunately, nothing turned out from that...and right now it is just too cold to go there...so I guess Ill have to wait for another opportunity....and invade some other places in the meantime. *cough cough cough* :P

Sissel used two stamps...the left one was issued in 2009 under the name Universiade. The other one was issued in 2010, as a part of two Art stamps.

well, the map Sissel sent me reminded me I had two other maps of the Boka Kotor Bay that I bought myself when I went there in 2009...and making the comparison, the publishers have really advanced on the topic...the map above looks somewhat plain...the map below reminds me of a pack of cigarettes...Im not exactly sure why though...

Thanks a lot again Sissel for the lovely surprises!!!!

Lago di Garda, Italy

then come the New Year holidays of this year...being the kind of person who absolutely hates having to celebrate the New Year's eve, I love it when I have the opportunity to go somewhere and be out of town during that NY Eve craziness..and here is something from this year's trip...well I am missing the first stop of the trip, which was Verona, so I will have to give you my impressions about it in some future update.
Our second stop, though very short, was Sirmione, at Lago di Garda. Couldn't see too much of it since it was already a bit dark when we arrived, but therefore I sent myself a  card which is a total contrast...I simply LOVED the colours on this one!

So, I can not actually tell you much about the place itself coz we didn't have the chance to see much, but it was nice to stroll around its cobbled streets, with dozens of cool shops...one thing I can say for sure is that the ice-cream was delicious...with the cone of ice cream in one hand, the pen in the other...leaning to a wall under some dim light, I was writing postcards and licking and sticking stamps...that was a TOTAL mess..I think that EACH of the card I sent from here has traces of chocolate ice cream on it...but that's what happens when your time is limited, yet you want to eat a huge ice cream and write postcards...you have to multi task somehow...and at least it was worth it...at least for the cards that arrived...
And the lake felt soooo tranquil....with lights twinkling on its other side...I love those moments!

cant brag about the variety of stamps though...but that was all they had...the definitive on the left is from a set of 3 issued in 2010, while the other one is a definitive issued in 2004

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well I have also two other cards related to Lago di Garda that I have received so far, so I also decided to include such received cards in these updates as well...coz I do not really intend to again write about Lago di Garda soon...unless I go there again...and this is a good chance to actually have some cards see the light of the day instead infinitely waiting to be posted :)
The above card arrived as an official one back in 2009...and as you can see, the lake is all about boats obviously :)

On this card we have 3 stamps...2 more of the women definitives, these issued in 2002, while the stamp on the right was issued in 2009, showing the celebration of the Italian Newspaper "La Nazione" of Florence

and here I also have a map card of the lake..where you can see all the spots along its coast...however, I am not sure when exactly I received this card...I assume it was 2009, and I assume it was a swap...but this is the reason why I dislike swapping a bunch of blank cards in an envelope (and hence stopped doing it)...coz eventually I have absolutely no idea what the story behind the card is..and it all ends up feeling so meaningless...and while we are on the subject, I am not really fond of postcards showing one country mailed from another...just sayin' ;-)

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

The visit to Salzburg was our stop to the main destination, and that was Munich...and while in Munich, you have to visit the Bavarian castles as well, including the most famous one, and that is Neuschwanstein.

the whole place is really dreamy...and probably has the least kitchy interior of all the three castles we entered (the other two being Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof)
They are just extraordinary with beautiful gardens and surroundings, but I guess Disney had its reason when he picked Neuschwanstein as his inspiration
I won't go into details about the castle, I've already posted about it once...however, the day we visited the castles was one of the most amazing, and most tiring in my life...having driven through the breathtaking nature of Austria (yeah, that's the road we took in order to get from Neuschwanstein to Linderhof) and having seen the castles...and what I couldn't do in Switzeland, I did it here...when you gather the amounts of chocolate and stuff I bought from both Austria and Germany, I went back home with like 5 or so kilos of chocolate...thank God they didn't check my bags at the border...I would have had lot of explaining to do :P

I still don't know why I mailed myself a Neuschwanstain card when I already have a few...but at least this is my first one covered in snow :D

sending the cards was a bit confusing with those German mailboxes, but thank God I nailed it right...the stamp is just a regular flower one, a definitive issued in 2011.

 i received this other Neuschwanstain card from dear Tanja as a RAS, back in 2009...do you see those amazing woods and mountains in the back?!!

btw, in case you go here, you will get the most amazing view from Marienbrücke. It is not so far from the castle, maybe just a bit steep and tiring to get there, but trust me, it will be worth every single calorie you spend on your way there!

here we have another flower defintiive, this one issued in 2008. The other stamp is from 2009, showing the Leipzig University.

so that would be all for today...hope to see you soon with another nice and cool update...till then, stay well :)