Trains at the End of the World, Argentina

Ok, one more post for today...and honestly, I cannot believe it to myself that it has taken me THIS long to post these two cards..I just cannot believe it! I was so thrilled when I received them and remembered them the other day and then it dawned on me that I had never ever posted them...well, until now...FINALLY!


What so special about these besides being trains??
Well, these are the so-called trains from the end of the world...just the thought of it gives me shivers!

Ushuaia is that southernmost tip of South America, which has also been nicknamed "End of the World"
I received both of these cards from dear Viviam, who knowing how much I love trains, decided to surprise me...and send two...just in case one of them didn't arrive...but luckily, both of them did!

The trains here are part of the Southern Fuegian Railway or the Train of the End of the World/ El Tren del Fin del Mundo), which is a 500 mm gauge steam railway in the Argentinian province of Tierra del Fuego. It was originally built as a freight line to serve the prison of Ushuaia, specifically to transport timber. It now operates as a heritage railway into the Tierra del Fuego National Park and is considered the southernmost functioning railway in the world.

the first card bears a sticker, and not much I can say about it :)

on the second card you can see three different locomotives, named
1. Camila (I don't know who this one is named after - all I know is that it was built between December 1994 and February 1995 in Daventry, England ;
2. Ing. H.R. Zubieta (after the father of one of FCAF's directors);
3. Ing. L.D.Porta (named in the the honour of Livio Dante Ponta, an Argentinian steam-locomotive engineer)

(FCAF stands for Ferrocaril Austral Feugo)

a fun fact - there is also a song inspired by this :))))

not really my cup of tea...but well, it goes well with this post....I mean how I don't often come across songs that have been inspired by trains :)

two different stamps on this one...both coming from the same set of 9 stamps issued in 2014, under the title 'The Decade Won' slogan with which the ruling party refered to the period inaugurated by Kirchner’s presidency (2003-2007). The stamps commemorate different kinds of progress achieved during the management of the Argentinean presidents Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner between the years 2003 and 2013.


Thanks a million dear Viviam for the most amazing cards! I love them!!

And wishing you all a nice week ahead and a lot of great postcards in the mailbox! :)

Argentina

a nice Argentinian map card...even though the map doesn't really come into perspective here...the images somewhat 'distract' the attention...but still, I love it! And it is like my one and only map card from Argentina so far!

as for the images...well ok, I can guess the 'tango', and 'Patagonia'...and the Iguazú Falls...and those colourful houses could probably be from Buenos Aires, though im not 100% sure.
Well, much much better guessing here compared to the Iraqi card...

three nice stamps...the first two were issued in 2008...the tree stamp commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Forestry in Argentina, while the other one is from a set of 6 stamps representing tourist attractions...on this one you can see Ushuaia. Oh boy now I remembered..I am waiting for a card from Ushuaia...my first one from there...and I was soo much looking forward to it...but now I start wondering if that human being that calls himself a postman, will ever bring it to me... the last stamp was issued in 2009, in a set of two stamps, representing the International Stamp Exhibition ITALIA 2009 - Rome, italy - though on the stamp you can see the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires...so Im a bit confused, but oh well...it's not like it's the first time..

Patagonia, Argentina

last card for today was sent by dear Viviana...for a really long time I wanted a card related to Patagonia, so I was really really happy when I found this one in my mailbox last year!

I dont know why Patagonia fascinates me so much...but it might be the relation of glaciers in South America...to me it is pretty fascinating!

The card here shows the Perito Moreno Glacier, in the Los Glaciares National Park in the south west of the Santa Cruz province and is one of only three Patagonian glaciers that is growing.

Simply über-cool! Definitely a place i would LOVE to visit one day!

the top right stamp was issued in 2011 for the Year devoted to Decent Labour, Health and Safety for Workers. The other two were issued in 2010...the big, $5 one is from a set of 8 issued regarding the Football World in Cup South Africa 2010, while the smaller one at the right commemorates the national census.

thank you very much Viviana!

and thanks to all for reading :)

Purmamarca, Argentina

I love days like these....just when the working week has started, you have a day off coz of a National Holiday....on the overall makes the entire working week much easier...that calls for an easy-going relaxing evening..and why not some cards too?

It's been a while since ive posted something Argentinian, so here is a lovely card dear Viviana sent me.

The card gives us a glimpse of the town of Purmamarca with the Cerro de Siete Colores (or the Hill of Seven Colours) looming above, with its lavenders, oranges, and yellows. People are usually able to find four out of the seven hills....they say that the colours are most clearly visible in the mornings, when the sun reflects the appropriate light on the mountain so that none of the pigments goes unnoticed by the human eye Resulting from a complex geological history, the layers of various colors have been formed by the accumulation of sea, lake and river sediments which have been deposited on the region for over 600 million years and which have later influenced the apparition of these mountains in the location they have today as a result of tectonic movements.

just lovely...and those small shops along with the cafeteria just look so cozy and authentic...wish i could visit this place one day...

Buenos Aires, Argentina

I simply adore such streets...with such lovely colourful houses and buildings...they look soo charming!

Caminito, "little walkway" or "little path" in Spanish, is a short street in La Boca, a neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. It retains a strong European flavour, with many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa.
The sender says that there are also many street performers and that it is a lovely place to visit.
Well, I dont doubt that...simply, this place has spirit...and can you spot the bike on the balcony? the first-floor one?

I love such huge clear cancellations!
This great stamp is from a set of 4 issued this year with regards to the WC Football.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

To some it may seem unbelievable, but this is my first Argentinian card ever! :) So yeah, its a new country to the collection :) And if all goes well, i should get a second one sooner or later :)

And it comes from Buenos Aires direct, sent by Andres, showing Plaza de Mayo and the Buenos Aires Townhall.
I think that my first ever memory related to Argentina dates back from 1990, when there was this World Cup in Football...and when Diego Maradona was like one of the main figures and stars there...though if i recall correctly, Germany won the finals...its funny, but i watched almost every single match then, together with my grandfather, and i was truly interested in it...of course, i tried to watch it 4 years later again, but for some reason, it didnt feel the same and the cheering didnt feel the same, and i just lost interest...but i guess i learned a rather lot by watching just this one World Cup :)
As for the card....Plaza de Mayo is the main square in downtown Buenos Aires and since it was the scene of the 25 May 1810 resolution that led to independence, it has also been a focal point of political life in Buenos Aires and, arguably, Argentina.
It is of course indispensable tourist attraction too.
Several of the city's major landmarks are located around the Plaza, the Townhall included.

This card came inside an envelope, which was decorated with 5 simply amazing stamps! I dont know if its coz they are huge or so colourful, but to me they are just lovely!
They have all been issued this year.
The stamp on the very left shows the Crowned Eagle...it is from a set of two stamps from the Wild Fauna under extinction  series. The other stamp from this series is the one with the turtle - the Earth Turtle.
The other 3 stamps come from a series of 5, under the theme of Children's subjects - Amusement Park Games.
Just lovely lovely lovely stamps!
Andres, MUCHAS GRACIAS por la tarjeta y por los sellos....and excuse me for my simple poor Spanish :)