Egypt

here comes another update..yeah, that's quite soon you may say...well, it is indeed...and it's not like that is a bad thing now, is it? :)
but my fingers feel itchy, my mind feels anxious (in a strange way) and on Friday I am going away for a few days to the astronomy camp, so the next few days would be rather hectic as well, so I thought I'd post something now, otherwise it won't happen until some time next week...if then

just a short disappointing message first...there are NO postcards where I am going...there is actually not even a store or a small market...NOTHING...just houses and a small campsite...we are bringing all the food and even water with us since nothing can be bought there (there is water but it is just not drinkable)

based on the experience from last summer, one can easily survive in such conditions as long as he is well-prepared...and hopefully I will be =)

so, with that cleared up, lets take a look at a few cards for today..

First comes a map card from Egypt...

...and as Maria, the sender says 'No pyramids for you as you asked' :P yeah, I asked for anything but the pyramids cos the majority of the Egyptian cards I have (even though not many) have a pyramid or two on them..so no more pyramids please! And she did a great job here by sending me a map card...my first and only map card sent from Egypt so far! Love it!

a country I haven't yet visited, though I'd love to (when it is not too hot). There were protests and a revolution a few years ago and things got quite scary, but I think dust has settled down by now....well, I think...

the stamp is a definitive issued in 2011 showing a pharaoh

well, may not be entire Egypt shown, but it is a map card...and it is from Egypt, so I thought I'd include this postcard showing the Cairo Subway lines...

not many lines though for a city with over 10 million people..but I guess it works for them...personally I'd like to take that Railway line to Alexandria - though I had a few doubts after watching this video (note just that this is in the opposite direction, from Alexandria to Cairo), but hell, why not...it's gonna be an adventure, that's for sure :D

 

Route 66, USA

Maybe you remember, maybe you dont...maybe you've never been introduced to the fact that when it comes to DM, there must be a Route 66 card as well...with a slight difference that this time there will be more than one card...cos it's been like two years since I've posted anything Route 66...and then I've acquired so many Route 66 cards over time...so should give them a fair chance to be shown...plus, all the ones for today come from different people..and with lovely different stamps...how could I have resisted??



First one comes from Erin, for the North American RR...

the text on the back says: This legendary route began in 1926 in Chicago, IL and passes through the states of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and ends in Santa Monica, CA. This 2,448 mile stretch of highway is also known as "The Mother Road", "Main Street USA", and Will Roger's Highway.
I definitely prefer "Route 66"

stamps: the American Clock, the American Toleware, the Silver Coffeepot (I think this one doesn't come so often, issued in 2007), a great lighthouse stamp from the 2013 New England Coastal Lighthouses set, showing the Boston Harbor in Massachusetts...and a lovely Johnny Cash stamp, also issued in 2013.


Another one that arrived for the North American RR, this time from Megan.

no text on the back, but that's why there is a bunch of cool stamps!

starting from the cat...pardon, the Bobcat, issued in 2012..then there is an old stamp showing Garibaldi, issued in a set of two stamps in 1960...next to it is an 'energy conservation' stamp issued in 1977. And two Forever stamps from 2013 - first comes one commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Death of Althea Gibson, 1927-2003, while the other one commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.


Get your kick...or get your fill..whichever you prefer...though if you are a lady I guess you wouldn't mind this scene along your Route 66 journey ;-)

received this one from Denise and she says that back in the days attendants did pump gas for the customers....sorry for the dumb question, but when did this change? and who is in charge for pumping gas now?

3 stamps - George Washington from 2011, and two adorable Pixar stamps from 2012, showing "A Bug's Life" and "Monsters"


One more for the North American RR....from Cynthia..

back of the card: Route 66 was declared 'The Main Street of America" by the U.S. Highway 66 Association. Originally used as an advertisement to stimulate tourism on the highway, the nickname was never forgotten.

stamps: the American clock...the Chippendale chair next to it (I dont think I see this one often - issued in 2004...and two great stamps from a set of 4 issued in 2012, representing Innovative Choreographers - in particular, José Arcadio Limón, and Robert Louis Fosse



I love this black and white sign..and arrived from...well, of course, Bryon..such an update couldn't go without him ;-)

he added a new Route 66 to my collection and new lovely stamps! though im quite sure he has forgotten he has sent it to me...since it dates back from March 2012 (yeah, shame on me!)

first one was issued in 1982, showing Francis of Assissi...next is a very very cool stamp called "Take me out to the ball game", issued in 2008...and a Forever stamp from 2012, putting some attention on Heart Health.




one from Esra for the favourites tag!

back of the card:
* Established in 1926 and since celebrated in popular music, film and literature
*Spanned 8 states and 3 time zones
* Has had several nicknames, including "The Mother Road", "The Main Street of America" and the "Will Rogers Highway"
* Used by migrant farm workers headed to California during the 1930's Dust Bowl
* In 1984, the last segment of US 66 in Arizona decommissioned as federal highway
* Several segments are still named 66, but instead designated as state highways
* Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington D.C displays a 40-foot stretch of the highway
* Portions now designated as National Scenic Byway marked "Historic Route 66"

a somewhat forgotten stamp - issued in 2012, showing the Lancaster County in Pennsylvania...



aaaand just one more!

absolutely love this one! the car gives such a cool feeling to it all...like from some old horror movie...and I almost read "hell" on the sign, just to realize it was a "Shell" sign...disappointments! :)
Received from Angie, for the Choose a Country RR...

George Washington again on a stamp...and two new ones,both Forverer stamps issued in 2012...above George is a Sailing ship, commemorating The 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812...the other stamp shows the American writer, William Sydney Porter, known by his pen-name O.Henry.

Well guys, I hope you enjoyed the posts today...will be back next time on the regular track (by this I mean posting cards that have nothing to do with my trips, so no endless rambling..)

Unfortunately I will have to end this update with the sad news that the great Robin Williams has died...not that he was my favourite actor or anything (though he was a great one), just that such news always make me realize how fragile and unexpected life is and that one should really take all the chances and opportunities it gives you, even when you think it may be a trivial thing.

Stay well!

Georgian Dublin, Ireland

and one more card for today, from the beautiful Ireland.

I had this one in my favourites, and dear Claudia sent it to me recently.
Georgian Dublin is a phrase used in the History of Dublin that has two interwoven meanings,
 -to describe a historic period in the development of the city of Dublin, Ireland, from 1714 (the beginning of the reign of King George I of Great Britain and of Ireland) to the death in 1830 of King George IV. During this period, the reign of the four Georges, hence the word Georgian, covers a particular and unified style, derived from Palladian Architecture, which was used in erecting public and private buildings;
- to describe the modern day surviving buildings in Dublin erected in that period and which share that architectural style.

And I guess it is safe to conclude that the card refers to the latter meaning. So lovely!

that is one weird stamp...at first looks as those stickers they put at the P.O instead of a stamp due to the print...but I think it is one of those machine labels actually..not quite sure on this one honestly...

well, have a great Sunday everyone...hope you enjoyed your Christmas holidays and are getting ready for New Year's Eve. If I do not manage to squeeze another update before we bid farewell to 2013, I would like to wish you all a Happy Happy New Year, and I hope 2014 brings you peace of mind...and many postcards of course :)

And hope to see you more often next year =) Thank you for staying devoted!! <3

New London Ledge Lighthouse, USA

And one more lighthouse for today, this one coming from Connecticut, USA.

the back of the card says: Located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London, CT., this lighthouse was built in 1909. Ledge light was automated in 1986 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A local legend has this light haunted by "Ernie", a jilted husband.
It is funny that this lighthouse has been under a lot of investigations for paranormal activities that have been reported, but unfortunately, not enough evidence has been gathered.
Btw, this seems more like a house to live in than a lighthouse. It is really cute.

the two stamps at the top are a part of the Earthscapes series issued in 2012, while the one a bit down is from a set of 4 architecture stamps issued in 1979, with this one showing us the Baltimore Cathedral, designed by Benjamin Latrobe.

So, that would be all for today....till next time.