Aurora Borealis, Norway

And here comes the beloved Norway!

It was a tough choice. I have literally hundreds of Norwegian cards and a good deal of them feature the Northern Lights. However, I chose this one due to the stamp on the back, the kind of you don't get to see frequently on postcards. On letters, might be, but on postcards, I don't think so.

no, this is not a stamp, it is a MEGA stamp ❤. Yep, the entire mini-sheet is here!
Issued in 1980, for the International Norwex Stamp Exhibition Jubilee, featuring different means of transport. Recently due to unpredicted circumstances I also had to stick a sheet of this size on a postcard, with the difference it was a regular size of a postcard and I had already written on it, so what's beneath the stamp will now remain a mystery to the recipients...
There are two other stamps on this card. The blue one with the lighthouse is from a set of 3 issued in 1977 in a buildings' series, while the other one was issued in 1989 in a set of two, for the 250th anniversary of the public schools.
A whole lot of oldies here - lovely!

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

PL-60549

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

Geiranger, Norway

Ok, here we go now..why I wanted to commemorate this day...or probably it should have been yesterday, but yesterday I didn't really have enough time for this, plus that Facebook 'share your memories' thing, has noted it down as today...so today it is...
And what's so important about it?
Well, it is one year ago that I started learning Norwegian! Yep, you read that right! Ana is learning Norwegian (or Ana lærer norsk)
I know some of you have no idea about it, even though it's been a whole year, but I blame it on my lack of updates here and therefore, keeping you in the dark about it

This is one of the newest Norwegian cards I have received (thanks to Trond) and I believe it is like a beautiful choice to commemorate my small achievement.
And it all happened somewhat unexpectedly...I stumbled across a post on Facebook (no matter how much I dislike it, it has proven useful at times), about this school advertising courses in Swedish. I immediately got interested since I've been wanting to learn some new language that on one hand is not really popular and that on the other, attracts me in some way (and Scandinavia itself attracts me a LOT). So I was checking for like more information about the course and all, and next thing I see, they offer a course in Norwegian...I think that my heart simply stopped at that moment...I got so thrilled and exhilarated that I simply froze...I just had no proper way of expressing my utter delight at that moment...a course in Norwegian...how awesome and fantastic is that! It was like a dream (or at least part of the dream), coming true.
Of course I called immediately to sign up and all..and even though I was a bit skeptical about my working schedule and how it would all fit in together, the first semester went great...I had to skip like two classes in total and was really regular in homeworks and studying and all...and it was a nice group...it was like 8 of us at the beginning...5 left at the end, and half were attending the course cos they need a certificate cos they would like to apply for a job in Norway, and the rest of us (the weirdos) were there just cos we would like to learn the language, no particular aims but that...

Now the second semester was not so easy...mainly cos of my frequent absence from classes due to work...and it had its consequences...one thing about learning a language is being really dedicated to it...if you believe that you can attend classes twice a week and that's all you would need to be fluent, boy you are wrong (I always rambled this to my former students who believed i could do magic and they would learn perfect English just by showing up at class)...and then I didnt get to practice what I preached...heh...what can I do..
Still, I did pass the exam, but I don't really feel it was that much deserved...and then I like planned to spend my break between semesters now studying, but of course, what you plan and what reality is, are often two different things :)

Anyways, I am not giving up... I usually start something and never finish it, but I'm NOT gonna add Norwegian to that list...even though maybe there won't be enough students next semester and I won't be able to continue like attending an official course, but I will get my work done on my own...it is different now when I have the basis and continuing from there, than starting on my own from scratch.

If you are curious about my opinion about the language...well, it is not a difficult one..at least the grammar is of like medium difficulty, and i understand a great deal of written Norwegian (even though I still lack a lot of vocabulary in order to make some really complex sentences).
But if written Norwegian is easy...don't get me started about the spoken one! Spoken Norwegian is like something outside this planet :D I love, really love the sound of it...but being able to understand when they speak is like mission impossible...I may catch a word over here and a word over there...but the concept? oh boy, no :D
I dont know....maybe I should just move to Norway and learn it in the natural surroundings...anyone in Norway who would like to adopt me for a few months? =)))))))

I think I'll watch some Norwegian movies later tonight to kinda celebrate this...there is one awesome Norwegian movie I watched not so long ago, called Headhunters...I really recommend it!

and well, lets not forget the stamp - issued in 2014 in a set of 3, portraying the Oslo Viking Ship Museum

Lofoten, Norway

ahh Norway, I've missed you on this blog...to make it up, I have four gorgeous Norwegian cards for today, coming from somewhere in Lofoten...and all four have arrived as surprises from dear Sissel!
Again, we have some older cards here...but before I get down to those beauties, I'd like to share a song I accidentally came across few months ago...and which was the first step in discovering this fantastic band called Beach House...the song was of course called "Norway", which is what drew my attention to it, besides the interesting vocals...so here it is for you to take a listen if you want to...



did you notice that the person singing is actually a lady??! Personally I realized that only when I read online about the band's biography...i was all, 'you gotta be kidding me'!! but then, that's what adds even more beauty to this band...cos it feels so unique and specific...and I just love it! Such tranquil and relaxing music...so thanks to Norway, I have this new band occupying my last.fm playlists...

and now, finally down to the cards...damn, I seem to be doing so much rambling today....

Gosh...this view makes my heart weep...it is soo breathtakingly stunning that it hurts!!
It shows the Henningsvær fishing village in the Lofoten archipelago...received in 2011...Im sure it is still as beautiful as when this photo was taken

stamp is from the set of 2 EUROPA stamps issued in 2011 on the subject of Forests.


received in 2010....

...and I find this one a bit funny...cos this is a village simply called Å ..yep, you read it right "Å"...why would you name a village like that? but I guess it does have something unique in it...located at the tip of Lofoten and until the 1990s, it was mainly a small fishing village specializing in stockfish, but since then tourism has taken over as the main economic activity....Sissel asked me here if Im tired of Lofoten yet...hah, even though this question was asked exactly four years ago, my answer is still one big NO NO NO :D

first there are two definitives...the first one probably issued in 1997, and the second one, probably in 2001...the last stamp is from a set of two issued in 2010, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Norwegian University of Technology and Science


From the Arctic Norway series...

this is a glimpse of the Hamnøy village...another small and beautiful Norwegian fishing village

the stamp was issued in 2010, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Norwegian Press Association - Freedom of Speech. Norwegians are really doing great regarding Freedom of Speech...Macedonia on the other hand is terrible, simply terrible in that regard...and that really pisses me off =/


and another stunningly beautiful image...

the card shows Reine...and wanna guess?? yes, another fishing village :D
The largest weekly magazine in Norway (Allers) selected Reine as the most beautiful village in Norway in the late 1970s

With the exception of Henningsvær, which is located on the Austvågøya island, the other three places are all located on the Moskenesøya island.

some great older stamps! first one is from a set of 4 millenium stamps issued in 1999. Then we have three beautiful Folk dancing stamps issued in 1976. Next is a stamp issued in the distant 1955 in a set of two, representing the Coronation of King Haakon VII (1905). The last one was issued in 1982, representing the 25th Anniversary of the Reign of King Olav V.

Sissel, sending you many many many hugs! Though no hugs would be enough for all the gorgeous stuff you have ever sent me!

Lovatnet Lake, Norway

The last choice for today fell on Norway...beautiful and breathtaking as always!

This beauty arrived last year from my dear Sissel fairy! So great to hear from her again!

It shows this fantastic, calming view of the Lovatnet Lake, located in the vicinity of the village of Loen.
The water from the lake flows down from the mountains, especially from the Jostedalsbreen and Tindefjellbreen glaciers. It then flows out through the Loelva river into the Nordfjorden.
No more words are necessary...just enjoy the beauty of the image...

two great stamps, issued in a set of 4 in 2012, representing Norwegian popular music. Here you have Sondre Lerche on the right ( a Norwegian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist), and Morten Abel (a Norwegian pop artist, and one of Norway's best-selling domestic artists).
Wouldn't complain if they issued a Morten Harket stamp! My childhood love and for me still, one of the sexiest and most charming and charismatic men...ever!!

Thank you so much again dear Sissel!

And thank you all for reading! Wishing you a great Monday and great week ahead!

Norway

Next comes a fantastic surprise from my dear Sissel!!

what a perfect combination of a bicycle card, coming from Norway!
Dont know where exactly this is in Norway, but it doesnt really matter...the card is just sooo brilliant!
Now im not sure how much the cycling culture is developed in Norway, it is usually Denmark or the Netherlands we keep reading about when it comes to this buddy, but I came across an interesting article which says that: It is often said that Norwegians are born with skis on their feet. But perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they are born attached to pedals: three quarters of them own bicycles "
And surprisingly or not, you can find both Sandnes and and Trondheim on the list of 11 most bicycle friendly cities in the world. Being on this list with not one but two cities, while Netherlands and Denmark for example are just represented with one (Amsterdam and Copenhagen respectively), is really a huge success!
Just adds to the reasons of why I so much love this country! :)
Did you know that in Trondheim there is something called a bicycle lift, where you could just be sitting on your bike and it will carry you uphill...really convenient for steep uphill paths...or lazy people :)
What a dreamy adventure it would be to cycle across and along the Norwegian fjords....mmmmmmmmm

the stamp is also pretty special. It is a Hurtigruten stamp, sold only on the Hurtigruten ships. There are in total only 5 designs of these showing iconic places along the coast, and on mine here you can see the beautiful North Cape, the northernmost point in Norway.

It is really a special card, isn't it? :)

Thanks so much Sissel!!!

Ålesund, Norway

well, my last card for today is another one sigh-provoking...ahhh...

this card was for a LOOONG time in my favourites! I mean, how can it not be...just look how magnificent this place is with all these lovely colours and surrounded by water! Plus it is Norwegian :)
the entire city of Ålesund burnt down in 1904 (except for one house in the middle of the city) and it was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style. It feels like living in some fairy tale!

btw, I just remembered that today on the news I heard today was one year since the bomb attacks in Oslo and the island of Utoeya. Maybe I should have chosen a different card instead of Ålesund but while choosing the cards I honestly had no idea today was the day....plus, well, I dont feel like commemorating such a bad thing right now...however, may the victims rest in peace, and may this never happen again

the stamp is from the set of 6 issued in 2009 representing the Norwegian tourism...this one in particular shows the Stottafjorden in Meloy, Nordland

and a huge thanks for this card go to dear Catherine from Norway, who sent it to me, and my dear Rajko monster, who actually asked Catherine to send it to me as a RAS. Thank you both soooo much!! If it wasnt for you, I would not have had this card in my collection! <3

And ok, I guess it is time to announce the short holiday this blog will take..at least there will be no updates until August 10, though you can always drop by and read some of the previous stuff :)

Enjoy your summer wherever you are or wherever you may go...and keep fingers crossed i manage to find some postcards to send :)))

Hugs to you all!!!!

Oma, Norway

Here is something EXTREMELY beautiful!

and so soothing...as the card says, "the island of calm".....and who could oppose to that?
This small beauty with just several houses is the island of Oma situated in the Norwegian Hardangerfjorden, which is the third largest fjord in the world and the second largest in Norway (Sognefjorden is the largest...)
This is like an ideal place to live...as long as I have a boat for transport from and to the island...so far away from the every day stress and chaos...so much fresh air...and I would be able to grow my own fruits and vegetables....ok, depending how much this soil and weather conditions would  be supportive but something must be able to be harvested here.

as the cancellation says, a card I had received in 2009. the large stamp was issued in 2008 representing the New Opera House in Oslo...wow! To me it appeared more like an observatory in the Antarctic region!
The small stamp is a definitive but I cant tell from which year exactly it would be.

thanks a million to Sissel for this beauty of a card!

Dog-sledging under the Northern Lights, Norway

Well, Ill close today's update with another view to enjoy..

i know it is Norway Im talking about, but im not being biased...I think that wherever in the world this was, I would have loved this card just equally. The northern lights just know how to charm a postcard. I dont know where exactly in Norway this is, but it is not as if it matters after all...

And thanks a lot to Sissel for always enriching my precious Norwegian collection...and for always finding such fantastic cards to send me. Shall I mention how stunned and excited I was to receive an official card from her not so long ago? Yup, postcrossing is fantastic, in case you hadnt known that.....:)

the stamp is from a set of two EUROPA stamps from the Children's books issue of last year, presenting "Grandma and the eight children", books by Anne-Cath. Vestly.

till next time...

Lista Fyr, Norway

Fantastic card sent by Sissel....who says that Norway actually doesnt have that many lighthouses...hmm, pity...

The Lista lighthouse is 34 metres tall and was lit for the first time on the 10th of November 1836. There are 132 stairs leading to the top from where you can enjoy the fantastic view of the Lista peninsula and the sea.

This lighthouse is said to have a rich history....but google seems to be so stingy on information!
But well....you can enjoy the view at least :)

This is the EUROPA stamp issued in 2007 (there are two in the set) on the theme of Scouting. Now this Scouting theme is the one thats most impossible to be found in Macedonia...and im not sure whats happening with the latest issue on Forests....but for starters, I dont even have the date when these shall be released here....

Thank you again Sissel, for another splendid card! 

Torghatten, Norway

For the end, I will let you enjoy another one of my precious, breath-taking Norwegian cards :)

I had this card in my favourites for a long while...actually, I think this was one of the first Norwegian cards I had favourited...and my dear Norwegian fairy took care that I have it in my collection....thanks so much to her! :*

Torghatten is a mountain on Torget island, known for its characteristic hole, or natural tunnel, through its center. (yeah, it is there, take a better look!) And if you do take a better look, you will also see two people on the left, sitting on the ground by the fire, simply enjoying it all...I mean how can one not enjoy this beauty...it is just sooo tranquil!

According to legend, the hole was made by the troll Hestmannen while he was chasing the beautiful girl Lekamøya. As the troll realised he would not get the girl, he released an arrow to kill her, but the troll-king of Sømna threw his hat into the arrow's path to save her. The hat turned into the mountain with a hole in the middle.

This reminds me that I havent had my read of the Nordic mythology for a long while and I should get back to it...I just wish I had a real book about it and not having to read it while staring at the screen....but wherever ive asked around, no books on Nordic mythology available =/

The tunnel, with a length 160 m, width of 35 m, and height of 20 m, was formed during the Scandinavian ice age. Ice and water eroded the looser rocks, while the harder ones in the mountain top resisting erosion.
It is possible to walk up to the tunnel on a well-prepared path, and through it on a natural path.

If..no, WHEN I visit Norway, I think im gonna actually need an entire year to see it all :)

Two very nice stamps, where the one on the right is from a set of 3 issued in 1994, representing Tourism, while the other one is from a set of 3 Film stamps, issued in 1996...if im correct, it commemorates the 100 years of film...

Gaustatoppen, Norway

Ha! Another lovely, fantastic, breath-taking view from Norway sent from dear Sissel.

Gaustatoppen is the highest mountain in the county Telemark in Norway. The first element is Gausta, the name of the whole mountain, the last element is the finite form of topp m 'top, summit'.
The mountain is popular for downhill skiing in winter, and competitions have been held on its slopes. These competitions include the "Norseman triathlon", 'Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, billed as "the world's most brutal iron-distance triathlon. It starts in Eidfjord and finishes at the top of Gaustatoppen."

These Norwegian images simply have that kind of so-beautiful-that-it-hurts feeling.

And speaking of Norway, I must share or rather brag with something i bought myself yesterday at the book-fair in Belgrade.

First is this lovely Norway Insight Guide

It has plentiful of amazing pictures...and lots and lots of historic/cultural/traditional facts and figures, so it is not just like a what-you-should-see kind of guide, but goes much beyond that, and I simply couldnt resist it :P
Here is more info in case someone's interested

And the other thing which is sort of related here is a book called the True North, by Gavin Francis.

It's a book about this man's journey that starts in the Shetland Isles and then takes him to the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard and eventually Lapland. Francis reflects o how Arctic Europe i adapting to the challenges of the 21st century, including the threat of climate change, and provides sharply observed insights into the lives of the people he encounters along the way.

Here is a newspaper article regarding this book and also a small extract.
Ahhh, im soo happy i got these two that I honestly dont know which one to start with...or i may read them both simultaneously, I dont know...but I just cant wait to start :)

and on top all the beauty, here is a train stamp too! It was issued in 2009 in a set of 6 stamps representing tourism, with this one showing Bergensbanen...the other stamps are definitives, but i cant tell exactly when were they issued.

Lofoten, Norway

There was this song, Save the best for last.....ahh, my beloved Norway!

And look at this fantastic view....as if Norway could offer a bad view at all :)
The card shows the Revsvik cave with cave painting in Moskenesøy, Lofoten. (Moskenesøy is an island while Lofoten refers to the district/region if im not mistaken...)
Sometimes i just feel that my entire Norwegian collection of postcards is so surreal....so much beauty at one place. I may have said this before but, out of all my postcards, the Norwegian collection is the one im most proud of...I really have to go there one day....it would be such a pity if i dont after so much talking and so many sighs and amdiration...

there are two stamps on the card, both from 2010. The left one was issued in a set of 6 stamps representing National Tourist Routes, where on this one you can see Gamle Strynefjellsveien. While the other stamp is dedicated to Eurovision and shows Alexander Rybak!! Ahhh, the sweet adorable Rybak! Such a charming guy with so much charisma!
Uhmm, I know ive been sort of demanding lately, but it just happens spontaneously as I write about the cards....so if anyone happens to have a postcard with Rybak, can you please think of me? Thank you :)

Thats all folks!

Trolls and Trollvagen, Norway

And after a while it is also time for a new Norwegian card...yippie!!

It is always EXTREMELY hard to have to choose which Norwegian card to post coz I so much love them all! But there, the decision today fell on the Trollvagen (or the Troll Wall) in the evening sun...which is one magnificent place!
Trollvagen  is part of the mountain massif Trolltindene (Troll Peaks) in the Romsdal valley, near Åndalsnes and Molde on the Norwegian west coast. Troll Wall is the tallest vertical rock face in Europe, 1100 meters from the base to the summit at its tallest. At its steepest, the summit overhangs the base by nearly fifty meters.
The rock is gneiss, and its large formations are shaping a broken face of huge corners, concave roofs, and crack systems, topped with a unique series of spires and pinnacles parading the summit rim. The rock is generally loose, and rock fall is the norm in this immense north facing big wall. A series of huge rock falls swiped the wall in autumn 1998, radically changing the character of several climbing routes.

The Troll Wall has been a prestigious goal for climbers and BASE jumpers alike. In 1984 Carl Boenish, the "father" of BASE jumping, was killed on the Troll Wall shortly after setting the world record for the highest BASE jump in history. BASE jumping from Troll Wall has been illegal since 1986.

the stamp was issued in 2004 in a set of 4, representing handicrafts, regarding the centenary of the Oseberg excavations
And since I was speaking about the Troll Wall, I thought these two Troll-related cards would fit best into this particular post.
I accidentally discovered these recently, and must say I loved them straightway.

These are watercoulours by a famous Norwegian artist, Solveig Muren Sanden. Dont you just love the wickedness on the troll's faces?? :)))))
And I love Nordic Mythology, so hence these cards are such a delight to me! :)

Efjorden, Norway

My last beauty for today comes from Norway...

Efjorden (or Efjord) is one of the numerous breathtaking fjords in Norway, where you can marvel at the beautiful mountains and the crystal clear water. The Efjord bridges also present a landmark for travelers (they are 3 bridges that cross Efjorden and were built in 1969).
Unfortunately, the majority of the info on the internet is in Norwegian, so i couldnt just dig out something more..but well, this card is enough by itself to just look at it..honestly, I sometimes just cant believe it that such beauties exist on Earth....so beautiful that it hurts.

the stamp was issued in 2009 and comes from a set of six self-adhesive stamps related to Tourism, where on this one you can see the Stottafjorden.

Møysalen National Park, Norway

So, today winter officially starts....and we are having even snow...well, ok, whats left of it..and the leftovers cant even be compared to the beauty we had on Saturday, but thats how things with snow always are...too good to last....well, if you thought i was gonna post some snowy pictures today, you are quite wrong....but i think that this may even be better than snow....see it for yourselves....

This has got to be one of the MOST magnificent cards i had ever received, EVER!!! Its so amazingly beautiful that at times it makes you wonder if this is actually real...the atmosphere is just so serene and breathtaking, that i dont even wanna write anything....just leave you enjoy it....and then you wonder why i so much love Norway? One of the pure examples lies in front of you!
This is the Møysalen National Park, located in Hinnøya, in North Norway and is said to preserve undisturbed coastal alpine landscape. The scenery is characterized by peaks jutting out of the ocean and fjords, the highest point is Møysalen, 1,262m.
Lovely lovely lovely!!!! And thanks a million to Sissel, my absolutely favourite Norwegian, for surprising my mailbox....as always! 

the stamp on the right is from a set of 4 issued in 2008, regarding Transportation (History of Communication), where the S/S Oster steamship is portrayed.

Lofoten, Norway

Here is a picturesque evidence of why i so much love Norway!

this is just one of the most breathtaking spots on Earth ive seen...you know, its more of a tradition to have views of sandy beaches at some sea or ocean, with palms and coral reefs, to which people usually refer to as breathtaking and paradise on Earth...well, for me, this could be just one of those spots...even though its far up in the North...its just magnificent! and i got this card thanks to one of the kindest people i had come across on postcrossing, who absolutely satisfied my hunger with Norwegian cards...and its not just any kind of cards....its a pile of amazing cards...and hopefully one day i will manage to show them all! Sissel, if you are reading this, i hope you know how many times you made me grin and jump of joy and scream of pleasure when i found your surprises in my mailbox! thank you for everything! it has been a great pleasure to meet you, and i just want you to know that what i promised to send you, is still lying on my desk...*hides in shame*....yeah, im a party breaker, i know...but hopefully it will go into the mail really soon....i just dont want you to think i had forgotten you....its just....life...

and a few details about this extraordinary place....Lofoten is an archipelago (and traditional district) lying withing the Arctic Circle, and experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.
It is well known for its exceptional natural beauty! and you cant deny that....this card is here to prove it!

 

the stamp is also a very nice one...it is a part of a set of 5 stamps issued in 2006, portraying the Wildlife in Norway...and here you can see the Eagle in particular.

Greetings from Hell!

Well, not as the perfect way to welcome you, but thats what the card says...:)

I know many of you probably know about this place already and this card in particular, which has become one of my favorites ever since i first saw it long time ago. Not just coz it comes from Hell, but coz it looks like one as well, with those red skies which seem to blow fire...all we need is the devil and his trident breaking off from the skies...
But i have to say that people from Hell have done a good job by popularizing their place this way...and it IS an attraction indeed...i mean, how many of you can brag that you live in the Hell itself...literally?
Believe it or not, only around 350 people can do it, since thats how many residents Hell actually has.
The station that is on the postcard is called Hell station...so yeah, if you had arrived here, you really must have been a very bad person :)
But if you look down to the real meaning of Hell, taking in account Norwegian language, then Hell can actually mean "luck" while Hell stems from the Old Norse word 'hellir' which means 'overhang' or 'cliff cave'. In modern Norwegian the actual word for Hell is 'helvete'....which now reminds me of Helvetia...but i really dont want to get down to some research about it now :)

And there is this special Hell cancellation as well!
The stamp was issued in January 2009, and comes from a set of 3 called Wildlife in Norway IV, where here you can see the Roe Deer.

A HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGEEE Thank you to both Sverre and Glenn! If it wasnt for them, i wouldnt have had this card now. They both know how it happened, and im more than grateful for their help!