Edinburgh, Scotland

And one more Sissel card for today, this time from Scotalnd's capital.

As neatly explained on the back of the card "Evening light on the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle, views from Calton Hill".
I have written about the Castle before, so won't be repeating myself here. Though I think that so far I have it from all the possible angles and all views are just stunning!

a cute Christmas stamp issued in 2016 in a set of 8.

Soo, that would be all for today, It is about time I get down to some ACTUAL work.

Millions of hugs to Sissel for these cards and the bunch of others still not featured.

And see you soon with maybe another fairy-related post. Let's see who the random generator chooses next time ;-)

stay well!

Kilchurn Castle, Scotland

A beautiful card from the beautiful Scotland that dear Anu sent me few years ago.

I really really wish to visit Scotland one day...doesn't matter if it is castles, or cities or nature or just anything....but this whole visa regime makes it so complicated =/

Ah well, till then I will have to enjoy Scotland through postcards only...and well at least thanks to them, I have a BUNCH of places in Scotland that I'd just love to visit...and this castle is one of them (the website says that for now it is closed until further notice anyways)... but just look at that surrounding nature....and the isolation...and the stillness....so enchanting!

The Kilchurn Castle was built in the mid-1400s by Sir Colin Campbell, 1st Lord of Glenorchy.
The castle comprised a five-storey tower-house at one corner of an irregular-shaped courtyard.
The tower house still stands substantially complete, overshadowing the rest of the complex. On the ground level of the tower were a cellar and prison. There was a hall on the first floor and private chambers above.
Colin’s descendants, the Campbells of Glenorchy (later earls of Breadalbane), were the most powerful of the numerous cadets of Clan Campbell. Indeed, there were times when this branch almost rivalled the clan chiefs, the earls of Argyll, for supremacy.
 Kilchurn remained their powerbase for 150 years. It was not abandoned until the 1700s.

Any used a bunch of great stamps....two are the Queen definitives (not sure which year, my guess would be they were issued in 2011, but I may not be 100% correct on this one). As for the rest, lets see...both of the 10p stamps are Christmas stamps - the upper one was issued in 1979, while the bottom one in 1980. The remaining stamp is from the four Olympic Stamps issued in 2012.

Anu, thank you dear as always!!

Loch Lomond, Scotland

Beautiful beautiful card that I received from dear Maggie for the Vacation RR (and now this reminds me that mine never arrived - being in one of those doomed batches I sent back in November/December, whose trace is simply lost =/)

Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault and is the largest inland stretch of water in Great Britain by surface area.The loch contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles. Loch Lomond is a popular leisure destination and is featured in a song.
and for those who'd like to read it, here it goes:

By yon bonnie banks an' by yon bonnie braes
Whaur the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Whaur me an' my true love will ne'er meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'.

Chorus:
O ye'll tak' the high road, and Ah'll tak' the low road
And Ah'll be in Scotlan' afore ye
Fir me an' my true love will ne'er meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'. '

Twas there that we perted in yon shady glen
On the steep, steep sides o' Ben Lomon'
Whaur in (soft) purple hue, the hielan hills we view
An' the moon comin' oot in the gloamin’.

Chorus
The wee birdies sing an' the wild flouers spring
An' in sunshine the waters are sleeping
But the broken heart it kens, nae second spring again
Tho' the waeful may cease frae their greeting.

Chorus

Even if you may not understand each and every word, on the overall, the song is understandable and it doesn't take much to see it is a sad one.


and this is what you get when a 'smart ass' employee at Royal Mail is in charge of postcards...I really don't know which one is my favourite...the Canadians scribbling over the stamps with a pen, or this...

I fear Im gonna destroy the stamp if i try to peel the sticker off, so I have left it as it is...and if I could figure out correctly, the stamp is not issued by Royal Mail, but is part of the UK's Universal Mail stamps, which often feature some of UK's greatest landmarks. This one is from a set of 5 stamps featuring attractions in Edinburgh and all of them are intended for mailing postcards internationally, as you can see on the panel at the right side, which also features the Scottish flag.

Thanks a lot again Maggie!! ♥

Edinburgh, Scotland

Well, if we had Wales, while not have Scotland as well while we are at it..Ive never posted an Edinburgh card before, so lets share some beauties here :)

dear Anu sent me this one for the favourites tag. lovely lovely lovely winter snowy view of the Edinburgh castle, known also as the Iconic Scottish Tourist Attraction.
Edinburgh Castle is located at the top of the Royal Mile, at the west end of Edinburgh's Old Town. The volcanic Castle Rock offers a naturally defended position, with sheer cliffs to north and south, and a steep ascent from the west. The only easy approach is from the town to the east, and the castle's defenses are situated accordingly, with a series of gates protecting the route to the summit of the Castle Rock.

Anu used lovely stamps on this one! And rather old ones! From left to right...first we have a great EUROPA stamp from 1992 from a set of two stamps on the theme Discovery of America. Next to it is one of the five Cinema stamps issued in 1996, commemorating the 100 years of going to the Pictures (yeah, actually the British people go the Pictures, the Americans to the Movies...) I must admit I find "Going to the Pictures" really old-fashioned, and just now I started thinking if it is still used nowadays or not...
At the very right we have a stamp issued in 1992, from a set of 4 Lord Tennyson stamps...(Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS was Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets)
And of course, a purpley Queen stamp =)

and for a comparison, here I also have the Edinburgh Castle in spring or summer...not quite sure...but it is nice to see it both covered with snow and without it.
And the back of the card says "Edinburgh Castle, dating from the 12th century, sits high on a crag of ancient volcanic rock. Seen here across Princes Street Gardens at dawn....ok, at least we know it's dawn, the season is irrelevant :))

the stamp is from a set of 8 Country Definitives (or Regionals' stamps), issued in 2011, with this one here representing...well, of course, Scotland!!

St. Kilda, Sctoland

here is one awesome card from my favourites! Actually, I think that all Scottish cards are just awesome! I dont know how they manage it, but I think that even out of the simplest thing, they can make a fantastic card!
 

St. Kilda is an isolated archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, containing the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
The card here shows the Village Bay...probably the most famous place on St. Kilda. It is considered as the most complete and least altered site of its type in Scotland and in this respect is an excellent example of a settlement associated with what is now a rapidly declining crofting way of life - a rural tradition of great significance.
These houses are just soo cool, esp. that one with the light coming from the inside...even feels surreal...for a moment I thought it may be the sun coming through the backside window..but there is a mountain on that side, so sun cant possibly be lurking here...just like one of those fairy tale stories when two kids go astray in the woods, and just there in the distance, notice a glimmering light...but the situation is veiled in mystery and uneasiness...well, you are familiar with those tales :)
Now, St Kilda is also on the UNESCO whs list, so I guess this part of it is also included ...

well, here you have three queen stamps, and one from a set of 4 stamps, dedicated to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London of this year.

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

well, after bothering you with Jeniferever, ill let you relax with this fantastic Scottish view sent by my dear Anu. Scotland never ceases to amaze me with its wonders...

Do you know that this is actually a railway viaduct??! Oh , yes it is!! Ahh, what I would only give to go for a train ride here.....
The viaduct is on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, built between 1897 and 1901. Built entirely of concrete, the viaduct consists of 21 arches, each spanning 15m and has a maximum height of 30m offering spectacular views down Lochaber’s Loch Shiel.

Glenfinnan Viaduct has been used as a location in several films and television series, including Charlotte Gray, Monarch of the Glen, Stone of Destiny (film), and most famously Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in which a substantial sequence revolves around the Hogwarts Express crossing the viaduct. Its appearances in two subsequent Harry Potter films, The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goblet of Fire, has cemented the association of the viaduct with the film series

Believe it or not, i cant recall i have watched any of these....I wouldnt mind taking a ride on Hogwarts Express though :P

the Queen stamp is from 2010 while the other is a part of the seven Christmas stamps issued in 2010.

Thanks so much again Anu! It is always such a pleasure to meet you in the mailbox! :)

Torridon, Scotland

Scotland has such an amazing nature...and im happy to receive one from Anu.

The card shows the Torridon area, which consists of of Loch Torridon and the smaller Loch Shieldaig, situated on the west coast of Scotland, in Wester Ross. The Torridon loch was created by glacial processes and is in total around 25 km long. Torridon village lies at the head of the loch and is surrounded by the spectacular Torridon Hills. Shieldag is to the south and was established in 1800. Its purpose was to attract families to take up fishing for a living; and, incidentally, to help build up a stock of trained seamen who could be called upon by the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

Two stamps on the card....one from the Queen Elizabeth, issued in 2010, and the other one is from a set of 10 stamps representing UK species in recovery...this here is the Dartford Wabler. On the stamp it says that in 1963 there were 12 pairs while in 1990 - 1800 pairs. Well done!

Thanks a lot Anu for the lovely card!

Eddrachillis Bay, Scotland

I got this card years ago from one of my former penpals in Germany, Christina Schlack...it used to be on my wall, hence that mark on the upper part of the postcard, from the adhesive tape...

Eddrachillis Bay is a bay on the north-west coast of the Sutherland province of Scotland.  It lies north of the Assynt parish and is at the mouth of the Loch Cairnbawn. It is neighboured by the parish of Eddrachillis of which namesakes are shared.

Orkney, Scotland

You know, at first glance, this one and the Montana card above, would seem as if its the same place, Montana at sunset this one during the day...

Orkney is an archipelago in northern Scotland situated 16km north of the coast of Caithness. comprises over 70 islands; around 20 are inhabited.

You know...i know its a shame, but just now I realized that this is a UNESCO site!!! Thats what happens when i dont google once i receive the card but once im about to post it...and should i mention sometimes it takes months before  I actually manage to post a card?!! Due to my 'technique and rules' of posting.

So, what we have here is actually the Ring of Brogar, which is a part of the Neolithic Orkney, that was inscribed as a UNESCO whs in 1999.
The Ring of Brogar is a Neolithic henge and a stone circle. The ring of stones stands on a small ishtmus between the Loch of Stenness and Harray. he centre of the circle has never been excavated by archaeologists and scientifically dated; the monument's age remains uncertain. However, it is generally thought to have been erected between 2500 BC and 2000 BC, and was, therefore, the last of the great Neolithic monuments built on the Ness.
The circle is 104 metres in diameter, and the third largest in the British Isles. he henge originally comprised 60 stones, of which only 27 remained standing at the end of the 20th century. The stones are set within a circular ditch up to 3 metres deep and 9 metres wide that was carved out of the solid bedrock by the ancient residents.

Ok...i really think i should run away in shame now...for not knowing what I actually owe....as if it was the first time this happens actually

*blushes and runs away in shame*

West Loch Tarbert, Scotland

I love this card coz its simple but beautiful...the scene feels really tranquil, and the water is so nice and still...

This place is called West Loch Tarbert, if it means anything...if you have no idea what it is (as me, before befriending google) then keep on reading for a bit
West Loch Tarbert is a sea loch that separates the northern and southern parts of the island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. A small isthmus joins these two areas, on which is to be found the village of Tarbert. The loch contains the islands Soay Mor, Soay Beag and Isay while Taransay lies near the mouth of the loch.

while we are here, id like to actually give an insight into the 'loch' word...to me its been confusing for a long time, coz ive always related it to the Loch Ness Monster...so to me, 'loch' was actually a part of a name of a place...well, 'loch' actually stands for a body of water which is either a lake or a sea inlet, which may be also a fjord, a firth, an estuary or a bay.
so, 'loch' isnt only a part of a name of Loch Ness...but it actually is a Scottish word for a lake or the other above mentioned water-related-places

Scotland (03)

What a lovely Scottish map!!! That blue background makes it soooooo magnificent...as if its the actual deep blue sea....I love love love this card....along with the Japanese map, its one ticked off my wishlist :)

You know whats funny actually...and I JUST realized it as i started writing this...there is a football match Macedonia:Scotland today...hhahahhaa....what a coincidence...i cant believe it!!!
The town has been full of Scottish people these days, walking around in kilts....we even saw some of them yesterday wanting to go into this place we went to,  but they wouldnt let them in...i dont know why...there was police around as well, so im not sure what had happened...but they probably had a good reason for it...in most cases, they wont let anyone in if he is armed or drunk enough to be causing trouble...i just dont know what was the case this time.....hmmmm, im not a footbal fan, so i aint watching the game...im not sure if it may be over by now....ok....let me check...since im already posting about it....HA....84th minute of the game...Macedonia leads Scotland 1:0.....Yaaayyyyy!!! :D

Glasgow, Scotland

A nice Scottish card, showing Glasgow

On this card you can see a view of the Glasgow Cathedral, from Cathedral Square.
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, and the third most populous in the UK

Now, in case you wondered why i dont label places in Scotland as coming from the UK actually....I dont know....I like Scotland, and it feels more specific like that, instead labeling EVERYTHING inside UK as UK...Scotland may be a part of the UK, but I still like treating it respectively in my posts, so you can actually get a better idea which card comes from where....

Glen Muick, Scotland

My first card from Scotland after soooo many years!!!


Definitely Scotland is one of the countries to which i can relate beautiful and amazing nature! Well, every country actually has that, but for some reason, some of those countries have it more emphasized....Macedonia for example has numerous of breathtaking places....but there is not a single damn postcard from those places...which is totally totally wrong...but to whom should i tell this, if the ones responsible for those stuff are not aware of it?

The scenery on the card looks sooo peaceful and so quiet and lovely.....its as if its far away from all the noise, all the pollution, all the everyday stress....if i happen to be at this place, im more than positive it will bring me peace of mind....just sitting on the ground or maybe lying down and enjoying the soft sun-rays, probably with my feet in the water....listening to the birds singing, listening to the water flowing...feeling the breeze....feeling the stillness all around...
how can you not enjoy it?

Rannoch Moor, Scotland

Scotland

Isle of Arran, Scotland

Paisley, Scotland

Scotland

Isle of Arran, Scotland

Sent to me from Karin Murchie from Scotland....we weren't pen-palling for a long time, but she did send me some nice cards during our correspondence...

This is the Isle of Arran, where she lived.

The Isle of Arran, is one of the most southerly Scottish island and sits in the Firth of Clyde between Ayrshire and Kintyre. It is 19 miles long by 10 miles wide but has a remarkable diversity of landscapes and seascapes.

The pretty villages on Arran's beautiful coastline are complemented by a rugged and mountainous interior in the north and green rolling hills and woodland in the south.
ive always wondered how it is to live on a small island....