Bicycles

Next is one of my favourite topics and that is bicycles!

And here are just a few of this series that Bryon has been sending over the years.

Btw, in case you haven't been convinced so far why it is good to ride your bike, here is another friendly reminder

Ten reasons now is a great time to start cycling


So maybe you are convinced, maybe not... but either way, lets see these beauties of cards now and who knows, maybe you fall in love with one of the models *wink wink*

The first bike card is one that arrived just shortly before the postal havoc (speaking of which, some of my cards sent during this crisis have finally started to arrive... yay!

Anyways, this is the Birdy 10th bike from the  Riese und Müller company in Germany (they do the designs).
The first Birdy was released in 1995, while the one we have here is from 2005. Weights 10.9kg, has a 36cm aluminum frame, 2 x 9 Derailleur Shimano 105 gears, Rim Side Pull Tektro RXS brakes and 20in wired tyres.

Im quite a basic type of bike girl, that is just too technical for my understanding haha 😅

And no, I dont think it looks comfortable at all so ill just skip it during some future visit to Germany 😁

three nice stamps on this one. The first one is a definitive from 2017, while the other two are from 2020, the first one is from the Love series, which the USPS seems to regularly issue, while the other one is from the Black Heritage series, portraying Gwen Ifill, 1955-2016, one of America's most esteemed journalists. Among the first African Americans to hold prominent positions in both broadcast and print journalism, she was a trailblazer in the profession.
The stamp art features a photo of Ifill taken in 2008 by photographer Robert Severi

The next bike is a convenient one for today since it says Bike Friday 😃 (which is the name of the US company)
Here we have the New World Tourist bike (boy that sounds so cool for a bike name, and so relatable to me - even though it doesnt look comfortable at all, that seat looks like your ass is gonna hurt weeks after riding it, but I may just fall for the name on this one haha).

And even though it is called New World Tourist, it was supposedly born in 1998 so not that new actually.
A little lighter than the one above (weighs 10kg), and has a 58cm varnished steel frame. The gears are 3 x 8 Derailleur Campagnolo (Rear I) and Hub Gear Sram (Rear II). Brakes are Rim V-Brake Avid, with 20 in. wired tyres.

Well, lets talk of something not so technical, like stamps, eh?
The two top stamps are from a set of 10, colourful celebration stamps, issued in 2016 (I should point out that this card was received in 2016, as can also be seen from the cancellation).

The bottom left stamp is from 1963, commemorating the 100th Anniversary 1st International Postal Conference. The one on the right is also a commemorative stamp, issued in 1957, for the 50th anniversary of the United States Air Force as a part of our National Defense System.

And one more from this bike series (there are plenty more actually, but I didnt wanna bore you do death you non-bike lovers, plus the last post of today would be the overwhelming-with-cards one (for a reason).

Anyways, out of all these three, this is definitely the most comfortable one, to the point that you may even fall asleep here.. but for sure feels the best for someone with back problems like me.

And you would be really flabbergasted to know that this French bike actually dates from 1939... yeah. even back then people preferred comfort over fancy!

Just that it weighs as both of the bikes above (or more precisely 20 kg).  Has an adjustable, varnished steel frame, 3 Derailleur simplex touriste (rear) gears, rim side pull  brakes with 22 in. wired (front) and 24 in. wired (rear) tyres. 

Few more 2016 stamps, as when the card dates back from as well. Talking about the two longish black and red stamps, issued for the World Stamp Show NY 2016. While the green guy on the left is Amadeo Giannini, who was an Italian-American banker who founded the Bank of Italy, which became Bank of America. (I just felt as if this came from some Spanish soap-opera...)
It was issued in 1973.

So, no more bikes for today, but expect them in the future of course, I for sure have more than enough to share (thanks to Bryon, among else 😉)

Bicycles

My dear Agi always somehow managed to stumble upon cards with trains or bicycles and decides to surprise my mailbox! And I was delighted to see that heh, what a coincidence, she has decided to blew dust off her blog as well :D

A few weeks before New Year's I bought new lights for my bicycle. The previous ones were steady-yellow lights, but the new ones are both in colour plus they are flashing, so it is a kind of a totally new attraction on the gloomy streets of Skopje (winters here are always gloomy, aka pollution goes through the roof and despite being a recurring issue year after year, it still persists, the Government keeps buying time until like spring time, when the pollution levels drop down and then everything is just swept under the carpet until next winter and then this vicious circle continues. Believe it or not Skopje was on the top of the list of most polluted cities in the world with cities in India and China trotting behind us. I wish more people rode bicycles, but then again, the Government doesn't really care to improve the conditions nor stimulate the people for that. So who knows, maybe we, the bike-Nazis are the crazy ones...

Agi used this super cool set of Astrophysics stamps issued in 2017! The stamp on the left shows gravitational waves, while the one on the right shows the GAIA Satelite.

Hvala ti puno Aginice! :* <3

Bicycles, Spain

Next are two super cool bicycle cards from Spain!

The first one comes from the Balearic Islands, sent by dear Agi...I absolutely love the retro-look of this one and the color too...it is like a super best-friend for your every day errands ...it just looks like one very happy bike :)

and I think that a mushroom stamp collector would be quite envious on such a card:D These come from a set issued in 2013, and I'm far from a mushroom expert, but for the curious one, here you have, from left to right: Agaricus xanthoderma, Amanita pantherina and Marasmius oreades.

I received this other bicycle card just recently, for the favourites tag...not sure where this one is exactly...I can just hope that it is in Spain at least :)

the stamp is a rather glowing and shiny one and is from the set of two Christmas stamps issued in 2015.

Bicycles, Ukraine

So, one more card for today...ok, that is actually one more post, with two card :)

...and it is bicycles again, sorry :)))
These come from Ukraine, and on the first one we can see a number of people on old bicycles...I really really wish I could at least once take a ride on such a bike...they are real classic!

This card came as part of the Choose a Country RR, two years ago, thanks to Kristine

She also used a number of nice stamps on it...first we have a cool monkey stamp from a set of 12 stamps issued in 2013, representing the Lunar Calendar, and each stamp represents one of the animals...as if Kristine knew why she should send me the monkey one :) and on each stamp you can also see the actual years for that particular sign.
Next to it is another stamp issued in 2013, representing the History of National Communication, while the one below it is a flora stamp, issued in 2012, showing the Fraxinus excelsior.

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This other bicycle card arrived as an official recently and it says "I love Ukraine very very much"...

I dont know why the bicycle in the picture...I never would have related Ukraine to bicycles, but I certainly don't mind...it makes one beautiful postcard! 

the stamp is a definitive issued in 2013.

So, that would be all for today...hope you didn't mind the bicycle over-dose :)

stay well and enjoy your week ahead!!

Portland, USA

Next is a cool bikish card from Bryon..

The back of the card says that 'bicycling and rain are two things that Portland is known for'...and well,  as long as you have the right clothing, there is no problem when riding your bike in the rain...the only problem here is the lack of the cycling paths..and the streets and pavements are either in terrible condition or not cycling-appropriate...so by the time you get to your destination you are all wet, despite your rain coat...water is just splashing from all the cracks and holes.... =/

Just recently I realized that I should find a seat cover for my bike, so that when it rains, the seat won't get ruined...since mine is not made of plastic but it is kinda soft, and not so rain-friendly...and looking at this card keeps reminding me of it...so I guess I should be looking at it like more often until I finally get it done :)
Anyways, it's been a nice weather here recently...a while ago I came back from the Cycling Critical Mass - it was a nice ride...esp. now that the weather has gotten warmer but it ain't too hot yet...winter rides are always in the dark and there are not many people...but I think that today there were around like 300 cyclists maybe...yep, we are fighting for our rights...it has been a slow process but there have been some improvements after like almost four years that this event has been regularly taking place.

well, here are a few pictures from today's edition, photo credits go to my neighbour Dimitar.

me and my friend Sašo while waiting for the event to begin

somewhere down the road - the last Wednesday of the month,when the patience of the car drivers, bus drivers, pedestrians is being tested...and they seriously have failed on a number of occasions :)

and a number of nice stamps...and two different cancellations, a red and a black one...cant figure out the date on the black one though...I wonder if both cancellations bear the same date or just wondering whatever has happened here :)
As for the stamps, the bottom one is more or less familiar, the Navajo Jewelry from 2007...as for the rest...first we have one from 1974 from a set of 8 stamps that are part of the Universal Postal Union Issue - the set consists of paintings by different artists, this one is by Liotard. The one next to it shows Chief Josef, and I believe this painting can be found at the National Portrait Gallery - issued in 1968. The last two stamps are from the Vintage Circus Posters' set of 16 issued in 2014.

Thank you Bryon =)

Liepāja, Latvia

One more card for today - it is an official I received recently...seems like today I've mainly focused on cards received this year....

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The card shows the Liepāja beach at the Baltic Sea in Latvia. 

Liepāja is known throughout Latvia as "The city where the wind is born", most likely because of the constant sea breeze.
It is said that the wind blows over the blue waves of the sea, over the port, the modern architecture and centuries of history to continue on its way all through Latvia.
Well on the card it looks very foggy...I don't really expect so much fog at places with so much wind...or maybe it is just an artistic touch here, who knows...

Two stamps on the card, and a cute kitty sticker :)
Both were issued in 2015 - the right one shows the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, while the other one is from  set of 5 flower stamps - this one shows the Dahrlia sp.

So that would be all for tonight...

Have a great weekend ahead!!

Winter in Yukon, Canada

well, just one more icy, freezing post for today...which, hmm, also happened to arrive as a surprise (i just realized this honestly...a definitely themed update today :))

I hope my bicycle doesn't get to experience this though :)

The back of the card says: At -40 °C summer seems a long way off...well, even here, even though it is not as extremely cold as -40, summer does seem a long way off..
Alvin is to blame for this lovely card, who visited Canada last September

the stamp is from a set of 5 Baby Wildlife stamps issued in 2014...really cute!

Thanks Alvin for yet another lovely surprise...and thank you all for dropping by!

Until next time, stay well!

Happy Birthday to Hippy Happy! And some Dutch bicycles....=)

Well, probably my greatest motivation to move my ass and do something productive here was that today is Hippy Happie's first birthday! Exactly one year ago I fell in love at first sight and ride and have spent a lot of fantastic moments hanging around with it...I have to say that it did change my life in a way, though i can't properly explain how...but certainly it deserves a post here to blow that candle, and wish both of us a lot of new great adventures and times spent together! ❤

My precious! (I still need to get him a basket though...)

Well now, this is also like an excuse to bother you with a bunch of bicycle cards....that unintentionally all ended up to be Dutch...so be prepared to be bored...or enjoy yourself...depending on how much of a bike lover you are :)

received in the fast favourites tag....I know that Hippy Happy is already colourful enough...but I've been thinking of decorating it with some Christmas lights actually...at least for the season...and enjoy some night rides :)

From a set of two "Green Initiatives" stamps.

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Beautiful Holland indeed!  Something Macedonia will never be bike-wise...at least not in my lifetime

so cool to have a bike card with a bike stamp! (the lighthouse one is just a bonus!) The bicycle stamp is from a set of 5 Dutch Icons' stamps issued this year, while the lighthouse one I believe is also from 2014...but for some reason I got a bit stuck with the info on it...

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This is the kind of woven basket I'd like to buy or my bike....though if possible in black...to suit it better

a number of nice and colourful stamps! the one on the right is from a set of three Child care stamps issued in 1992. The middle one is from a set of three Child welfare stamps issued in 1987 while the one on the left is also from a set of three Child welfare stamps from 1990. I like it how they are all thematically related...

Peggy was so kind to send me this card after I have had it in my favourites for ages! I just love it! The colours, the scenery...everything! So typically Amsterdamish :)

nice colourful stamps again! the one on the left is from a set of three stamps issued in 1992, simply called Summer stamps. The middle one is also from 1992 issued for the  Expo '92 in Sevilla (comes in a set of two). While the third stamp on the right was issued in 1983 commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the ANWB (or the Dutch touring club if im not mistaken?)

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Love the colour of this bike! One of the many thoughtful official cards when people are so kind and try to find something they know I will like :)

the first two from the left are definitives issued in 2012. The third stamp was issued in 2009 in a set of two stamps simply called Beautiful Netherlands, while the last one is from 2008 from a set of ten mushroom stamps commemorating The 100th Anniversary of the Netherlands' Mycological Society

Surprise card from Alvin showing a scene from the tiny village of Straphorst, where inhabitants like to get stuck on old traditions and religion and where still many people wear traditional costumes in their daily lives.

Part from a beautiful sheet of the Beautiful Netherlands theme, issued in 2013

One more strike from Peggy with a lovely Amsterdamish card! She says that most bicycle cards of Amsterdam show bikes neatly lined up but this is a more accurate picture and that every bridge and every railing has at least one bike attached to it upside down, most of the time missing at least one part. She says that  you should consider yourself lucky if you find your bike at all as 50000 to 80000 bikes are stolen in Amsterdam only, every year.
Hmm, ok, now im having some second thoughts about wanting to live in Amsterdam...

Beautiful stamps again. I already mentioned the one on the very right that is a part of the 1990 Child Welfare stamps. The middle one is from a set of three Summer stamps issued in 1983 representing the Zoo, while the stamp on the left is also from 1983 from the EUROPA issue on Communications.

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another bike with a lovely colour! and the atmosphere is relaxing indeed...it would be great if I had the chance to ride mine near a lake or a sea or something on a lovely spring day.

God help me on this one! Either Im repeatedly blind or this one doesn't exist in the stamp catalogs online?!!

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Probably the most typical scene in a Dutch countryside ...Drente is shown on this postcard in particular...at the bottom right picture you can see those two guys in a partially lying position on their bicycles...ive seen those here as well...but for some reason I think that riding on such a bike aint as comfy as riding a normal one...mainly cos you have to keep your head straight all the time...there is no such thing as a cushion or something to lean back on....so ill still stick to the regular type...until I maybe try this one for real and happen to like it :)

From a set of two personal stamps titled Europe and the World, issued in 2012

The last Dutch card is not just about bicycles but also about another Dutch icon, and that is Anne Frank...I think the combination of the wall and the bikes is just great and really fitting...love it!!

that butterfly stamp is one of the first Dutch stamps Ive known since I often used to see it on the letters my penfriends used to send me..issued in 1993 in a set of three stamps. the other one is another oldie, dating back to 1986, issued in a set of four charity stamps.

well, I think I may have exhausted all my Dutch bike cards..and I believe you won't want to see another bike card for a while now :)

9 Million Bicycles...or just Hippy Happy =)

Ok, since I started with bragging, let's do a bit more of it :D I guess someone's gonna hate me by the end of today :)

Anyways, as some of you may know again, I LOVE my bicycle, due to which I actually started collecting bicycle postcards. However, for a while now I've been thinking of getting a new bike cos mine feels like it is saving its last breaths sometimes to get from A to B...plus it is a mountain bike, more suitable for men...I wanted more of a girl kind of bike so I can ride it even with a skirt on...I had this idea of getting a red or a black one...until one day I saw one that captured my heart...and few months later, became MINE!! Yup, I got myself a new bike last Thursday and I so much love love love it! (Those who are on Facebook have probably seen it already :))Well, that is one of the reasons why I won't be travelling for the holidays now (so sorry, no surprise postcards from me =/) There will be other opportunities to travel and torture your mailboxes...but for now I want you to meet Hippy Happy! (yep, that's how I named it, cos it seriously, the name is just soo suitable!)

isn't it just lovely? =))))

I can hardly wait for the weather to get better so I can ride it more often...Im rather limited with all this rain and fog and stuff....ahh happiness!!

and well, as a part of the post, for pure pleasure for the bike lovers, here are a bunch of bike cards I received during this year...I think that mine is still the loveliest :P

Yup, exactly! Me + bike = happy =)

Just a few thank-yous to some of the bike-cards contributors that you've seen above...hugs to Agi, Nataša, Svea, Jolly, Natalia, Helena, Jane, Katja, Galina, Stefanie, Andrea, Ksenia, Sasha, Viktoria, Marieke, Jenny, Carmen, Karolina, Irina...

Hopefully from January on Ill go back with my new bike to the Critical mass organized here in Skopje...that's a feeling one of a kind...hundreds of bikers together on the streets of Skopje =)

Pic and video from two different I attended few months ago =) (I feel like im becoming really self-centred =)) (In case someone's interested I appear from 1:39 - 1:41 in the video)