Croatia: Bridges and viaducts

 

"MODRUŠ1"

Viaduct „Modruš1“ is the first and the longest in the row of three viaducts of the same name at the road section Ogulin- Brinje of the Highway A1 Zagreb-Split- Dubrovnik, at approach to the tunnel Mala Kapela.

"KRKA"

The bridge is located between the nods Skradin and Šibenik, and immediately behind it there is a rest area with a restaurant and viewpoint, from where the view of the bridge and the town of Skradin can be enjoyed. Especially attractive is the view at the bridge for yachtsmen heading to Skradin.

Release date: 29.04.2015.

Serbia: Science 2015

Release date: 08.05.2015

Jovan Cvijić (Serbian Cyrillic: Јован Цвијић; 11 October 1865 – 16 January 1927) was a Serbian geographer, president of the Serbian Royal Academy of Sciences and rector of the University of Belgrade. Cvijić is considered the founder of geography in Serbia. He began his scientific career as a geographer and geologist, and continued his activity as a human geographer and sociologist.

Aćim Medović (polish: Joachim Medowic; Подвизов, 8. May 1815 – Belgrade, 11/23. May 1893). He was a physician and writer, doctor of medicine, secretary of the medical department in the the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Pozarevac district physicus and professor of forensic medicine at the Belgrade Higher School. He was among the first Serbian doctors and one of the first members of the Serbian Medical Society. He was Polish origin. He was born in Galicia (now Poland).

Croatia: Famous Croats 2015

LUKA SORKOČEVIĆ: Creator of not so huge opus but also of first Croatian symphonies, which by numerous and formal finesses and genuine solutions belong to the circle of European composers of the pre-classical period

JOSIP JURAJ STROSSMAYER: Strossmayer was catholic, active in church, culture and political life, collector of heritage, founder of institutions such as Yugoslav (today Croatian) Academy of Sciences. It is his merit that a magnificent palace was built in Zagreb for the Academy as the place for collecting and use of its immense written treasures.

IVAN SUPEK: During whole his life he significantly contributed to our community and as humanist, peacemaker and philosopher he acted and thought at global level and was unremittingly engaged in disarmament, protection of nature and social justice

 Date of issue:21.04.2015.

Croatia: THE 1000TH POSTAGE STAMP - Croatian Post

Motif: thousand fields – symbols of postage stamps Stamp has been issued in 9-stamp sheetlet and there is also First Day Cover (FDC) and a commemorative postcard issued by Croatian Post. In the background of the stamp, under infrared light, the text „1000th postage stamp of Croatian Post“ is visible.

The 1000th postage stamp is issued on 27.04.2015.

Belgium: Belgian beers

Very nice postcard from Belgium :)

Cheers Raquel!

Austria: Belvedere castle in Vienna

The Belvedere is a historic building complex in Vienna, Austria, consisting of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the third district of the city, on the south-eastern edge of its centre. It houses the Belvedere museum. The grounds are set on a gentle gradient and include decorative tiered fountains and cascades, Baroque sculptures, and majestic wrought iron gates. The Baroque palace complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy.

The Belvedere was built during a period of extensive construction in Vienna, which at the time was both the imperial capital and home to the ruling Habsburg dynasty. This period of prosperity followed on from the commander-in-chief Prince Eugene of Savoy's successful conclusion of a series of wars against the Ottoman Empire.

Thank You Sandra

Russia: Lucky Dog by Gil Elvgren

This is very nice postcard from Moscow with Pin-up girl.

Stamps:

Astrakhan Kremlin (issued 01.10.2009.)
Ryazan Kremlin (issued 01.10.2009.)

Thank you Albina!

Netherlands: Robin d'Arcy Shillcock

Robin d'Arcy Shillcock (b. 1953) is an Australian residing in Netherlands. After spending his childhood in India, Australia, Guatemala he came to Netherlands. After graduating in two degrees at the Academy of Fine Arts in Groningen he concentrated his artistic endeavours on birdlife and the Dutch landscape, working primarily as a plein air painter.

Thank You Anita

Ukraine: Pottery

The earliest potteries found in the territory of Ukraine belong to the Tripoli culture (2.5-2 thousand years BC). This people loved the rich ornament and generously applied it on vases, plates and pots. Undoubtedly, their culture has had a profound influence on later peoples, the Slavs, whose period begins around the VII century BC, aren’t the exception. Pottery of this period resembles the ancient Roman crockery - stamping consists of cuts, stars, straight and wavy lines. However, over the years, not only manufacturing techniques of clay and firing improved, but artistic skill of craftsmen has grown too. By the X century BC pottery became a folk craft - pottery made not only for the needs of the natives, but also for export. By the XI century the Slavs learned to process kaolin clay - the final product looks reminiscent of porcelain of XVIII century and was one of the main fillers of princely treasury. Except dishes Slavs were also made clay figures - the pagan gods, humans, animals, birds, fish and plants. Clay has also become an inherent part of religious ceremonies.

Thank You Helena!

Montenegro: Europa 2015 Old Toys

Release date: 16.04.2015.

Philippines: Tarsier

The Tarsier is a small species of primate that is found inhabiting the well-vegetated forests on a number of islands in south-east Asia. Although fossil records show that Tarsiers would have once been found on mainland Asia, Europe, North America and in Africa, modern Tarsiers are today restricted to just a handful of islands in Malaysia, Indonesia and the southern Philippines.

Thank You Roel!

Croatian Fauna 2015: 3 stamps and FDC

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) belongs to the order of artiodactya (cetartiodactyla – even toed ungulates), suborder of bovines, family of deer (cervidae) and the genus capreolus. Although timid, it is often found near settlements. It feeds exclusively on plants and is specialised in carefully selected plant parts

Fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) belongs to the order of beasts, family of dogs. Being a beast and thus primarily oriented on the food of animal origin (meat eater), is actually omnivore because it very often consumes fruit and grapes. It is active mainly by night.

Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) belongs to the order of artiodactyla (even toed ungulates), suborder non-ruminants and the family of pigs. Wild boar is omnivore eating wide range of foods. It eats above and below ground parts of plants and especially enjoys acorn, mast and chestnut.

Release date: 15.04.2015.

 

India: Nataraja temple

Thillai Natarajah Temple or Chidambaram temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the town of Chidambaram, East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India. The temple is known as the foremost of all temples (Kovil) to Saivites and has influenced worship, architecture, sculpture and performance art for over two millennium. The Sangam classics list chief architect Viduvelvidugu Perumtaccan as directing an early renovation of the shrine.

A major shrine of Lord Shiva worship since the classical period, there have been several renovations and offerings to Chidambaram by the Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara and Chera royals in the ancient and pre-medieval periods. The temple as it stands now is mainly of the 12th and 13th centuries, with later additions in similar style. Its bronze statues and stone sculptures depicting various deities and the famous Thillai trees  of the surrounding forest reflect the highpoints of early Chola and Pallava art while its famed gold plated gopuram towers are medieval structural additions by the royals Aditya I, Parantaka Chola I, Kopperunchinga I, Krishnadevaraya and Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan. King Kocengannan Chola was born following prayers his parents offered at the temple and later in his life he refined its structure. The shrine gave the town its name.

Thank You very much Subramanya!

USA: Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is 446 km long, up to 29 km wide and attains a depth of over a 1,800 meters. Nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Grand Canyon are the subject of debate by geologists, recent evidence suggests that the Colorado River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago. Since that time, the Colorado River continued to erode and form the canyon to its present-day configuration.

For thousands of years, the area has been continuously inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon a holy site, and made pilgrimages to it. The first European known to have viewed the Grand Canyon was García López de Cárdenas from Spain, who arrived in 1540.

Thank You Tao Ye

Belarus: Busel – Stork

Very nice postcard from Belarus!

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills.
Storks dwell in many regions and tend to live in drier habitats than the closely related herons, spoonbills and ibises; they also lack the powder down that those groups use to clean off fish slime. Storks have no syrinx and are mute, giving no call; bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Many species are migratory. Most storks eat frogs, fish, insects, earthworms, small birds and small mammals. There are nineteen living species of storks in six genera.

Thank you very much Anne!

Netherlands: Heineken

Heineken Lager Beer, is a pale lager beer with 5% alcohol by volume produced by the Dutch brewing company Heineken International. Heineken is well known for its signature green bottle and red star.

In 2014, Heineken celebrates its 150th anniversary.

In 2015, Heineken wins the Creative Marketer of the Year Award becoming the second company to win the award twice.

The original brewery where Gerard Adriaan Heineken first started making Heineken is now a museum. The brewery is now called the Heineken Experience Museum. Guests can walk around having the same kind of atmosphere just like back when it was still a brewery. The smell of fresh brewed beer still lingers in the air because guests can go home with a personalized beer with their name on the label.

Thank You Marieke.

Ukraine: The Family

Very nice postcard from Ukraine: "The Family" by Наталя Курій-Максимів (Natalia Kurly-Maksymiv)

Thank you Lilliya!

Switzerland: Swiss Alps

The Alpine region of Switzerland represents a major natural feature of the country and is, alongside with the Swiss Plateau and the Swiss portion of the Jura Mountains, one of its three main physiographic regions. The Swiss Alps extend over both the Western Alps and the Eastern Alps, encompassing an area sometimes called Central Alps.

The Swiss Alps comprise all the mountains of Switzerland over 2,000 metres above sea level and almost all the highest mountains of the Alps, such as Monte Rosa (4,634 m), the Dom (4,545 m), the Lyskamm (4,527 m), the Weisshorn (4,506 m) and the Matterhorn (4,478 m).

Since the Middle Ages, transit across the Alps played an important role in history. The region north of the St. Gotthard Pass became the nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the early 14th century.

Thank You Fiden!

Japan: Sano

This nice postcard with traditional painting comes from Sano.

Sano is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

The city is known for its Outlet Mall and ramen. Sano also has become the headquarters of the Japanese Cricket Association and has hosted a number of cricket games between international teams.

As of February 1, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 124,000, with 48,737 households and a population density of 348.25 persons per km². The total area is 356.07 km2.

Thank You Tomoko

Canada: Palais des congrès de Montréal

The Palais des congrès de Montréal is a convention centre located in the Quartier international de Montréal at the north end of Old Montreal in Montreal's borough of Ville-Marie.

The Palais was constructed above the Ville-Marie Expressway, the main underground highway of downtown Montreal. It connects to the Montreal Metro at Place-d'Armes station, and to Montreal's underground city.

Located in Montréal’s downtown core and linked to 4,000 hotel rooms by indoor walkways, the Palais des congrès de Montréal features 19,000 m2 of exhibition surface area, 65 meeting rooms and 18 loading docks.

Thank You Christine

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian post office in Mostar - Europa old toys

Two new stamps and FDC from Bosnia and Herzegovina, from Croatian post office in Mostar, will be issued on 05.04.2015.

Republika Srpska Europa 2015 Old Toys

Release date 17. 04. 2015.

200 years of the Second Serbian Uprising

Release date 23.04.2015.

 
The Second Serbian Uprising (1815-1817) was the second phase of the Serbian Revolution against the Ottoman Empire, which erupted shortly after the re-annexation of the country to the Ottoman Empire, in 1813. The occupation was enforced following the defeat of the First Serbian Uprising (1804-1813), during which Serbia existed as a de facto independent state for over a decade. The second revolution ultimately resulted in Serbian semi-independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Principality of Serbia was established, governed by its own parliament, constitution and royal dynasty. De jure independence followed during the second half of the 19th century.