CAYMAN ISLANDS ~ Map - Grand Cayman ~

... Lovely illustrated map card showing highlights of the island... a British Territory in the western Caribbean... Grand Cayman, the largest of the three is home to the most hotels, restaurants and things to do... it is a green paradise, white relaxing beaches fringed with palm trees and beautiful crystal-clear water... surrounded by protective reefs an deep plungings walls, the deep blue sea offers some of the best Caribbean diving, snorkeling, fishing and watersports...  Thanks a lot Allison!(✿◠‿◠) 

The Cayman Islands is made of three islands, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac and they’re located south of Cuba and Florida, between Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and Jamaica in the Caribbean Sea. 

Grand Cayman is the largest and westernmost of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the territory's capital, George Town.

Stamp:

Definitives - Botanical Garden 

(Issued 18-10-2020)

NORWAY ~ Map ~

... Great detailed tourist illustrated map of Norway along with some beautiful nature scenes located in different parts of the Far North... a country with striking Fjords, awe-inspiring mountains, natural attractions, gastronomy, culture and architecture... and it’s ranked as one of the world’s happiest countries in the world... Nogmaals Héééél Erg Bedankt Gerlinde! (❀◦◡◦)

The Kingdom of Norway is the westernmost country in the Scandinavian peninsula, made up mostly of mountainous terrain. Nearly all of its population lives in the south, surrounding the capital, Oslo.

Few fun facts:

 

Vikings Are Norwegian.

A Norwegian Discovered Greenland.

There Are 400,000 Lakes In Norway.

Every Christmas, Norway Gives The United Kingdom A Christmas Tree.

The Sami People Are The Indigenous People Of Norway.

Norway Celebrates National Day On May 17.

The Laerdal Tunnel Is The Longest Road Tunnel In The World.

Norway Has No Official Religion.

Stamps:

The 150th Anniversary of the World's First Postage Stamp 

(Issued 09-04-1990)

Millennium - Every Day Life Pictures  

(Issued 09-08-1999)

Tourism 

(Issued 16-04-2010)

 

GREECE ~ Map ~

... Great map postcard with lots of tiny but wonderful pictures showing typical and famous places... Greece has more than 2,000 islands, of which about 280 are inhabited... there are some islands that are known for their incredible sandy beaches, natural features and authentic villages, while others have a significant nightlife scene or strong cultural traditions... a place where historic ruins, volcanic cliffs, and friendly locals meet the clear-blue Mediterranean Sea.... it has the longest coastline in the Mediterranean with 13 676 km and one of the longest coastlines in the world... and a popular holiday destination for Belgian people... Thanks Athina! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Greece  is a mountainous country in Southeast Europe in the Mediterranean Sea, its capital and largest city is Athens. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa.

The country shares land borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. The name Macedonia was disputed by Greece and the country to the north of Greece changed its name to North Macedonia in February 2019. The Greek coastline borders the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea as well as the Libyan and Crete Seas.

Stamp:

The Greek Revolution of 1821 Through the Children's Eyes  

(Issued 07-10-2021)

CAMEROON ~ Map ~

... A wonderful map card and my first postcard coming from this African country👍... known for its great diversity in terrain and culture has led to Cameroon being referred to as "Africa in miniature" or "All Africa in one country"... from evergreen forests which gradually fade into grass land savannah until it reaches the sandy regions of Lake Chad, Cameroon has features which are found in all parts of Africa... Thanks a lot Akam! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Cameroon is a West Central African country bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean.

The capital is Yaoundé, located in the south-central part of the country.

The population of Cameroon is made up of more than 200 ethnic groups with different customs and traditions, some of which have survived till today, especially in the north and west of the country.

Photo: G. Dutan

 

2X Stamp:

Birthday Anniversary of Mahatma Ghandi 

(Issued 2019)

SRI LANKA ~ Map ~

... Detailed tourist map of Sri Lanka showing places of which I received so many amazing postcards over the years❤️... a guide to explore this beautiful "teardrop" shaped island surrounded by the Indian Ocean... nicknamed "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" due to its incredible natural beauty, extraordinary biodiversity as well as its precious gemstones.... the perfect place for visiting ancient ruins, hiking in the lush green mountains, the Ella train journey, trek through tea plantations, see beautiful beaches, spotting wildlife in the National Parks and so many more... Postmarked 01-01-2020👍Thanks a lot dear Ravindra!  ❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Sri Lanka is located southeast of India in the Indian Ocean.

The island has a maximum length of 432 km and a maximum width of 224 km and covers an area of 25,332 mi². The capital city is Colombo.

Sri Lanka used to be called Ceylon and gained their independence from the British in 1948 when it was named the Dominion of Ceylon and then became the Republic of Sri Lanka in 1972.

Stamp:

Wasgamuwa National Park - Fauna
(Issued 05-10-2019)

HONG KONG ~ McLehose Trail ~

... Great map postcard of the world-renowned MacLehose Trail... an iconic hiking trail noted by National Geographic as one of the world’s 20 dream trails... it was the first long distance hiking trail in Hong Kong and celebrates this year its 40th anniversary... you’ll see sea caves, sea stacks, and hexagonal rock columns... listen to the sound of breaking waves on the impressive coastlines... breathtaking scenery of the countryside as well as overlooking view of the cityscape of the Kowloon Peninsula... I never would had thought of Hong Kong as a "dream" hiking destination as being one of the most crowded places on earth... most postcards I have seen and received showing skycrapers, bright neon lights and shops😉... with nice matching stamp and First Day cancellation to celebrate this anniversary👍... Thanks a lot Cho Kin!【ツ】

Map by Steve Stankiewicz The MacLehose Trail opened on 26 October 1979, is a hiking trail that crosses much of the New Territories, starting from Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung, in the east to Tuen Mun in the west. The whole trail is 100 kilometres long, marked by distance posts at 500m intervals along the paths and consist of 10 stages.

It is named after Crawford Murray MacLehose, the longest serving governor of Hong Kong, who established the Country Parks and was himself an enthusiastic hiker.

Stamp:

"Hong Kong Hiking Trails "MacLehose Trail".
(Issued 24-10-2019)

Definitives - Landscapes of Hong Kong
(Issued 24-07-2014)

FRENCH GUIANA ~ Map ~

... WOW!! My first postcard coming from this remote region of France💚... slowly but steady my missing places list is gettting shorter👍... the country's largely unspoiled wilderness is home to an astounding diversity of wildlife... a long the coast, nature lovers can explore bird-rich marshes and caimans...  in the northwest corner of French Guiana, Plage les Hattes at Awala-Yalimapo is the most important single nesting site in the world for giant leatherback turtles... a paradise for ecotourism... being a French overseas department it uses French stamps (with stamp code for Kourou 24923A)... Big Thanks Davide??? and Gian Luca for this wonderful surprise!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

French Guiana (also known as "Guyane")  is located on the north Atlantic coast of South America between the Republic of Suriname and Brazil, in the Guyanas.

French Guiana is the only French department on the South American continent and the only territory of the mainland Americas that is still part of a European country.

Guiana is also part of the European Union, and its official currency is the euro.

The capital  is Cayenne.  Some of the other main towns are Kourou, Matoury, St Laurent and Macouria.

Stamp:


Africa Inspired Nature Patterns
(Issued 04-01-2019)

GERMANY ~ Map Island Hiddensee - The Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park ~

... Great map view and part of a new National Park... Hiddensee has a natural beach along the entire west coast of the Baltic Sea... cars are not allowed on the island... the ideal place to take a bike and go around the Island... stunning and peaceful place away from it all.... a landscape of cliffs and dunes, spits and lagoons...  the perfect destination for anyone who loves beaches or woodland....the national park is characterized by very shallow water housing a unique coastal fauna... all parts of the park are famous for being a resting place for tens of thousands of cranes and geese... with of course a wonderful special postmark... Big Thanks once more Dustin!!【ツ】

Hiddensee island is located in the Baltic Sea, located west of Germany's largest island, Rügen, the German coast.

It is is about 16.8 km long, about 250 m wide at its narrowest point and about 3.7 km wide at its broadest point. It is the largest island within the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park that covers an area  805 km² of very shallow waters.

The national park includes:
-the Darß peninsula
-the western coast of the island of Rügen
-the island of Hiddensee
-the island of Ummanz
-several tiny islets between the above places
-the multiple lagoons in between the land masses



Card from Jana Ninnemann

Stamp:

 Flora - Flowers
 (Issued 11-05-2017)

SRI LANKA ~ Map ~

... Lovely illustrated map card showing many highlights of the island..."the spice island" for its flavors... also known as the "Pearl in the Indian Ocean" and not just because of its teardrop-like shape... surrounded by the Indian Ocean Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful tropical islands in South Asia... because of its unique location there are so many things to do and see... visiting ancient ruins, hiking in the lush green mountains, the Ella train journey, trek through tea plantations, see beautiful beaches, spotting wildlife in the National Parks... of all of the places shown here I have received many wonderful postcards over the years from my dear postcard friend Ravindra💙! Thanks! ❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal and  separated from the mainland portion of the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Strait.

The island  has a maximum length of 432 km and a maximum width of 224 km.

The legislative capital, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, is a suburb of the commercial capital and largest city, Colombo.

For administrative purposes, the country has been divided into nine provinces and subdivided into 25 districts.

 It is known until 1972 as Ceylon.

Stamps:

The 100th Anniversary of Volleyball
(Issued 07-12-2016)

2X Vesak Festival
(Issued 07-05-2019)

VIETNAM ~ Map Indochina ~

.... Wonderful "cartoon" map card of three countries linked by the Mekong river... the land between China and India with influences of both... highlighting their most famous tourist attractions... although the term “Indochina” is still used to refer to these three countries, it’s nowadays more known as “Southeast Asia”, which also encompasses other countries in the area, such as Burma and Thailand... Vietnam territory has a shape of a narrow ‘S’ letter... located on the eastern edge of the peninsula  Indochina... the narrowest point of Vietnam is only 40.3 km wide.... with a great selection of lovely stamps... Thanks a lot Manh!【ツ】

Indochina, also called (until 1950) French Indochina are strictly described as being the countries of the former French colonies, which were Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Located in the Southeast Asia region, east of Thailand, and south of China.

 It became part of the French colonial empire in the late 19th century. The Japanese Empire conquered it in the Second World War, and other wars went on for decades tearing the region apart for a generation.


The term Indochina refers to the intermingling of Indian and Chinese influences in the culture of the region.





Stamps:

2X Ancient Architecture
(Issued 25-01-2018)

3X Vietnamese Community of Ethnic Groups
(Issued 30-09-2005)

Flowers of Vietnam
(Issued 01-03-2018)

EL SALVADOR ~ Map ~

... A fantastic colourful and picturesque map card coming from the faraway El Salvador... a country of beautiful contrasts... showing a lot of landmarks all throughout the country... and with the national bird, known as "Torogoz"... being the smallest country in Central America, El Salvador was fondly given the nickname “Pulgarcito de America”, or “Tom Thumb of the Americas”... it is also known as “the country with a smile” because the locals are friendly, helpful, and hospitable... with two great stamps and interesting clear oval cancellation, which are typical for most of the South and Central American countries... Thanks a lot William!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

El Salvador is the smallest country and also the most densely populated nation in Central America. This mountainous country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, and Honduras.The capital  is San Salvador, also its largest city.

This tiny country is dominated by several volcanoes. The volcanoes spew lava, which over many years, creates fertile farmland. Coffee beans are the major crop grown here.

El Salvador is divided into 14 departments.The departments are grouped into three regions for statistical and geographic purposes; Western Region, Central Region and Eastern Region.

Stamps:
History of Aviation in El Salvador
(Issued ?-10-2017)

Diplomatic Relations with Taiwan
(Issued 14-10-2016)

GERMANY ~ Map - National Park Harz ~

... Lovely map postcard of one of the largest forest national parks in Germany...  a place for nature lovers, hikers, climbers or people who are interested in mining history, Cold War relics, castles... you can choose from over 9.000 km of hiking trails to explore unspoilt forests, deep valleys and lush meadows... a refugee for plants and animals...Thanks a lot Marco!!ヽ(ヅ)ノ

Harz National Park is located within Germany's most northerly mountain range, the Harz Mounains, in the federal states of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.  95 % of the area is covered with forests, mainly with spruce and beech woods, including several bogs, granite rocks and creeks.

Harz National Park stretches from a low mountain range near Herzberg in the southern part of the mountains, across the Harz massif to its northern slopes near Bad Harzburg and Ilsenburg. It offers the entire range of characteristic ecological systems, variations in height, slopes and rocks. Height varies from approximately 240 m in the north and 270 m on the southern edge up to 1,141 m on Brocken peak. The Park offers an ecologically complex landscape and contains different vegetation zones.

Stamp:

Castles of Germany - Löwenburg
(Issued 02-01-2016)

ITALY ~ Giglio Island - Arcipelago Toscano National Park ~

... Great map card showing a small jewel in the Mediterranean sea... the place for a perfect sun vacation with the most beautiful beaches... unfortunately also known for the sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship in 2012... Arcipelago Toscano National Park is the largest marine Park in Europe and Giglio is the second largest island of this NP... famous for its clear water rich in marine life and much beloved by scuba divers... Thanks a lot dear Gian Luca & Raffaella for this wonderful new NP of your country!!(✿ ♥‿♥) → My UNESCO WHS

Isola del Giglio is an Italian island situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the coast of Tuscany. The island is one of seven that form the Tuscan Archipelago, lying within the Arcipelago Toscano National Park. (Elba, Isola del Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri, Gorgona, and some of the minor islands and rock outcrops.)

This Italian national park protects 56,776 hectares (140,300 acres) of sea and 17,887 hectares (44,200 acres) of island (land) habitats.The highest point in the park is Mount Capanne, at 1,019 metres (3,343 ft) in elevation, on the island of Elba.

Stamp: 

Italian Squares
(Issued 02-07-2016)

GERMANY ~ Map - Lake Steinhude nature park ~

... Lovely colorful cartoon map postcard... the lake is a the top water sports destination for swimming, sailing, surfing, rowing, canoeing, pedal boating and kiteboarding... you can find rare plant and animal species in the nature park and it's an important resting place for migratory birds which can be observed from viewing towers..  once more a postcard  with great matching stamps and postmark (showing Heinz Sielmann, a world-renowned wildlife photographer, biologist, zoologist and documentary filmmaker).... Thank you very much Dustin!!【ツ】

Lake Steinhude (Steinhuder Meer) with a surface area of approximately 30  km² in the north-west of Germany is the biggest stretch of inland water. The lake forms the center of Lake Steinhude Nature Park ( area of ca. 310 km²).

The park consists of extensive moorlands, broad “Geest” sandy moorland ridges, grassland, woods, the northernmost fingers of the Mittelgebirge mountain range and neighbouring river valleys. The island fortress of Wilhelmstein and Steinhude bathing island, as well as a sandy beach.

Steinhude Lake is on the List of "Wetlands of International Importance" as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.

Stamps:

Crocus
(Issued 11-09-2005)

Bluebells
(Issued 08-06-2017)

100th birthday of Heinz Sielmann
(Issued 08-06-2017)

SPAIN ~ Menorca - Map - UNESCO ~

... Great map card coming from the easternmost and least known Balearic island... a picturesque island with idyllic beaches and turquoise seas... hidden sandy coves... scenic hiking trails... and ancient monuments... a holiday paradise... Thanks a lot Elena!! ❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. The four largest islands are Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. Menorca is the second largest Balearic island after Mallorca and is less than 50km long and 22km wide.

The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain, of which the capital city is Palma.

Minorca was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993 because of the need to preserve the great diversity of habitats that coexist on this small island - the richness of flora and fauna, the quality of the rural landscape and archaeological heritage.

Stamp:

King Felipe VI
(Issued 02-01-2016)

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ~ Map ~

... Beautiful map postcard with small views of Old Bridges...the country is nicknamed the “Heart Shaped Land” due to the country’s slight heart shape o͜͡o .... it gained independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1992... the name “Bosnia” comes from an Indo-European word Bosana, which means water.... it is home to the Perucica Rainforest, the largest rainforest in Europe... Thanks a lot Zana!! ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, between Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. The capital city, Sarajevo, is located near the center of the country.

Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of two Entities – the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic Srpska.

The Bosnian region in the north is mountainous and covered with thick forests. The Herzegovina region in the south is largely rugged, flat farmland. It has a narrow coastline without natural harbors stretching 20 km along the Adriatic Sea.
Stamps:

Berries
(Issued 04-08-2015)

Chairmanship of the Council of Europe
(Issued 21-06-2015)

Fauna - Mammals
( 31-01-2007)

The CARIBBEAN ~ Map ~

... A fantastic postcard showing all the Caribbean Islands... a slice of Paradise... there are thousands of islands which make up this stunning part of the world... and every single one of them has their own unique traditions and cultures.... I'm still missing a few of them... maybe someone going on a cruise there (>‿♥)... with great stamps and postmarks... Thanks a lot Humba!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

© JOANN'S On postcard: "The Caribbean Islands are also known as the "West Indies". When Columbus set out to reach Asia (the Indies) by sailing west, he thought that he'd found the East Indies when he stumbled upon some islands. These islands were called the "Indies" and Columbus called their inhabitants "Indians". When his mistake was discovered, the Indies were renamed the West Indies to differentiate them from the real East Indies."
The islands of the Caribbean Sea or West Indies are an extensive archipelago in the far west of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly strung between North and South America.

Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands, often grouped as Greater Antilles, are by far the largest countries in the area and the most visited by travellers.  In the north is the Lucayan Archipelago, which includes The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Caribbean also includes the Lesser Antilles, a group of much smaller islands to the east.

Stamps:
2X Fauna - Marine Life
(Issued 03-02012)

The 10th Anniversary of Bahamas National Geographic Information Systems
(Issued 09-07-2014)

BANGLADESH ~ Map ~

...Great map card showing the countries major cities and capital Dhaka...Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and really one of the least traveled ones... it has the longest "natural sand" beach... many archaeological sites, historical mosques and monuments... picturesque landscape...Thanks a lot Foysal!! (✿◠‿◠)

Bangladesh, on the northern coast of the Bay of Bengal is surrounded by India, with a small common border with Myanmar.

The word Bangladesh means "Country of Bengal" in the local language.

The country is low-lying riverine land formed by the alluvial plain of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system—the largest delta in the world.Tropical monsoons and frequent floods and cyclones inflict heavy damage in the delta region. On average, about one-third of the country floods during the rainy season.

The largest city and capital of Bangladesh is Dhaka. The city has an estimated population of 15 million people making it one of the largest city in the world. It is known as the "City of Mosques".

 Much of the land is barely above sea level, with the exception of hills east and south of Chittagong.

Stamps:

Bangladesh Landmarks
(Issued 08-07-1989)

Indigenous Peoples of Bangladesh
(Issued 02-08-2010)

MADEIRA ~ Map ~

...Beautiful map showing a lush green island...known as the "Pearl or the Garden of the Atlantic"... a tropical archipelago with a wonderful subtropical climate and breathtaking scenery...Thanks Anastasia!! ㋡

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago situated in the north Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Portugal. The archipelago consists of 1 large and several smaller islands; Madeira, Porto Santo, Deserted and Savage islands.The capital and largest city is Funchal.

The landscape remembers its volcanic origin and it is the largest island of this archipelago with an area of 741 km2 (286 sq mi), a length of 57 km (35 mi) while approximately 22 km (14 mi) at its widest point.

Since 1976, the archipelago has been one of the two Autonomous regions of Portugal , the other being the Azores. It is an outermost region of the European Union.


Stamp:

Madeira - Self Adhesive
(Issued 19-01-2015)

LATVIA ~ Map ~

...Great landscape map postcard...one of Europe's least known and most undiscovered countries...my last received Latvia postcard already dates from 2013....Thanks a lot Ona and Ieva!!【ツ】

Photo: Juris Kalniņš
Latvia  is a small country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, one of the three Baltic states.

With a coastline of 531km along the Baltic Sea, Latvia is bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus.  Forests cover the biggest part of  this low-lying country. This country also counts more than 3 000 lakes and 12 000 rivers.

Riga is the capital and the largest city of the country.

Stamps:

Flowers
(Issued 05-05-2015)

Flowers
(Issued 09-01-2015)

 Flowers - Waterlily
(8ssued 0403-2016)