Islands in the Sun

 

2007: Island Jewels

Head for the sunny beaches of Rottnest Island.  It is also the place to see lots of cute quokka.

Maria Island, Tasmania, not only long sandy beaches, mountains and wildlife it is a World Heritage Australian Convict Site. Deported as punishment and wake up in paradise, eventually. Kangaroo Island off the south coast of Australia, I wonder what we will find there😀

Green Island a coral cay at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

1980: International Conference for Tourism, Manila

The subtropical island of Madeira, "the pearl of the Atlantic", as the card suggests it has an abundance and variety of fruit, something it shares in common with

1955: Landscapes

the Caribbean island of Martinique. This island however has an active volcano, it and the surrounding forests are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Heading away from the islands to France where the 'Race to the Sun'  begins today, a classic cycling stage race from Paris through France's mountainous centre and which will eventually arrive on to the sunlit riviera of Nice on the 16th March.

2015: Extreme Sports

A cooling activity for the heat of high summer in Portugal, white water rafting.

Sunday Stamps theme - Warm Location Vacations - soak up the sun at  See It On A Postcard

Let It Snow

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is looking out for snow

Japanese artists are fond of snowy scenes and here the card shows a detail of a  Utagawa Kunisada woodcut showing 'Kabuki actors on a bridge in winter' (1854).

Makrinitsa,Thessaly,Greece

The village of Makrinitsa is built on the slopes Mount Pelion above the port city of Velos so there will be great views of Volos and the Pagasetic Gulf from here.  As can be imagined the area is a popular skiing destination. A beautiful area of Greece in both winter and summer

so which would you choose?

On High

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is heading high for urban aerial views

Rheinau, Switzerland (1996)

On the bend of the Rhine River (which forms the Swiss-German border) is the small municipality of Rheinau most of which is forest (54.8%) or agricultural land (26.8%) but here is its perfectly placed village. Rheinau Abbey can be seen on an island, top right. One of Switzerland's many bright yellow postbuses runs a connection from Rheinau to the Marthalen railway station.

2014: Liechtenstein/Singapore Joint Issue - Modern Art

In contrast here are the bright lights of Singapore.  The stamp features a painting by Yens W Beyricht who creates inter-woven symmetries which he calls Hypersymmetrics. One of his themes is the City State.

Bridges of Dreams

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt in search of wooden bridges

Moomin Bridge over the creek leading to Moomin House.  Snufkin returns to Moominvalley every spring to spend time with his good friend Moomintroll and of course have adventures

and I am sure they would take a wooden ladder bridge over a crevasse with equanimity.

This Mont Blanc card was sent in 1911 from Gabrielle to her friend Jeanne..

France from Above

 

1951: Architecture - Buildings (Pic du Midi de Bigorre)

High in the French Pyrenees is the Pic du Midi Observatory which concentrates on looking to the skies but also has  a spectacular view of the Pyrenees from its elevation of 2,877 m (9,439 ft). One can visit by a series of cable cars eventually leading to a panorama terrace and it also promises "suspended above the void a 12 metre metal footbridge with a glass end skims the clouds with a vertiginous view". I might be heading for the observatory dome instead. Being France of  course there is also a panoramic restaurant with local cuisine.

1949-50: Cityscapes

Or how about a city break in Lille. The largest belfry in France can be seen on the stamp. Once you have climbed the first 109 steps there is a choice of a lift to the full 104 metres or continue to walk up to enjoy the panorama of the city at the top. There is a massive annual flea market in the city called the Braderie de Lille  which happens to be next weekend (14th September), I love a flea markets, for this one comfortable walking shoes and a large bag are recommended.

1949; Views - Les Andelys, Seine Valley

On a hill dominating the scene is the 12th Century Chateau Gaillard built by Richard the Lionheart which controlled the Seine valley in his battle against the French king. In today's more peaceful times there is an annotated view point up by the castle.

1954: Views

After all those quests for aerial views maybe its time to relax on the beach at Royan.

Sunday Stamps theme this week is - aerial views - See It On A Postcard

Fountains

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is in search of fountains, a celebration of water

Trier, Fountain on the Market-place

The fountain with two names, its location - Market Fountain or the figure surveying the scene - St Peter's Fountain (the cities patron saint). The details on the card are indistinct but Peter is holding a very large key, heaven's gate is probably very big although they say the road to it is narrow.  Better pictures of the fountain can be found at Hither and Thither with a bonus photo of market day.

I do like postcard journeys and this German scene, found in a Canadian charity shop, was posted from the west coast of Canada.  I thought this was my only fountain postcard but after a delve through an inherited box of cards found

this of Sheffield probably from the 1960/70s the fountain was on the Midland Station Roundabout. Today it is replaced by the Cutting Edge water sculpture and a lot less greenery after the area was redeveloped in 2006. Sheffield is 'Steel City' and has been making cutlery since medieval times, hence the 'cutting edge' theme.  The Victorian station was originally build in a slum area prone to flooding and outbreaks of malaria. They culverted the River Sheaf  through triple tunnels so if standing on the station platform the river runs beneath your feet.   The city gets its name from the River Sheaf and today the river is acknowledged for instead of Midland Station Roundabout it is now Sheaf Square.

On the Beach

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is on the search for Oceans and Beaches...

so grab the bucket and spade and head on down to the shore, in this case somewhere in the Netherlands but a scene that could be recreated anywhere.

Bondi Beach photographed by Frank Hurley (1885-1962)

although sometimes with a lot more people

2007: Nostalgic Tourism

somewhere to retreat from the heat

Kardamili, Mani Peninsula, Peloponnese

like a Greek taverna and gaze at the sea or later watch the sunset.  The famous travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor lived in a hamlet near here which is mentioned in a guide to Kardamili

Lots of sandy beaches here on Sylt the largest of the North Frisean islands but the people in this postcard are not in search of sand but wind and waves.  This is a card for the Sylt windsurfing World Cup (even the postmarks are skimming along on the waves).

and the back gives us a map the 1994 world cup mark all topped off with Westerland frank on the stamp and then the incoming Carnforth cancel as is arrives in England. I can't remember but I must have picked up this card at the Second Hand Bookshop in Carnforth, an Aladdin's cave for the book and card enthusiast.

Lakes

 The Thursday Postcard Hunt is looking at lakes so I'll start in my home county and

I've found another person painting by water this week but rather than a spouse she has a dog.  Windermere is England's largest lake and is the Lake District's most popular tourist destination.  If our artist wanted a change of view then there are lots more lakes to choose from

Top - Buttermere and Crummock Water where one can walk around both lakes; the self contained Grasmere, cream teas and the Wordsworth Museum and cottage in the village  Bottom - Windermere with a view of the two peaks of the Langdale Pikes and lastly Derwent Water, a relaxing ride available on the  Keswick Launch for a different perspective.

"Beautiful Mt Hood as seen from Trillium Lake"

For both the artist and photographer a calm still day is a perfect vision.  My correspondent says she has "only seen Mt Hood from the highway and it is lovely" but continues "I come from Colorado though and we basically are nothing but mountains" but Oregon has its compensation for she now lives a 3 minute drive from the sea (and coincidentally the next Thursday Postcard Hunt's theme)

Lake Kivu Islands, Karongi (Kibuye)

Lake Kivu on the border between Congo and Rwanda looking beautifully calm however there is methane trapped at the bottom so it is potentially an exploding lake although everyone hopes that won't happen.

Riverside

 The Thursday Postcard Hunt destination this week is the river and I travel to the banks

An Out of Doors Study by John Singer Sargent (1889)

and what pleasanter place could there be to take ones paints and canvas.  This is John Singer Sargent's lifelong friend Paul Helleu and his young wife Alice who Helleu had met when employed to paint her portrait and instantly fell in love. He painted her for the rest of his life.  The trio were staying in Fladbury Worcestershire in the summer of 1889 so this will be the River Avon.  I picked up this card at a fascinating 2015 National Portrait Gallery exhibition "Sargent: portraits of artists and friends" which spanned his time in London, Paris, Boston and New York as well as his travels in the Italian and English countryside.  I wonder if he ever took a trip on a riverboat

1989 PHQ Card "Traditional Mail Delivery" by Mark Hess

A card of one of the stamps that were issued when the 20th UPU Congress was held in Washington.  This is the US Mail Packet Chesapeak loaded with mail. Keep an eye on that cart for something larger would send the Chesapeak to her doom in 1887 when she sunk after a runaway wagon holed her hull.

The banks of The Rance

I have always thought it would be a fine thing to walk a river from source to sea, not a thought I have put into action!  The Rance would provide lots of interest, the Barage de la Rance has the oldest tidal power station in the world and this card shows all the beautiful places to visit on the journey.
 

Chasing Waterfalls

 Thursday Postcard Hunt is in search for watery delights and starts the month with waterfalls...

Thornton Force, part of a series of cascades and waterfalls that tumble over Yorkshire Dales limestone.  The other photo shows a typical limestone pavement with Ingleborough in the background, one of the three peaks people like to run as a challenge (a 24 mile round trip).  For something more relaxing then it is definitely the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail.  Refreshment in the village of Ingleton a happy end to both endeavors.

Ireland's highest waterfall (121metres/398 ft) flows over granite and at the bottom is a recommended picnic spot.

What looks like a lively cascade of water. The card says, rather enigmatically, "The Old Mill's story...". 

Take the High Road

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt this week takes a look at streetwear and here

Photo - Jean-Daniel Sudres; Illustrations - Jean-Pierre Arcile

is where raditional costumes and streetwear together with photography and art  meet in this postcard of the Rue du Port, somewhere in Brittany, France.

View Indicator, Douglas Park, Largs

I do lover an orientation table and from this viewpoint over the Firth of Clyde the islands of Arran and Bute and lots more will be seen. The postcard was sent in 1980 so I'm thinking 1970s or late 60s fashion.

Scotland Its Highlands and Islands "Off Staffa"

Going back further in time once again traditional and 'modern' dress is combined in this railway poster of the 1920s/30s encouraging travel to Scotland. The poster invites the reader to contact David MacBrayne Ltd whose ferries still ply the islands and islands (now trading with the name Caledonian MacBrayne) and still sailing past the basalt island of Staffa and the famous Fingal's Cave although our travellers seem to be distracted elsewhere. 

Temple and church

 See It On a Postcard' Thursday Postcard Hunt for Temples and Churches - for all things spiritual...

Prasat Angkor Wat Temple

starting with the famous12th Century Buddhist temple complex Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Notre-Dame de Paris

and an ethereal view of Notre-Dame. The spire once again rises after the fire in 2019 having been recently erected last year topped with cross and cockerel. All this was very much in the future when this card was sent in September 1931.

Holy Trinity Church, Howgill, Cumbria

In contrast to these world renowned buildings  hunkered down among the Howgill Fell is this sturdy little church built in the 19th century.  I can never resist a card with sheep and in this context as the Bible verse says "I know my sheep and my sheep know me..."

Houses by Water

 The See It On A Postcard Thursday Postcard Hunt is on the theme Houses. Here are some near water...

En rivière d'Étel

A peaceful retreat on a river at the eastern edge of Quiberon Bay estuary. It seems this land between water  and sandbar is more commonly referred to as a ria, a long salty inlet

On the Suffolk coast Southwold Lighthouse sits among houses handy for the popular Sole Bay Inn where one can sit inside or outside depending on the weather although as East Anglia is the driest part of the UK there is every chance of sunshine.

Heading north and inland to Thornton Beck which meanders through the village of Thornton-le-Dale in North Yorkshire and the much photographed 17th Century thatched cottage 'Beck Isle'

City Travels

 Thursday Postcard Hunt for the month is 'Words' - today City Names takes me to

Postsdam and I think I am heading first to that pretty chinoiserie teahouse which Frederick the Great had built near his Summer Palace

2013: Road Trip (Artist - Gavin Ryan)

Or if I am in a mood for a party perhaps head for Adelaide,  the 'City of Churches and Festivals'  Our travellers are not having a smooth ride into town.  But wait something is missing from the card as the stamp shows

a little koala gazing out of the window has come along for the ride. Adelaide is also the home of the Australian Koala Foundation which works to protect them.
 

Fuji Springtime

 Time for Thursday's Postcard Hunt of the Seasons and today I celebrate Springtime in Japan

Mt Fuji and Cherry Flowers, Yamanashi Prefecture

Poets and artists have for centuries written and painted their impressions of Mount Fuji.  Today this postcard evokes the ethereal beauty of Fuji and cherry blossom.  Look forward to springtime and cherry blossom with

Hello Kitty, one of the stamps used on the postcard. The stamp is called "Hello Kitty in Yoshinoyama", a mountain in Japan famous for viewing the blooming of cherry blossom (sakura). People have come to Yoshinoyama for centuries to see the 30,000 cherry trees bloom so of course Hello Kitty would want to join them. So popular is the pastime of visiting these pink perfections across the country it even has a name - hanami (flower viewing)