VW-Bus

Inkognito 4301

Folke Kerckhoff "VW-Bus"

This card was sent to me by Desiree in Dordrecht, Netherlands.  I was very happy to get this card since we also had a VW-Bus long time ago when our children were small. We called it "Kompivaari"  after its German name "Kombiwagen" and we made many great trips with it around Finland. 

Kombiwagen going camping :)
Kompivaarin kanssa matkalle.

... away into freedom with Ute in Germany :)
Distance: 1,227 km
Travel time: 15 days

Corrie in Netherlands sent me not one but 3x VW- bus!

Distance: 1,647 km

Travel time: 8 days

I got this cute Hippie Matador from Jessica for my birthday.

 Peace, Love and Happiness my friends!

Distance: 1,529 km

Travel time: 17 days

Outgoing postcards week 22

Hailuoto, Marjaniemi

Hailuoto, Marjaniemi

Fisherman's village and lighthouse

21.7.1989

Hailuoto and Marjaniemi are an important part of the maritime history of the Gulf of Bothnia and the city of Oulu. Even today, the pilot boats are located in Marjaniemi, piloting ships safely to the Oulu harbour. The city of Oulu was established on 1610, but in Hailuoto there was permanent settlement already in the 12th century.

Marjaniemi Lighthouse  is located approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Oulu. The lighthouse was designed by Axel Hampus Dalström as his fourth lighthouse and it was first lit in 1871.
The tower is brick masonry, and has 110 steps inside with no intermediate floors. Originally the light was equipped with a Fresnel lens system, and it displayed a white light towards a sector clockwise from south to northeast. There were two lighthouse keepers and a master until 1962 when the lighthouse was automated. A pilot station was built next to the tower, currently the pilot station serves as a hotel.

Springtime

Valkovuokkoja / Anemones, 1990

Koivikko / Birches, 1990
About Pälikkö also here

Our birches in May. 

Temples and Towers

 Kinkaku-ji / Golden Temple, Kyoto, Japan

World Cultural Heritage featuring a shining golden pavilion and a pond-centered garden.

Temppeli liitettiin muinaisen Kioton muiden kulttuuriaarteiden kanssa Unescon maailmanperintöluetteloon vuonna 1994.

This postcard comes from Yoshiyuki Yoko in Sakai-city, Japan 

Distance: 7,690 km

Travel time: 16 days

Ancient archery tower, Rampart Tower

Xian City, Shaanxi, China.

Xi'anin kaupunginmuurin tasanne  ja vartiotorni.

The Xian City Wall is the best preserved, oldest and largest ancient city defence system in China. 

There is a rampart every 120 meters. The ramparts are towers that extend out from the main wall. The ramparts were built to allow soldiers to see those enemies who would try to climb the wall. The distance between two ramparts is just within the range of arrow shot from either side. This allowed soldiers to protect the entire wall without exposing themselves to the enemy. They are altogether 98 of them on the wall; each has a sentry building on top of it.

 This postcardcard comes from Myra in Weinan, China

Distance: 6,507 km

Travel time: 38 days

Inkognito

 Two more funny Inkognito cards for my collection.

Inkognito 28624

Nastja Holtfreter "Zebra auf Streifen" / Zebra on stripes

This card was sent by Gerlinde in Netherlands. She also likes Inkognito cards and her children picked this card for me, they chose these cute stamps too :)

 Distance: 1,541 km

Travel time: 16 days

Inkognito 4752

Rudi Hurzlmeier. "Ein Kleines Lied" / A little song

This card with great stamps came from Canada.

 Suzeroo hopes this card makes me smile - yes it does :)

Distance: 6,619 km

Travel time: 9 days

Espoo

Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland.  It is part of the Finnish Capital Region, and most of its population lives in the inner urban core of the Helsinki metropolitan area, along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. The city is on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, in the region of Uusimaa. Wkipedia

More about Espoo here

The Espoo Cathedral is a medieval stone church and the oldest parts of the church were completed in the 1480s, thus it is the oldest preserved building in the city. The bell tower is from 1767. Inside the vaults and walls there are nice murals from the 1510s. 

Espoo City Museum, Glims Fatmstead Museum

Glims Farmstead Museum is situated in the well preserved cultural landscape of Karvasmäki village, where farms and holdings were already established in the Middle Ages. The buildings in the large yard area at Glims are in their original locations. The oldest ones are the storage shed and the old dwelling, both from the 18th century.

Glims was still a working farm at the beginning of the 20th century. Glims served as an inn and hostelry from 1778 to 1822 and from 1891 to 1901. Glims has been a museum since 1958. The permanent exhibition contains of 11 old farmstead buildings. Glims also features temporary exhibitions in the main building.

These cards came Pirkko in Espoo.

Distance: 295 km

Travel time: 4 days

Magical

Three postcards by Jaana Aalto.  

Jaana Aalto, the postcard designer is known for her natural themes, soft colours  and variety of items. These images are spray painted, as are many of the artist's beloved Christmas cards. In addition to postcards and printed condolences, Jaana Aalto has illustrated children's books and TV series.  

Bluebell girl

 In the Garden

Summer Evening

Mstera Lacquer Art

The village of Mstera located on banks of Klyazma river in a beautiful scenic spot some 60 miles(100 km) from the old Russian town of Vladimir. More about Mstera lacquer art here

Russian lacquer boxes originated in Russia in the 17th century, these lacquered boxes are a prime example of Russia’s true talent in painting miniature boxes while capturing the finest level of detail. These boxes are typically made of papier-mâché, using oil or tempera paints, painted with brushes having no more than one rabbit hair, and polished many times. The boxes originate from four primary villages: Palekh, Fedoskino, Kholui, and Mstera. Each village is unique and has its own style which is reflected in the Russian miniature art. Russian lacquer boxes are painted by such artists like Kritov, Zotov, Solodilov and many other famous artists. The Russian boxes are considered the prime Russian gifts and souveniers that are famous world-wide. 

I bought these cards from a flee market in Tallinn, Estonia.

L.G. Zuikov. Playing Ping-Pong. Casket 1971

Yu. M. Vavanov. Penny-Farthing, Casket, 1971

L.A. Fomichev. Battle by the Golden Gates. Box, 1966

L.A. Fomichev. Restoration of the Cathedral of the Assumtion in Vladimir. Casket 1960s

Fedoskino Laquer Art here

Inkognito

I am a huge fan of Inkognito postcards. They are always interesting, quirky and surrealistic. So I'm especially happy when I get one in the mail! 

Inkognito 13951 by Ernst Kahl

 I got this funny example called  "Prinzessin auf der Erbse" - "Princess and the Pea"  from  Yasemen in Belgium. 

Distance: 1,640 km

Travel time: 6 days

 Inkognito 1461 by Hadered is called "Please Smile". 

This card was a direct swap and sent by Liga in Holland. 

 Inkognito 6001, Gerhard Glück, "Clover field"

This card came from Germany sent by Simon, Mona and Malina in Mainz

Distance: 1,645 km

Travel time: 11 days

Kevät / Spring

Today three beautiful spring postcards by Finnish illustrators. 

Minna Immonen

Anita Polkutie

 Katja Saario

Valkovuokot kukkivat meidänkin puutarhassa.
Anemones are blooming in our garden as well.

This is my entry to Beth's  Postcard Friendship Friday.

Fedoskino art

Russian lacquered boxes, miniature painted works of art that developed from icon painting in the 18th century, abound in depictions of folklore, fairy tales, costumes and traditions. There are four distinct styles, represented by four schools of Russian lacquer art, which are named for the villages of their creation, Fedoskino, Palekh, Mystera, and Kholui.

The village of Fedoskino  located not far from Moscow on the banks of the Ucha River, is the oldest of the four art centers of Russian lacquer miniature painting on papier-mâché, which has been practiced there since 1795.

V.D.Antonov

Spinners

Box detail, 1970s

V.D.Antonov

Russian Winter, Casket detail, 1970s 

The theme of troyka (the three horses) riding was very popular in 19th Century's Boxes. A troyka rushing through the snow field and sledge riding is a popular theme that has become an emblem of the Fedoskino craft. 

 The style of Fedoskino painting is largely realistic in composition and detail. 

Yu. V. Karapayev

Song of the North

Box, 1972

 I.I. Strakhov

Autumn

Smal box, 1973

Churches in Russia

The Church of Great Martyr St. George the Victorious in Kolomenskoe, 1685

I received this card from Yuri in Moscow.

Distance: 1,171 km

Travel time: 17 days

The wooden church named after great martyr St. George the Victorious was built in the North of Russia, on the bank of the shallow Yorga River. 

The holy, glorious and right-victorious Great-martyr and Trophy-bearer George was a Christian Roman soldier killed under Diocletian at the beginning of the fourth century. Though he was born in Cappadocia, his mother was from Palestine, and thus he is a particular favorite of many Palestinian Christians. He is also the patron saint of Moscow, Georgia, and England, amongst other places. 

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow

This card came from Maria in Moscow

Distance: 1,149 km

Travel time: 16 days

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour  is a cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few blocks southwest of the Kremlin. With an overall height of 103 metres (338 ft), it is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world.

The current church is the second to stand on this site. The original church, built during the 19th century, took more than 40 years to build. It was destroyed in 1931 on the order of the Soviet Leader, Joseph Stalin. The demolition was supposed to make way for a colossal Palace of the Soviets to house the country's legislature, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Construction started in 1937 but was halted in 1941 when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union during World War II. Its steel frame was disassembled the following year, and the Palace was never built. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the current church was rebuilt on the site during 1995-2000.
The original church was the scene of the 1882 world premiere of the 1812 Overture composed by Tchaikovsky, which became internationally famous.


Myös täällä

New Zealand

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

The church of the Good Shepard, built in 1935, glows in the late afternoon sun against the glacial waters of Lake Tekapo. Thank you Lyn! Such an awesome and beautiful scenery of your country,  a perfect place for a church, so peaceful.

Street Views

Beautiful street view from Saint Paul de Vence

Received from Veronique in Lille, France

Distance: 1,749 km

Travel time: 15 days

Saint-Paul or Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera. Saint-Paul de Vence has long been a haven of the famous. During the 1960s, it was frequented by French actors Yves Montand, Simone Signoret and Lino Ventura, and poet Jacques Prévert. 

Saint-Paul is also well known for the artists who have lived there, such as Jacques Raverat, Gwen Raverat and Marc Chagall and more recently the couple Bernard-Henri Lévy and Arielle Dombasle. Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has a home there. American writer James Baldwin died there in 1987. British actor Donald Pleasence died there in 1995.

Another beautiful street view from France.

Received from Gaby & Chris in Alsace

Distance: 1,909 km

Travel time: 19 days

Alsace is the region which borders Switzerland to the south and Germany to the east. Alsace has its own distinct identity, language, cuisine, history and architecture – part French, part German, 100% Alsatian. Here you'll find candy-coloured towns and villages with timbered houses with red geraniums, gently rolling countryside, striped with vines, 

Happy Mother's Day

 

Mother’s Day is a day for many people to show their appreciation towards mothers and mother figures worldwide. It is an annual event but is held at different dates in the calendar, depending on the country.

This holiday was created in U.S. by Anna Jarvis in 1908. Six years later, it became an official U.S. holiday. Today Mother’s Day is celebrated throughout the world, and traditions vary depending on the country. Remarkably, Jarvis criticized later the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar.

This is a post for Beth's  Postcard Friendship Friday.