Macedonia

Thanks, Ana, for this wonderful map card of Macedonia! :)
Macedonia is one of the countries that aren't well-known not only around the world, but even in Europe (Some people are just very ignorant, but maybe I shouldn't say this, because I'm even worse ignorant when it comes to chemistry or physics). But this, as well as the fact that Macedonia is a Slavic country, makes it very interesting for me.
In the middle of this card (inside the map) you can see Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Other two pictures show the Golak mountain near Delčevo in Eastern part of Macedonia and a hotel in Ohrid.

By the way, is the name of country, "Makedonija", written in Serbian, or it's just transliteration?

Croatia - Brač island

This postcard shows the beautiful Brač island in Croatia. It's the largest island in Dalmatia and the 3rd largest in the Adriatic. The island has population of about 13,000 with Supetar being the main town. I haven't visited Croatia yet and I really regret it, as it's not so far away from Poland and it's really worth visiting.

Germany - a map with stadiums (DE-234476)

A map of Germany! :)))
My collection of map cards increases ;)

You can also see the most important football stadiums of Germany on this card :) I'm not a big fan of football, but I like watching it sometimes.

DE-234476

Portugal - Porto

I received this beautiful postcard in the Slavic countries RR :) It shows the old, historical and monumental part of Porto, which is a UNESCO site.

Porto, also Oporto in English, is Portugal's second city and capital of the Norte NUTS II region. The city is located in the estuary of the Douro river in northern Portugal. The largest city in the region, Porto is considered the economic and cultural heart of the entire region. The city, which had an estimated population of about 240,000 (2008), lies at the centre of the political Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto, with a population of slightly more than 2.0 millions (est. 2008), and of a broader metropolitan agglomeration (including the city of Braga) with over 3.2 million inhabitants (2008).

The city of Porto comprises 15 parishes ("Freguesias"). The historic centre of Porto was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.

One of Portugal's most internationally famous products, Port wine, is named after the city because it is produced in, and shipped from the area. or, more precisely, from Vila Nova de Gaia, a city just across the river which belongs to the same conurbation.

The country was also named after the Latin name of Porto, Portus Cale

Estonia (EE-36115)

This wonderful postcard with 23 pictures (yes, I counted them) shows the most beautiful places of Estonia :) I like especially the castles. It seems to me that Estonia is a small country, but with many interesting sights. And with difficult languages, but as far as I know, many Estonian people can speak Russian, because there's large Russian minority.

EE-36115

Finland (FI-405561)

The google translator isn't inteligent enough to translate, what is written on this postcard :)) But I like it very much anyway, because I love fields of crops and blue sky... OK, I'll tell you the truth ;) As you probably know, my favorite country is Ukraine :) The Ukrainian flag is blue and yellow :) Blue stands for the sky and yellow stands for crops (Ukraine has been known for very good soil and agriculture). But of course, this postcard has nothing to do with Ukraine :) I'm sure Finland is a very beautiful country, too :)

FI-405561

USA (US-288939)

I received this official card from Illinois. It has a nice quote on the backside: "No human being, however great, or powerful, was ever so free as a fish" - John Ruskin. I think there's much truth in it...

US-288939

Russia - Moscow (RU-28390)

It's already my 2nd official card from Moscow, but it's absolutely different than the previous ones :) It shows the Varvarka Street, The Kremlin, View of the Kremlin from the hotel "Balchug", interior of the Palace of Facets (in Kremlin) and the Iconostas of the Verkho (Upper) Saviour Cathedral (also in Kremlin). It reminds me of visiting Moscow in 2007 :) This city is definitely worth visiting, if you want to see architecture absolutely different than in other European countries. I heard that there's a huge difference between Moscow and rest of Russia, when it comes to the standard of living, prices (in Moscow everything is expensive), but I haven't had an opportunity to compare it.
One small thing that I totally dislike about the Kremlin (apart from the political matters, because I don't want to discuss politics here) are the big, red stars on the towers of Kremlin... I noticed them immediatelly, when I saw the Kremlin... They look funny... And the communism is over, isn't it? :))

RU-28390

Canada - Royal Canadian Mounted Police

I received this postcard in the Slavic countries & Rest of the world RR :) It shows a policeman working for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the Rocky Mountains :) By the way, this postcard is an official product and every purchase supports the RCMP community policing programs. I think it's a very good way to promote police, but not every country has policemen in so nice uniforms and working in so beautiful landscapes :)

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) (French: Gendarmerie Royale du Canada [GRC], literally Royal Gendarmerie of Canada; colloquially known as Mounties, and internally as The Force) is the federal, national, and paramilitary police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized forces in the world. With an on-strength establishment of 24,578 personnel, as of January 1, 2007, it is also the largest police force in Canada.

The RCMP was formed in 1920 by the merger of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP, founded 1873) with the Dominion Police (founded 1868). The former was originally named the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP), and was given the Royal prefix by King Edward VII in 1904. Much of the present-day organization's symbology has been inherited from its days as the NWMP, including the distinctive Red Serge uniform, paramilitary heritage, and mythos as a frontier force. The RCMP/GRC wording is specifically protected under the Trade-marks Act.

Austria - a town in Mühlviertel (AT-24699)

It's my first card from Austria :) I like it, because I can feel the atmosphere of a small and quiet town... And it's even better thanks to the black & white picture. The sender doesn't remember the name of town, where this postcard comes from, but it in the Mühlviertel region for sure :)

The Mühlviertel (literally German for the Mühl (mill) quarter or district) is an Austrian region belonging to the state of Upper Austria: it is one of four "quarters" of Upper Austria the others being Hausruckviertel, Traunviertel, and Innviertel. It is so-called because of its rivers the Große Mühl and the Kleine Mühl.

AT-24699

France - Eiffel Tower (FR-38481)

This postcard shows probably the most well-known building in France - the Eiffel Tower :) Many people say it's very ugly. But I think Paris wouldn't be the same without it and it's possible to take a really beautiful photo of it (just like on this postcard) :) I spent one day in Paris (on the way back from London) in 2004. That was a school trip, so our teachers wanted us to see everything in just several hours. I don't remember much, because I was extremely tired. But I remember the Eiffel Tower and that I was on the 3rd level :)

FR-38481

Germany - Munich (DE-232716)

Have I already written, that I love German cards, because many of them are multiviews with over 15 pictures? :) I don't know, if I should say that I've been to Munich, because I've been only at the airport :)) I'd like to visit the city as well someday...

Munich (German: München) is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. Munich is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are approximately 1.35 million inhabitants within Munich.

The city's motto is "München mag Dich" ("Munich Likes You"), before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" (world city with heart). Its native name, München, is derived from the Old German word for Mönche, which means "Monks" in English. This is the reason for the monk on the city's coat of arms. Black and gold - the colours of the Holy Roman Empire - have been the city's official colours since the time of Ludwig the Bavarian.

DE-232716

Finland - a drawing by Virpi Pekkala (FI- 399561)

This postcard shows a drawing by a Finnish artist Virpi Pekkala (unfortunately, Wikipedia gives no further information about her/him?) . It's name is "The Treasure Chamber" :) To be honest, I would love to have such treasure when I'm already all and to have someone to share it with :) I wonder, how many postcards and stamps am I going to have after 20, 30, 50 years? Maybe I'll lose interest in collecting them before? But as I'm already (at age fo 17) quite sentimental person, I'm sure that at least sometimes I'd like to spend some time, watching my "treasure", just like these people do :)

FI- 399561

The Netherlands - flags (NL-117948)

This postcard shows many Dutch flags in typical Dutch landscape :) I wonder, if there's the sea on the other side? I don't know if there are always so many flags or maybe that was because of some holiday, but still I like it, when nations are proud of their flag. In Poland you can usually see Polish flag only on administration buildings. The only exceptions are the Independence Day, Constitution Day and the days, when Polish football team plays an important match :))) I would like to see the flag more often, as it is for example in Ukraine (at least Western Ukraine).

NL-117948

Norway

I received this postcard in the World Languages RR, written in Russian :) It's nice, although I don't really get the idea :) I guess it's something about the people around the world... But what exactly? :) I'm not really good at guesing such things :)