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.

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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 :)

The Netherlands - Friesland

I like this postcard very much, because it's a multiview with 15 pictures and because of its colors :) It shows the Friesland province in the Netherlands. I only knew there was such province and that a local language was spoken there, but receiving this postcard inspired me to read a bit more :) Here's some information about the Frisian language:

Friesland distinguishes itself from the other eleven provinces through having its own language, West Frisian, which is also spoken in a minor part of the province of Groningen, to the east. Closely related languages, East Frisian ("Seeltersk", which is different from "East Frisian (Ostfriesisch)", a collection of Low German dialects of East Frisia) and North Frisian, are spoken in the Saterland and in North Friesland areas in Germany, respectively. Friesland was a part of the German empire until 1680 when it separated and joined the Netherlands. Part of Friesland is still considered part of Germany (Ostfriesland)
Statue of Pier Gerlofs Donia, the last "King of all Frisians" known for his legendary strength and size and invention of a famous shibboleth

The English language is also closely related to West Frisian. There is a saying about it: "As milk is to cheese, are English and Fries." Another version of this saying reads (in West Frisian): "Bûter, brea, en griene tsiis; wa't dat net sizze kin, is gjin oprjochte Fries", which in English reads: "Butter, bread, and green cheese, whoever can't say that is no upright Fries" (According to legend, the 16th century Frisian freedom fighter Pier Gerlofs Donia forced his captives to repeat this shibboleth to distinguish Frisians from Dutch and Low Germans). The saying plays on the sound differences between the Dutch and Frisian words for "butter, bread, and green cheese", which in Frisian are pronounced almost identically to their English counterparts (showing the original closeness between the two languages), while in Dutch ("Boter, brood, en groene kaas"), these words sound quite different.

Finland - really sweet bunny :) (FI-396926)

Although I collect mainly view cards, finding such ones in my mailbox sometimes is a really nice surprise :) And I love reading quotes in foreign languages (the ones that I can't speak), when I have the translation :) I haven't checked it myself, but I trust the sender, who translater the text on this postcard as: "If you are searching happiness for your life, you should start here and now"
Very nice and true :)

FI-396926

USA - Minnesota (US-286203)

I must admit that I envy Americans a bit, because they have wonderful map cards of each state (at least I think so, because I've already received some of them) :) It's not so easy to find a map card here, in Poland...
This card arrived a bit damaged, but that's not so important :) It's a map of Minnesota state.

Minnesota is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. The twelfth largest state by area in the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with just over five million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state on May 11, 1858. The state is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". Those lakes and rivers that gave the state its name, and its forests, parks, and wilderness areas offer residents and tourists a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.

Nearly sixty percent of Minnesota's residents live in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area known as the Twin Cities, the center of transportation, business, and industry, and home to an internationally known arts community. The remainder of the state consists of western prairies now given over to intensive agriculture; eastern deciduous forests, also heavily farmed and settled; and the less populated North Woods. The state's image of being populated by whites of Nordic and German descent has some truth, but diversity is increasing. Substantial influxes of African, Asian, and Latin American immigrants have joined the descendants of European immigrants and of the original Native American inhabitants.

The state is known for its moderate to liberal politics and social policies, its civic involvement, and high voter turnout. It ranks among the healthiest states, and has one of the most highly educated and literate populations.

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Turkey - a painting by Esat Acet (TR-12944)

It's my 1st official postcard from Turkey :) It shows a painting by Turkish painter Esat Acet, painted in 2001. Unfortunately, I haven't found any further information about the artist or about this painting :( I guess it shows a Turkish village at the seaside? :)

TR-12944

UK - Christchurch Mansion

I received this postcard in the Netherlands & Rest of the world RR, written in Dutch, not in English :)) Still, I hope I understood it well ;) According to the sender, the Christchurch Mansion was built in 1548/49.

Christchurch Mansion is a stately home in the centre of Ipswich, Suffolk, England.

The house is surrounded by Christchurch Park, a grand landscaped park featuring many beautiful trees (235 of which were destroyed in the gale force storms of October 1987), rolling lawns and duck pond. The park is around 70 acres in size. The mansion itself houses a collection of pottery and glass, a contemporary art gallery and a collection of paintings by artists including John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. There are rooms preserved as past inhabitants would have known them, complete with original items of fine clothing. The mansion is a Grade I listed building.

Ukraine - Orange Revolution

Today is the 22nd of November :) It's a special day for me, because 4 years ago, on 22.11.2004, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine began. Now, after 4 years, many people are disappointed, because they expected much more from the "orange" politicians. To be honest, I knew (although I was only 13 years old then and I didn't know anything about the Ukraine) that people would be disappointed, because politicians are like that - they always promise more than they can really do. And the main problem is that many people change and forget about their ideals, when they finally win the elections. That's sad, but it happens in every country. Especially in the countries, which have been democratic not for a very long time, like Poland or Ukraine. Stabilisation of the political life requires a lot of time. Of course, people are usually not that patient... But I hope that there's a better future waiting for us :)

Still, I think that Orange Revolution was very important for Ukraine. Why? Not because of certain politicians, but because people believed that the situation in their country depends also on them, that they can change something, that they don't have to accept the falsification of elections. I think that's something much more important than disappointment in the leaders of revolution. It's something that should remain.

I've got one more reason for celebrating this day every year :) I became interested in Ukraine during the Orange Revolution. I thought that was just for a while then... But later I decided to learn Ukrainian language, I found friends in Ukraine, I went to this country for the first time... And I'm absolutely in love with Ukraine :) I don't think it's going to change... And although it began because of the revolution, now it has nothing to do with politics. I just love Ukraine, I want to study there and I hope to celebrate the next Freedom Day (22 November) in Lviv... or maybe in Kyiv? :)