Travelling into the history of Italy

I would like to show you some nice cards from Italy

in this post

Pineto

The Tower of Cerrano (Torre di Cerrano) is 2 kilometres from the town centre, at the town's southern border with Silvi Marina. It was built in the 16th century by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V as a watch tower to guard against attacks from the Turks and others based in what is now Croatia, 100 km (62 miles) across the Adriatic. Today, the tower houses a modern sea-biology laboratory. 

Abruzzo

We get a multi view on the castles of the Abruzzo region

From left to right, top to bottom:

Ortucchio, Torre di Beffi, Castello aragonese, Castello di Salle,

Castello Caldora, Rocca Calascio, Castello di Roccascalegna,

Castello Caldoresco, Castello Piccolomini (Celano), Castello ducale di Crecchio, Castello Piccolomini (Capestrano)

 Rome

The St. Peter's Basilica, Pantheon and Colosseum

don't really need any introduction, I believe

Kitties! and a dog...

I've had these sitting in my "put on blog" folder

for a while now... I can't tell much about them, 

they are cute, they are cuddly, they deserve some attention.

Postcrossing meeting cards

Just a bunch of meeting cards I want to share. 

Some you probably saw on my blog already, 

but I just got these, all in one envelope, 

from the same person. (Except for the last one,

that one came on its own.)

All illustrations... except for one

Let's start with the Easter card I received 

and never managed to show here till now.

This card from Russia is absolutely gorgeous!

Unfortunately my scan doesn't show 

the beautiful golden shiny details.

I also added the back of the card here, 

as it is just too pretty.

I love Japanese/Chinese style art.

A kitty with a fishy

The best advice! 

Another truth.

These are not postcards, but the sender was so kind

to add them to our swap when she noticed I love anime.

These are the postcards I swapped with her,

six in total! 

The only real photo in this post, 

but such a cute one. 

Stamps, what else?

These are all stamps I received on my mail. 

Belgium

Right:

Youth philately 

1999

Left:

Claude Lévi-Strauss

And middle:

"Alternative energy"

2001

China

More information on these stamps is very welcome!

Germany

The ancient oak, Quercus robur, known as the chimney oak because it is hollow, grows in the Reinhardswald in Hessen. It is honored on a stamp as part of the set of two for the series "Wilderness Germany".

2017

I love the flower stamps Germany issues, 

but I don't know much about them. 

Information is always welcome. 

Right:

Falkenlust Palaces

2018

I usually do separate posts for my Christmas stamps, 

but these beauties arrived out of season.

And I just have to show them.

 From Italy

2017

Malaysia

2016

Romania

George Constantinescu

2016

I got two Postcrossing stamps for you in this blog, 

the first one comes from Austria (2016)! 

  

The second comes from the Netherlands (2011)!

 I think this one probably already made it to my blog, 

but it doesn't hurt to show it again.

Top:

Hoge Veluwe National Park

set of 4, 2004

Bottom:

"occasion stamps"

2015

USA

Right:

Main Quad (Stanford University)

1990

Top:

With this new U.S. Flag stamp, the Postal Service continues its tradition of celebrating patriotism with one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States. The flag, in various forms has been pictured on U.S. stamps going as far back as the 30 cents 1869 Pictorial issue. In the modern era, the U.S. Postal Service makes sure that a Flag stamp is always available to mailers, and in a variety of formats. This stamp's design features a detail from a photograph of the billowing Stars and Stripes.

2017

Bottom:

Originally issued in 2016 in a coil format, Pears, a 10-cent definitive stamp featuring two red pears on a white background, is being offered in 2017, in panes of 20. The two most common red pears grown in the United States are the red Anjou, similar to green Anjous in all respects other than color; and red Bartlett pears, referred to as "Summer Pears" for the time of year in which they are harvested.

Originally issued in 2016 in a coil format, Grapes, a 5-cent definitive stamp featuring two clusters of deep-purple Pinot noir grapes growing on vines among several green leaves, is being offered in 2017, in panes of 20.

Identified as a French wine grape, it is now grown in other regions including Oregon and California in the United States. Translated from the French, "pinot" is "pine", for the pine-cone shaped clusters in which the grapes grow, and "noir" is "black".

The stamp art is an existing illustration by John Burgoyne, who created the original artwork with pen and ink and watercolor.

Birthday mail and some no longer misplaced cards

So today is my birthday! 

I was allowed to open my birthday mail

and I got some packages as well. 

This card came with some cute stickers and tea

from the Netherlands.

A simple but cute card from Belgium.

 And now to the "no longer misplaced" part

of my post. These cards arrived in Belgium 

after I left. My mom put them away in a safe place, 

and couldn't find them anymore. 

Luckily she found them in time to send with my 

birthday card, so now I have these beauties to 

enjoy today as well. 

Sent from Germany by a Dutch Postcrosser.

The date shows how long ago, haha. 

Cute Christmas wishes from the Netherlands.

Beautiful greeting card from a friend in Japan.

They really know how to make cards in Japan.

A pretty winter landscape from Finland.

 "Snow Queen"

International Christmas stamp

2017

 These stamps were on one of the packages 

I received today. 

It is a shame you can't see the metallic shine 

of the two ART stamps on the scan. 

Top right and middle:

ART POST 

set of 4, 2015

Top left:

Easter stamp

2016

Bottom:

“The Arctica miniature sheet with artwork by Erik Bruun features migratory birds that nest in the North. Arctica refers to the migration of birds that nest in the Arctic region, a phenomenon that is eagerly watched by bird enthusiasts on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, especially in the spring.

The miniature sheet contains two domestic no-value indicator stamps and two added value stamps worth €0.10 and €0.20

The €0.10 stamp portrays the long-tailed duck, which has been classified as a vulnerable species.”

2017