The City Hall and Puijo Tower in Kuopio, Finland

Kuopio, Finland
Foto: Markku Wiik

This postcard is postmarked in 2015 from Finland.

The sender writes:
This card is a picture of our hometown Kuopio.  The biggest building is our townhall, the white one is our market hall and then there are 2 pics of "Puijon torni", the Tower of Puijo, where there is located also ski jumping ramps.

We have lots of snow now.  On Friday my children have an outdoor school day and they are going to ski, ice skate or slide down the hill for the whole school day!

Finland stamp 2012

Bottenhavets National Park, 1 LK KL

from the series: National Parks of Finland

Buy More War Bond

So We'll Meet Again
Buy more WAR BONDS

This postcard was mailed from a soldier in January of 1944 from the Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
He writes:
Dear Mary,
Right now, I'm taking advantage of the free mail - the advantage of being a soldier.  I'm at the Jefferson Barracks in the middle of being processed and I'll be released from here Friday to return to school.  So far I haven't heard from you, but then I've been gone since Monday.  Hope to hear from you soon. Same address as before.
Lots of love

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Over the course of the war 85 million Americans purchased bonds totalling approximately $185 billion.

A Map of Iceland

Island
Iceland

This postcard is postmarked in 2009 with two Iceland stamps.

the sender writes:

Iceland has one main road around the whole island.  Above you see the road.  Except in the Highlands, it's quite hard to get lost in Iceland.  There are not so many roads at all.  Just 300,000 people live here.  Most of them in the area of the capital, Reykjavík.

Island (Iceland) stamp 2007 

Eystri Hagafellsjokull / Langjokull

(names of glaciers) - 60

- - - 

Iceland (Island) stamp 2007

Skograektarlog 1907-2007

This is from the series: 

The 100th Anniversary of Reforestation - 60 

Westminster Abbey in London, England

Westminster Abbey
West Front
Te Nave from the quire screen
The Lantern Roof
The Lady Chapel

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 with a Great Britain queen stamp.

The sender writes:
Today we went to church in Westminster Abbey! The choir sounded beautiful.  We sang along when we were told to, the music and words were in the church program.  So now we can say we sang with the choir in London's Westminster Abbey.  :D

Great Britain stamp 2014

Queen Elizabeth II

Purple 97 p

Lace Making in Brugge, Belgium

Brugge

Spellenkussen

Coussin de dentelliere

Lake-Maker Cushion

Spitzenklopplerin-Kissen

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 from Belgium.  

The sender writes:

There are lace stores all over Brugge! (Chocolate stores too :D )

There are some beautiful pieces here.  I bought a little Christmas ornament, but it wasn't hand made.

Belgium (Belgique - Belgie) stamp 2013

Butterfly, Red Admiral 

1 - A Prior

Here is a short video of someone making lace...

Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah

Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Within the walls of the world-famous Temple Square, in the heart of Salt Lake City, stands the spired "Mormon" Temple which required forty years of pioneer labor to build, and the domed Tabernacle, seating capacity 8,000 and housing the world-renowned Tabernacle organ.  Temple Square is open to the public daily and free guided tours are provided.
- - -

The Salt Lake Temple
The famous Mormon Temple (requiring 40 years to complete) with one of the many beautiful flower gardens found on Temple Square.

Color photo by Hubert A. Lowman

Three Postcards of The Quantum of the Seas Cruise Ship

 Quantum of the Seas

Inaugural Season
Royal Caribbean

This is a magnet postcard that is almost solid glitter inside the card.  It was mailed in May of 2014 with a boat stamp.
- - -

 Quantum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International

Registry - Nassau, Bahamas
GRT: 167,800
Length: 1,141 Feet (382 meters)
Width: 136 Feet (41 meters)
Draft: 28 feet (8.5 meters)
Cruising Speed: 22 Knots

This is postmarked in November, 2014 with a USA Ship stamp.  The sender wrote:

We were on the maiden voyage, the transatlantic from Southampton, England.  To tell you how good it was, we both got a free 'future cruise' certificate worth $563.00.  Even though the ship wasn't ready, we still had a good time.
- - -

Quantum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean

These words are written on the back:
This is a gift from the book on the Maiden Voyage (transatlantic) 2014.

- - - - - - -

This is The North Star on Quantum.  It rises more than 300 feet above the sea for a 360-degree view.

USA stamp 2011

Ships of the Merchant Marine

Liberty Ship

Forever a first class stamp

- - -

USA stamp 2011

Ships of the Merchant Marine

Clipper Ship

Forever a first class stamp

A Farm in South Dakota

South Dakota
Photo by Chad Coppess

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 with two vintage USA stamps.

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Although other industries have expanded rapidly in recent decades, agricultural production is still very important to the state's economy, especially in rural areas. The five most valuable agricultural products in South Dakota are cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs.

USA stamp 1988

Special Occasion

Thinking of You

Flowers, 25 cents

- - -

USA stamp 1986 -1991 

Great Americans

Red Cloud, 10

- - - - - - -

Red Cloud (1822 – December 10, 1909) was a 

war leader and a chief of the Oglala Lakota. 

Great British Breakfast, Sausage, Bacon, Eggs and Tomatoes

Great British Breakfast

This oval shaped postcard is postmarked in 2014 from England.

The sender writes:
We are staying at The Corinthia Hotel in London.  This morning we went to eat breakfast at the hotel restaurant and just said, "We'll have the buffet.".  They said ok, but to hurry and that they were closing soon.  Of course we did (It is us after all)  People came in after us too - so there was nothing to worry about.  When we were done they gave us the bill... almost $150.00!  Yes!  150. U.S. dollars! OUCH!!  It was good, but not that good.

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 with a purple 97 Queen Elizabeth II stamp.

Great Britain stamp 2014

Queen Elizabeth II

Purple 97 p

The City of Maastricht in Limburg, The Netherlands

Maastricht

the sender writes:
Here you see two of the most beautiful places of my city, Maastricht.  You see Vrythot three times, one as it is now from the front, one aerial view, and one with the Maas River.  This is the river that gave our city its name.  The fourth picture is one of the Bonnefanten Museum with its bullet-shaped tower.  It contains mostly modern art.

This is postmarked from The Netherlands with a machine stamp in 2008.

- - - - - -

Maastricht is a town and a municipality in the Netherlands. It is the capital city in the province of Limburg.

The churches in the upper right hand corner are St. John's (left) and St. Servatius at Vrijthof Square (right). 

Using an Outhouse at Night While Camping

There's a ghost around here
And you better shoo it -
I've got something to do
But I'm scared to do it!

I have been to many camp grounds growing up, but I've never seen a single use Ladies outhouse.  ;-)

This poor woman in her high heels and pajamas is scared of the owl.  And there is G-George skulking in the window on the camper not offering any help.  Maybe that is why she has the Male Help Wanted at the bottom of this postcard!

This is a Genuine Curteich card that is postmarked in 1942 with 'free - US Army' written in the stamp box.  

Postcrossing Meet-up Postcard from Koln, (Cologne) Germany

Koln
14 - 3 - 2015
Postcrossing Meeting
Cologne

This postcard is signed by many  people from the meet-up.  The sender (Isa) knows I am not a fan of stickers on postcards.  They turn the paper brown over time and ruin the cards.  So she put a pull tab sticky note on the back saying "Bitte Keine Sticker"  (Please, no stickers).  The only thing is, she forgot to remove it before she sent it.  It made it all the way to the states with the sticky still on it!

Isa saw a scan of the back and said that the sticky note actually was long and covered up the address.  So someone in the post office must have cut the bottom off but put the words part of the sticky back on the card.  How wonderful that they did not just throw the whole note away!

An Ugly (senders words) Blurry Postcard

 The Sender Writes:
I hope the cute teddy bear stamp softens the fact that I'm sending you the ugliest card I have ever seen!

hahaha!
This very blurry woman postcard is postmarked in 2014 from Finland.  The card was printed in Portugal.  And yes, The stamp is adorable....

Finland stamp 2014

Teddy Bears 

Winter Scene 

Sledding with the mail

1 LK KL