Rivers

1965: Gorges du Tarn

The Tarn River in Southern France carving it way through limestone cliffs which tower up to 600m above it.. The gorge has a microclimate that can be hot in summer and mild in winter. A canoeist says it is a most amenable river to paddle along. 

1982: Navigation on the Danube - Danube Commission

The Danube - a  river that has been in the news in this long hot summer as it reaches record lows. The stamp show the ferry Kamzic passing under the SNP (Slovak National Uprising) Bridge, today called the New Bridge. The Kamzic was built in 1972 and could carry up to 200 passengers. It was a popular attraction for Bratislava residents but stopped operating in 2003

1970: Floating Logs - Log Driver Johan Eriksson

Timmerflotting (historic log driving) from the times past when harvested timber was floated down rivers to saw mills. The trees were cut in winter and the spring floods sent them on their watery journey. Commercial floating ended in 1991 with a final drive on the River Klaralven. 

2023: River Wildlife

An Atlantic Salmon making its epic journey from ocean to the freshwater river or stream where  it was hatched, jumping up and over weirs and waterfalls to reach their ultimate destination. But for lazy summer days for humans what could be more pleasant than sitting on a river bank and spotting a Kingfisher. The juveniles will leave home this month in search of territories of their own so there may be more opportunities to see Kingfishers in unexpected places than normal. 

Sunday Stamps theme - Rivers - See  It On A Postcard

Ships Ahoy

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt this week is travelling in Boats although I am mostly travelling in ships here -

A variety of vessles plying their trade on the Great Lakes. Clockwise from top left, the historic steam powered Willis B Boyer, a lake freighter currently operating as a museum ship in Toledo, Ohio (Lake Erie), William R Roesch self unloading Great Lakes bulk freighter  The Armco -a 1953 bulk freighter which spent decades hauling iron ore and coal. Way after this card was published it was  renamed American Valour in 2006-2018 after that it changed flags to Canadian to become the Valo and settling into its home port in St Catherines, Ontario. Indiana Harbor 1,000 foot long self unloading lake freighter. Edmund Fitzgerald a Great Lakes freighter that encountered 100mph hurricane force winds and massive waves on Lake Superior in 1975 and sank suddenly without issuing a distress signal. All 29 crew members perished. Lastly Stewart J Cort entered service in 1972 carrying iron ore for Bethlehem Steel. She has had an accident prone life but still sailing.

From working vessels to

the leisure of Cruises. The sister ships of Veendam and Volendam started life as Argentina and Brasil but were bought by the Holland American Line and refitted for cruising in 1971 making their debut in 1973

for the shipping line's centenary. Torquay serves as an occasional port of call for Holland America who tender passengers ashore to the 'English Riviera' . Long after this card of 1973 Torbay became famous for sheltering Holland America's  multiple idle ships during the 2020 pandemic pause,

RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 or QE2. Now a retired ocean liner it operated from 1969 to 2008

when in 1982 this card was posted on the high seas. Today the QE2 is an hotel and tourist attraction in Dubai.

"Colours of Brittany"

The romance of sail

Village Houses

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt - for the month of July : Architecture - Houses

One of the traditional houses or mansions in the village of Vizitsa on the southern Pelion peninsula,  located 540 metres (1771 ft) above sea level overlooking the Pegasetic Gulf

The village of Pivakes on the south western slopes of the Pelion mountain range is considered one of the best preserved  villages in the region. The Pelion in Northern Greece, as can be seen, is heavily wooded with trees such as beach, oak and chestnuts  beneath which are cool springs and streams. The stone paved paths connecting the villages are called kalderimia where one might spot a wild tortoise trundling along or basking in the sunshine  One of my favourite places in Greece.

Vallorcine, Haute-Savoie, (Altitude 1260m) France

Vallorcine , the last village of the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc valley before crossing into Switzerland

Easdale Argyll

Meanwhile at sea level is the village of Ellanbeich on Seil. The village is sometimes called Easdale because of its proximity to the island of that name, one of the smallest permanently inhabited islands of the Inner Hebrides 

Lines

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt for Lines

The old half-timbered houses of Vannes, Brittany

Lines in the sand.   On the reverse of the card - "The mysterious and eternal sand dunes of Lake Michigan reflect and shadow the light of the afternoon sun. Ever constant, ever changing in form and beauty, the dunes provide a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere."

 

In contrast the hard lines of a railway crossing at Darley Dale (Church Lane Crossing) near Matlock, Derbyshire. The card shows the  Flying Scotsman visiting the heritage railway, Peak Rail, in August 2000.

Beaches

See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is at the beach

A choice of beaches at Carnac, the Grande Plage with its 2 kilometres of sand is the largest of the five but the Plage de Legenese, is said to be the most sheltered from the wind.

Heading for the west coast of Denmark famous for its sand dunes along the North Sea. It looks very peaceful

Bank Holiday crowds at Morecambe, Central Promenade early 20th century

Join the crowds at Morecambe. In the past the railway branch line would have terminated close to the sea front bringing day trippers and holiday makers to the seaside resort. A statutory public holiday (Bank Holidays are usually on a Monday) would be a peak time at seaside resorts. The crowds on the promenade will see the expanse of Morecambe Bay and the Lake District hills beyond.  Those on the beach have other things on their mind.

Sun Light

See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt starting the year with Light and sunshine

"Sun with Huge Prominence"

The star that gives life (if you are on a planet 93 million miles away), a sphere of hot plasma. This ultraviolet photograph of the sun was taken on the 19th December 1973 during NASA's  third Skylab mission.

"Birches" - Hannu Hautala

Meanwhile on Earth in the depths of a Finnish winter when daylight is brief it gives us this magical image.

"The Tower and the Fountain" Robert Fouseau

Pisa, where the sun is warmer and the photographer does not suffer as much for his art to capture the sun's rays.

"Dove Cottage", Grasmere, Lake District

Sunlight and dappled shade. Once the home of William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy. When William married Mary his family would expand even more which meant that eventually they all had to move to larger lodgings and leave their sojourn of "plain living but high thinking" behind. Today it is  museum.

Étel River

 On a tiny islet of Nichtarguer on the Ria d'Etel is a much photographed little house bathed in sunshine.

Multiple Views

 See It On A Thursday's Thursday Postcard Hunt for landscape multi-views

 

 Back to nature in the Vosges Mountains, winter and summer in Alsace, France.

 

Lüneburger Heath a place of sheep and moorland in Northern Germany, most of it is a nature reserve. The flocks of sheep are Heidschnucke or German Grey Heath. There is a celebration of all things sheep here in July with Moorland Sheep Day.

Southern Italian sea views in Sorrento where the Renaissance poet Torquato Tasso (1544-1595) was born.

High and Low

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt - People in a Landscape

A trip to Aix Les Bains, the 'Riviera of the Alps'. A rustic fence with a panoramic view of Lake Bourget and the Alps. A small child with his natty dungarees has prime position.

Edale Church, Peak District

The southern end of the Pennine Way long distance footpath where the village of Edale is the setting off point. The Parish Church stands as a way-marker en route to the moors. 268 miles (435km) later one will arrive at Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.

 Meanwhile in Wales two walkers relax on Little Orme enjoying the sunshine and the panorama of Llandudno Bay and Great Orme.  

Peril

 See It on A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt - Legends and Children's Stories

I imagine there are lots of legends abut the sea in Brittany. This one features L'Ankou de la Mer. The card shows the stretch of sea between Pointe du Raz and Isle de Sein which has always been a place of danger for sailors. If a boat in these parts encountered 'Bag Noz' (boat of the night) it was sign of imminent death. The first drowned person of the year became Ankou of the Sea, and took the place of the captain of the sinister boat. The Bag Noz could appear at any moment but disappeared as soon as anyone tried to approach it. It was especially important not to try to follow it because it led directly to the reefs, which are numerous.

This is a Winnie the Pooh story of when Seven Acres Wood flooded. Pooh bear took his honey up to a branch of a tree and stayed there until on the fourth day there was nothing left. The chapter is called  'In Which Piglet is Entirely  Surrounded by Water'. Pooh spots Piglets message in a bottle asking for help, it looks like a honey jar so that gets Pooh bear down from the tree.

Rescuing Tigger from a pine tree using Christopher Robin's tunic from the chapter of The House At Pooh Corner In Which It is shown that Tigger's Don't Climb Trees

Fine Food

See It On A Postcard's  Thursday Postcard Hunt - Food (or plants)

A visit to the delicatessen

Russian Cuisine - Margarita Tkachenko  

Something for the cooler months. The postcard was sent from Tomsk, Siberia whose 'weather changes very quickly". The writer said she regularly cooks borsch which "combines perfectly with fresh onions, garlic and sour cream", as the card confirms.

 The highly sought after cloudberry, sometimes referred to as Arctic Gold.

 

Strawberries - Wijnand Warendorf (2012)

 

Another delicious summer berry by the realist painter Wijnand Warendorf. 

Reading

See It On A Postcard's  Thursday Postcard Hunt is concentrating on reading or handwork..

Girl Reading - Harold Knight (1931)

Reading, a pastime for all seasons. Winter or

The Beach at Trouville - Claude Monet (1870)

 

Summer.  In terms of comfort I'd plump for the well appointed chaise longue

Relax its a blast

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is looking for women relaxing

Hula hooping, stairs optional, but what better way to make an entrance.

Nana Téte de Fleurs by Niki de Saint Phille (1971)

Dancing.  The feminist artist Niki de Saint Phille (1930-2002) produced a lot of large scale Nana papier mache sculptures mostly representing the modern women enjoying herself. Nana (French slang for girl) also appeared in two dimensional media, in this instance on wallpaper.  In the early 1970s one of the oldest wallpaper manufacturers in Europe, Marburger Tapetenfabrik, approached a diverse group of international artists to reflect the times. They wanted the wallpaper to be ornamental not just as a background for other objects. They got their wish from Niki de Saint Phille.  The series was called XArt Walls.

Islands in the Sun

 

2007: Island Jewels

Head for the sunny beaches of Rottnest Island.  It is also the place to see lots of cute quokka.

Maria Island, Tasmania, not only long sandy beaches, mountains and wildlife it is a World Heritage Australian Convict Site. Deported as punishment and wake up in paradise, eventually. Kangaroo Island off the south coast of Australia, I wonder what we will find there😀

Green Island a coral cay at the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

1980: International Conference for Tourism, Manila

The subtropical island of Madeira, "the pearl of the Atlantic", as the card suggests it has an abundance and variety of fruit, something it shares in common with

1955: Landscapes

the Caribbean island of Martinique. This island however has an active volcano, it and the surrounding forests are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Heading away from the islands to France where the 'Race to the Sun'  begins today, a classic cycling stage race from Paris through France's mountainous centre and which will eventually arrive on to the sunlit riviera of Nice on the 16th March.

2015: Extreme Sports

A cooling activity for the heat of high summer in Portugal, white water rafting.

Sunday Stamps theme - Warm Location Vacations - soak up the sun at  See It On A Postcard

Blue Yonder

 See It On A Postcard's Thursday Postcard Hunt is looking at the colour Blue

A quiet day fishing in Moomin Valley

Lake Keitele by Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1905)

They might get lost in the huge expanse of Lake Keitele in central Finland. Gallen-Kallela painted the lake many times between 1904 and 1906. This is his third painting and is the only painting of his work in a British public collection. Some years ago the British National Gallery put on an exhibition of his works and brought together all four versions. This is considered his most elaborate, showing the lake under summer light.  I must admit the cool blue reminded me of icy waters but then in my experience lake water is rarely, if ever, warm. A beautiful lake to gaze across whatever the season.

La Grande Famille by Rene Magritte (1963)

A seascape from Rene Magritte of both tranquility and foreboding

Polynesia, The Sky by Henri Matisse (1946)

Time to relax on a Polynesian island under a blue sky.