A is for Aland 2007

Back on my A list again. Been busy at work , so now can go back to the list. I visited Aland in 2007 . In between Sweden and Finland. Has its own Flag and Stamps. Though part of Finland , the people here speak Swedish. There is the usual Post office photo . A large post office with a full selection of stamps. Enjoyed my trip here. 

Market Reef Aland Islands and Russia

Europe-Aland Islands-Market Reef   This is a very unusual place to visit . It is a lighthouse between Finland and Sweden. In fact part of the Island is owned by Sweden and Part by Finland. So it is a divided Island. At one stage the Lighthouse was over the border of the two countries and a line in the lighthouse showed which part was Sweden and which part was Finland. You get here by a small  boat from the Aland Islands . You can even stay and sleep here. It is a popular tourist attraction for anyone into Lighthouses. 

Here you can see a stamp showing Market Reef  and a special Postmark for Market reef. 

Europe-Russia-Vyborg   Quite a interesting town just over the border from Finland. Came here by train from Helsinki on the same line to St. Petersbourg. 

I collect Russian stamps and really enjoyed using this stamp like the way it is printed off square. 

Estonia , Finland and Aland

Europe-Estonia-Tallinn   Getting here is quite easy from Helsinki  across the sea. I had been previously here on a cruise ship . A very lovely town and also a World  Heritage site. When here first in 1997, there was a lot of Anti Russian feeling from the people. I did not notice it on this trip. 

Tallinn, has a large Central Post office. Very impressive and busy. 

Europe-Finland-Suomelinna  This is a island right beside Helsinki and also a World Heritage site. A great tourist site and very interesting. 

Mailed this postcard on the Island and was pleased that the Shops there had these stamps for sale , issued in 2004  and also a special postmark. Well done to Finnish Post again. I wish we in Ireland had a Post office like this with different Postmarks. 

Europe-Aland-Mariehamn   Aland has its own flag and many people here speak Swedish . A great set of Islands to visit. Here you see Pommern a big tourist attraction here. It is an original steel sail ship build in Glasgow in 1903. 

I was here on May 13-15, but when I got the postcard back there was no postmark. So I had to send it back to Mariehamn to the post office. It came back . So the new date is 30 of May. As  you can see Aland also has their own stamps.