Belfast - Northern Ireland

 Europe-Northern Ireland - Belfast Spend a few days in Belfast and surrounding areas . Visited Stormont  the parliament of Northern Ireland . 

These are the latest Northern Ireland "Country Stamps" . Still had QEII head as they were in stock. Usually the Post offices in Northern Ireland dont have these , so have to be ordered in advance .  

Images of Sark - Channel Islands

 Europe-Sark . Here is a card showing more pics of parts of the small island. It was a sure joy to just walk with little noise of transport . Certainly different 

I had not intended to  use  the samp stamps on two cards. But this card was a fellow blogger in Canada and at the time there was a  postal strike in  Canada  . So the post office would not take any mail to that destination at that time. 

Sark - Channel Islands

 Europe-Sark It is  not often that I have a "New Country" to introduce here. But Sark which is part of Guernsey in the Channel Islands have just introduced their own stamps for the first time. So I was excited to visit there in October and really enjoyed my overnight stay. So two full days to enjoy the island. By boat from Guernsey . The key thing is that there are no cars , just tractors or pedal power. So a quite place and quite unique . Loved it. This card shows the harbour and the island from the east. 

Beautiful stamps featuring flowers and plants on the islands. They were very helpful in the Post Office and happy to take photos. 

Turkiye - Asia

 Asia-Turkiye-Istanbul . I mailed this card from the Istanbul airport on the Asia side . Its code is SAW, Took about one hour from downtown Istanbul on the  European side by underground.

This was postmarked at the airport SAW. 

Famagusta - Cyprus Turkish Republic

 Europe-CyprusTurkish Republic-Gazimagusa . More commonly known as Famagusta . This area before the 1974 war was the main stay of tourists in Cyprus. I stayed in the old town and it was very interesting to explore . Also nearby was the old tourist area  which had been closed off until 2017, Varosha. Well worth going to , like a ghost town. Enjoyed this area very much and finished it off with a music and meal in the old area on the last night. 

I had a bit of a walk to the Post office which is a beautiful old building . In fact I was later arriving but all the doors where still open and I was able to post the card. 

Kyrenia - Cyprus Turkish Republic

 Europe-Cyprus Turkish Republic- Girne also known as Kyrenia . This was a day trip from lafkosa and was very intersting . Lots of British tourists about and the harbour with the waterside cafes was a beautful setting . 

Lefkosa - Turkish Republic of Cyprus

 Europe-Cyprus Turkish Republic-Lefkosa . The capital of this area. Old  name before 1974 Nicosia . The old town is hemmed in by the Venetian walls. Stayed here a few nights and really enjoyed it. The buzz at night time out for dinner was great. 

Posted in town at the old Post office. 

Lefkosa - Cyprus Turkish Republic

 Europe-Cyprus Turkish Republic-Lefkosa Photo shows border at the Geen line . Crossed near here from Republic Cyprus. I had previous been on a day trip to this part of Cyprus so pleased to spend more time and discover more. 

Got these stamps at the Philatelic centre next door to the main Post Office . They were very helpful 

Ayios Nikolaos - British Sovereign Base Area of Cyprus

Europe-Cyprus British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia . I have been wanted to visit again after my last visit. The fact that my previous card was only posted in Akrotiri but in a Cyprus Republic post box was not up to scratch as I also wanted one in the British area. So in fact travelled to all the Base areas Western and Eastern . Akrotiri all the areas as part of the base is out of bounds to tourists. In Dhekelia there is an area beside a beach which includes a restaurant you can order . Further to the east is Ayios Nikolaos which is one of the access roads to the border with Northern Cyprus. So that means in effect the base area is partly open with access to a supermarket , bar and the British Forces Post Office. 

To say I was excited to visit this office would be a under statement . After failing to get postcards sent from the other bases this was great as you could actually visit the BFPO itself. So now at least a postcard from the British Territory itself. The officer at the Post office was very helpful and once checked I had used British stamps all good to go . 

Nicosia - Cyprus

 Europe-Cyprus-Nicosia Back in Cyprus again always feel the mix of cultures. Started in Paphos and then by car to Nicosia. 

Visited the old Post office in Nicosia. It is no longer the main post office . Still an old important building . 

London - England

Europe-England-London I guess this shows was England is  famous for. Red telephone boxes and buses. Though you dont see many phone phones in use any more. London one of those great cities always so much to see and enjoy. 

These are the latest English "Country " stamps. These have not yet been reprinted with the kings head . But first time for me to use them with barcodes. I did ask for a nice clean crisp postmark and the Post offfice and got one. 

 

National Gallery - London

 Europe-United Kingdom-London I visited the National Gallery in London . One of my selection of favourite paintings . This is My Caneletto " The Bain of San Marco on Ascension Day about 1740 

Beautiful stamps showing the Royal Observatory in Greenwich . 

At the National Gallery - Canaletto 1697-1768, Venice "The upper Reaches of the Grand Canal with S.Simeone Picollo about 1740. 

More stamps featuring the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. 

Ohrid - Macedonia , World Heritage Site.

 Europe-North Macedonia-Ohrid My second time back and my favourite part of this Country . This time took a tour on the lake and really enjoyed it. Old school holiday sort of place. Though one observation is that even though the country has a new name everyone here calls it Macedonia and you wont see a Tshirt or tourist item with the new name on it anywhere. 

Sorry had to use the same samps again as was lucky to find any . I am not a lover of those new machine stickers and to make it worse the ones here were all just blank. !

Linderfhof Palace - Bavaria

 Europe-Germany-Linderhof This is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II and the only one fully completed in his time . He lived  here from 1876 onward. Very beautiful inside . 

Standard definitive stamps . 

First card from North Macedonia

 Europe-North Macedonia-Ohrid My second visit to this delightful town by the lake . Last time I was driving around this area. This time had a few days to take it in walking . Very nice and sort of old fashioned in a way. A World Heritage Site 

The main reason for coming back here is because of the change of name from FYR of Macedonia to North Macedonia . So new name on the stamps. In fact I nearly had an issue with the stamps. On the main post offices they only had blank sticky labels which I dont use on my postcards unless no option options. They told me they had no stamps and the same for other post offices. But I walked to another Post office 20 minutes away and hey presto there happened to be a few stamps left. So happy faces.