United Kingdom and France

Europe-United Kingdom-Bournemouth  In the South of England. Went to visit some friends. A typical English seaside town with a large proportion of retirees. 

Here at least is a sort of clear postmark and a stamp featuring the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London 

Europe-France-Nancy What a wonderful place this is. The gates on the Postcard are a brilliant sight in Gold. A Well deserved World Heritage Site. 

Nice to have a circular stamp , which is now more common in use . 

Mogan and Las Palmas Gran Canaria

Atlantic Ocean-Canary Islands-Gran Canaria-Puerto de Mogan  This is a  little sea side fishing village in Gran Canaria. Very nice to visit and have lunch . This is the view from a restaurant. 

Ireland do not issue many joint stamp issues. Here is the one issued with Spain. Featuring Dancing and in this case Irish Dancing ie Riverdance type . 

Atlantic Ocean-Canary Islands-Gran Canaria-Las Palmas  This is the capital of Gran Canaria. This is the famous Cathedral in the city. 

Here is the Spanish stamp in the joint issue with Ireland. Dancing and in this case Flamenco Dancing. Don't see so much now but did a lot on my early trip to Spain with the family. 

Canary Islands

Atlantic Ocean-Canary Islands-Gran Canaria-Playa del Ingles   When I was a lot younger visited Gran Canaria many times. But stayed in Puerto Rico . This time in Play del Ingles. It really is just about relaxing with friends and doing nothing. Not my usual type of trip, but still good not to concern oneself with seeing the sights. 

I have to say I really like these stamps. Spanish Post offices tend to have limited stamps unless you go to a Philatelic head office. 

Atlantic Ocean-Canary Islands-Gran Canaria-Playa del Ingles  Hotel Postcards are sort of gone out of fashion, so delighted to see one of my hotel . The key here is to get up early in the morning to get one of the sun loungers if you plan to sit by the pool. 

At least you get clear cancellation here. 

The Parliament in Ireland

Europe-Ireland-Dublin  This is Dail Eireann , or the Parliament in Ireland. My first and only visit was in 2011. They had a open day and if you booked far enough in advance you could get a ticket. So I did and hence the postcard. Dail Eireann is centrally located here in Dublin. 

This stamp is from a booklet , featuring arts and crafts. 

Sudan World Heritage Site.

Africa-Sudan-Meroe  This is one of the key sights in Sudan to visit. Once part of Upper Egypt . The Pyramids are a lot smaller than the ones in Giza in Egypt. A great drive to get out to see some of the desert. At times there was no road so was amazed the driver knew where he was going. Very hot and surprise surprise I was the only tourist there ! This area is part of a World Heritage Site. 

At the nearby filling station the last thing I expected to find was a Post office. It was new but looked underused. Still happy to find it and some more different stamps too. 

Vatican City, Sovereign Order of Malta and Italy

Had a weekend in Rome . A city that one can visit 3 different Post offices. First up is Vatican Post. I had been to the main Post office near St. Peter's Square but this one is at the end of the Sistine  Chapel as one exits. I found out that Vatican Post has 4 Post offices. The Post offices themselves have a limited selection of stamps. You have to go to the Philatelic section on the other side of the square. On this trip I  did visit the Vatican Museum as well for the first time. Very impressive and well worth while buying the ticket in advance to miss the large line outside.

This is my second visit to The Sovereign Order of Malta. They had just opened a new visitors centre in April. This building has diplomatic status. Here I am in the visitors centre with lady who is in charge . Behind you see a photo of the Grand Master.

Upstairs on the second floor is the Philatelic and Post office. Unfortunately there is only a select countries in the world who have postal arrangements with the Order of Malta. Ireland is not one of them. So only limited countries I can mail Postcards to. Last time I sent to a friend in Italy and then the postcard was sent on to me. Here is the latest issue and a special Order of Malta postcard being stamped by the chief Postmaster.

And finally to Rome itself. What a great city though at times a little chaotic. So much to see so little time, I would say. Had a great time and here is the famous Colosseum . One could spend many months in Italy and still have lots more to see. 

Eritrea and Sudan

Africa-Eritrea-Asmara  A Country that tends to be in the news for all the wrong reasons. Even getting a visa to get here took quite a bit of patience and 6 weeks waiting for approval. However I have to say that Asmara is one of the most beautiful cities in Africa. It had not been damaged by war unlike many of these type of cities in Africa. Asmara has the most wonderful Art Deco buildings from the time the Italians were here. A true gem of the city and real Italian food. However underlying all that was my first impression of no police or army to be seen. But I soon worked it out that in fact that a large proportion of men who were standing or watching were in fact officials of the State. It was most noticeable when I went near the area of the Presidential palace to sit on a park bench. I could see a lot of men in well dressed clothes looking at me from different angles. When it got to much for them following me , one approached and told me I could not sit there . In saying that a very friendly and safe city . Could not go out of Asmara due to a permit which takes 3 days to acquire. Still fond memories of this city and all the 1930s buildings. Like straight out of a movie set!

The Post office was a large impressive building right down town. They even had a full philatelic shop with all supplies on display. Would put many a Post office to shame. So full marks here. 

Africa-Sudan-Khartoum  Sudan was another county one had to go to the loops to get a visa. In this case I had to fly to London to have a interview in advance in the embassy. The consul official was very friendly and kept asking me about Dublin and the weather. He had one look at my passport  and said "Ok visa no problem".  He asked me why I wanted to visit Sudan and I told him the Pyramids. His face light up when he heard I had done my homework on Sudan. At the end I asked him why the questions on Dublin,. He told me it was his favourite city and he was going in the morning and wanted to know if it was likely to rain !!! Karthoum is in fact at least two cities and large at that. You know you are in the "Sandy " part of Africa with sand everywhere. The city was very hot and busy. Here on the top right you see the Presedintal Palace which one often passes by in the taxi going around town, but one must be careful not to take a photo or hope the car does not break down there. I did have lunch in the famous designed hotel known as the "Gadaffi " Hotel . He gave it as a gift to Sudan. Sort of oval shape. 

Khartoum must have one of the largest Post offices I have ever been to. Ho Chi Minh is also large and beautiful. But inside this Post office one win no awards. Mail is pilled up in bags for months just sitting there. It is so unclean and very little electricity to see anything. There was only one counter open and no choice in stamps. I did try to send some postcards to the USA but was told due to sanctions not possible to send mail there . I did not know if this card would ever make it home as a friend of mind did some work in Sudan and sent me postcards but I never got any. Well it did.. 

Hadrian's Wall - World Heritage Site

Europe-United Kingdom-England  This is Chesters Roman Fort built astride Hadrian's Wall. A very enjoyable day out in the North of England . 

I could only buy stamps in the shops at Chesters Fort, so only got standard airmail stamps. 

Europe-United Kingdom-England  This is Housesteads Roman Fort . This lies on the best known part of Hadrian's Wall. This view shows the fort, the most complete example in Britain with part of the civilian settlement in the foreground. 

This card has little or no postmark, but it was a memorable part of my visit so the card stays in my collection. 

Miami

North America-United States of America-Miami  This was the cruise ship I did that trip on that has been uploaded featuring the Caribbean. I have been on a good few Carnival Ships, I would say they at the Value end of the market. Still it got me to where I wanted to go and the bedrooms are larger then most. 

Despite what the card says, the end stop was in fact Miami. I got confused as I had started in Fort Lauderdale , but the ship sailed from Miami. Great set of stamps here. . Normally I don't put this here, but moved over to Mac from a PC this week. So it takes a bit of time sorting all out. But getting there. A least I am now also getting all my photos in order so when I get to the stage of uplifting those, they should be in some order. . 

Bahamas

Caribbean-Bahamas-Nassau   Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas and a enjoyable city to visit. The main part of interest is where the Parliament is. 

The Post office in Nassau had a excellent choice of stamps and a full Philatelic display. The price of stamps is quite low and I have noticed this from time to time especially in Commonwealth Countries. 

Caribbean-Bahamas-Paradise Island This is a great Island to visit, going over a bridge in Nassau. Spend a excellent half day here , visiting the Aquarium and having lunch with great views. This card is showing Dolphin Bay . 

There is no post office on Paradise Island, but I did find a mail box. So posted there. 

Turks and Caicos- Bahamas

Caribbean-Turks & Caicos-Grand Turk-Cockburn Town   Visited this museum which was interesting. I think I was the only one from the cruise ship , as most passengers stay at the Cruise terminal area where this is activities. But for me it is about seeing some of the Island and its history. Unfortunately Turks and Caicos which is a United Kingdom overseas Territory had it issues and the UK had taken back control to run this Territory due to Official corruption. 

I posted this card at the Main Post office on June 29, but the postmark is dated 15 July. So the Postal service is very slow. Still the Post office was very helpful with a good selection of T and C stamps. 

Caribbean-Bahamas-Half Moon Bay   This is a private Island , use by Holland American Line for Cruise ships. It was great just relaxing in the warm waters of the Bahamas and the lovely soft white sand. One of the softest sands I had ever walked on. 

As this was a private island , I had not expected to find a Post Office. But I did. In fact I had no money with me to buy any stamps and the Post office official just gave me the stamp free of charge !! 

London and Manchester - England

Europe-United Kingdom-England-London  London one of my favourite cities, but can be expensive if you are not careful. Here is the Imperial War Museum , a great museum to visit. 

Mount Pleasant is the main Post office sorting office in London . 

Europe-England-Manchester  I have been many times. One of those English cities that I would say that the people are more enjoyable  than the city itself. This is the Central Library . 

This may have a English Oak tree stamp , but one of those occasions when there is very little to see postmark wise. 

Northern Ireland - World Heritage Site.

Europe-Northern Ireland-Co.Antrim  The Giants Causeway the World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. This is a natural site on the North coast. 

This stamp was sold over the counter in a Post office. It is actually a Regional Definitive stamp for England showing a English Oak Tree ! 

Europe-Northern Ireland-Enniskillen   This is towards the West side of Northern Ireland. It is a very pictureesque part of Northern Ireland and near the boarder with the Republic of Ireland . Here you see the lakes which are very popular and you see quite a few pleasure boats sailing on. 

This is a standard United Kingdom stamp , usually the most common stamp sold over the Post Office counters all over the United Kingdom . 

Ireland - World Heritage Sites

Europe-Ireland-Newgrange   This is one of the two World Heritage Sites in the Republic of Ireland. I remember going up here on a school tour many years ago. You could literately just stop outside and go into the burial tomb as shown on the left hand side on the card. Now it is a lot busier and you need a special bus as part of the tour. On the shortest day of the  year which is in December , subject to clear skies the sun comes directly into the chamber. To go to this you are have to put your name down and hope it comes out in the draw, as spaces very limited. 

This is a stamp issued as part of a Souvenir sheet. I made a comment earlier on that you can really only get special stamps from the Philatelic counter in Dublin at the GPO. Of course as pointed out to me, you can order the stamps online too. 

Europe-Ireland-Skelligs   This is the second and currently the final World Heritage site in the Republic of Ireland. It is not easy to get too. On the west coast , one needs very good weather and one of the 3-5 boats that take people out on the days that weather permits. I had two attempts to get there and got here on the second time. It is a very old monastery and I have to say as a well travelled person , it is up there with Manchu Picchu as far as  how amazing this is. It is not widely advertised due to the fact only 100 persons can visit each day and these limits are usually reached easily. So no point looking for more , as there is no extra capacity. If you ever get a chance a must see. 

These cards are from John Hinde a famous producer of Postcards for all over the world.