3 World Heritage Sites - United Kingdom and Spain .

Europe-United Kingdom-London  Here is Kew Gardens . I had been to London many many times but not here. So decided to visit. It was very educational . WHS. 

Showing a Horse from a Carousel . 

Europe-Spain-Escurial  This is the Monastery at El Escurial near Madrid.Really enjoyed this visit.  I had not planned to visit Madrid on this trip. I was flying from London to Madrid and on to Equatorial Guinea . However did not make the connection in Madrid and had a 2 night stay over here while waiting for the next flight. So free food and accommodation. 

This stamp was purchased in a machine at this location.

Europe-Spain-Alcala De Henares This Historic centre is also a World Heritage site. So on this trip visited 3 unexpectedly. This is 35KM outside Madrid. Not especially exciting . 

At least here I managed to purchase a regular stamp. 

Tuscany Italy

Europe-Italy-San Gimignano  I recall climbing to the top to one of these towers to get a view of the World Heritage town. Italy at its best as you walk along the streets and watch and take it all in . ;

A standard definitive stamp . 

Europe-Italy-Pienza  This paricular squre and the way town planning was done assisted in getting Pienza a World Heritage Award. No cars allowed around this area. 

I like the Art Deco stamp on the right.. 

Europe-Italy-Montecatini   This is were I stayed during this trip to Italy. I was here working . Did not feel like work though.. Very relaxing and pleasant 

Small Post office here where I purchased my stamps for this trip. 

Europe-Italy-Pisa The very famous Leaning tower of Pisa. When I was there , there was a rope holding one side. Not seen here on the postcard. A World heritage Site 

A Pisa Postmark 

Europe-Italy-Siena   Well this square looks like this except on thing.. Its full of people. Many just sitting around and relaxing. Full of atmosphere. The Tower in the middle is pretty amazing. Need I say another World Heritage Site. 

The Postmark is Florence . 

Malta

Europe-Malta-Valletta  The last stop on the Cruise. My second  time to Malta. I do like the Island . Quite expensive even by Irish standards at the time. But loved the old buses which are now gone. Rabbit was the preferred food on many of the menus. A very historic Island . The City of Valletta is a World Heritage Site. 

Got the stamps at the Main Post office in Valletta. 

Europe-Malta-Valletta   This was the "Le Levant " ship that was used for the cruise. As you can see it is not large . But very nice inside. 

The Post office could do with a clean Postmark. 

Algeria

Africa-Algeria-Annaba   Algeria was the next stop on the cruise. I had been wanting to get to Algeria for some time. I had made a plan in the mid 1980s, and had booked to spend 3 weeks in Algeria , but 4 weeks before I was due to go there was a coup. Annaba was the first stop. ;

Purchased this stamp at a small post office near a tourist site. When walking near by, many people came over to say it was great to see some tourists. 

Africa-Algeria-Algiers  Well was excited to get here to this city. Going through the Kasbah in Algiers was amazing. Stopping at the local shops and walking through. This unique Kasbah is also a World Heritage site. No tourists in sight. 

Getting to the Post office in Algiers was not easy. I was on a fixed tour for Security reasons. We had armed Police with us during the whole stay in Algeria. There was no plans to go to the Post office. So I managed to get the tour company to get me there. So during the normal tour , a security tapped me on the shoulder and I was quietly taken by car to the Main Post office. The Post office itself is awesome and one of my top 10 Post Offices in the world. It is well up there with the Post office in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Of course we had a slight detour to get some Postcards. The Post Office is in fact a real Tourist sight if there was any tourists. When I went to the Stamps counter , I of course wanted to see a selection of stamps. So they got the head of the Post office, as they seen I had security police with me and they thought I must be important. I was so surprised to find that the official had a Irish accent when he talked to me in English. I discovered he spend his student days in Dublin learning English. So we spend extra time talking about his stay in Ireland. Of course I got to choose some nice stamps.  

Africa-Algeria-Djemila   A very fine World Heritage site and enjoyed the freedom walking around here. Excellent 

My last stop in Algeria. Wished I could have spend more time here. However security was a issue and so had to be careful. Very friendly people . 

Tunisia

Africa-Tunisia-Tunis   Next Country on this Cruise Tunisia. Spend most of the day in the Old town. This Area is also a World Heritage Site. Not a very clean city I would say. 

Tunis had the traditional old French Post Office. 

Africa-Tunisia-Dougga This part of the Roman Empire is a World Heritage Site. Very impressive 

Nice to see clear Postmarks. 

Africa-Tunisia-Dougga This Postcard shows sites that were visited on this Cruise . The Top right is Libya which was not visited on this trip. 

A different type of Postmark here. 

Crete and Sicily

Europe-Crete-Agios Nikolaos   Another very nice part of Crete. You can see whey one would love this Island. 

I do like these long stamps. 

Europe-Crete-Chania  This is the port I spend a few evenings just relaxing and taking the view in. Very nice 

The Postmark is quite faint. 

Europe-Sicily-Agrigento  I got here on a small cruise ship which started in Crete. So Sicily is the second stop . Here went to see Agrigento which is a very good Roman Site to visit. Also a World Heritage site. Sicily is a great Island to visit. So I went back on a future trip and spent one week here. 

Interesting that even though this Postcard was posted in Agrigento it has a Palermo Postmark. I do like the Donkey Stamp. 

Spain - Greece- Crete

Europe-Spain-Valencia Here we see the Mercado Central , ie the Central Market. This is a World Heritage site. I have to say I did not find this site especially inspiring. 

From this stamp I see there was a Expo in Zaragoza. Never got to that? . 

Europe-Greece-Delphi  Well this was interesting all right. Got a good tour guide . Worth the trip . A World Heritage Site. 

You can see the local Postmark here. 

Europe-Crete-Herakleion  Crete is one of my favourite Islands. Here you see the port at Herakleion. Beautiful to walk around and just take in the views. 

I do like the long stamp. Showing a typical seaside harbour town. 

Japan - Kanagawa. Tochigi, Chiba Prefectures

Asia-Japan-Kanagawa-Kamakura This is the Bronze statue of Amitia-Buddha or Great Buddah from 1252. 

This card was posted in Yokohama , Kanagawa and is a Prefecture stamp from Kanagawa. 

Asia-Japan-Kamakura A selection of scenes from this area. 

The Post office in Kamakura had no Prefecture stamps. So I had to go to Yokohama as above. This is a General Japanese stamp. 

Asia-Japan-Tochigi-Nikko   Here you find the Temple at Nikko. It is also a World Heritage Site. Lots of detail can be seen on a visit to this busy site. 

Prefecture stamps from Tochigi . 

Asia-Japan-Chiba-Narita Airport   This is the new Tokyo airport and my departure point for my visit to Japan. 

Featuring Prefecture stamps from Chiba and mailed at the Airport.