Twaalf provinciën (I)

The first Dutch-language issue of the Donald Duck comic book came out in 1952. To celebrate the 60th anniversary Donald Duck decided to leave Duckburg and visit the different provinces of the Netherlands. Every month a different province.  

The Dutch post issued "postsets" (three postcards with three matched stamps per set) in order to commemorate this special trip. Heleen have sent some of them to me... so I have learnt a lot about Dutch geography and culture!

PS I also discovered that Donald's nephews (Huey, Dewy and Louie) are called in Dutch Kwik, Kwek and Kwak. This sound to me like more suitable names for three ducks! I have never read these comics in my language. In Spain the names are Jorgito, Juanito and Jaimito (rather unpronounceable!). But they have different names in other countries. And in yours?

Friesland

Write in Frisian!
It this Vuurduin lighthouse? I think so!

The hut selling food and drink on a near ice for skaters is called "Koek-en-zopie".

  Limburg

In Vrijthof Square (Maasthicht).

Donald and his nephews are eating the typical "Limburgse Vlaai". 

The highest part of the country. Not real mountains, but still hard to climb by bike! (And especially if your nephews are so sassy!).

Christmas and New Year Mail (3)

OMG! I must arrive on time to post this letter!

Sent to XX Jones (Austria).

Collage (front and back) made of press cuttings, washi tape and rubber stamps.

I wish you Happy Christmas Day if you celebrate this feast!

Christmas and New Year Mail (2)

 

Sent to Heleen (the Netherlands).

Collage (front and back) made of press cuttings, washi tape and rubber stamps I carved. All hand made!
Also published here.

Happy Christmas to the readers who celebrate this feast!

Technique épistolaire

« C'était à Venise. Disputes orageuses entre Georges Sand, l'écrivain aux yeux de braise, et Musset, son amant pâle et capricieux. Il a une crise. Elle appelle un médecin à son chevet... Le docteur Pagello arrive. Pendant vingt-six jours, il soigne le malade et... il est séduit entre temps par son "infirmière". Celle-ci a utilisé la technique qu'elle maîtrise le mieux, la technique épistolaire. Elle confie un soir au médecin un petit mot, avec une série de questions: "Seras-tu pour moi un appui ou un maître ? Me consoleras-tu des maux que j'ai souffert avant de te rencontrer ? Sauras-tu pourquoi je suis triste ? Connais-tu la compassion, la patience, l'amitié ? On t'a élevé, peut-être dans la conviction que les femmes n'ont pas d'âme. Sais-tu qu'elles en ont une ? (...)"

Devinez ce qui arriva. Le Docteur Pagello tomba amoureux fou de celle qui avait rédigé le billet. Si vous vivez comme moi dans une capitale arabe, il vaut mieux, mesdemoiselles, mesdames, ne pas signer ce genre de littérature. Vous risquez des complications : il est déjà arrivé que des messieurs les exhibent ! Croyez-moi, c'est l'expérience qui parle... »

Fatema Mernissi

(L'Amour dans les pays musulmans: A travers le miroir des textes anciens)

Sun

Sent by Catherine (France).

A summer letter when the winter is starting!

I Just Like It

Sent by Heleen (The Netherlands).

F1 Circuit

Sent by Sylvia (China).

You can see in the postcard the Shangai International F1 Circuit. I was surprised to receive it because I am not into F1 (not into any sport, I am afraid). So I never expect to receive a postcard about sports.

But as usual, when the sender takes the time to write something interesting on the back, the postcard becomes attractive. Now the postcard is among my favourites!

I like this side of Postcrossing: we learn a lot about unexpected things, people and places! Also about ourselves.

I Live Here

When you move from a place to another, you feel like showing your new city to your friends and possibly your pen friends. But it is truly disappointing when you cannot buy nice postcards... Tetouan is not a small city (more than 300,000 inhabitants!), but it seems impossible to find more than these postcards. Maybe five or six different designs, not more. All look very old-fashioned and faded, and do not show the best parts in the city. Definitely, I think these postcards do not do Tetouan justice. It is much more than that!

What do you think about these postcards?

Houses

Sent by Eva (Germany).

I know it is not, but it seems that the house in the stamp could be the same one as the cosy house drawn on the envelope (and on the writing paper inside).

Retro Women

Sent by Marlene (the United States).
Postcard designed by Anne Taintor (here you can read more about her).

I opened this album when I receive this postcard form Marlene. I added two postcards previously sent by Laura (the UK) by Ephemera. I named it retro women, but maybe there is a better name in English to refer to this 50s & 60s retro style... (Please, tell me!).

P.S. I Love You

P.S. I Love You

The Beatles

As I write this letter,

Send my love to you,

Remember that I'll always, 

Be in love with you. 

Treasure these few words 'til we're together,

Keep all my love forever, 

P.S., I love you. 

You, you, you.

I'll be coming home again to you, love,

And 'til the day I do, love, 

P.S., I love you. 

You, you, you. 

As I write this letter,

Send my love to you, 

Remember that I'll always, 

Be in love with you. 

Treasure these few words 'til we're together,

Keep all my love forever, 

P.S., I love you. 

You, you, you.

As I write this letter, (Oh oh oh)

Send my love to you, (You know I want you to) 

Remember that I'll always, (Yeah) 

Be in love with you. 

I'll be coming home again to you, love,

And 'til the day I do, love, 

P.S., I love you. 

You, you, you. 

You, you, you. 

I love you.

Head Post Office

Sent by Eugenia (Ukraine).
Maximum postcard featuring the building of Donesk Head Post Office.

King's Library

Sent by Laura (the UK).
Two postcards (inside and outside) from the British Library in London (the UK): a view of the King's Library from above and the Piazza.

I like the colours in the second postcard. And... how I would like to take a coffee in that café after visiting the library!

Christmas and New Year Mail (1)

Christmas mail is on its way!

Sent to Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, PC, Taiwan, the Netherlands, the UK... Did I forget any destination?

Smart and Graceful

This is the mail box where I usually post my letters and postcards. Isn't it smart and graceful?