SANTA MONICA

Santa Monica, California offers more than its beach and year round warm weather. Its proximity to the greater Los Angeles area makes Santa Monica the perfect base for vacationers and business travelers alike.
The palm tree-lined avenue and views overlooking the Pacific Ocean make the Santa Monica Pier area and Ocean Avenue one of the most iconic locations in Santa Monica. Ocean Avenue is famous for the gem located at its southern end. Just down from Ocean Avenue is perhaps Santa Monica’s most famous attraction, the Santa Monica Pier. This attraction dates back to 1909, and features a solar-paneled Ferris wheel, amusement park, aquarium, and live concerts and movies during the summer months. 

The large pier with many attractions and the wide, clean beach draw visitors from all parts of the world to Santa Monica 

For Santa Monica nightlife, the Third Street Promenade is the place to be, bustling with activity from moviegoers, party animals, nightlife and bars, and talented street performers. Santa Monica is also known as a walkable town, though many choose to strap on wheels or pedal their way around the 22 miles of bike path’s the area has to offer. 

SANTA MONICA TRAVEL & TOURISM

AFRICAN WILDLIFE - CHEETAH, LION

The cheetah is the world's fastest land mammal. With acceleration that would leave most automobiles in the dust, a cheetah can go from 0 to 60 miles (96 kilometers) an hour in only three seconds. These big cats are quite nimble at high speed and can make quick and sudden turns in pursuit of prey. Most wild cheetahs are found in eastern and southwestern Africa.

 Kenya's Pride

Living in the grasslands, scrub, and open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, the lion is the second largest cat in the world. Lions have been celebrated throughout history for their courage and strength. 

Size: Head and body, 1.4 to 2 m; Tail, 67 to 100 cm
Weight: 120 to 191 kg
Group name: Pride
Protection status: Vulnerable

Stamp: red-and-yellow barbet

The red-and-yellow barbet is about 8 or 9 inches long. It has a long, strong, pointed red bill. It has red, yellow black and white upper parts and yellow under parts. It lives in eastern Africa, in woodlands, scrubland and savannah, where it usually forages on the ground near trees or bushes. The Masai use the feathers of red-and-yellow barbets as clothing decorations. 

FLORIDA

For the majority of Florida’s 105 million annual visitors, the typical travel poster images of Florida – sun, sea, sand, and Mickey Mouse – are reason enough to jump on the next plane. The Sunshine State deserves its reputation as the perfect family vacation spot, but Florida is much richer in its culture, landscape, and character than its stereotypical image suggests.

Spring Training in south and central Florida. Let's play ball!

• State Capital - Tallahassee 
• Largest City - Jacksonville
• State Nickname - The Sunshine State
• Florida is the fourth most populous state in the USA, after California, New York and Texas.
• Origin of the Name Florida - Florida was first seen by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon on Palm Sunday on April 2, 1513 - he then named the "Pascua de Florida," meaning "Feast of Flowers" and claimed it for Spain.
  
• Major Industries - tourism, agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes), electronics 

 

Peaceful picturesque beaches line Florida's coast 

Postcard of one of many Florida beaches. The best beaches are along the Atlantic, where the water, as blue and pure as on the front, travels as far as the eye can see, kissing the sky where the horizon lies. The white, hot crispy sand squishes beneath your feet and between your toes as the sun warry your cheeks and salty ocean breeze tickles your face.

ANNANDALE

Annandale, an unincorporated area, is located at the tip of a coastal peninsula in peaceful Eastern Prince Edward Island, Kings County. Name given about 1868 in deference to James Johnston, who was born in Annandale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland in 1837. He began business here in 1855 when it was known as Grand River Wharf. It's a quaint fishing community. Annandale became part of the Community of Annandale-Little Pond-Howe Bay in 1975. Annandale Wharf is located at the mouth of the Boughton River, and there is a picturesque sandspit near the wharf that borders the entrance to the Annandale Wharf from the ocean. This wharf is located on the east coast of PEI not far from the town of Montague. 

 

Annandale Wharf in Summer

Picturesque fishing wharf with short red sand beach that allows for clam digging at low tide, sea kayaking, and leisurely beach strolls. During the lobster season in May and June more than 25 fishing boats berth at the wharf. There are a number of interpretive panels near the wharf describing its early settlement.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA

The Spirit of Tasmania is a large ferry that runs daily between Melbourne, on Australia’s south coast, and Devonport in northern Tasmania. It was built in 1986 as MS Peter Pan by Schichau Unterweser, Bremerhaven, Germany for TT-Line. Between 1993 and 2002 the ship was named MS Spirit of Tasmania, owned by the Tasmanian Government and operated by TT-Line Pty. Ltd. and used on traffic across the Bass Strait. Measuring 161m long, 27.6m wide and weighing over 31,000 tonnes, the ship can carry 490 cars, plus 60 buses or trucks, with berths for 1278 persons. One of Australia’s most iconic travel experiences, Spirit of Tasmania makes travelling across Bass Strait flexible, convenient and easy. The trip on board Spirit of Tasmania takes approximately 9-11 hours.

Operating between Devonport and Melbourne, The Spirit of Tasmania is the largest ferry to carry the Australian flag.

SPIRIT OF TASMANIA

POST OREGON

Post is an unincorporated community in Crook County, Oregon, United States. It lies along Oregon Route 380 southeast of Prineville - the most historical town in Central Oregon. It is a great little town. It’s got that off-the-beaten track, locals-only, undiscovered territory kind of charm. As of 2014, Post (zip 97752)'s population is 14 people. Named for Walter H. Post, the postmaster. The post office was established in 1889. The geological marker in a field nearby: a post marking the geographic center of the state of Oregon (located in Crook County, 25 miles SSE of Prineville). This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. Post has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.

The Post Store, Post Office, gas pumps and Elkhorn Tavern is located 300 yards southeast of the geographic center of the State of Oregon. The ground was included in the Indian Treaty of 1855

Postcrossing Postcard US-3113818

FISH HOEK

 One of the many popular seaside resorts along the peninsula with a fine safe bathing beach. Especially frequented by old and young windsurfers and catamaran sailors. On the other side of the beach is a popular Hobie Cat launching spot where regular regattas offer a colourful spectacle for visitors. A stipulation laid down in 1818 by Lord Charles Somerset (who also declared free fishing rights for all) in the original grant of the land that no public house be kept on the farm has been strictly adhered to. The sale of liquor is prohibited in Fish Hoek. The only teetotal town in the country. 

Peer's Cave. A rock shelter named after the man who discovered the so-called Fishhoek Man, estimated to be about 15 000 years old. 

A lovely spot for bathing. Cape Peninsula, South Africa.

CANADIAN ROCKIES WILDLIFE

The beauty of the Canadian Rockies is breathtaking. Massive mountains, emerald green lakes and rivers, waterfalls, huge forests, glaciers and miles upon miles of absolute natural beauty will astound you. Here, in a land of huge unspoiled wilderness areas, wildlife and natural beauty abound. In the Rocky Mountain towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, elk and bighorn sheep are a common sight wandering the urban streets, while further afield bears, wolves and more are to be spotted by considerate and careful wanderers.

Bighorn Sheep can often be seen alongside mountain roads. 

Bighorn sheep are some of the most distinctive mammals of the Canadian Rockies. Easily recognized by their impressive horns, they are often seen grazing on grassy mountain slopes or at salt licks beside the road. Bighorn sheep are particularly tolerant of humans and often approach parked vehicles.

 

The Mule Deer is a familiar sight in the Canadian Rockies.

One of the biggest attractions of the Canadian Rockies is the abundance of wildlife, especially large mammals such as moose, bighorn sheep, and bears, which are all widespread and easily viewed throughout the mountains. The animals of the Canadian Rockies are legendary throughout the world for their grandeur, mystique and beauty.
 

Grizzlies, second largest of eight recognized species of bears worldwide (only polar bears are larger), have disappeared from most of North America but are widespread throughout the Canadian Rockies. The bears’ color ranges from light brown to almost black, with dark tan being the most common.

The giant of the deer family is the moose, an awkward-looking mammal that appears to have been designed by a cartoonist. It has the largest antlers of any animal in the world. They are not particularly common in the Canadian Rockies, numbering around 400. Although they may appear docile, moose will attack humans if they feel threatened.

COCOS KEELING ISLANDS

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located in the Indian Ocean 2950 kilometres north-west of Perth and 3700 kilometres west of Darwin. There are 27 coral islands in the group with a total land area of approximately 14 square kilometres. Only two of the 27 islands are inhabited. Australia's last unspoilt paradise lies in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, kissed by the sun and caressed by fragrant trade winds.

 

Apart from North Keeling Island (declared a National Park in 1995 and is administered by Parks Australia), which is 30 kilometres from the main group, the Islands form a horseshoe-shaped atoll surrounding a lagoon. The people of the Cocos Keeling Islands voted to become part of Australia in 1984.

 

On the stamps:

• The Herald Petrel (Pterodroma arminjoniana) is a medium-sized bird belonging to the Procellariidae family. It is a sea bird and spends much of its life on or above the ocean, only really visiting nesting grounds during breeding season.

• Home Island - located across the lagoon and just a short ferry ride away, this unique part of the Cocos Keeling Islands is a must-see for visitors. Home of the Cocos Malay people, the island offers a complete contrast to West Island.

 

Received from Cocos Keeling Islands Visitor Centre

ST HELENA

the most extraordinary place on earth 

Situated 1000 miles from mainland of Africa and 1700 miles from Cape Town. This green gem set in a ring of bronze as a poet once called ST HELENA. Much of its charm lies in its remoteness. The Islander are British and proud of it.
The countryside of St Helena consists of astonishing contrasts. The terrain ranges from wind eroded desert with multi-coloured ridges and valleys, to flax and tree covered hillsides, soft pasture, lush vegetation-filled valleys and large areas of prickly pear scrub. The surrounding coastline is magnificent with 1000 feet high cliffs dropping, sometimes sheer, to rocks against which Atlantic rollers pound.

Jamestown by night. The island's capital Jamestown at night, with the Royal Mail Ship St Helena at anchor in James Bay.

Jamestown is not only the capital of the island it is also the only town. Exploring Jamestown is a delight rather akin to a treasure hunt. By far the greatest number of buildings in the town are of eighteenth or nineteenth century origin. The most spectacular feature of Jamestown is Jacob's Ladder: 699 steps leading from the floor of the valley, on which the town is built, to the top of Ladder Hill.

The island of St Helena is best known as Napoleon's place of exile. Longwood House where Napoleon spent the final six years of his life is filled with Napoleonic memorabilia.

Memories of St Helena will remain long after the rest has faded!

   

Received from St Helena Tourism

WEST COAST WILDERNESS RAILWAY

 The West Coast Wilderness Railway is an award-winning railway and wilderness experience located on the west coast of Tasmania. The lovingly restored steam journey connects the historic towns of Queenstown and Strahan and is a wonderful way to experience a combination of Tasmanian wilderness, history, cuisine and hospitality. Three of the original trains now command the railway, built in 1896 (ABT 1), 1898 (ABT 3) and 1938 (ABT 5), and are beautifully restored to their former 28 tonne glory. 

The West Coast Wilderness Railway was originally built during the 1890s to transport copper from the mines in Queenstown to the port on the coast at Strahan. The railway operated until the 60’s when it became too expensive to run, and road transport became a more efficient way of travelling. The trains were decommissioned and the track fell into disrepair. However, reconstruction work started in the 1990s and in 2003 the railway was officially reopened. 

The West Coast Wilderness Railway embodies a wealth of stories, stories that tell of the ingenuity, resilience and determination that turned the west coast of Tasmania into one of the wealthiest mining regions in the world.   

West Coast Wilderness Railway

OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN

The Old Man of the Mountain, nicknamed the Great Stone Face or Profile, was located in Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire. Discovered in 1805, the rocks that made up the profile collapsed during the night hours on May 3, 2003. 

The Profile was a natural rock formation that was formed by a series of geologic happenings that began an estimated 200 million years ago. It hovered majestically 1,200 feet above Profile Lake. The Old Man was made of five separate granite ledges arranged horizontally to form a man’s profile. From chin to forehead, the Profile measured about 40 feet and was 25 feet wide.

Franconia Notch, New Hampshire

Robert Frost (1874–1963), one of America’s best-loved poets, settled in the Franconia Notch region in 1915. The Frost Place Museum includes a half-mile nature trail that has plaques displaying the poems written by Frost during the years he lived in Franconia.

Postcrossing Postcard US-877496  

This is a natural Rock Formation, which is amazing to see inperson - the sender writes.

CALGARY

Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta which is located in Western Canada. It is nestled in the Foothills of Canada’s Rocky Mountains and has many beautiful parks and rivers. The city is known for its friendly western hospitality and is a culturally diverse and thriving metropolis. The City of Calgary is committed to ensuring Arts and Culture remains an essential element in creating a vibrant, creative and culturally stimulating city, and encourages residents to actively participate in and access the arts around the city.

North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower Arts Centres operate year-round to bring you and your family the best in arts programs, facilities and services. Visit us soon and discover the incredible variety of creative opportunities that await you

North Mount Pleasant Arts Centre has been offering fine arts classes and studio space to Calgarians of all ages and abilities for more than 25 years. Housed in a heritage property built as a school in 1913, North Mount Pleasant ceramics and visual arts programs are varied and will appeal to all levels of personal competency.

Wildflower Arts Centre is situated in the community of Spruce Cliff/Wildwood, in a former school, built in 1957. The City of Calgary transformed the facility and opened the Wildflower Arts Centre in January 1978. Wildflower Arts Centre has offered fine arts, drama and dance classes to Calgarians of all ages and abilities for more than 30 years.

MARSHALL ISLANDS

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is one of only four atoll nations in the world and is also one of the world’s youngest nations, independent only since 1986. The Marshall Islands consists of 29 atolls each made up of many islets and 5 islands in the central Pacific between 4 degrees and 14 degrees north, and 160 degrees and 173 degrees east. The atolls and islands are situated in two almost parallel chain-like formations known as the Ratak (Sunrise or Eastern) group and Ralik (Sunset or Western) group. 

The Republic of the Marshall Islands covers nearly a million square miles of picturesque islands, thriving coral atolls, and crystal clear blue waters … undoubtedly one of the most interesting places in the world to visit. Marshall Islanders are known throughout the Pacific and the world for their friendly and peaceful nature. Both Marshallese and English are the official languages of the Marshall Islands.

Capital: Majuro Island, Majuro Atoll
Political Status: Self-governing democracy in free association with the U.S.
Currency: U.S. dollar

Received from Marshall Islands Visitors Authority

POULSBO

 Velkommen til Poulsbo! Welcome to Poulsbo!

Poulsbo, Washington, with a population of 9,775, is located in the northern part of Kitsap County and is 4.5 square miles in area. Liberty Bay, originally called Dog Fish Bay, and the majestic, snow-peaked Olympic Mountains to the west induced the Scandinavians to settle in Poulsbo because the area was so similar to the fjords of Norway.

 Often referred to as "Little Norway", Poulsbo is the site of the annual MAY VIKING FEST. Come join the fun!

For over 50 years Poulsbo has been celebrating Viking Fest – a celebration rooted from Norway’s Constitution Day of May 17. Traditional Norwegian costumes are a prominent and common part of the celebrations. The festivities last from early morning until late at night. Parties with family and friends featuring traditional food and drinks are common. Festivities include a parade, food & vendor booths, as well as a carnival with rides.

Liberty Bay and Olympic Mountains provide a dramatic background for this famous city located between Seattle-Winslow ferry terminus and the Hood Canal Floating bridge, seventeen miles north of Bremerton

Today Poulsbo is a thriving community with many amenities. With its picturesque downtown core of rosemaled storefronts and shopping areas at Poulsbo Village, along Viking Avenue, and in College Market Place, Poulsbo offers much to citizens and guests alike. These include several beautiful parks, a boardwalk along Liberty Bay, the Valborg Oyen Public Library, three marinas, interesting gift shops, delicious bakeries, and panoramic views of Liberty Bay and the Olympic Mountains.

For more information on Poulsbo please visit: Velkommen til Poulsbo
 

FOUR CORNERS

The Four Corners is the only place in the United States where four states (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado) come together at one place. The original marker, erected in 1912, was a simple cement pad placed after government surveys showed the location of the terminus of the four state boundaries. The monument was refurbished in 1992 with a bronze disk embedded in granite. Each of the state boundaries radiate from the disk and each state's seal rests within that state's boundary. The scenery immediately surrounding the Four Corners Monument is somewhat bleak, but nearby you will find incredible sites that typify Southwest desert country. 

The only place in the entire United States where a person can stand in four states at once. The corners of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah meet here

The area surrounding the monument is Native American land, which includes part of New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona and covers some 25,000 square miles. Both the Navajo, or Dine, and Ute people live in the Four Corners area. Artisans and craftsmen from both Indian nations are represented at the monument. The area is very remote. The tiny community of Teec Nos Pos, AZ, is six miles away.

For more information visit: Four Corners Monument

NEWARK

 It’s a happening place

The Garden State’s largest metropolis, Newark blossoms mere miles from New York City.  Newark shines even in New York’s shadow.  It offers ease and affordable access to all New York is.  But Newark offers a taste of Big-Apple-style action in smaller more intimate bites. Before America was, Newark was already happening.  As an early outpost in the New World, it served from the beginning to bring together cultures and commerce.  Even then, it was a melting pot brimming with indigenous and imported foods, arts, music and entertainments.

   

Newark, New Jersey's largest city, is the leading industrial and financial center in the State. Containing a major maritime port, Newark is one of the great sea, truck, rail and air transportation hubs of the nation.

 
In the centuries since, Newark has continued to blossom, always renewing and reworking itself, always becoming something richer and more varied – a new work with each new arrival of people and promise. Each new face in its growth has given rise to a different facet of its overall character so that today’s Newark is multi-faceted – an endless parade of offerings, adventures and opportunities.  From America’s first and oldest public park to one of the country’s largest performing arts venue, from the state’s biggest museum to the continent’s 5th largest cathedral – pro sports, fine arts, urban retail and outdoor adventure, it’s all happening here. On any given day, you’ll find 25 different languages conversing over an even greater mix and melding of world cuisine and cultures. 

CANADA

A World of Possibilities

The red and white Canadian flag shows a leaf of the maple tree, which grows widely in North America. Canada provinces number 10, with three territories to the north (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut). Each province and territory has its own unique draw for visitors. 

 

The 10 provinces in Canada, from west to east, followed by the territories are best known for:
1. British Columbia - Okanagan wine region, skiing, fishing, whale watching, golf and other outdoor adventures.
2. Alberta - Calgary Stampede, Edmonton Folk Festival, Edmonton Mall, Rocky Mountains, Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
3. Saskatchewan - Fishing, hunting and other outdoor adventure.
4. Manitoba - Polar Bear Capital of the World, Le Festival du Voyageur, Folklorama.
5. Ontario - Algonquin Park, CN Tower, Niagara wine region, Bruce Trail, woods and lakes.
6. Quebec - French Culture / Language, Old Montreal, Plains of Abraham, skiing.
7. New Brunswick - Bay of Fundy, Appalachian Range, coastline, lighthouses.
8. Nova Scotia - Cabot Trail and other scenic drives, Celtic culture, Fortress of Louisbourg, fresh lobster dinners, coastline, Annapolis Valley.
9. Prince Edward Island - Anne of Green Gables.
10. Newfoundland & Labrador - Gros Morne National Park, the friendliness of the people, icebergs, whale watching.
11. Yukon - Northern lights, dog sledding, historic Klondike Gold Rush locations, Kluane National Park, midnight sun.
12. Northwest Territories - Northern lights, midnight sun, Nahanni River, outdoor adventure.
13. Nunavut - Canada's youngest territory or province.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND

Christmas Island is an island in the Indian Ocean, about 1,400 km northwest of Australia. Captain William Mynors of the East India Ship Company vessel, the Royal Mary, named the island when he arrived on Christmas Day, 25th December, 1643. It is administered as an external territory of Australia. The island is the summit of an oceanic mountain whose highest point on the island is Murray Hill, rising to 361 metres in the western part of the island. The island is only 52 square-miles in area. The main settlement and chief port is at Flying Fish Cove on the northeastern part of the island.

 Flying Fish Cove

Christmas Island is an impressive feat of nature full of natural wonders including red crab migrations, exotic birds and wonderfully deserted beaches who are only disturbed by nesting sea turtles. Fourteen species of land crab call Christmas Island home, but the red crab is by far the most famous. The narrow tropical reef that surrounds the island is laced with unspoiled corals and schools of colourful fish like anemones, butterfly fish, wrasse, surgeon and more. Occasionally, even sharks come up to divers to take a curious look.

fabulous stamps

Received from Christmas Island Tourism Association

DELAWARE WATER GAP

 The Delaware Water Gap, located in Monroe County in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and named after a magnificent natural wonder carved by the Delaware River. It is the best known feature of the park, a distinct notch cut into the Kittatinny Ridge by the Delaware River. Once touted as a scenic Wonder of the World, it is an impressive site when motoring through on Interstate 80 or viewed from the overlooks along PA 611. The Gap is about a quarter mile wide at river level and nearly a mile wide from the top of one mountain to the top of the other.

The Delaware Water Gap, seperating Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is one of the world's scenic wonders

The spectacular Delaware Water Gap has inspired and fascinated people for centuries. From the mid-19th through the early 20th century, Delaware Water Gap was one of the most popular summer resorts in the eastern United States. The recreation area encompasses 67,000 acres of mountain ridge, forest, and floodplain on both sides of the Delaware River in the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Among the more surprising species of animals in the park are black bear, timber rattlesnakes, bald eagles, and, recently, nesting peregrine falcons. Ecosystems include hemlock ravines with bountiful rhododendron and ridgetops with prickly pear cactus.

KENTUCKY QUILT TRAIL

 Kentucky has long been known as a center for the sewing of colorful quilts in many patterns and designs. But over the past several years, painted quilt patterns on the sides of barns in Kentucky have emerged as a new form of self-expression and cultural pride for rural residents.

Kentucky residents have banded together to display a part of their cultural heritage in a statewide art project. In a conscious effort to lure tourists away from interstate highways, Mail Pouch Barn quilt artwork has turned rural roads into an eye-catching art gallery. Hundreds of unique eight by eight quilt panels have added a cheerful note on roadside buildings, floodwalls and rustic barns, creating a series of quilting trails. Elliott County in northeastern Kentucky probably has the most, with about 60 barns adorned with the patterns. In western Kentucky’s Pennyrile region, innovative quilt painters have started using metal to provide a longer life span for their patterns.

Each quilt tells a story & is a celebration of the state's quilting heritage 

Received from Tyler, "A Postcard for You"

NORFOLK ISLAND

 Norfolk Island is an island in the South Pacific Ocean and an Australian territory for historical reasons even though it is much closer to New Zealand. It is 1600km east of Sydney and Brisbane but only 1000km northwest of Auckland. The official language of Norfolk Island is English and all the islanders speak it. However, among themselves they often use Norfolk, a language derived from the English spoken by the Bounty Mutineers and the Tahitian spoken by their wives. 

The main attraction of the island consists of natural beauty: beautiful landscapes and wild seascapes. Almost a third of the island is devoted to reserves and national parks. The beaches need a mention as well, the cleanest salt water and softest sand imaginable, the surf here is pretty good too. Another fascinating aspect of Norfolk's heritage is that this is the home of the descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty.

Received from Norfolk Island Tourism.

 

 

MOSSEL BAY

Mossel Bay is situated exactly half way between Cape Town - the provincial capital of the Western Cape Province – and Port Elizabeth (both 400 km away). This popular holiday town is surrounded by a sunbathed peninsula and the refreshing waters of the Indian Ocean. It is a busy summer destination as well as an ideal winter retreat. It is blessed with a mild climate all year round but its most important feature is its status as the historical capital of the Garden Route.
Site of the first landfall made by the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias in 1488 and today a popular holiday resort with fine beaches and much else to offer the tourist. The Batholomeu Dias Museum Complex comprises historical, maritime and shell museums. Launch trips are offered to nearby Seal Island with its noisy population of some 2,000 seals as well as gannets and cormorants.

 

 

Mossel Bay has become the preferred holiday destination of local and international tourists alike and offers great fishing and safe swimming

Received from Lu-Gerda by The Post Office Tree.  For more information about Mossel Bay visit her blog Lu-Gerda's Travels.

COLUMBIA ICEFIELD

Straddling the boundary between the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, the Columbia Icefield is the largest ice mass in North America, south of the Arctic Circle. Situated in the Canadian Rockies, this ice field covers an area of 130 square miles (365 sq. km.) and has a maximum depth of 1,200 feet (365 m), the height of the Empire State Building in New York City. The average elevation of the ice field is about 10,000 feet (3,000 m). It occupies a high, flat-lying plateau in the form of a huge massif. Its highest points are Mount Columbia at 12,284 feet (3745 m) and Mount Athabasca at 11,452 feet (3,491 m).The largest icefield south of Alaska, shimmering glacial ice and snow cover some 389 sq. km (233 sq. mi.).

The Columbia Icefield is a surviving remnant of the thick ice mass that once mantled most of Western Canada's mountains. Lying on a wide, elevated plateau, it is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies. Nearly three-quarters of the park's highest peaks are located close to the icefield; ideally placed to catch much of the moisture that Pacific winds carry across the British Columbia interior. Most of this precipitation falls as snow; up to 7 metres a year!

MAGIC SAND BEACH

 It is one of the few white sand beaches on Hawaii. This beach near Kona Town is named Magic Sands because the entire beach will regularly disappear and then return with the natural action of the ocean. Magic Sands is one of the nicer Kona Beaches, suitable for swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, even snorkeling and scuba diving.

The swimming conditions at Magic Sands are generally quite good, particularly when the sand is covering the beach. Even during the winter months when the shoreline has more rocks exposed, there is a sandy bottom in the water. A nice shore break creates some great waves when the surf is up, making La’aloa Bay another popular spot for boogie boarding and surfing. Crowds of people will often gather to relax on the beach and watch the waves roll in. This beach is very popular and gets pretty busy. In addition to water activities, there is a volleyball net and lots of room to  plant your own beach chair and umbrella.

Magic Sands Beach at La’aloa Bay south of Kona is home to a beautiful beach cove, known also as Disappearing Sands Beach, or White Sands Beach.

KELPIES

The Kelpies are located within “the Helix” park, Falkirk, situated between Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland. The Kelpies are one of the largest equine sculptures in the world, standing 30 metres tall. They are the landmark feature of The Helix Environmental Regeneration Scheme on the Forth and Clyde Canal near Falkirk on Central Scotland. They are the brain-child of sculptor Andy Scott, and will be the largest public artworks in Scotland. Construction of The Kelpies began on 17thJune 2013. The build was officially completed on 27th November 2013.

 

The Kelpies by numbers:

*300 tonnes each
*30 metres high
*1200 tonnes of steel-reinforced concrete foundations per head
*990 unique stainless steel skin-plates
*Built on site in 90 days.
For more information go to www.thekelpies.co.uk

PEYTO LAKE

Peyto Lake is located in Banff National Park near Bow Summit approximately 38Km north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway. It is one of the treasures in the Canadian Rockies. Peyto Lake gets its beautiful turquoise green color from glacial silt created by the Peyto Glacier and the Wapta Icefield. The 2.8 km length and elevation lake of 1860 m, make this turquoise diamond shape lake perfectly shine in The Canadian Rockies. The best view of Peyto Lake is at look out Bow Summit. This scenic view is about half hour of Lake Louise. It is an unforgettable picture of the summit with a view of this glacier lake on a majestic blue sky. Peyto Lake was named after Bill Peyto who was a historical trapper and trail guide in the late 1800's and early 1900's, in the Banff area.

The amazing blue of Peyto Lake