Japan

23/9/14
I love this postcard! It was sent to me by Noriko, who wrote my name in Japanese! She also told me the Japanese for Owl (Fukurou), Oriental Stork (Kouno Tori) and Japanese Crane (Tancho). Maybe one day I will visit and be able to use these words with the locals!

Thanks so much for this unique card - I'm going to try and identify the species with some help from other birding friends!

*****

30/8/14
Sun bought this postcard at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka. According to him, the Owl is a good symbol in Japan, so everyone likes seeing owls. At the zoo there were lots of different animals, including bears, penguins and monkeys.

Thanks for your postcard.

*****

8/8/14
Saki sent me this lovely postcard showing a Japanese Hokkaido Squirrel, a cousin to the Red Squirrel that we have in the UK. It looks very similar but our squirrels don't have as much of a pale chest and I think the Asian cousin may win on ear tufts!

Thanks for the postcard.

*****

30/5/14
Kayu sent me this postcard from Mt Fuji, which is now a World Heritage Site. This was sent as a TAG called "postcard from next journey" which I think is a great idea, sending a postcard to a random person while on your holiday.

Thanks so much for the postcard, and I hope you had a good time visiting this impressive mountain.

*****

31/3/14
Kat sent me this vintage "ad" postcard from Japan. It is advertising the Sapporo Brewery. Just before the war, Japanese women stopped wearing the kimono, and instead adopted the American "flapper" style, which I love!

Thanks so much for the postcard and the information about Postcrossing - I will definitely be sticking with it.

22/3/14
I included Japan on my list of "countries I would like to visit" for a tag. It is a country that has always intrigued me, so I was very happy to receive this postcard from Pjazz et al. They explained that it is actually quite rare to see a Maiko girl in public places, except at special events. Sometimes you can see them going to work around the Gion area of Kyoto, but you are lucky to see them.

Thanks so much for the card, and I hope to say Konnichiwa! someday in the future!

Argentina

22/4/14
This drawing was made by Lino Enea Spilimergo, a famous Argentinian artist. It is supposed to represent San Juan in 1929, before the city started to grow into the countryside. Paola lives in San Juan, so I can only imagine what it looks like today!

Thanks so much for the postcard and the information about the artists.

*****

20/3/14
Renzo sent me these two surprising postcards from Argentina. Surprising because I naively forgot that Argentina has some pretty high mountains and I did not expect to see snow! These could almost be Scotland!

Mendoza looks like a very pretty area - this postcard reminds me of Central Park in NYC.

I love reflections of landscapes in lakes, and this postcard is amazing for that! The building looks like a hotel or resort but I think the best view is definitely from where the photo was taken!

I definitely hope to visit Argentina in the future, and will make a point of visiting this area! Thanks so much for showing me your province.

Greece

18/3/14
My first Greek postcard could not get very more Greek! This is Santorini, which is Elena's favourite Greek island. She has visited twice and I'm very jealous - it looks beautiful! I love the white buildings with the blue dome roofs - this is what I think of when someone says Greece!

Thanks so much for the card - another place for me to visit one day!

Sweden

 20/9/14
My friend Dafne sent me this map card of Öland, where we met and worked over the summer. It shows the many species of birds that can be found on the island, including a Collared Flycatcher, the species we were studying! The only species shown on here that I didn't see was the Golden Oriole. 
I miss Öland so much, and definitely want to go back again!

Thanks so much for the postcard!

*****

19/9/14
I stayed with Amir in Uppsala and he was interested in my postcard collection. So when I got home, I sent him one from Wales and he sent me this one in return. This reminds me of celebrating Midsummer on Öland doing lots of traditional (and slightly crazy) dancing!

Many thanks for the postcard, and I'm sure we'll meet again!

*****

12/3/14
William responded to my request on a facebook group asking for bird postcards. We will be working together (on birds) in Sweden this summer, so I was looking forward to what he might send me. Certainly wasn't expecting Gulls! The names are given in Swedish, but I think we have a Common Gull, Arctic Tern, Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull.

Thanks for the postcard, and looking forward to birding Sweden with you this summer!

Morocco

8/7/14
Gouari sent me this postcard showing one of the famous mosques in Casablanca. He was enjoying the summer weather, which I can imagine is a lot hotter than the UK, despite our recent heatwave!

Thanks so much for the postcard.

*****

11/3/14
El Jadida is a UNESCO WHS on the coast of Morocco, and lives up to the "land of hospitality" with this amazing card from Merouan. He likes running and I can imagine this beach being really popular for running on.

Thanks for the postcard and good luck with the half marathon next month!

Jersey

11/3/14
Carla is a doggy facebook friend and we often chat about our love of Border Collies. She finally found some postcards from Jersey and sent me this lovely one! Without reading the back I was already planning a trip, but after reading about the wetlands reserve, the beaches and the lighthouse, I'm now DEFINITELY coming for a visit! You have been warned!

Thanks so much for the postcard, and hopefully see you in the not too distant future!

Spain

4/9/14
Patricia sent me this lovely postcard of a Canarian Canary! She lives in Tenerife in a house surrounded by banana trees, and loves sitting on the porch watching the birds and listening to their lively and cheerful songs.

Thanks so much for the postcard and the information.

*****

11/3/14
Ida sent me this postcard from her holiday to Valencia last year (she posted it in Italy). She says that it is a nice city with good food and a good climate, so I think I might have to visit one day!

Thanks for the postcard and hope you have more travels planned!