Farmhouses of Hälsingland

Sometimes you wonder how many pleasant things can a postcard contains.
This one, received in May Alt RR, one got so many.

Firstly, it shows a UNESCO site: Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland (No. 1282)

Secondly, it's a MaxiCard (issued along with other four on 7 May 2015) with nice stamp and cancellation postmark.
Then, it shows something genuine and traditional, a piece of unique history.
Farmhouses of Hälsingland were added to the World Heritage list in 2012. They are large and elaborately decorated, sometimes housing several generations, whereas some houses were used only for festivities and others for sleeping. They reflect the prosperity of independent farmers who in the 19th century used their wealth to build substantial new homes with elaborately decorated ancillary houses or suites of rooms reserved for festivities. The paintings represent a fusion of folk art with the styles favoured by the landed gentry of the time, including Baroque and Rococo.
The 5 kr stamp (2015) combines two things: The right area (where the stamp value is written) shows an interior motif taken from Bommars farmhouse and the left wallpaper area shows an interior from Gästgivars farmhouse. The design was made by Nina Ulmaja.

Thank You, Doris !

Country: Sweden

Description: Maxi Card showing a Hälsingland Farmhouse interior

Publisher: PostNord

Photo: Lars Lööv

Pyatigorsk Eagle

The card (33 years old) came from Estonia, but it shows the Russian town of Pyatigorsk. It was taken from sender's mother collection and the main element is the bronze statue of an Eagle with a Snake, the official symbol of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. This composition was made by sculptor LK Shodkim (Л. К. Шодким) for the centenary anniversary of resort opened at 1 May 1901. According to the author eagle represents the healing power of mineral springs, conquering the disease, which represents a snake in its claws. The original sculpture was made of cement, but in the past decade, the figure fell into disrepair, and it had to be restored. In 1973 it was re-cast in bronze on the Leningrad factory of monumental sculpture and installed in the same place. There are similar sculptures installed in all the cities of the Caucasian Mineral Waters: Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Yessentuki and Zheleznovodsk. But Pyatigorsk eagle is perhaps the most beautiful and most famous among them.
The stamp (2014) was designed by Indrek Ilves> It shows two Euro Coins (1 and 0.20) and the interesting part is that their value correspond with the stamp value of 1.20 €.

Thank You,  Helle !

Country: Russia (but sent from Estonia)
Description: Pyatigorsk Eagle, symbol of the Caucasian Mineral Waters
Publisher: unknown (due postcard decorations)
Photo:  G. Kosmenko / Г. Косменко

Wilderness of Norway

This postcard is quite old in my collection: received last year in November. Too many beautiful cards and only a tiny amount of available time to write about them. That's the sad part (if there is any) about Postcrossing, besides the fact that some of sent postcards did not make it to destination. But that's another story. This one was the fastest by far: 1 day.
It shows fried trout and cloudberries near a river, somewhere in wild Norway. Eaten by a bonfire on the spot where they were catched/found. It just makes you wish to be there, away from city's corroding fuss.
The stamp (ND 2014) is showing two viking warriors and is meant for European area usage.

Thank You, Jan !

Country: Norway
Description: Trout and Cloudberries by the fire in Norway
Publisher: Aune Forlag
Photo: Jon Østeng Hov