Postcard from Alberta, Canada

Another card from Glenn!  This time it shows the Alberta Badlands.  Badlands are a type of dry and barren terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water.  Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands.  They are often difficult to navigate by foot and often have a spectacular colour display that alternates from dark black/blue coal stria to bright clays to red scoria.

I'm told that the Alberta Badlands are 130km and 2½ hours drive northeast of Calgary.

Glenn used, from left to right, stamps depicting the Monarch butterfly's caterpillar (Danaus plexippus) and 3 of the 4 Mohawk Kings, namely: Sa Ga Yeath Qua Pieth Tow, Ho Nee Yeath Taw No Row and Etow Oh Koam. The fourth King is Tee Yee Ho Ga Row.  Thank you again Glenn! ><

Mailing date: August 8, 2011 (?)

Delivery date: August 24, 2011

1988 Winter Olympics Souvenir from Canada

The 1988 Winter Olympics were held in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988.  57 nations and 1,423 athletes participated in those XV Winter Olympics, with 5 countries making their debut in the Winter Olympics.  The Soviet Union topped the medal table with 11 gold medals, 9 silver ones and 9 bronze medals, followed by East Germany and Switzerland.

Glenn sent me an amazing postcard from Creekside, Airdrie, Alberta showing the Canada Olympic Park lit at night.  During the 1988 Games, it was the main venue for bobsledding, luge, ski jumping and free style events.  Canada Olympic Park nowadays serves as a world class training centre, recreational ski hill and year-round tourist attraction.

Glenn franked his mail with, from left to right, a Royal Wedding stamp, another one dedicated to Canadian singer-songwriters Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and a 59c stamp celebrating the centennial of Canadian Parks.  Thx Glenn! -_-

Mailing date: August 8, 2011 (?)

Delivery date: August 24, 2011

Oil Drilling & Lunar New Year in Canada

Thank you very much Glenn for giving me the opportunity to write about the prairies of Canada which, even though they are endless fields of wheat, barley, canola and hay, also harbour in some areas, every 1000 feet, those massive pumpjacks.

The postcard was sent from Calgary, Alberta, home of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth: The Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo exhibition and festival held every July.  Glenn also interestingly used the Year of the Rabbit souvenir sheet issued by Canada Post in 2011.   -_-