Greece II

Postcard of Elafonisi Island, Greek for "Deer Island". The island is a protected nature reserve that can be reached from the neighbouring island of Crete by wading through shallow water when tides and weather cooperate.

Many thanks to Iustin, who's working in Crete for the summer. – Doesn't seem like too shabby a place to spend the summer! :-) 

Information about Greek stamps is hard to come by; both of these stamps were issued last year, the one on the left inviting you to visit Greece, and the one one the left inviting you to plant a garden, it would seem.

After years and years and years with a single Greece card in my collection, it's funny to get two within days of each other! When it rains, it pours. :-)

Greece

View of the famous Acropolis of Athens, a World Heritage site atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the modern city of Athens. Construction of its famous Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the city's namesake goddess, Athena, began in 447 BC. It was severely damaged during fighting between the Venetians and Ottomans in 1687. At that time, the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin removed some of the sculptures that survived the fighting, with the Ottoman Turks' permission, which lead to the modern-day dispute over the return of the Elgin Marbles, now held in the British Museum.

Permanent rate stamp from 2010 featuring traditional Greek architecture. 

Thanks so much to Molly who sent this card while she was on holiday there!