COVER N.14 - Spain

Postmark: Oficina Postal de Avilés - 18JUN2021
Posted on the 18th june; received on the 22nd June.
__________________________________________________________________________________

¡ Holla! said the  nice looking cover when I opened my mailbox. 

Spain, a new country in the collection, one that really holds a place in my heart because we’re neighbours and due to that, all over the years, I’ve travelled many a kilometre along its roads, getting to know and enjoying the countless captivating aspects of its diverse and multiple regions.

From Andalusia, in the South, to Navarra, Aragon and Catalonia the provinces that share the Pyrenean border with France, not forgetting the Balearic and Canary Islands, Spain is a place of wonder and discovery (much as my little country, of course) and well recommend for its vivid and plural culture, natural beauty, gastronomy and, most of all, its proud and welcoming people.

Having once shared the world, as we knew it, we also shared a story of successfully emerging from dictatorships to democracies and joining the EU in the last quarter of the 20th century and if not for anything else, geography will always make sure we stay together as good friends and neighbours.

Asturias, is one of my preferred Provinces of Spain. Not only for its cider (which unfortunately I can no longer drink) and delicious fabada, but for its incomparable natural beauty that offers all one might want to have: from mountains to gorgeous beaches, from rivers to forests, Asturias has plenty of it all. Muchísimas gracias for reminding me of that Ángel!

The stamp on the right is part of the first annual emission - 10MAR2017 - of self adhesive stamps dedicated to “Pueblos con encanto” (Charming Villages), of Tariff A (domestic, up to 20g) and it depicts the charming (what else?) village of Lastres. I, and particularly my wife, have a not so happy  and quite painful memory of the place, though: she unluckily stepped on a pece escorpión (weever fish) in the Playa de la Griega, and because of that I never got to see the Dinnosaur footprints that are only accessible at low tide. Maybe next time.

TheTarifa A stamp on the left,  is a self adhesive stamp issued on 29MAY2020 also dedicated to the natural resources of Asturias, since it depicts the Azabache (Asturian Jet) a deep black mineraloid used in jewlery.

The last two 0,05€ stamps, a single self-adhesive definitive stamp emission, issued on 01FEB2017, crown (pun intended 😀) the cover,  again highlighting the Asturian theme that percolates throughout the nice envelope, since they depict His Majesty King  Felipe VI, who from the 1st November 1977 until his proclamation as King of Spain on the 19th June 2014, held the title of Príncipe de Asturias.

Of note is also the charming postmark, issued by the Post office of Avilés, where the cover was posted, I presume.

If only covers had music on them and I’m sure the astounding Isaac Albéniz’s  “Asturias” would play everytime someone would touch it.