POSTCARD N.226 - SLOVENIA

 Postcard sent on the 22nd April; received on the 28th April 2026

Postcard image:  Moravske Toplice highlights.

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Francisca surprises me again with  a postcard from Slovenia,  featuring some images of Moravske Toplice, a Spa city in the  Rekmurje region of the country, located in its Northwest tip, just some 12 km, as the bird flies, from the border with Hungary.

Muito obrigado, Francisca. Espero poder retribuir muito em breve 😀.

Moravske Toplice is not a large town, by any means. In fact, according to Wikipedia, total population is less than 1000 inhabitants.

This restrained population figure, though, does not take into account the significant number of visitants that each year seek its Spa facilities, which not only provide thermal water treatments but also feature recreational pools with waterslides, as illustrated by the small thumbnails in the postcard face.

The other relevant landmark in town is the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (centre thumbnail), whose neo-Romanesque tower was built in 1925, as an addition to an existing manor house that functioned as a church since 1893.

The current building is the result of renovation works which took place in the early 60s of last century.

Storks, from what I was able to read on the internet are  seasonal visitors to Moravske Toplice, being well liked (and protected) by locals, hence the predominant place this joyful bird occupies in the postcard.

Speaking of well liked animals.., otters (Lutra lutra) do  play in the first division, don't they?

The charming semi aquatic mustelid species that inhabits the Eurasia and Magreb regions is currently classified as “Near Threatened”, by IUCN standards.

I presume that this quality was what granted it inclusion in the  5 stamp set issued on 28SEP2018 by Pošta Slovenije dedicated to "Endangered Mammals", which further to the "D" Tariff otter stamp included a Tariff "A" Lynx (Lynx lynx); a Tariff "B" Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus); a 1 € Weasel (Mustela nivalis) and a Tariff "C" Mediterranean Water Shrew (Neomys anomalus).

Postmark from the town pictured on the postcard: Moravske Toplice

28SEP2018