Ukraine - The Cards from Lviv

       Normally, you may receive one or two cards at a time with Postcrossing.  My first day receiving cards I received two, for instance.  However, usually you just get a card every few days unless maybe a friend is sending you a card, or you're doing direct swaps with people.

       February 12, 2014 I received not two, nor three, but four cards all of which were "official cards" from Postcrossing.  That in and of itself should have been a red-letter day, but two of those cards came from the same country, Ukraine.  And, both of these cards came from the exact same city: Lviv, Ukraine.  Located in western Ukraine (Lviv was previously called Lvov and a Polish city.) , the two cards which arrived on the same date took 41 and 12 days to travel from Ukraine to the US.

UA-901180

UA-933278

       The second of these cards is one of my all-time favorites.  I both love the image but also find the message on the back haunting, especially considering that only a few days after receiving the card, the Kiev Euromaidan protests and Ukrainian Revolution of 2014 would light up television sets across the world and I would be reading stories of snipers in Kiev, an privatized presidential mansion complete with zoo, and the protesters in Lviv taking over the government in that city.

       With a blue and yellowcolored pencil background on the back of the card (the Ukrainian flag's colors), the writer said:

       Greetings from Lviv (Ukraine).  Today in Ukraine is very difficult time - we fight for our future, for our freedom...
       When I cannot listen to the news, I write letter or postcard....
       On a picture you can see our Book Market.  There are many interesting books you can buy there.         Best Wishes.  Nastya.