Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485 
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Post by Jerry B on Jul 31, 2013 20:42:04 GMT
Hi For a long time I have been using the stamp shown below as my Avatar. The reason being that it is my wife's childhood home in Tunja, Boyaca, Colombia. For years Scott, and other catalogs, have called the fountain the monkey fountain. As one can see the fountain is called El Mono de la Pila. The word mono can be translated as a small monkey or a mischievous or cocky boy. It really is a boy. Scott's designation is now Mono Fountain, Tunja. Since this is a brand new Forum I decided to use another stamp from the same series as my new Avatar. This stamp depicts Las Lajas Cathedral (Santuario de las Lajas) in the Southern Province of Nariño near the town of Ipiales which in turn is near the Ecuadorian border. The Cathedral sits in a volcanic gorge and to get to the Cathedral you walk down a path and some wooden stairs, at least you did 20 years ago. It is a long way down and along the way you will see some small grottos filled with crutches, etc. of people who claim to have been cured at the Cathedral. The Apse, I believe that is what the altar space is called, has no "wall". The ravine rock side is the wall. The walk up is tough as it is fairly steep. To see another more spectacular view go here: 9wows.com/cathedral-in-the-mountains/I decided to put this little tidbit in the Colombia thread just to get the Latin America thread started. Jerry B |
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Jul 31, 2013 21:57:51 GMT
Thanks, Jerry B. I was wondering how long it would take to begin populating this board. With luck, your informative post will prime the pump!
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rod222
Member 
Posts: 9,862
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Aug 1, 2013 6:49:54 GMT
Tunja Colombia ?! Now EVERYBODY knows about Tunja, (Apart from Mrs Jerry  in the cycling world and beyond, a diminutive but very exciting cyclist, Nairo Quintana hails from there (I presume the same) He managed second overall in the Tour De France, an exceptional feat for just a 23 year old.  |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Aug 1, 2013 12:53:29 GMT
Hi Rodney
Where is the image from? Is it one of your Cinderellas or did you just Google Tunja?
However, it probably is the same Tunja.
Jerry B
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,862
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Aug 1, 2013 13:42:18 GMT
From wikipedia Jerry, seriously, this boy is a cycling freak, he goes up mountains seemingly effortlessly, the story goes Tunja has a relatively high elevation, which assists his breathing / lung power, any cycling afficianado, knows of this gentleman well by now, he will probably win the Tour de France in the next 1-3 years. From aht we see on local TV, a thorough gentleman to boot.
Meet Nairo here....
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Aug 1, 2013 14:41:45 GMT
Hi Rodney
Santa Fe de Bogotá, Cundinamarca 2,640 meters, 8,661 feet
Tunja, Boyacá 2,820 meters, 9,251 feet
Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca (Family Ranch) 2,652 meters, 8,701 feet
As you can see one is pretty high up in the Andes mountains. It gets blooming cold at night. No one has heaters so you freeze. Most people put on a ruana (thick woolen Colombian poncho). Middle to Upper class people wear these only at home.
Playing soccer at this altitude is a struggle if one is not acclimated (Atlanta, Georgia 320 meters, 984 feet).
The area is not the highest Andes. The further South one goes the Andes are generally higher.
Jerry B
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Aug 7, 2013 16:00:50 GMT
Jerry's post caused me to look at my small Colombia collection. I was pleasantly surprised to find another slightly different view of the Las Lajas Cathedral. If I've correctly identified the stamp, it is the 25c, dark blue, perf. 13 air mail that was issued June 20, 1958 (Scott C307).  |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Aug 8, 2013 5:47:42 GMT
Hi Steve Jerry's post caused me to look at my small Colombia collection. I was pleasantly surprised to find another slightly different view of the Las Lajas Cathedral. If I've correctly identified the stamp, it is the 25c, dark blue, perf. 13 air mail that was issued June 20, 1958 (Scott C307). Almost. It is C308, 25c rose violet, C307 is the 25c dark blue. There are two more as the stamp was overprinted with a small airplane with unificado (unification) in it. Issued 1959-1960 C333 25c rose violet C334 25c dark blue Jerry B |
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Aug 8, 2013 12:19:12 GMT
Thanks, Jerry B. Always remember to keep your expectations low regarding stamp identifications from someone who is color blind!  |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Aug 9, 2013 5:53:32 GMT
Hi Steve Thanks, Jerry B. Always remember to keep your expectations low regarding stamp identifications from someone who is color blind!
Jerry B |
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Aug 9, 2013 10:53:27 GMT
The short answer is: "With great difficulty."
If I've got to make the call on the basis of color, I'll ask my wife what she thinks and try to compare the stamp to known copies, if available (e.g., the Philatelic Foundation database).
I've also posted items on stamp forums and asked others for their opinions.
In the end, failing all else, I'll make my best guess, which usually errs on the side of the least expensive variety.
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in the cycling world and beyond,
