Travel memories / Souvenirs de voyages

One of my favorite finds of all times (so far!) at the thrift store is this collection of vintage handkerchiefs collected by someone from different US states. They were all in a bundle in a bag, and I only discovered the actual collection once I got home. Nothing like some Goodwill lottery win!
Une de mes trouvailles préférées à l'équivalent d'Emmaus aux US est une collection de mouchoirs anciens "souvenirs de voyages" collectés dans différents états des Etats Unis. Le lot était dans un sac fermé,  je n'ai découvert la beauté du lot qu'en rentrant chez moi. J'ai eu l'impression de gagner la loterie, car j'ai une passion pour le vintage & les voyages.

They all appear to be of the "Franshaw" brand, most still have the little sticker on.
Ils sont de la marque "Franshaw", et la plupart ont encore le petit autocollant de la marque.

The collection was gathered in the early 50's, as indicated by one of the hankerchiefs as well as by little stickers at the back of the handkerchiefs to indicate when/where they were gathered or received.
Apparemment cette collection date surtout du début des années 50, comme l'atteste un des mouchoirs, et des petits autocollants à l'arrière des mouchoirs qui indique la date/lieu de l'acquisition.

Washington DC / Washington DC:

Vermont, New Hampshire & Maine:
Vermont, New Hampshire & Maine:

Ohio / Ohio:

Indiana / Indiana:

 Illinois / Illinois:

Wisconsin / Wisconsin:

Iowa / Iowa:

Minnesota / Minnesota:
Minneapolis / Minneapolis:

North Dakota & South Dakota / Dakota du Nord & Dakota du Sud:

California / Californie:

 Hawaii / Hawaï:

Mardi Gras in New Orleans / Mardi Gras à la Nouvelle Orléans

Snapshots of Mardi-Gras in New Orleans. Un petit aperçu de Mardi-Gras à la Nouvelle Orléans.
The "Pat O'Brien's" float. Le char de "Pat O'Brien's":

  
"Girls just want to have fun"
Yes these are nuns, and one is wearing a feather boa! Oui se sont des bonnes soeurs, et une porte un boa en plumes!

Marionette or puppet?

Reporting from Prague to answer this important question... a "marionette" is a string-puppet.
Puppetry is part of the Czech culture and many shops can be found in Prague selling these fascinating creations or should I say creatures as they almost seem alive.
Amongst the various tourist shops that crowd the center of the old part of Prague, one shop in particular immediately stood out, "Trular Marionety", with an amazing collection of their own creations, and marionettes from other Czech puppet creators.
The shop owner was assembling the puppets below when I came in, sewing on an antique sewing machine the detailed costumes.


Halloween approaching I made friends with a witch.



Here is the remainder of her family. Kings, pirates and chefs, all with a distinct personality.



Finally a family of musician bugs right out of the cartoon for Roger Glover's "Love is All" (the Butterfly Ball):

For more information on the Marionety Truhlar marionette studio and their creations go to http://www.marionety.com/ they have 2 locations in Prague: U luzickeho sem. 5., Mala Strana, Prague 1 or Unglet Tyn 1, Marionety Truhlar, Stare Mesto, Prague 1
PS: they did a good job wrapping the witch & I made it to the airplane & back home with a complete marionette.