Cards in the Mail

Pretty Girls in Saigon

2012-01-09T23:34:00.000-01:00

This beautiful card sent to me by chauchyd, from Vietnam, shows two girls in the Imperial City. They are wearing traditional vietnamese dresses and they look simply beautiful. This one has become quickly one of my favorite cards. After all, tradition and beauty is a powerful combination. Just love it.
By the way, this was oficially sent through postcrossing. Lucky me :)

Chicago Harbor lighthouse

2011-08-09T19:21:00.001Z

I love this card. The classic beauty of the lighthouse, set against the city’s skyline makes a wonderful picture.

It shows the Chicago Harbor lighthouse, located in Michigan Lake, USA. It was sent by truptipostcards.

The lighthouse is fully automated and it was built in 1893 and moved to its present location in 1919. It was designated a Chicago landmark in 2003.
It has an unusual design for a lighthouse, looking almost like a house in the middle of the lake.
Unfortunately (or fortunately), because it’s still fully operational, it is no allowed for tourists to visit.

Source: wikipedia and google.

New postcards - new life.

2011-07-31T11:58:00.000Z

It's been quite a while since I posted here, but now I am back, ever so softly, retorning to postcard collecting. My absence was due to the load of work, health issues and personal matters. It's been a crazy couple of months, I must add.

Anyway, to start it off, I thought this postcard would be perfect. A great adiction to my "nouvelles images" collection. It was sent by ylse, from Belgium.
Such a cute picture!...

2011-01-24T12:43:00.001-01:00

Holiday Greetings!

2010-12-24T15:22:00.005-01:00

To all a wonderful Christmas, filled with warmth and love. May you be sorrounded by your loved ones and presents. These are my heart felt wishes to all.

The card was sent a while back by marika, from Finland.

Postcard Friendship Friday - Apple

2010-12-10T22:47:00.002-01:00

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away and it also helps with the loss of weight. So, in honour of my efforts to loose a few kgs, I am posting this apple card. To inspire me and keep me straight!

Fajãzinha - Flores Island

2010-12-07T11:00:00.003-01:00

It was almost a year ago, that a waterspout caused floods on several places in the northen side of Terceira Island. My family and I were one of the families afected by it, one among many others. I remember feeling helpless and scared, not knowing what to do do next.

That is why this recent tragedy in Fajãzinha, a small village in Flores Island, touched something deep inside me. Because the images that I see in the news are very similar to the ones I witnessed last year.

So, I am asking for your help. Please, specially in this amazing time of year, help those who lost everything, those who saw their lifetime belongings disapear in seconds, those who only have left the shock and sadness. Help, because if we dont´t help each others what will happen? Help, so that these people know they are not alone.

Here is the data to those of you who might whant or can contribute.

BANIF NIB 003800005071886530109
IBAN PT50003800005071886530109
SWIFT ( BNIFPTPL) Junta Freguesia Fajãzinha

To facilitate City Hall's task, I also leave you the e-mail to wich you should send your data after the transfer, you should send your name, address and amount to solidariosfajazinha@sapo.pt

Thanks to all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T18:39:00.003-01:00

Although this hollyday doesn't exist in Portugal, I still think its a wonderful way to celebrate what we've achieved and the people that we love.

So, just to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

List West lighthouse

2010-11-25T12:20:00.002-01:00

This wonderful card sent by maffia77 shows the List West Lighthouse, located in the german island of Sylt. It was established in 1852 and it was the first german lighthouse built in cast iron. It was commissioned by the government of the Kingdom of Denmark, when Sylt was still under danish sovereignty.
Nowdays, Sylt is a well known touristic destination, with its sandy beaches and resorts. It is specially attended by the high society and famous personalities.

Source: Wikipedia

Coruripe Lighthouse

2010-11-21T21:29:00.003-01:00

Coruripe Lighthouse is a light located in the city of Coruripe, in the state of Alagoas, in the Northeast Region of Brazil. It is well known for its sugar cane, coconuts, passion fruit growing and its artisanry. I liked this cards, sent by newton. I specially enjoyed seing the goats near the lighthouse. So interesting.

I know many people who keep telling me that the northeast of Brazil is a beautiful region, worth visiting. It has many well known beaches with bright-water natural pools and historical cities. I would like to visit one day...

Source: Wikipedia

Swallowtail Lighthouse

2010-11-20T19:08:00.003-01:00

This great card, sent by kristen marriner, shows the Swallowtail Lighthouse, located in Grand Manan Island, in Canada. The lighthouse was estabilished in 1860 and still works to this day.
Grand Manan is the largest island in the Bay of Fundy,a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This bay is well known for its high tidal range, having one of the highest vertical tidal ranges in the world.
This a beautiful aerial view of the site.

Source: Wikipedia

Postcard Friendship Friday - Bridge of St. Roch

2010-11-19T11:51:00.005-01:00

This beautiful bridge located in Poznan, Poland, spans over the Warta river and is named after a catholic saint: Bridge of St. Roch. It is located near St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, as you can see in the photo.

I've never made a secret of my passion for bridges. That is why I collect cards with this particular theme. This card, sent by mikis, hit the right spot with me. It is beautiful, with the twillight in the background. The bridge, with all those light, looks almost ephemeral. I truly loved it.

Poland is also one of my dream destinies: so much history and beauty. I hope I get to go there some day.

Beautiful stamps

2010-11-18T11:41:00.004-01:00

Rome

2010-11-16T10:33:00.004-01:00

This was an interesting card to receive. It was sent by joaninha and martinha, on their trip to Rome in June. In September I was also here, taking beautiful pictures of this same monument.
Rome is filled with breathtaking views and landmarks. I loved this city - it is full of life and history. Seeing the Coliseum or the Fountain of Trevi for the first time is something I woun't forget soon. It was an amazing trip.
The card shows the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of unified Italy. It is located between Piazza Venezia and Capitoline Hill. It's made of pure white marble and was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi. It's a controverse building: it stands out from the generally brownish buildings surrounding it and it's often regarded as pompous and too large. The romans nicknamed it the "typewriter" and (my favourite!) "the wedding cake". I still tought it was quite beautiful.

North Carolina and an explanation

2010-11-15T23:04:00.003-01:00

I've been away for quite a while, haven't I? Well, it wasn't by choice, trust me. I've been away from Postcrossing, and cards in general, due to health issues. You see, I've developed a tendinitis on my right wrist. It's a nasty thing: it hurts a lot and it makes it hard to do... well... anything. And forget about writing. It hurts like someone has set my hand on fire. Quite horrible. But I am feeling a little better, at least enough to go back to blogging about postcards. Slowly, mind you, but still going.

So, this wonderful card was sent by Monica and it shows several landmark of North Carolina, one of the southern american states. It was one of the original 13 states to form the United States of America. The card shows the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Piedmont plateau, the Outer Banks and its state bird, the cardinal.

When this card reached my hands, it made me smile. I loved the colours and the pictures, it seemed like a place where I could relax and enjoy myself. I specially loved the autumn colours in the trees. So beautiful! Maybe one day, who knows...

Informations

2010-07-01T18:07:00.004Z

Yes, I am alive... still. But my computer broke down so I've been away. I just passed by to inform all of you of a new blog created by a dear friend of mine. She decided to sell all of her stamp collection, wich she had been collecting for over 20 years. So, she created the blog to show it off and perhaps find a few buyers. If interested the link is http://selosedemais.blogs.sapo.pt/

It's in portuguese but if you leave a message in english or french she'll understand it. ;)

Hugs to all,

P.S.: Will be back when I buy a new computer...

Postcard Friendship Friday - Nouvelles Images

2010-05-28T11:28:00.006Z

I am a huge fan of Nouvelles Images cards. They are sweet and beautiful, small pieces of true art. Unfortunely I don't have many of them in my collection - they can't be found where I live and collectors usually trade them for other nouvelles images' card. See the problem?

Anyway, Nouvelles Images was created in 1957, by Jacques Blanc, who began publishing contemporary artists' works in postcards. Through time, the company has evolved and currently presents many different products, most related to art.

This beautiful letter theamed card was sent to me from Finland.

Source: www.nouvellesimages.com

An Interview about this blog...

2010-04-22T17:41:00.003Z

A few days ago someone left a comment requesting an interview about my blog for http://bloginterviewer.com/. I was very skeptical but eventually answered the questions asked. And it was actually published! Can you belive it? Because I can't! I thought it wouldn't make it. But it seems I actually have something interesting to say :)

They say my blog was recommended by someone. That is amazing! The fact that someone was able to recomend me for anything is mind blowing. So, whom ever you are, my heart felt "Thank you!"

If you are interested, you can read the interview here: http://bloginterviewer.com/books/cards-in-the-mail-m-a-leal

Have fun! (Oh, and by the way, there is a sort of contest in this site, so if you'd like, you could vote for me, ok? ;)

Hugs to all!

image taken from: http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/5/singlemic.jpg

Vintage Look

2010-04-08T19:55:00.004Z

This is a lovely reprint of a vintage card. It was sent to me from Estonia. Unfortunely I am unable to find out who sent it to me.
Neither do I have any way of knowing what the card is about, because I don't speak estonian, but I love the look of it. The car, the clothes and even the cute luggage. It looks like a family trip to somewhere far or maybe immigrants going to live a bright new life somewhere else. Or perhaps a wealthy family's hollydays. They all look so great, all elegant and prepared for a long trip. The man in the picture looks like the driver to me. Or just the father preparing his family for a fun trip.

The beauty of old pictures is that when you don't know the story behind it, you can allways make one up! :) And I have quite an imagination...

Cathastrophe in Madeira Island - Part 2

2010-02-23T02:08:00.003-01:00

Today is day 2 after the mudslides and floods that destroyed several locations in Madeira Island on last Saturday. The most current counting refers the loss of 48 lives but this number might increase in the following days due to the large number of missing persons.

I have many friends in Madeira and I, myself, have been there a couple of years ago. This is a heartbreaking tragedy. There are few words to describe the enormous destruction that the images show. Thank God all of my friends are well but others were not that lucky. The whole country is in shock. There was no warning, it all happened in a few hours. And the brutality of the images brings tears to my eyes and sorrow to my heart.

Our government has decreed 3 days of National Mourning and everything is being done to help. I just hope and wish it is enough.

Mudslides in a road, Penteada

Mudslide in road

TV Newscast from France24 (in english)

Sources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbuwf3Qpe5w&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAoy_a1pnJc&feature=related

Cathastrophe in Madeira Island

2010-02-21T13:44:00.002-01:00

After the events of last December in Terceira Island, Azores, we all thought that bad weather was behind us.
Well, we were wrong and shocked to see what happened yesterday in Madeira Island, another portuguese archipelago. We stood in shock watching the images of unimaginable destruction in one of the most beautiful places in Portugal. We saw our hearts skip a beat as the numbers of victim were being disclosured and actualized, hour after hour. Nothing can prepare us for such a cathastrophe. Streets turned in to rivers, houses in to pieces, tunnels in to brooks.
Unimaginable. Unthinkable. Unbeliveble.
Funchal, the main city, was transformed into a set of a horror movie. Places like Ribeira Brava e Câmara de Lobos suffered great destruction. There are places that are still isolated, like Curral de Freiras, a village hidden deep in the island, in a vulcanic crater, surrounded by high mountains. No one is sure about the fates of those who live there. We, portuguese, are all shocked. There are no words to descrive, not yeat. I leave here a few images of the cathastrophe and ask you all to find in your hearts the will to hope for better days.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlWAoxnwuFM

I am still here..

2010-02-10T18:39:00.002-01:00

With moving to a new house and my job and a few other things, this blog has been slow. Actually it's been dead for a few months. But I am going to revive it as soon as I started trading again. And I haven't forgotten the trades that are in stand by nor have I forgotten the postcards that I owe. Will be sending them soon.

Have a great day and see you next month (or maybe sooner!).

Memphis and a steamboat adventure

2009-12-26T12:51:00.004-01:00

I must say it has been an adventure to find any information about the steamboat pictured in this beaufiful card. I could make out the name on the picture - "Island Queen" - but the information found in the Internet was quite confusing. It seems there was an "Island Queen" operating from 1905 to 1922 in round trips between Cincinatti and Coney Island. She was consummed by fire in 1922. In 1925, a second "Island Queen" was built and resumed the previous trips. In 1947, her fuel tanks exploded, killing 19 persons. And after it, there was no obvious record of another steamboat named "Island Queen", although the picture seemed quite modern. After a bit of research, I concluded that the steamboat in the picture is an excursion steamer, a part of the Memphis Queen Line fleet, operating nowadays.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to sail on such an amazing steamboat? It must be an amazing experience. I would love to visit Memphis and the Mississipi river one day...

The card was sent to me by leni.

Source: wikipedia, http://www.ragtime.nu/islqueen.htm, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kycampbe/memoriesislandqueen.htm,

http://www.steamboats.org/traveller/lower-mississippi-river/memphis.html

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T15:25:00.004-01:00

Cards in the Mail wishes all of you out there a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year. May you see all your dreams come true and find hapiness. And, of course, may your mailbox be always full of extraordinary postcards.

Have a wonderful hollyday season. ;)

Picture: taken from the Internet.

My sad little house...

2009-12-24T14:40:00.003-01:00

No, this is not a postcard. It's a picture of my house taken by my neighbour.

I live near a small brook (water stream) that was mostly dry. But on the night of the 15th of December, a waterspout in the northen side of the island caused floods on several places. The brook that ran in front of my house rose 3 metres (~9 feet) and took half the property. It happened in a few minutes and we had to run from the house, in the middle of the night with the rain pouring down on us. We actually thought the brook was going to take the house and our lives. Fortunely, it was just a scare and of course a few material damages. Nothing we can't replace. The only bad thing is the fact that we have to move now. It's not safe to live here anymore. But we are still counting our blessings. There where other families that lost everything. Their houses, their clothes and furnitures, their hole life. And that's terribly sad.

But life goes on, and we, terceira islanders, are survivors.

Anyway, I am currently packing and busy, busy, busy.

Mail damages...

2009-12-24T14:03:00.003-01:00

I am usually a lucky girl, specially with all things related with mail. I rarelly loose any cards and mine usually arrive well at other people's mail boxes.

But this time, bad luck rang my door bell and left this at my door step. This is the sort of thing that makes me very angry. This envelope, sent to me by edward, from Taiwan, arrived a while back at my mail box looking like this. It seems it caught a bit of rain, although it arrived dry. It also had a stamp missing.

The two cards inside where damaged too. One of it was glued to another. It was a beautiful bridge card for ny bridge collection.

Unfortunely, I'm sure I'm not the only one with such problems. If any of you want to share your story, send me an e-mail and I will post it.

Postcard Friendship Friday - Tartu University

2009-10-23T10:41:00.005Z

I've always had a thing for singleview cards of beautiful buildings. Maybe it's because my best friend is an architect, or maybe it's because I love beauty in all its forms. The truth is that this kcard is quite stunning.

It was sent from Estonia and shows the University of Tartu. It took me a while to identify the building, because there is hardly any written information on the back of the card. It is located in Tartu, the 2nd largest city in Estonia. Regarded by most Estonians as the country's "national university", it is the highest ranked university in Estonia. It was established by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1632.

In the photo you can see its main building, built in 1809 in the neoclassical style. It houses the oldest museum in the University - the Art Museum.

It looks quite amazing. I wouldn't mind attending a few classes here myself. I would be proud of it. Hey, maybe one day - who knows, right?

source: wikipedia

For more informations about PFF, see http://www.cpaphilblog.com/

Pavlovsk's Park

2009-10-11T19:18:00.006Z

This card sent by larisa, from Russia, shows the Rose Pavilion, one of many in Pavlovsk's Park, sourounding its Grand Palace.

Pavlovsk is a town located 30 km (19 mi) from St. Petersburg, Russia, near the Slavyanka River. It was granted in 1777, by Catherine the Great, to her son Paul upon the birth of his first son. In 1780, the scottish architect Charles Cameron was made responsible for the construction of a Grand Palace in Pavlovsk, to be used as a Country Residence of the Russian Imperial Family. The construction and most landscaping was concluded in 1825. The residential complex harbours an imense park, a Palace, several pavilions and monuments, covering around 1,500 acres. It holds a collection of rare furniture, porcelain, glass works and art. After Paul's death, the Palace became the residence of its widower, Maria Fedorovna.

The Rose Pavilion was erected in the 19th century and it was designed by A. Voronikhin. It is surounded by rose gardens, hence its name. Everything in its decor was based on the rose theme. For several decades it was a gathering place for artists and writers.

The complex was destroyed during WWII and was later restaured.

I was already impressed by the card's beauty but after doing a quick search on the Internet I was stunned by Pavlovsk's beauty and rich history. If you have the time, I suggest you do the same. You won't regret it.

source: wikipedia; alexanderpalace.org

Coimbra

2009-09-09T10:50:00.003Z

This wonderful card was sent by susanaportugal from Portugal, signed in the back by all the participants in the 3rd Postcrossing meeting in Portugal. Unfortunely I couldn't be there. I guess that's the price I have to pay for living in an island - it gets hard to go to the mainland. Anyway, it was such a great surprise to get this card!

The card shows Coimbra, one of the oldest cities in Portugal. It's a college town, growing around the University, one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest in Portugal. The specific site shown in the card is the "Largo da Portagem" (english: Square of Toll). It owes its name to the fact that this was the place where the taxes were collected over the goods that arrived in the city, coming from the South.

In the picture you can see the square of Joaquim António de Aguiar, a notorious 19th century portuguese politician born in Coimbra. In 30th of May, 1834 he issued a law that extinguished all religious orders in Portugal. Due to this he was nicknamed "O mata-Frades" (english: "the friar killer").

I've visited Coimbra a while ago but I don't remember going to this square. Anyways, the city is quite beautiful, full of history and legends. A place you should visit...

Source: google.

Yes, I am still around...

2009-09-08T18:32:00.002Z

I bet you've wondered about my whereabouts. Well, you can put you mind at ease: I am still alive and, for the most part, healthy.

I can only justify my absence from this blog with the huge amount of work I've had in the last few months. And now I have an internet problem, but I will be coming soon with more postcards and more stories.

So, stay tunned for scenes of the next episodes...

Israel Mapcard

2009-05-09T11:54:00.002Z

I am not much of a mapcard fan but this one is amazing. It was sent from Israel by pam korsover a while back and the colours are incredible. It's very cute and childlike, don't you think?

Postcard Friendship Friday - 25th of April Bridge

2009-04-17T13:55:00.006Z

I have a big fascination with bridges. I find them beautiful, a symbol of human ingenuity and strenght.

I particularly like this black and white postcard of the 25th of April Bridge, built in 1966, over the river Tagus, in Lisbon, Portugal's capital.

Its construction was completed 6 months ahead of schedule and its original name was Salazar Bridge, named so in honour of António Salazar, Portugal's Prime Minister and dictator for over 30 years. He founded and led the "Estado Novo", the authoritan, right-wing government that presided over the country from 1932 to 1974.

After the revolution, in 25th of April of 1974, its name was changed to 25th of April Bridge.
When it was inaugurated, it was the 5th largest suspension bridge in the World and the 1st outside of the USA. Nowdays, it stands in 66th place in the World ranking, but it's the highest bridge in Europe.

This wonderful card was sent to me from moonwolf.

For more information about Postcard Friendship Friday see

Postcard Friendship Friday - Polish Winnie The Pooh

2009-04-03T23:50:00.004Z

I love Disney's Winnie The Pooh and I collect its cards from all over the world. This one was sent by Silwie, from Poland.

Can anyone tell me what the words mean in english? :)

For more information about Postcard Friendship Friday see http://www.cpaphilblog.com/

Castle Square

2009-03-29T12:11:00.005Z

This beautiful card was sent by Sylwie, from Poland.

Warsaw is the capital of Poland. It is known as the "phoenix city" because it was completely destroyed during World War II and rebuilt with the heroic effort of polish citizen.

The card shows Castle Square, an important part of Warsaw's Old Town, inscribed in 1981 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In the square there are several polish landmarks, such as the Zygmunt's Column (left side of card) and the Royal Castle (right side of card) and the Patrican Houses.

I adore the colors in the card. It seems like a wonderful place to visit, especially for someone who adores History, like me.

Source: Wikipedia.

Paris, Je T'aime!

2009-03-28T23:50:00.003-01:00

Paris, le Ville-Lumiére or the City of Lights, the capital of France! It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It is home to some of the World’s most recognizable landmarks, such as the Champs-Élysées, le Arc de Triumphe, the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, the Louvre, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower, named after its designer Gustave Eiffel, was built in 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle. The Exposition was a sort of World’s Fair, held for the centennial celebrations of the French Revolution.

In the beginning, the tower was met with much criticism from the public. Newspapers of the day were filled with angry letters from the arts community of Paris. It was suppose to be dismantled in 1909 but it was allowed to remain due to communication purposes. Nowadays, it’s France’s most recognizable icon.

I think it’s a remarkable piece of architecture, a tribute to Humanity’s imagination and ability.
This beautiful twilight card was sent by yenamarre, from France.

Source: Wikipedia.

Ireland

2009-03-26T21:21:00.005-01:00

I have been fascinated with Ireland since childhood. It seems all great things come from there: U2 and Enya, Liam Neeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and (Oh, my God!) Colin Farrell. I also love its History and Culture. And, of course, the accent. Have I mentioned I have a thing with accents?

Anyway, this card was sent by neojojo's sister, a portuguese living in Ireland. I am not much of a sheep person but I find this card very amuzing. Oh, how I would love to visit Ireland!...

I will be back!

2009-03-23T12:30:00.001-01:00

Yes, I have been away for a long, long time. But I will be back to blogging very soon.
Do not worry, I will be back!

Bali

2009-02-08T14:27:00.003-01:00

This amazing view of Bali in Indonesia was sent by Kemz, from Indonesia. It shows a wonderful twillight scene in Candi Dasa, a seaside town in Eastern Bali.

Bali Island is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, a group of Indonesian islands in the middle-south part of the Malay Archipelago. It has a population of over 3000000 people and it's home to most of Indonesia's small Hindu minority. It's also the largest touristic destination in the country. Bali is well known for its luxourious beaches, its culture and arts and its nightlife.

Source: Wikipedia.

Kul-Shariff Mosque

2009-02-03T21:56:00.004-01:00

The Kull-Shariff Mosque is located inside the Kazan Kremlin, the chief historic citadel of Tatarstan, situated in the city of Kazan.

It is the biggest mosque in Europe and it was opened in June 2005. It was built on the site of a previous mosque that was destryed in 1552, during the siege of Kazan.

The siege of Kazan was the final battle of Russo-Kazan Wars. It led to the lose of Tatarstan's independence, the total destruction of Kazan city and the massacre of its population. Ivan the Terrible sacked Kazan to pay his men and the city's survivors were massacred or enslaved. The city was buried to ashes.

Nowdays, the mosque's look is modern and elegant an it serves mostly as a Museum of Islam, although it also helds all the major Muslim celebrations.

Besides the main building, there is also a library, a publishing house and Imam's Office.

This gorgeous card was sent by bo-lg, from Tatarstan Republic of Russia.

Source: Wikipedia.

Stirling

2009-02-02T00:03:00.005-01:00

I must confess I would love to visit Scotland one day. I love History and Scotland has such a rich background. Also, all the Scottish cards I have are breathtakingly beautiful. But to tell you the truth, my love affair with Scotland began a long time ago, on the day I first watched Braveheart. Yes, I know it's pathetic but I can't help it. I can only blame the accent. That rich, hipnotizing, sexy Scottish accent...

Anyway, this amazing card, sent by Lynn from Scotland, shows Stirling, a city located in Scotland, United Kingdom. It was the setting for several battles in the Wars of Scottish Independence during the 13th and 14th centuries. It was also in its centre that the Battle of Stirling was fought, in 1648. It was a part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, a series of conflicts that took place in Scotland, Ireland and England between 1639 and 1651, as the result of tensions between the King and subjects over religious and civil issues.

Some sources suggest that Stirling's name originates in either a Scots or Gaelic term meaning "the place of battle, struggle or strife".

Stirling is famous for its historic relevance but also for some peculiar facts: it's also well known for its many hautings, like the Green Lady in Stirling's Castle and the "Settle Inn", located near the castle and considered the most haunted place in Scotland.

Source: Wikipedia

MMMmmmm....

2009-01-30T19:04:00.005-01:00

I think the title says it all... :)

A great card sent by twillight29, from Norway.

This way... or the other?

2009-01-29T14:05:00.003-01:00

This wonderful card reminds me of the most simple of truths: how we are all connected, no matter how far we are. Technology has connected us in ways that were only imaginable in the old times. Some say it has changed the way we connect to others, that it has made us more distant emotionally. Maybe that’s true, but I believe that it has issued us a challenge, one that we are trying to conquer with every bit of determination and imagination.

I am sitting here, in a small room in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. And you are reading this somewhere else, perhaps in the other side of the world or just on the other side of the road. That’s the magic of technology. That’s the beauty of invention.

Of course there are bad things that derivate from all this development. Sadly, that’s the way it is with all human creations. They are always imperfect, consumed by our own flaws as a race.

This card also reminds me of all the great choices that we face every day. It was sent by sputzie, from Singapure.

Florence

2009-01-25T10:02:00.001-01:00

The Athens of the Middle Ages, as it has been called by History experts, Florence is considered by many the birthplace of Italian Renaissance and it’s well known for its art and architecture.

Located in the Italian region of Tuscany, it lies on the Arno River, and it’s one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region, particularly due to its historic centre, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.

In the picture we can see one of its best known landmarks: the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence’s Cathedral). The basilica is notable for its exterior with marble panels, the dome designed by Brunelleschi and Giotto’s Bell Tower.

This breathtaking card was sent by eryore, from the USA.

Source: Wikipedia.

Bulgarian Nights

2009-01-25T09:49:00.001-01:00

The first time I saw this card I thought it was breathtakingly beautiful. It made me want leave everything behind and just sail through the ocean until I reached Bulgaria’s coast.

Sadly, life isn’t that simple, so I have to conform myself with staring at this card and not at the real thing. I guess we can’t have it all.

The card was sent by dj_christina, from Bulgaria.

Audrey Hepburn

2009-01-15T10:31:00.003-01:00

Audrey Hepburn is more than a great actress or a star. She is a symbol of elegance and style, a fashion icon and an inspiration for many women worldwide.

Personally, I adore her films and the way she always wears the perfect clothes. Has anyone forgotten Givenchy's little black dress, worn by Hepburn in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels, Belgium in the 4th of May, 1929. She lived in Arnhem, in The Netherlands during her childhood, where she studied Ballet. Eventually, she moved to London in 1948, where she studied drama and worked as a model.

She went on to star in classic films such as Roman Holliday, Charade, Sabrina and, of course, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

During her last years, she dedicated a lot of effort to humanitarian work, especially UNICEF.

She died of cancer on 20 January 1993, in Switzerland.

This great card was sent by cockie, from Japan.

Source: Wikipedia.

On a different note...

2009-01-11T10:14:00.005-01:00

There are many great blogs out there in the web, especially related to postcard collecting. But this blog (http://eyescard.blogspot.com/) by Alexander Karmanovsky is quite interesting. He had a great idea: eyescards. You take a picture of your (or someone else's) eyes, add what ever you want (words, embelishments or nothing at all) and send it to the address written in the blog.

So, take a look at it and be creative! Remember: the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Picture: my eye taken by me.

Kornati National Park

2009-01-10T20:35:00.003-01:00

The Kornati National Park was created in 1980 in the Kornati archipelago. This archipelago is composed of more than 150 islands and it's located in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Croatian area known as Dalmatia.

There are no permanent settlements in Kornati. There are a few simple houses in some islands that are used by the land owners as temporary shelters.

This great card was sent by rlicul, from Croatia. All the cards I have received from Croatia are amazing. It seems like a wonderful country.

Source: Wikipedia.

Kazahkstan

2009-01-08T21:35:00.003-01:00

According to russianruby, who sent me this card from Almaty, Kazahkhstan is the 9th largest country in the world and the largest country.

It gained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR and its capital is Astana. Astana is the 2nd largest city in the country and it has been the country’s capital since 1997. Its name literally means “Capital” in Kazakh.

The country is quite large and diverse in types of terrain. It has hills, flatlands, mountains with snow and deserts. Although it’s a very big country it has a low population density (6 people per square kilometre). And it seems there aren’t many cards available as well. :)

Source: Wikipedia

Lavender Fields, Cape Town

2009-01-03T23:08:00.003-01:00

This card sent by mrsc, shows lavender fields in Cape Town, South Africa. The colours are beautiful and the photo looks incredible, in my opinion.

Lavender is a plant grown in many different places, all over the world. It is used in various areas, such as landscaping, medicine, the beauty industry and even in culinary.

Some say that either you like its fragrance or you don’t: there are no middle terms. I, personally, dislike it quite a lot, although it’s a beautiful flower. What about you?

Happy Hollidays!

2008-12-24T20:58:00.005-01:00

I wish everyone a great Christmas and a Happy New Year, full of wonderful momments and hapiness.

And to all postcrossers and card/stamp collectors I wish a great New Year of happy swaps. May your mail box always be full :)

Os Imigrantes - Domingos Rebelo

2008-12-21T12:03:00.003-01:00

Of all the amazing stamps I have in my collection, this is probably my favourite. It was issued in 1999 by the CTT (Portuguese Postal Services) and depicts a painting named “Os Imigrantes”, painted by the Azorean painter Domingos Rebelo.

Domingos Rebelo, born in the city of Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel Island, in 1891, was a professor and a painter. He exhibited his first painting when he was only 13 years old. When he was 15 years old, due to his talent, and with the support of many people, he left the island to study in Paris, where he remained for six years. After returning to the island and marrying, he worked for thirty years in the same school where he studied, which today is named after him. In 1942, he settled in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, doing several murals and paintings and getting involved in the National Arts Academy. He eventually died in that city in 1975.

He was a deeply religious person and gave a lot of importance to family and religion. Through out his life, he was always interested in helping and orientating young Azorean painters. He had a big impact in Azorean culture and Art, becoming the most known Azorean artist of all times.

Os Imigrantes (The immigrants) is his best known piece. It was painted in 1926 and shows local people in Ponta Delgada’s Harbour, waiting to leave the island and immigrate to other places in the world. It is considered a regionalist themed painting, because of its details: the traditional Azorean clothes, the Azorean guitar and the small frame next to the woman (it shows an image of Saint Christ of Miracles, a very important religious devotion in the islands).
I think it’s a remarkable painting, done by a remarkable painter.

Source: Wikipedia.

Busy bee :)

2008-12-18T11:58:00.001-01:00

I have been so busy lately, that I have had no time to post here. But I´ve received some incredible cards. I will try and post a new topic tonight.

Hugs to all!

Santorini

2008-12-13T18:11:00.004-01:00

This remarkable card was sent by neojojo. It depicts the town of Oia and the caldera, in Santorini, Greece. Santorini is what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current caldera. Its spectacular physical beauty, along with a dynamic nightlife, have made the island one of Europe's tourist hotspots. Its typical architecture with white and blue colors is well known around the world.I adore this card! One day, when I became a very rich person, I will certainly visit this dream place.

Source: Wikipédia.

Pelourinho vs. Angra do Heroísmo

2008-12-12T22:19:00.006-01:00

What are the odds of two different photographers, at different times, take two similar photographs of two different places? Well, I don’t know, but they must be slim.

Well, the above card was sent by baiana, from Brazil, and it shows Pelourinho, the historic centre of Salvador, the capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador was founded in 1549, with the objective of becoming the headquarters of the Portuguese sovereignty in Brazil. Most of the buildings architecture was styled in colonial architecture (Portuguese baroque) and it has a unique look. The houses, buildings and churches still maintain the colourful colours that were usual in the 17th century and nowadays it’s a cultural centre. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 and it includes places such as the Governors’ Palace, the Church of San Francisco, the church of Carmo, etc.

The bellow card (from my album for trade) shows the Town of Angra do Heroísmo, which was the first place in the Açores to be elevated to the status of city, in 1534. It has a special place in Azorean History as one of the most important locations in the archipelago. For many centuries, Angra do Heroísmo was an obligatory stop to caravels, carracks and galleons full of riches, which brought wealth to the city. It has many palaces and convents, churches and forts. Originally, it was simply called Angra ( in English cove or harbor) because it had a cove that allowed the protection of big ships from the winds and other dangers. In the 19th century the name was changed to Angra do Heroísmo (English: of Heroism) in recognition to the courage and heroism of its inhabitants during the Portuguese Civil War.
In 1983, UNESCO declared its Historic centre a World Heritage Site. The site includes the fortifications of S. Sebastião and São João Baptista, the City Hall, the Cathedral, the town square, etc.

Both cards are amazing and depict incredible places in the world. I find them beautiful, especially because they are so similar…

Source: Wikipedia.

Roter Sand Lighthouse

2008-12-12T21:19:00.003-01:00

As I’ve said here before, I adore lighthouse cards, especially the ones that show lighthouses surrounded by water (wave-washed lighthouses).
I received this one from Germany, sent by eryore1974 and it shows the lighthouse of Roter Sand, located somewhere in Lower Saxony. It’s a very beautiful lighthouse.

Source: Wikipedia.

New Job!!!

2008-12-09T11:35:00.002-01:00

I will be starting a new job today. I am nervous, nervous, nervous... Oh, well. I'll hope it will all go well...

Anyway, I guess I won't be able to post here until the weekend, but please, don't dispair. I will be back! :)

Almeida

2008-12-03T20:15:00.005-01:00

A week ago, my best friend brought me a stack of postcards. He lives in the mainland (in Lisbon) and is here for the Holydays. Among all the great cards he brought me, there was this awesome one. He visited the site and because he knows I love History he thought I might like this card. Well, he was right.

It shows the Fort of Almeida, located in the town of Almeida, in the border with Spain. It was built in the 17th century and it’s a star fort, built in Vauban style. The Fort is a National Monument since 1927.

I had never heard of it until my friend gave me the card – a fact I find unforgivable. How is it possible that such beautiful places are not known by the public?

Source: Wikipedia.

Moomin Stamps

2008-12-03T19:08:00.008-01:00

Before joining the Postcrossing Project, I had never heard of the Moomin. Now, I find them quite interesting.

The Moomins are characters created by the Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson and they appear in nine books, five picture books and a comic strip. They have also been the basis for numerous television series and films. There is even a Theme Park in Finland!
The stories are set in a fictional place in Finland: the Moomin Valley. The Moomin family comprises of the Moominpappa, Moominmamma and their son, Moomintroll. All the stories are quite philosophical and they depict values such as tolerance, love, friendship, generosity and respect for others.

These stamps, issued in 2007 by the Finnish postal services, were sent to me by various postcrossers. I adore them! :)

Source: Wikipedia.

Dallas

2008-11-26T11:49:00.004-01:00

This beautiful card arrived a while back from veeder, in the USA. It shows Dallas’ skyline at dusk and the architectural details in the left building are incredible.

Dallas is the 3rd largest city in the State of Texas and is the largest inland metropolitan are in the country without a navigable link to the sea. Its importance derivates from its historical importance in the oil and cotton industries.

It’s a city I would love to visit!

Source: Wikipedia.

Mistery Bridge

2008-11-22T19:21:00.004-01:00

This beautiful bridge card, sent from Japan by lovelypostcard24, shows an incredible bridge spanning the Mississippi river, the second largest river in USA. Now, the question is which bridge?

The card doesn’t have much information and calls it the Mississippi River Bridge. A little online investigation revealed that there at least 21 bridges over the Mississippi River and none are called that. After seeing many, many photos, I narrowed it down to three possibilities: the Black Hawk Bridge, the Savannah-Sabula Bridge and the Crescent City Connection. But I am still unsure of which one it actually is! Can anyone help me? :)

Lighthouse of Capelinhos II

2008-11-19T13:48:00.004-01:00

I love maxicards and I collect them. They are the perfect combination of my two favourite hobbies: stamps and postcards. This one I bought on-line, on the CTT (Portuguese postal services) website.

It shows a beautiful view of Capelinhos and the stamps shows a vintage photo of the volcanic eruption on the site, in the 50’s. It's beautiful!

Yosemite National Park

2008-11-16T21:57:00.006-01:00

These two beautiful cards were sent by acossa, from the USA. They show the Yosemite National Park, located in east central California. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984 and it is visited by over 3.5 million people every year.

These cards are amazing. It must be an incredible place to visit.

Source: Wikipedia.

Casa Milà

2008-11-16T20:59:00.007-01:00

Casa Milà, or La Pedrera, is a beautiful building built between 1906 and 1912 in Barcelona. It was designed by Antoni Gaudí, the famous Catalan architect and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

I am a huge fan of Gaudí’s architecture. I think it’s magical, intense and inventive. They are quite magnificent!

This great card was sent by luisieme, from Spain.

La Mancha

2008-11-15T14:56:00.004-01:00

La Mancha is located in the Castille – La Mancha autonomous community, in Spain. It is an arid, but fertile plateau of Central Spain, well known by its viniculture and cereal production. But its most well known landmarks are La Mancha’s windmills, which gain international fame because of Cervantes’ “Don Quixote de La Mancha”.

This is a beautiful card, sent by Gabriela, from Spain.

Source: Wikipedia.

Saint Louis

2008-11-15T13:40:00.003-01:00

This amazing card was sent a while back by juliee, from USA. The colours are incredible: all those shades of purple on the sky and the lightning... just fantastic.

Saint Louis, or the Gateway city, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was named after King Louis IX of France and its most recognizable symbol is the Gateway Arch, which can be seen in the postcard’s picture. The Arch is made of stainless steel and stands 192m tall, being the tallest monument in the country. It is a part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which was established to commemorate three historical moments: the Louisiana Purchase; the first civil government west of the Mississippi River and the debate over slavery began by the Dred Scott Case.

It’s a quite stunning card.

Source: Wikipedia.

Lightouse stamps

2008-11-11T15:27:00.021-01:00

Today, I feel like doing something different. I tried new recipes for lunch; changed the order of my room’s furniture and now I will write about something new: stamps.

I’ve loved stamps since I was a little girl. I used to keep them in a box and I would spend hours staring at them through a magnifying glass. Now, I keep them in an album and don’t stare at them as often, but I still love them. They are beautiful pieces of history, miniature pictures of a country’s life, culture and beauty.

Among my favourites are these lighthouse stamps. Some of them are from my album; others are on the back of postcards. They come from various countries: Germany, Spain, France, USA, Japan, Canada, Estonia, Australia, and of course, Portugal.
Aren’t they gorgeous?

Palace of the Lost City

2008-11-08T16:28:00.003-01:00

This is an impressive card, isn’t it? Well, it doesn’t feature a mysterious location or a grand city view. The building in the card isn’t a breathtaking palace or an incredible building. No, the image in this beautiful card sent by mrsc, from South Africa, shows the Palace of the Lost City: a 5 star hotel located in Sun City Resort, Rustenburg, South Africa.

If one day I wake up a millionaire, this is were I will spend my holydays, enjoying life with lavish comfort and entertainment. Until then, I have to conform myself to this sofa and this computer.
Well, I guess it could be worst...

Source: Wikipedia.

Lighthouse of Penedo da Saudade

2008-11-08T16:21:00.003-01:00

The first time I saw this card in an album for trade, I immediately knew I had to have it in my collection. The sky and ocean colours were just magnificent. Fortunately, susanaportugal was kind enough to send me one.

This lighthouse is located in Penedo da Saudade, a site in the parish of S. Pedro de Moel, in Marinha Grande, Portugal. The lighthouse’s name is difficult to translate to English because there is no accurate English correspondence to the word “saudade”. I will translate it for nostalgia and “penedo” for cliff. Hence, its name in English would be something like Cliff of Nostalgia.

The site was originally donated by the King in 1463 to the Count of Vila Real. It remained in the family for several centuries, until the last count was executed for treason in 1641. The legend says that the countess weeped every day until her death, on the top of the cliff, for her beloved husband and that’s how the site earned its name.
Some say they can still hear the countess’ cry’s in the wind...

Source: Wikipedia.

Back to the blog

2008-11-08T16:18:00.001-01:00

I haven’t posted anything for a while because I’ve been busy, busy, busy, with a creative writing workshop. It was very interesting and lots of fun. But now I am back and will try and keep this blog updated with some old and new postcards.

The Erasmus Bridge or Erasmusbrug

2008-11-02T16:02:00.004-01:00

Completed in 1996, the Erasmus Bridge is an astonishing cable stayed bridge, located in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

It is often called “The Swan” because of its asymmetrical pylon. Very elegant and sophisticated looking, this bridge was designed by Ben Van Berkel and it has the largest and heaviest bascule bridge (moveable bridge) in West Europe.

The card was sent from The Netherlands by elicat.

Source: Wikipedia.

Alhambra

2008-11-02T15:46:00.004-01:00

Alhambra is a fortified palace located in Granada, Spain. It was the residence of the Moorish rulers of Granada between the 13th and 15th Centuries, until the conquest of Granada by the catholic Kings, Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragorn.

The last Moorish monarch to reside here was Muhammad XII, known as Boabdil, before he was sent to exile by the Catholics Kings. Behind stayed his daughter whom was taken by the Spanish and became King Ferdinand’s mistress. Later in life, she became a catholic nun.

The Alhambra is well known for its unique Moorish Art and Mudéjar style. It is listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site.

This breathtaking beautiful card was sent by rhea_silvia, from Spain.

Source: Wikipedia.

Brooklyn Bridge

2008-10-31T21:22:00.004-01:00

Well, yes, I have a thing for bridges. A very big thing. And this card, sent by linda718, from USA, is just beautiful. It shows the New York’s iconic Brooklyn Bridge, built between 1870 and 1883. It was the first land connection to Manhattan and was designed by John Augustus Roebling in Gothic architectural style. It has six driving lanes and an elevated walkway for pedestrians.

As a symbol of New York City, it has featured in films, TV series and books, having it’s own part in American Culture.

Source: Wikipedia.

Bled

2008-10-31T21:04:00.003-01:00

Before joining Postcrossing I knew nothing about Slovenia, now this country is in my “to visit list”. Every Slovenian postcard I receive makes me breathless. Such stunning landscapes, beautiful villages and city views and lush forests...

This one, sent by tinkara, shows Bled Island, in the glacial Lake Bled. It is Slovenia’s only island and it’s quite small. In it there are only a few buildings and a church built in the 15th Century, The Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, a popular site for weddings.

This card’s image is breathtaking, with the Julian Alps in the background and the swans in the lake. It makes me dream of being there...

Source: Wikipedia.

Kõpu Lighthouse

2008-10-30T14:41:00.004-01:00

Lighthouse cards from Estonia are always so beautiful and I was very excited when I received this one.

Kõpu lighthouse is the oldest Estonian lighthouse and it’s also the third oldest operating light in the world. It is located in the Kõpu Peninsula, in Hiiumaa Island. It is 600 years old, being lit for the first time in 1531. This great card was sent by soom, from Estonia.

Source: Wikipedia.

Mount Ruapehu

2008-10-30T14:34:00.003-01:00

This is an incredible photograph. We can really see the power of Nature, often beautiful and scary at the same time. This eruption of Mount Ruapehu, above Chateau Tongariro, occurred in 1995 and the photo was taken by Tim Whittaker of the Hawke’s Bay Herald Tribune.

Mount Ruapehu is the largest active volcano in New Zealand, located in North Island, in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. It is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the world, with an average of a major eruption every fifty years and smaller ones every couple of years.
The card was sent by adriennegarry, from New Zealand.

Source: Wikipedia.

Holy City of Mashad

2008-10-29T13:57:00.003-01:00

When I received this wonderful card in the mail, sent by ipuenktchen, from Iran, I was thrilled. Never, in my wildest dreams (especially before I joined Postcrossing), had I though I would get a postcard from Iran. But there it was, this amazing postcard of the Holy City of Mashad, the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam.

Here is located the Imam Reza Shrine, as shown in the postcard. This shrine contains the mausoleum of Imam Ridha, the eighth Imam of Twelvers. During its existence, since the 9th century, it has been destroyed and reconstructed several times. It is a place of pilgrimage in the Muslim World.

Source: Wikipedia.

Lighthouse of Capelinhos

2008-10-28T15:17:00.004-01:00

Every Azorean, at one time or another, has heard of the Lighthouse of Capelinhos. It is located in the village of Capelo, in Faial Island, which was the site of an off-shore violent volcanic eruption in the 50s: the volcano of Capelinhos. It caused the destruction of many houses and two parishes were evacuated. It was such a scary event, that it led to a mass departure from the Azores to North America, especially the USA, where the Senate approved the Azorean Refugee Act.

The lighthouse was inaugurated in 1903 and ceased its activity in the 29th of September of 1957, due to the eruption. It was the closest building to the eruption and was damaged and covered in ashes. Nowadays it’s being turned into a belvedere and close to it is a Museum.

I’ve visited this site a couple of years ago. It is quite stunning.

Source: Wikipedia.

Rome

2008-10-27T13:29:00.004-01:00

Rome is the capital of Italy and one of the most important cities in Europe. Through out time it has had a significant impact in History, being in fact one of the founding cities of the Western Civilization.

Rome has also had an impact in culture and the arts, housing many relevant buildings and monuments built in various architectonical styles, such as renaissance, baroque and neoclassicism.

In the card, sent by effemmedia, from Italy, we can see three important churches (from left to right): Saint Ivo alla Sapienza, St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and Saint Agnese in Agone.

Source: Wikipedia.

The Taj Mahal

2008-10-27T13:14:00.003-01:00

If love was a building it would be the Taj Mahal. Exaggeration? I don’t think so. If the tragic love story behind its construction won’t move you, then its beauty and majesty will certainly do the job.

Located in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal was completed in 1648 and it’s an extraordinary example of Mughal Architecture. The materials used in the construction include white marble, jasper, crystal, jade, turquoise, lapis lazuli, safires and quartz. The structure consists of a Mausoleum, where Emperor Shah Jahan and his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal are buried, and a mosque.
The Emperor married Mumtaz Mahal in 1612 and fell irreversibly in love with her. Although he took two other wives as was custom he showed little interested in them. Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to his 14th son and the Emperor, grieve sick, began almost immediately the construction of the Taj as a tribute to his love.

The Taj Mahal is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1983.

The amazing card shown on this post was sent by seetas, from India.

Source: Wikipedia.

Great Wall of China

2008-10-27T12:40:00.006-01:00

The Great Wall of China is probably one of the best well known sites in the World. It was built and rebuilt between the 6th Century BC and the 16th Century to protect the northern frontier of the Chinese Empire. During this time, two to three million Chinese died while working on it.

This card, sent by bridge, shows a winter view of the North Pass, known as Badaling. It is one of the many tourist centres along the Wall. The incredible fortification is one of the mightiest works of Man. It is so massive that some actually believe it can be seen from the moon. This belief has persisted, even in some school textbooks, but it is a myth. It’s physically impossible to see such details of earth from the moon.

But in my opinion we don’t need to see it from the moon to understand it is one of the most incredible sites on earth. It was declared by UNESCO in 1987 as a World Heritage Site.

Source: Wikipedia.

Prague... again

2008-10-26T19:17:00.007-01:00

Yes, I am a Prague fan, although I have never visited it. Every card I receive from this city is more beautiful than the previous. It looks so full of stories and incredible locations. A perfect place for a voyage.

Both cards shown here were sent from Czech Republic by different postcrossers. Both show well known buildings of the city.
The Municipal House (card on the top) was sent by kengi. It was built in 1905, in Art Nouveau style. This impressive building is the location of the Smetana Hall, a concert hall.

The other card (on the bottom), sent by zas9k, shows Dancing House, also known as Ginger and Fred Building. It was designed by architects Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry and was completed in 1996. There was some controversy during its construction because many thought it would clash with the surrounding architecture. Personally, I think it’s beautiful.

Source: Wikipedia.

Neuschwanstein Castle

2008-10-25T22:39:00.005Z

Doesn’t this gorgeous castle resemble the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland? Well, there is a reason for that! This 19th century Bavarian castle was the inspiration behind Disney’s building.

The Neuschwanstein Castle is located in the top of a hill in southwest Bavaria, Germany, and it was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and a tribute to the composer Richard Wagner. The goal was to create a theatrical and fantasy like castle that would impress anyone whom would see it. The construction began in 1869 and was completed in 1886, after the Kings’ death.

Nowadays, it’s one of German’s most popular touristic attractions. This beautiful card was sent by yukikoyh, from Germany.

Source: Wikipedia.

Sugar Loaf Mountain

2008-10-25T17:57:00.004Z

This beautiful night view card of Pão de Açúcar (English: Sugar Loaf) Mountain was sent by cris, from Brazil. This peak is located in Rio de Janeiro and the name derivates from its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar.

It’s one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.

Source: Wikipedia.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

2008-10-25T14:27:00.005Z

I remember quite well the first time I saw an image of a Holocaust extermination camp on an encyclopaedia. I was a 12 year old teenager and I was shocked beyond words. I couldn’t understand how Men could do this to other Men. And after all these years I still can’t.

The holocaust is usually defined as the genocide of approximately 6 million Jews and other groups during World War II. These were not war casualties. These deaths were the result of an intentional Nazi extermination programme, carried out in cold accuracy.

The card above shows a tribute to the victims. It was sent by zimtschnecke and it shows the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, located in Berlin, Germany. It was designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineer Buro Happold. It has an uneasy, confusing atmosphere about it and its goal was to portrait a supposedly ordered system without human reason. The memorial was built between 2003 and 2004.

Source: Wikipédia.

Belém Tower

2008-10-25T13:58:00.002Z

If you’ve heard of Portugal, you’ve heard of Lisbon and if you’ve heard of Lisbon... well, then you’ve heard of Belém Tower. This fortified tower is the city’s ex-libris, one of its most recognizable symbols.

It was built in the 16th century as a tribute to Vasco da Gama’s voyage and quickly became a symbol of the Portuguese Age of the Great Discoveries. Through out its life, it was a part of Lisbon’s defence system, a custom house, a telegraphic post, a lighthouse and even a prison.

It was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1983 and it’s been a National Monument since 1907. The card above was sent by Sofia.

Source: Wikipedia.

Callanish Stones or The False Men

2008-10-25T13:12:00.007Z

This extraordinary card was sent by Sarah (asgerd), from Scotland and it’s a winter view of the enigmatic Callanish Stones. These standing stones are located by the sea, near the village of Callanish, on the west coast of Lewis Island in the Outer Hebridges.

The date of its construction is still uncertain although a date between 2900 and 2600 BC has been strongly suggested by many experts. Also, there is no clear explanation for their existence. Some suggest they form a calendar system, others claim it was a primitive burial chamber. Nobody knows for certain.

I particularly like the last part of Sarah’s message written in the back of the postcard:
"In Gaelic we call them “na Fir Bhreige”, the False Men, because they deceive us..."

And I think that says it all.

Source: Wikipedia.

Pena National Palace

2008-10-24T22:55:00.003Z

This fairylike and romantic Palace is one of Portugal’s most impressive locations.
The Pena National Palace is the first palace built in Romanticism style in Europe. It stands on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra and it’s a national monument. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1995 and it is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

This beautiful building was built between 1842 and 1854, on the ruins of a 16th century monastery. The construction was ordered by King Consort Ferdinand II as a summer residence for the royal family. The design was created by a German amateur architect named Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. It includes Medieval and Islamic elements and red and yellow façades.

This incredible postcard was sent by joana122.

Source: Wikipedia.

Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ

2008-10-24T21:24:00.003Z

This amazing cathedral should be called, in my opinion, “the church of a thousand names” because there are so many different variations of its name. Wikipedia lists it as the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood; others call it Church on Spilt Blood. The above postcard, sent by Vera, names it Church on the Spilled Blood or Church of Resurrection. I will just use its official name: Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ.

It was built by Alexander III as a memorial to his father Alexander II, whom was mortally wounded by an anarchist conspirator in the exact same place where the Cathedral was built. The blood referred to by some of its names is the tsar’s.

It was constructed between 1883 and 1907 in a more traditional medieval Russian architecture, despite St. Petersburg’s more Baroque and Neoclassical buildings. Although it was built as a church, the Cathedral never worked as a public place of worship. Nowadays, it is a Museum of Mosaic.

Source: Wikipedia.

Batalha Monastery

2008-10-24T20:32:00.003Z

There are many places I would like to visit in my country and this one is at the top of my list. A friend of mine was there in a college assignment to draw the Monastery and she fell in love with it, taking lots of wonderful photographs that I enjoyed seeing.

The Batalha Monastery is located in the Town of Batalha, in the District of Leiria. It has both elements of late Gothic architecture and Manualine style and its original name is Monastery of Saint Mary of Victory. It was built as a tribute to the Virgin Mary, to whom the King D. João I attributed the Portuguese victory over the Castilians in the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385.
This impressive Monastery took two centuries to be built, from 1386 until 1517. It was voted one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders in 2007 and it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

Both postcards were sent by our kind Helena (leninha): the one on the top shows the front of the Monastery, the other shows an arcade screen in the Cloister of King João I, inside the Monastery.

Source: Wikipedia.

Leander's Tower

2008-10-24T19:02:00.004Z

When I received an envelope full of cards sent by ctrekoza from Turkey, I wasn’t the only one excited. Everyone in my house was exhilarated! They were surprised that I had received cards from such an exotic country. I told them that is the beauty of Postcrossing!

I liked all of them, but this one is my favourite. It shows Leander’s Tower, also known as Maiden’s Tower, located in a small island in Istanbul. It was built in 408 BC by Alcibiades, an Athenian General, to control the Persian movements in the Bosphorus strait. After that, and for many centuries, it was used as a lighthouse and nowadays it’s a restaurant and a café.

There are many legends associated with the Tower and they are all beautiful.

Source: Wikipedia

Kinkaku-ji Temple

2008-10-24T01:01:00.004Z

Isn’t this snowy scene breathtakingly beautiful?

This stunning postcard was sent from Japan by lovelypostcards24, our amazing Noriko. It shows the Kinkaku-ji Temple (English: Golden Pavilion Temple) located in Kyoto. It was built in 1397 and originally it served as a retirement place to Shogun (English: general) Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Later, his son turned it into a Zen Temple.

The pavilion is a three-story building in which the top two stories are decorated with pure gold leaf and it houses relics of Buddha. It is standing in the shores of a Mirror Pond ( Kyoto-chi).

This Temple is included in the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Source: Wikipedia.

Wat Phra Keo and The Emerald Buddha

2008-10-24T00:03:00.002Z

Wat Phra Keo (in English: The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. It holds in its buildings the sacred icon of the Emerald Buddha, a figurine of the sitting Buddha, made of green jade and clothed in gold. This sacred icon is considered the palladium of Thailand and, according to legend, it was created in India in 43 BC and, after travelling from one place to another for hundreds of years, it resurfaced in Thailand in 1434.

This impressive golden temple was built in 1785 and is located in Bangkok. There are three main doors, but the one in the centre can only be used by the King and Queen of Thailand.

In a more curious note, to enter the temple you must always be wearing long trousers. There are no exceptions and if you don’t have any, the facility will rent you a pair.

This beautiful card was sent by cherokee, from Thailand.

Source: Wikipedia.

Prague - The Golden City

2008-10-23T22:55:00.005Z

Ah, Prague! The mother of cities, the golden city, and the city of a hundred spires... To visit Prague is to visit History and it’s one of my dream trips (so many places to see, so little money ...).

Prague is considered by many as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and its historic centre was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1992.

The city has many bridges over the river Vltava and the oldest (and most beautiful, in my opinion) is Charles Bridge (2nd from the front, on the card). Its construction began in 1350 and it turned Prague into an important trade route between east and west Europe.

I think this card is amazing. It was sent to me by zas9k, from Czech Republic.

Source: Wikipedia

Boston Light

2008-10-23T22:12:00.006Z

Lighthouse cards are another of my passions and this one is particularly nice. This beautiful card of the Boston Harbour Lighthouse was sent to me by skipe, from the USA. He volunteers here as a guide for the National Park Service.

This lighthouse is the second oldest working lighthouse in the USA, being built in 1716 and rebuilt in 1783. In 1719 this light developed the World’s first fog warning signal when a cannon was fired at regular intervals during heavy fog. During the American Independency War, the lighthouse was a witness to several attacks from both the British and the American.

It eventually became automated in 1998, but is still staffed by personnel of the Coast Guard.
It is possible to visit the island and lighthouse with guided tours.

Source: Wikipedia.

Golden Gate Bridge

2008-10-23T16:55:00.005Z

I collect bridge cards and this is one of my favourites. As an interest note: it was photographed in the USA, printed in Korea and sent by rsaloranta from Finland! That’s what I call globalization!

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge built between 1933 and 1937 over the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay onto the Pacific Ocean. It is an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and it was designed by a group of architects and engineers lead by Joseph Strauss (overall design) and Irving Morrow (bridge towers and Art Deco elements).

Sadly, it’s one of the most popular sites to commit suicide in the world and there are suicide hotline telephones all over the bridge.

Source: Wikipedia

Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area

2008-10-23T15:45:00.007Z

This card was in my wish list for a long time until oopsdada, from China, sent it to me. I think it’s a wonderful scenery, specially the colours in it.

The Jiuzhaigou Valley (lit. Translation: Valley of Nine Villages) is located in Sichuan, China and it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It features colourful lakes and multi-layered waterfalls, forests and snowy mountains. The water in the lakes is crystal clear, allowing visitors to see their bottoms criss-crossed by ancient fallen tree trunks. The best time to visit is in the autumn because the forests turn into an attractive yellow, orange and red shade.

This site is definitely in my “to visit list”.

Source: Wikipedia.

St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral

2008-10-23T15:00:00.003Z

I received this beautiful card a while back from dj_christina, from Bulgaria. I love beautiful buildings and night views, so she really chose the right card for me! I love the golden colours and the dark blue of the night sky. Just perfect!

The postcard shows St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It’s the biggest cathedral in the country and it serves as the main church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It was built between 1904 and 1912, in honour of the soldiers who died in the Russo – Turkish War of 1877-1878. The church was designed by architect Alexander Pomerantsev and it’s named after St. Alexander Nevsky, the Grand Prince of Novgorod and Vladimir.
Nowadays, the cathedral holds in its crypt a museum of Bulgarian icons.

Source: Wikipedia.

The longest name

2008-10-23T14:19:00.006Z

Now, this is what I call a big name. In fact, a huge name. This village, located in Anglesey island in Wales, United Kingdom, has the privilege of being the longest officially recognized place name in the United Kingdom.

It is named Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (in the original welsh) or The church of Mary in the hollow of the white hazel near the fierce whirlpool and the church of Tysilio by the red cave (in an English translation). It has 58 letters in length and it’s known to locals as Llarfairpwll or simply Llanfair.
The name was created in the 19th Century as a way to increase tourism in the area. It was artificially created in the 1860s with the objective of turning it into the longest name in an UK railway station. Nowadays, it still is a touristic attraction and there are many places you can visit there, such as the Marquess of Anglesey’s Column (a monument built in honour of Henry Paget, the 1st Marquess of Anglesey for his heroism in the Battle of Waterloo) and the railway station where you can take pictures next to the station sign.

This beautiful card was sent by enigmaxuan, from Wales.

Source: Wikipedia