Friday 25 March 2011

Slovenia. Maribor and Sečovlje.

SI-36399
Sender: beki 
Solt works of Sečovlje.

The village was once the centre of Slovenian salt producing, now its main source of income is tourism at the Sečovlje Salina nature park. (Wikipedia)


SI-36219
Sender: jakainpetra 
Maribor.


Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia. It lies on the river Drava at the meeting point of the Pohorje mountain, the Drava Valley, the Drava Plain, and the Kozjak and Slovenske gorice hill ranges. Maribor's coat of arms features a white dove flying downwards above a white castle with two towers and a portcullis on a red shield. (Wikipedia)

This card was sent by a 10-year-old boy.  His only message on the back side of the card was hand-written and it was so cute to read it!

Germany. Island Rugen

DE-852634
Sender: Bommelfisch 
Island Rugen. Cape Arkona

Rügen is Germany's largest island located in off the north-eastern coast of co untry in the Baltic Sea. It is much mythologised in the German national imagination. Frequented in the late 19th and early 20th century by the country’s good and great, including Bismarck, Thomas Mann and Einstein, its chalk coastline was also immortalised by Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich in 1818. 

Cape Arkona is the tip of the Wittow peninsula, just a few kilometres north of the Jasmund National Park. 
(Wikipedia and lonelyplanet.com)
  

China. Beijing

CN-341668
Sender: Susan-S 
Beijing. Summer Palace

The Summer Palace is mainly dominated by Longevity Hill (60 meters high) and the Kunming Lake. It covers an expanse of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is water. The central Kunming Lake covering 2.2 square kilometers was entirely man made and the excavated soil was used to build Longevity Hill. In the Summer Palace, one finds a variety of palaces, gardens, and other classical-style architectural structures. The Summer Palace started out life as the Garden of Clear Ripples in 1750. (Wikipedia)
 

Belorus. Minsk

BY-157201
Sender: lohmatiy 
Belarus. Minsk.  Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and St.Joseph Chathedral

The Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is actually the former church of the Bernardine convent. It was built in the simplified Baroque style in 1642–87 and went through renovations in 1741–46 and 1869.

St.Joseph Chathedral is formerly affiliated with the Bernardine monastery, built in 1644–52 and repaired in 1983.
(Wikipedia) 

Sweden. Gotland, Lärbro.

CA-155546
Sender: xiaolu 
Gotland, Interior of a church in Lärbro (Lärbro kyrka).

Gotland is a county, province, municipality and diocese of Sweden and the largest island in the Baltic Sea. It has sometimes been called the Pearl of the Baltic. The island is the home of the Gutes (the tribal name of the Gotlandic people).

Lärbro kyrka is one of Gotland's largest churches. It was built of stone earlier then XII cent: remnains from XI cent were found in the north portal. The interior is counted as the most beautiful on Gotland. Church was restored in 1953-1955 after a proposal by the architect Olle Karth. (Wikipedia and guteinfo.com)

One more card with a story: in was sent for Canada from Sweden (Stokholm) by a Chinese guy.
 

Estonia. Pärnu

Lighthouse RR #56
Sender: Lissel (card sent from Germany)
Estonia. Pärnu. Mole
Pärnu - is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga. (Wikipedia)

I LOVE Estonian cards! They are so peaceful and just lovely :)

Russia. Nizhniy Novgorod

Just viewcards RR #80
Sender: Gerbera
Nizhny Novgorod. Nizhnevolzhskaya Embankment, Elias Mountain and Kremlin.

Nizhny Novgorod is a fifth most populous city in Russia. Located in the heart of the East European Plain at the confluence of rivers Oka and Volga . Oka divides the city into two parts - the upper to the lower Diatlovy (Woodpeckers) mountains and on her left low-lying coast. In the period from 1932 to 1990, the city was known as Gorky after the writer Maxim Gorky who was born there.

The stone Kremlin of XVI cent.on the historic center of N.Novgorod is two kilometers red-brick fortress with 13 watchtowers. There were many churches in the Kremlin, but till today, only Archangel Michael Cathedral, built no later than the middle of the XVI cent. and rebuilt in 1628-1631, is the oldest surviving building. The historical center of N.Novgorod, located on the mountainous part of the city, despite significant restructuring has kept a significant number of historic civil structures XVIII - early XX centuries, including the numerous monuments of wooden architecture. (Wikipedia)

Russia. St.Petersburg

RU-339845
Sender: mr_krevch
St.Petersburg. Palace bridge.

Palace bridge is a road traffic and foot bascule bridge spanning the Neva River in Saint Petersburg between Palace Square and Vasilievsky Island. Like every other Neva bridge (except for Big Obukhovsky Bridge), it is drawn by night, making foot travel between various parts of the city virtually impossible. The total length of Palace Bridge is 260.1 meters, width is 27.8 meters. It is actually composed of five spans, the southernmost joining Palace Embankment between Winter Palace and Admiralty and leading to Palace Square. Construction of the cast-iron bridge was started in 1912, but the work was delayed by World War I and the bridge was not opened to the public until December 23, 1916. (Wikipedia)
 

Finlandю Petäjävesi

FI-1028885
Sender: Huppu68 
Petäjävesi Old Church (1764)
Petäjävesi Old Church is a wooden church located in Petäjävesi, Finland. It was built between 1763 and 1765. The clock tower that has been built in 1821 is connected to it. UNESCO considered it to be a representative Lutheran church of the Scandinavian tradition, mixing Renaissance with older Gothic architectural elements. (Wikipedia)

Japan.

JP-156034
Sender: snowleopard
Izumo Taisha Shrine: Kiccho shinju.
Izumo Taisha is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan. No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god Ōkuninushi (Ōkuninushi-no-mikoto), famous as the Shinto deity of marriage. (Wikipedia)

Belarus.

BY-150578
Sender: shumilka
St.Boris and St. Gleb’s church (Kalozha church) in Grodno (XII cent) * Lake Naroch * The castle ruins in Smoliany (XVII cent) Vitebsk region.

The SS. Boris and Gleb (Kalozha) Church in the city of Hrodna was built in 1180s by architect Pyotr Milaneh on the high right bank of the river Nieman, opposite the Castle Hill, in the territory of the former Kalozha settlement. In the XVI andXVII cent. it was restored, in 1853 it was partially destroyed by a landslide, in 1889 the southern apse collapsed. In 1910 and in 1935 conservation works were undertaken, and in 1970, 1985-1987 conservation and repair works were carried out. (unesco.org)
This site is in UNESCO Tentative list since 2004.

Smolyany is a small village in Orsha district, Vitebsk region. In XVI-XVII centuries. these lands were possessed by the princes of Ostrog, Kurbsky, Sangushko. Obviously, Sangushko laid the castle in the first quarter of the XVII century. The destruction of derelict castle began in the late of XVIII cent. and ended in the middle of the XIX cent. when the remains of it were sold for bricks. Currently, the ruins of an imposing five-level tower with window openings, traces the inner spiral staircase, arched passage, sculptural panels on the wall, etc. (globus.tut.by)

Poland. WrocŁaw

PL-182371
Sender: asik2227
WrocŁaw. Wroclaw bridges.
 
Bridge Zwierzyniecki - is located in the eastern part of the Wrocław, Poland. The bridge spans the Oder River and is in the immediate vicinity of Wrocław Zoo and the exhibition grounds about Centennial Hall. The bridge was built around 1655 and was originally wooden. Between 1895 and 1897, Karl Klimm designed a new bridge under the supervision of the city architect, Richard Plüddemann and with the help of engineer A. Fruhwirth. The new truss bridge is a single-span steel structure, supported by granite abutments and consists of two parallel-braced rib steel arches placed 12.5 metres apart.(Wikipedia)

Bridge  Grunwaldzki a suspension bridge over the river Oder of steel, riveted, bearing elements are supported on pylons masonry of brick and granite oblicowanych, with a height of 20 m. Built in 1908-1910 under the bridge was build a new route (the present com. Grunwaldzkiego) constituting a diagonal connection between the city and the draft national housing estates in the Northeast. Initially, the bridge was called the Imperial (Kaiserbrücke), then the bridge of Liberty (Freiheitsbrücke). Architectural designer of the bridge was a city councilor Richard Plüddemann construction, the contractor has Beuchelt u. Co.. the Green Mountains. The bridge opened on 10 October 1910 in the presence of Emperor Wilhelm II. (Wikipedia)

Most Tumski - is a steel bridge over the north branch of the Oder river in Wrocław, Poland. Constructed in 1889 it replaced an old wooden bridge to connect Ostrów Tumski and Wyspa Piaskowa. Until 1945, its name was Dombrücke. It is an old road bridge now open to pedestrians only.




I have another card in my collection  with this bridge. That "Thank you" card was received from Ksenia (orange_dreamer).

Thursday 24 March 2011

Portugal. Algarve

PT-169023
Sender: PilotOne 
Algarve

Another wonderful view of this seaside town. And my beloved windmill!
 

Japan. Okinava

10x10 RR #9
Sender: X2-Monkey (sent from China)
Okinawa street view

Austria. Wien

AT-73285
Sender: eibhlin 
Wien

Very colorful and very MULTY view card :)

United Kingdom. Scotland

GB-209455
Sender: ginte 
Pipers playng the traditional sounds of Scotland


Estonia. Tallinn

10x10 RR #9
Sender: elgee
Tallinn
Tallinn  is the capital and largest city of Estonia. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In 2011 Tallinn is a European Capital of Culture!

I've been to Tallinn about 8 years ago. And liked this not so big, but very nice city. Especially, its tiny streets of Old Town.

USA. Michigan

Churches RR #147
Sender: ekintheusa
Old Indian Mission, Old Mission, Michigan. 
This old, old original Indian school is said to be the oldest Indian Mission in the entire Region. 

Taiwan

TW-269771
Sender: EmmyAi

Racoons

US-1038163
Sender: jezzi45 

Taiwan

NDC RR #118 
Sender: melolo

This card shows Yu-Tzu's campus.



Australia. Kangaroo Island

AU-126365
Sender: Rosejoy
South Australia, Kangaroo Island. Cape Willoughby Lighthouse. Cape Borda Lighthouse. Cape du Conedic Lighthouse.


USA. Indiana

US-1026970
Sender: gmur2much 
Evansville, Indiana. Korean War Memorial.

This card is made from a photo taken by Gwen.

Portugal. Lisbon

PT-169255
Sender: Roands_31
Lisbon. April the 25th bridge over “Tejo” River.

April the 25th bridge is a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon, capital of Portugal, to the municipality of Almada on the left (south) bank of the Tejo river. It was inaugurated on August 6, 1966. Because of its similar coloring, it is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA. With a total length of 2,277 m, it is the 20th largest suspension bridge in the world. Until The Carnation Revolution in 1974, the bridge was named Salazar Bridge.

“Tejo” River (in English, Tagus) is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula.




Cat

RU-352291 
Sender: flamea 

My beloved cats :) 

Russia. Lake Baikal

10x10 RR #9
Sender: siguanea
Baikal. Olkhon - heart of Baikal.
Olkhon is the third-largest lake-bound island in the world. It is by far the largest island in Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia, with an area of 730 square kilometres.

For me it was a great surprise to know that there are islands in Baikal!!! 

Holland. Windmills

Just viewcrads RR #80
Sender: Amapola11

My favorite windmills! I loved these constructions always, but only after joining Postcrossing I became a great their fan :) Al well as for lighthouses :)

This card has a story: it is from a Spanish user, showing Holland and sent from Cologne (Germany)!

 

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Turkey. Istanbul

SK-12916
Sender: Rumcajsik
Emirgan Grove is a wooded area on the hills facing the Bosphorus above Emirgan. Kiosks, built as gifts to the sultan by the family of the governor of Egypt, are surrounded by large and well-kept gardens and serve today as restaurants and cafes. Emirgan Grove is one of the richest parts of huge existence of trees of the Bosphorus that reaches today from the ancient times.

Card arrived from Slovakia. 

Czech Republic. Jihlavsko

CZ-101767
Sender: Sotova
Jihlavsko (Jihlava region). Church in Batelov. Třešť castle. Square in Jihlava. Telč. Batelov castle. Roštejn. Telč

Bulgaria

BG-8177
Sender: fca777
Srebarna Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake adjacent to the Danube and extending over 600 ha. It is the breeding ground of almost 100 species of birds, many of which are rare or endangered.
UNESCO site since 1983. 


Estonia

EE-96479
Sender: namaril
Vasalemma manor. Kuremaa windmill. Marsh Helleborine.

Vasalemma is a small borough in Harju County, northwestern Estonia. Vasalemma manor was founded in 1825 and has belonged both to the von Ramms and von Baggehufwudts. The Vasalemma manor house is one of Estonia’s most beautiful bare limestone Neo-Gothic manor houses and it was completed in 1894. The building now houses a school.

Kuremaa windmill is a restored stone windmill of a so-called Dutch type windmill, as is more common in mainland Estonia. These windmills are usually made out of stone and only their heads can turn. Windmill was built around 1860-1870 and served until approximately 1930. During the Soviet regime it was tried to make a silo out of it by burning the interior. In the 1980s it was used as a place for parties by youngsters from Kuremaa. Finally the windmill was restored with help of the European Regional Development Fund in 2008.
  

 

USA. Washington and Ohio

Just viewcrads RR #80
Sender: Gabigabs
Seattle, Washington.
Space Needle is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. The Space Needle is 184 m high at its highest point and 42 m wide at its widest point. When it was completed it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River.

















































10x10 RR #9
Sender: emotis
Ohio wildlife
Raccons, along cats, are ones of my favorite animals. They are cute, although very nasty and provides many troubles. But yet these bandit faces make my heart melt :)
  

Gibraltar

ES-106827
Sender: bogdanovskaya
Gibraltar. The Rock
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of 6.843 square kilometres (2.642 sq mi), it has a northern border with Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region. At its foot is the densely populated city area, home to almost 30,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities. 

Spain. Barcelona

10x10 RR #9
Sender: Amapola11 
Partial view of placa de Sant Felip Neri de Barcelona.

Russia. Putorana Plateau

10x10 RR #9 
Sender: airatson79
Putorana Plateau 
Putorana Plateau is a high-lying basalt plateau, a mountainous area at the northwestern edge of the Central Siberian Plateau, to the south from Taymyr Peninsula. The plateau is composed of Siberian Traps. The geographical center of Russia, Lake Vivi, is situated on Putorana Plateau.
In July 2010, the Putorana Reserve was inscribed on the World Heritage List as "a complete set of subarctic and arctic ecosystems in an isolated mountain range, including pristine taiga, forest tundra, tundra and arctic desert systems, as well as untouched cold-water lake and river systems". 

 
10x10 RR #6
Sender: larvasa
"The kitten named Woof" is a series of cartoons by Lion Atamanov, based on tales by Grigory Oster.  Series describe adventures of a kitten with the unusual name Woof and his friend's dog Sharik. 

This cartoon character was one of my favorites. My elder son Nikita likes it a lot as well :) 


USA. Michigan and Pennsylvania

Lighthouse RR #56
Sender: sunnyme
South Haven’s South Pier Lighthouse marks the harbor entrance of this resort community along the shores of Lake Michigan.



Just viewcards RR #80
Sender: mangofreee
Butler County Courthouse as viewed from Diamond Park, Butler.
The current structure is the third courthouse to have been built for the county. James P. Bailey, who was responsible for the construction of Old Main at Geneva College became the architect of the new courthouse after the second one was destroyed by a fire in 1883. Bailey's courthouse still stands today, and is currently the tallest structure in downtown Butler.
The Butler County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

 

USA. Texas

US-1028237
Sender: samarg
Texas. Discover the many faces of the Lone Star State: a hill country meadow covered in bluebonnets, a solemn night view of the historical Alamo, and a fiery Gulf Coast sunset.