Krtek

This postcard I have got from Miroslav, from Czech Republic.

The Mole (in the Czech original called Krtek, or Krteček (little mole); Slovak Krtko; German Der kleine Maulwurf; Hungarian Kisvakond; Polish Krecik; Finnish Myyrä) is an animated character in a series of cartoons, created by Czech animator Zdeněk Miler.

It was first to be seen in 1956 in Prague, when Miler wanted to create a children's cartoon about how flax is processed. He wanted a strong Disney-influence to the cartoon by choosing an animal for the leading role, and decided to pick a mole after stumbling over a molehill during a walk. The first film called “Jak krtek ke kalhotkám přišel” (“How the mole got his pants”) was released in 1956, and the cute main character won itself an enormous popularity in many Eastern European countries as well as Germany, Austria, India and China. Production for further episodes started in 1963 and since then, around 50 episodes have been created.

The first episode of the cartoon was narrated, but Miler wanted the cartoon to be understood in every country of the world, so he decided to use his daughters as voice actors, reducing the speech to short non-figurative exclamations in order to express the mole’s feelings and world perception. They also became the bottleneck of the creation process as they were the ones who got to see the whole film first, thus Miler was able to decide whether the message of the movie was able to get to children or not (from here).

When I was younger it was one of my favourites cartoon. Well…still I spend a great time when I watch it or on TV or on youtube (for example from here).

Gift from my penfriend

This is another card from Czech Republic. However this postcard I have got from my great pen friend - Petra :) She sent me a postcard with the view which she sees every day :) I always want to live in this kind place :) It is a pity that we have not this kind houses and atmosphere on Polish city - or we have not that places there where I live.

   

The town of Velké Opatovice is situated in the middle part of Malá Haná, in so called Boskovice's furrow, below 50th parallel of the latitude.The local climate is mild, the lowest elevation is 388 metres above sea level, Hradisko, local highest hill, us 513 metres above sea level. (from here)

The first evidence of the settlement dates to 1308, when a contract shows the purchase of a town called Opatovice by the nearby Cimburk castle, today a ruin. 

The 'Velké' part of the name (meaning "great") was added in 1888, and the town became a city in 1969. 

The most significant estates in Velké Opatovice are those of the Vězník, Salm, and Herberštein families.

First written notes go back to 1308 when at a neighbouring castle Cimburk (ruined nowadays) was a buying contract concluded which concemed the purchase of Opatovice. Originally, Opatovice consisted of two independent parts - Horní and Dolní (Lower and Upper). Both parts developed independently till the 19th century. Since 1888 Opatovice has been called Velké Opatovice. The most important noble families who have resided at Opatovice are Věžník, Salm and Herberstein.

On 15th October 1969 Velké Opatovice obtained the status of the city.

In Velké Opatovice we can find also Cartographic Center. The centre hosts a permanent exhibition on the historical development of cartography. Subjects include the philosophy entailed in imagery of the Earth's surface on maps, and the history of the production of maps. The main auditorium displays a giant relief-map of historical Moravia and Silesia.

Gift from Czech

My first postcard :)

I have got it on my birthday which was on May ;)

Untypically-shaped card showing coates of arms of the cities in Czech Republic  :)