9th P&L Postcard Exchange

I love to being a member of P&L group :) I met there plenty o wonderful people :) From time to time members of that group make an exchange of postcards :) This time I've got a card from Beatriz from Spain :)

On a postcard we can see a view of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia (northern Spain). It's and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 and the destination of the St. James Way (Pilgrimage Route) . The view shows the main façade called: „OBRADOIRO” (what mean in Galician: "workshop”). 

Harbour

This lovely card I've got from 2 awesome Polish friends :)

Many thanks for you Gosia and Patricia :) You good know how to make a smile on my face :)

Moomin

I am not big fan of the Moomin - at least if we are talking about cartoons :) I prefer books with them ;) But it not mean that I wasn't very happy when I saw this what I found in the envelop with letter :)
These cards I've got from my Polish friends Patricia - a many thanks for you :)




Moomin - the main character, a spirited child with a keen sense of adventure and fun, and a generous spirit. He is Snufkin's best friend. He secretly has a crush on the Snork Maiden and expresses his emotions to her discreetly.

Little My - A small, mischievous and spiteful “Tomboy" little girl who is not afraid of anything. My is the little sister of the Mymble. When she wants something done, she does it straight away. She is very aggressive and often speaks rudely, but can be a good friend. She has a brash personality. She is red haired and her hair is always gathered in a pony tail. She always wears a simple red skirt.

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Anjun

This card I've got from my friend from The Netherlands. Thank you a lot (one more time:)) my dear Fiona.

Anjun it's a small country-side town with some about 1000 inhabitants. The church named "St. Michaëls" build in 1100. 

The little farm doesn't exist because it was destroyed some months ago. On farm place people want to build a Swedish house. 

The mill is a museum now. 

They have a lot of pastures, sheeps and cow. 

Seems it's a great place for me! Quiet and calm - full of relax :D 

Le port

This postcard I have got from private swap. A sender is from France. Merci beaucoup Delphine pour ta carte  :)   

La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente - Maritime departament (from wikipedia).

La Rochelle was founded in the 10th century as a fishing village which began to expand in the 12th century to reach its apogee in the following century through the wine and salt trade.

With the protestant coup d’état on January 9th 1568, the people of La Rochelle opted for the reformed side. The city then acquired the status of free city. But in 1628, Louis XIII and Richelieu laid siege to the city, which threatened the latter's policy of unification, for thirteen months. Faced with famine, the city fell and found itself without a town hall and stripped of its privileges.

Sea trade helped it back to its former glory, especially thanks to regular interchange with New France and the West Indies. From 1694, trade picked up as did the intellectual renaissance and artistic influence.

In the 19th century, wars and the French Revolution put the city into a stupor until the creation of the port of La Pallice in 1890. During the Second World War this became a German submarine base. In 1945, La Rochelle was the last French city to be liberated but luckily escaped major damage (from http://www.ville-larochelle.fr)

Sweden

This is the next postcard which I have got from my dear penfriend. Thank you J.

Lund, situated in the centre of the attractive and expansive Öresund region in southern Sweden, is one of the oldest cities in Sweden with a history more than one thousand years old. Over the centuries it has earned a reputation for being a place where people meet, and, today, more than ever, Lund is a meeting place for ideas and creativity.

Here, the university, science-park, multicultural atmosphere and historical surroundings make up a unique combination. This, along with its central situation, has turned Lund into an international city where ideas are born - ideas that build enterprises and achieve success both nationally and internationally (from here).

Twin towns — sister cities (from Wikipedia):

• Viborg Municipality – Denmark
• Hamar – Norway
• Porvoo – Finland
• Dalvík – Iceland
• Nevers – France
• León – Nicaragua
• Greifswald – Germany
• Zabrze - Poland

The Jolly Fisherman

On the postcard you can see the Jolly Fisherman. It is the statue and fountain which you can find in Skegness J.

Skegness is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Located on the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, 69 km east of the city of Lincoln it has a total resident population of 18,910 (from Wikipedia).

The Jolly Fisherman it is a local mascot, designed by John Hassall in 1908 for the Great Northern Railway), and a slogan - "Skegness is so bracing" - a reference to the chilly prevailing north-easterly winds that can and frequently do blow off the North Sea. The slogan is thought to have come from an unknown member of staff of the railway. The poster was first seen at Easter in conjunction with an excursion from Kings Cross Station. The last of these trips ran in 1913 (from Wikipedia). 

Afon Teifi

I have got this postcard from my penpal - Heidi. Thank you a lot my dear friend, you made my day with this card! 

The River Teifi forms the boundary between the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in south-west Wales for most of its 75 mile length, flowing into the sea below the town of Cardigan.

The Teifi has its source in Llyn Teifi, one of several lakes known collectively as the Teifi Pools. These are situated towards the north of the county of Ceredigion. This wide area of Mid-Wales, with a very sparse population, is part of what is sometimes called the "desert of Wales". The river flows past Strata Florida Abbey and then through Pontrhydfendigaid before reaching the main river valley floor. Here it passes through one of the great raised mires of Britain, Gors Goch Glan Teifi, also known as Tregaron Bog. Over the next 30 miles, the Teifi meanders generally south-west in a gentle arc, passing through the towns and villages of Tregaron, Llanddewi Brefi, Cwmann, Lampeter, Llanybydder, Llandysul, Newcastle Emlyn, Cenarth, Llechryd and finally Cardigan. The river becomes tidal below Llechryd and descends into Cardigan through the steep-sided Cilgerran Gorge. Below Cardigan, the river broadens into a wide estuary, passing the seaside resort of Poppit Sands before finally entering the sea in Cardigan Bay (from).

Postcard from Bali

This postcard I received from my dearest friend who lives in Indonesia. Thank you my dear Corryn.

Besakih Temple is the biggest Hindu temple in Bali which the local people call Pura Besakih. It owns beautiful view from the top of temple area where we can see the wide nature panorama until to the ocean so that way this temple is many visited by tourists from all over the world. Besakih Temple is located in Besakih countryside, Rendang sub district, Karangasem regency, east part of the island. It is located in southwest side bevel of mount Agung, the biggest mounts in Bali. It is because pursuant to Agung Mount confidence is holiest and highest mount in Bali Island (from here)

The temple is actually a complex made up of twenty-two temples that sit on parallel ridges. It has stepped terraces and flights of stairs which ascend to a number of courtyards and brick gateways that lead up to the main spire Meru structure, which is called Pura Penataran Agung. All this is aligned along a single axis and designed to lead the spiritual upward and closer to the mountain which is considered sacred.

The symbolic center or main sanctuary of the complex is the Pura Penataran Agung and and the lotus throne or padmasana is the symbolic center of the main sanctuary and ritual focus of the entire complex. It dates to around the seventeenth century.

A series of eruptions of Mount Agung in 1963, which killed approximately 1,700 people also threatened Puru Besakih. The lava flows missed the temple complex by mere meters. The saving of the temple is regarded by the Balinese people as miraculous, and a signal from the gods that they wished to demonstrate their power but not destroy the monument the Balinese faithful had erected (from here)

Un lettre du Canada

I received these 2 postcards from my dearest pen pal from Canada. She is my first penfriend from that country. I hope we will stay friends for many many years J

Canada is on my list of country which I would like to visit before I'll die J

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America. Originally called Ville-Marie, or “City of Mary”, the city takes its present name from Mont-Royal, the triple-peaked hill located in the heart of the city, whose name was also initially given to the island on which the city is located, or Mont Réal as it was spelled in Middle French, (Mont Royal in present French).

The city is consistently rated as one of the world's most livable cities, was called “Canada's Cultural Capital” by Monocle Magazine and recently was named a UNESCO City of Design. Though historically the commercial capital of Canada, it was surpassed in population, as well as economic strength, by Toronto after 1976. Today it continues as an important centre of commerce, aerospace, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, culture, tourism, film and world affairs.

Montreal is located in the southwest of the province of Quebec. The city proper covers most of the Island of Montreal at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. The port of Montreal lies at one end of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which is the river gateway that stretches from the Great Lakes into the Atlantic Ocean. Montreal is defined by its location in between the St. Lawrence river on its south, and by the Rivière des Prairies on its north. The city is named after the most prominent geographical feature on the island, a three-head hill called Mount Royal, topped at 232 m above sea level.

Montreal is at the centre of the Montreal Metropolitan Community, and is bordered by the city of Laval to the north, Longueuil, Saint-Lambert, Brossard, and other municipalities to the south, Repentigny to the east and the West Island municipalities to the west. The anglophone enclaves of Westmount, Montreal West, Hampstead, Côte Saint-Luc, the Town of Mount Royal and the francophone enclave Montreal East are all entirely surrounded by the city of Montreal (from wikipedia)

Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, (French: Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal), is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine on the west slope of Mount Royal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

St. Joseph's Oratory is a great basilica with a giant copper dome built in honor of St. Joseph, patron saint of Canada. The massive edifice, high on the slopes of Mount Royale in Quebec, belies its simple origins as the dream of a humble lay brother named Brother André. Pilgrims still come from all over North America to pray for healing at the shrine of Fr. André, who was canonized a saint in 2010.

At 263 m (863 ft.), the shrine of St. Joseph is the highest point in Montréal. Its dome is second in size only to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The basilica is largely Italian Renaissance in style, its dome recalling the shape of the Duomo in Florence, but of much greater size and somewhat less grace. Inside are outstanding sculptures, stained glass (depicting 10 scenes from Canadian religious history) and other artworks.

Liturgical music and concerts are provided by a great organ (with 5,811 pipes), a carillion in 56 bells in their own building, and a choir school.

Also inside is a museum dedicated to Saint André, where a central exhibit is hisembalmed heart. The heart was stolen in 1972 but recovered two years later.

Outside, a Way of the Cross lined with sculptures was the setting of scenes for the film Jesus of Montréal. Brother André's wooden chapel, with his tiny bedroom, is on the grounds and open to the public.

Pilgrims, some ill, come to seek intercession from St. Joseph and St. André and often climb the middle set of 100 steps on their knees (http://www.sacred-destinations.com)

Valle d'Aosta

My next postcard I received from Davide. We exchange some postcards J In this town he spend every vacation since 1983.

Cogne is a town and comune in Aosta Valley, northern Italy. Cogne is located in the valley with the same name, leading to the Gran Paradiso massif Ibex, wild goat, marmots, royal eagles are easy to see. Many walks and hikes of different level, to lakes, waterlfalls and other natural attraction.

In the winter Cogne offers 70 km of cross country skiing, 9 km down hill, many walks on the snow and more than 140 icefalls.

30th State of America

This is a postcard which I received from Beth. :) Thank you :)

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is considered part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is Madison, and its largest city is Milwaukee. It’s 30th state of US (from wikipedia)

State Motto: Forward - Reflecting Wisconsin's continuous drive to be a national leader, the state adopted "Forward" as the official state motto in 1851

State Song: On Wisconsin! - The rhythmic and rousing beats of "On Wisconsin," already a popular football song since 1909, began filling the air as the official state song in 1959.

State Flower: Wood Violet - Adopted as Wisconsin's official state flower on Arbor Day 1909, the wood violet's gentle green leaves and purple petals sway in the breeze reflecting Wisconsin's scenic beauty.

State Bird: Robin - A welcome sign of the coming spring, the red-breasted robin won the hearts of school children across the state, who voted to name it the state bird in 1926-27.

State Tree: Sugar Maple -  With its bright yellow fall colors, and its delectable spring harvest of sweet maple sugar, the sugar maple became the state's official tree in 1949.

State Fish: Muskellunge - Source of many monster fish stories in the state's famed Northwoods, the "muskie" leapt into the state books as the official state fish in 1955.

State Animal: Badger - Closely associated with Wisconsin since the territorial days, the ferocious Badger has lent its likeness to the state's coat of arms, flag, and song, and is even the proud mascot of the University of Wisconsin.

State Wildlife Animal: White-Tailed Deer - The white-tailed deer, in all its grace and power, perked its ears as it was appointed the state wildlife animal in 1957.

State Domesticated Animal: Dairy Cow - State Domesticated Animal: Dairy Cow (Bos taurus) Reflecting the importance of the dairy industry in Wisconsin's economy and heritage, the docile dairy cow became the state domesticated animal of "America's Dairyland" in 1971.

State Mineral: Galena - A combination of abundance, uniqueness, economic value, historical significance and native nature lead to the appointment of Galena as the state mineral in 1971.

State Insect: Honey Bee - The state recognized the sweet contributions of the honeybee as it buzzed from blossom to blossom in 1977.

State Soil: Antigo Silt Loam - Created during the last great glaciers, the level, silty soil was chosen to represent the more than 500 major soil types found in Wisconsin.

State Fossil: Trilobite - Flourishing in the warm, shallow salt waters of prehistoric seas, the extinct marine arthropod crawled its way into the state record in 1985 as the state fossil.

State Dog: American Water Spaniel - Full of life, and always ready to spring into action for the hunt, the American water spaniel won the hearts of the citizens of Wisconsin, who selected it as the state dog in 1985

State Beverage: Milk - The perfect complement to cookies, "America's Dairyland" chose to make milk the official beverage of the state to echo its abundant dairy heritage in 1987.

State Grain: Corn - Used for everything from livestock feed, to ethanol fuel, to the cornerstone of a delectable summer barbecue, corn was made the official state grain in 1989 to bring attention to its many uses.

State Dance: Polka - Reflecting the rich Czech-Polish and German heritage found throughout the state, the Polka was adopted as the newest state symbol, the official state dance, in 1993.

All informations about Wisconsin’s symbol I took from http://www.wisconsin.gov

Puffins

This postcard I receive from my dear friend from Iceland. 


Puffins are any of three small species of auk (or alcids) in the bird genus Fratercula with a brightly coloured beak during the breeding season. These are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs or offshore islands, nesting in crevices among rocks or in burrows in the soil. Two species, the Tufted Puffin and Horned Puffin, are found in the North Pacific Ocean, while the Atlantic Puffin is found in the North Atlantic Ocean.

All puffin species have predominantly black or black and white plumage, a stocky build, and large beaks. They shed the colourful outer parts of their bills after the breeding season, leaving a smaller and duller beak. Their short wings are adapted for swimming with a flying technique under water. In the air, they beat their wings rapidly (up to 400 times per minute) in swift flight, often flying low over the ocean's surface.

There are migratory birds that arrived in Iceland in April. Their breeding and fledgling season span from May until September, after which the puffins leave for the open Atlantic ocean.

Their nest rest at ent of approximately metre-long burrowed tunnels. Rhese tunnels riddle the ground here the puffins colonize on cliff faces, grassy islands and mountain ledges near the sea.

Petrograd

Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербург, tr. Sankt-Peterburg) is a city and a federal subject (a federal city) of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. In 1914 the name of the city was changed to Petrograd (Russian: Петроград), in 1924 to Leningrad (Russian: Ленинград,) and in 1991 back to Saint Petersburg.

In Russian literature and informal documents the "Saint" (Санкт-) is usually omitted, leaving Petersburg (Петербург, Peterburg). In common parlance Russians may drop "-burg" (-бург) as well, leaving only Peter (Питер, pronounced as "Piter").

Saint Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on 27 [O.S. 16 May] 1703. From 1713 to 1728 and from 1732 to 1918, Saint Petersburg was the capital of Russia. In 1918 the central government bodies moved from Saint Petersburg (then named Petrograd) to Moscow. It is Russia's second largest city after Moscow with 4.6 million inhabitants. Saint Petersburg is a major European cultural centre, and an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea.

Saint Petersburg is often described as the most Western city of Russia. Among cities of the world with over one million people, Saint Petersburg is the northernmost. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saint Petersburg is also home to The Hermitage, the largest art museum in the world. A large number of foreign consulates, international corporations, banks and other businesses are located in Saint Petersburg. (from wikipedia)

Third P&L exchange postcards :)

This postcard I received from Samantha. She lives in north west area in Italy, in Cigliano.

It is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Vercelli in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 35 km northeast of Turin and about 30 km west of Vercelli. She wrote that her town it's still quiet place, even with 4500 inhabitants. 

Siegessäule

This postcard I found in my mailbox few days ago. The sender is…my dear friend Marta. The card showed Siegessäule – The Victory Column in Berlin. Thank you, thank you and one more time: thank you :)

It is a monument in Berlin, Germany. Designed by Heinrich Strack after 1864 to commemorate the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian War, by the time it was inaugurated on 2 September 1873, Prussia had also defeated Austria in the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and France in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71), giving the statue a new purpose. Different from the original plans, these later victories in the so-called unification wars inspired the addition of the bronze sculpture of Victoria, 8,3 meters high and weighing 35 tonnes, designed by Friedrich Drake. Berliners, with their fondness for giving nicknames to buildings, call the statue Goldelse, meaning something like "Golden Lizzy".

The total height of the column with the statue is 66,89 m. The columns are inside the stairs (285 steps) leading to situated at a height of 50,66 m viewing platform.

If you have claustrophobia – better do not try go on the viewing platform, however…view from this platform is magnificent. Also you should know that inside the Victory Column you will not find the elevator ;) 

Asti

Asti is a city and comune of c. 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River. It is the capital of the province of Asti and it is deemed to be the modern capital of Monferrato (Montferrat in English).

The Collegiata di San Secondo (13th century) in the old medieval centre next to the Palazzo Civico. Its name refers toSecundus of Asti, the city's patron saint. The crypt is from the 6th century. The façade has three notable Gothic portals, while the interior houses a polyptych by Gandolfino d'Asti and other works.

Greetings from the mountains :)

This postcard I receive from one of my good Polish friends  - Ania :). She and her family were in Muszyna on vacation in this year :) Dziękuję Aniu :)

Muszyna is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. It is a railroad junction, located near border with Slovakia, with trains going into three directions - towards Nowy Sącz, Krynica-Zdrój and southwards, to Slovakia. 

New Zealand

First at all I must say: Big thank you to my wonderful friends Marta and her boyfriend to willingness to send me this postcard to expand my postcard's collection :) :)

On this postcard are some national symbols from New Zealand. So we have:

• the fern - Cyathea dealbata, or the silver tree fern or silver fern (kaponga or ponga in the Māori language), is a species of medium-sized tree fern, endemic to New Zealand. It is a symbol commonly associated with the country both overseas and by New Zealanders themselves (they have this plant on their sports uniforms), 
• Paua - Paua is unique to New Zealand. The most colourful species of Abalone. Regarded by New Zealanders past and present as a taonga or treasure. Maori legend has it that paua was a special gift from Tangaroa, the God of The Sea. It is unique to New Zealand, that lives on the rocky shoreline all around the coast, but grows best in the waters of southern NZ. This marine mollusk eats seaweed and lives clinging to rocks at depths of 1-10 meters, normally along the shoreline. Paua Shell is the most colorful of all the abalone shells. Most other abalone are pale in comparison.
• The Pōhutukawa is a coastal evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, that produces a brilliant display of red flowers made up of a mass of stamens. The Pōhutukawa is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. Renowned for its vibrant colour and its ability to survive even perched on rocky, precarious cliffs, it has found an important place in New Zealand culture for its strength and beauty and is regarded as a chiefly tree (rākau rangatira) by Māori. It's Christmas Tree on New Zealand :)  
• Koru is the Maori word for “bight” or “loop” and refers to new shoots of the silver fern. The spiral shaped koru design is derived from this unfolding silver fern frond. The circular movment towards an inner coil refers to ‘going back to the beginning’.  The unfurling frond itself is symbolic for new life, hope, perfection, rebirth, a new start, awakening, personal growth, purity, nurturing, a new phase (in life), the spirit of rejuvenation, and peace. The koru design is an integral symbol in Maori art forms. Both on itself as well as incorporated in more intricate designs.

Here is the post-stamp from the card with....The Pōhutukawa :)

Greetings from Hannover

This postcard came to me from Hannover. I've receive it as "thank you" card from Michael, who collect postcards with town hall. And because I had one on this theme - we swap some cards:)

Hannover is the capital city of Lower Saxony. On card you can see The Market Church. this building is one of the oldest churches in that town, built in the 13th century and is considered the southernmost exemplar of the "North German brick gothic" (Norddeutsche Backsteingotik) architectural style. It was nearly totally destroyed in World War II, but rebuilt from 1946 until 1952.

The church is a “Hallenkirche” (“hall church”) which means that the sidenaves are as high as the middle nave. Above the three naves rises a monumental saddleback roof. The high western tower was a symbol for the power and the wealth of the citizens of the town. Until today it's one of the largest in Lower-Saxony.