Alhana's Postcards

Kaiserstrasse

This was Kaiserstrasse, or Imperial Street, in old Königsberg, East Prussia (nowadays Kaliningrad, Russia).

Igor is 12 years old and has joined Postcrossing because he would like to send postcards around the world. I suppose he is learning English through this project with the help of his parents and teachers. Well done!

Kremlins

On the flip side, more stamps from the Kremlin series issued in 2009: one 4 R (Nizhny Novgorod) top left, one 1 R (Astrakhan) bottom left and two 10 R (Moscow) on the right.

Postcard from: Kaliningrad, Russia.
Received: May 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.

Stamps: one 4 R (Nizhny Novgorod kremlin), one 1 R (Astrakhan kremlin) and two 10 R (Moscow kremlin).

Спасибо, Igor!
{RU-987498}

Tō-ji

This breathtaking sunset view is Kyōōgokoku-ji, the five storied pagoda of Kyoto, also known as Tō-ji ("East temple"). It is one of the historic monuments of ancient Kyoto that were declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. They are part of the Japanese history from the times when Kyoto was the capital of the country. The temple is located in the ward of Minami.

As a note side, I love Japanese Western handwriting. It has an unique air! I would show it here if it weren't so unpolite towards the sender.

Bee (left) & modern art painting Dancers (right)

What do people think about when they hear Kyoto? Geishas, of course. It wouldn't be a proper Kyoto card if it hadn't some geishas on it. Besides the stamp of a modern art painting of women wearing kimono, there is a little cute sticker of a geisha apprentice alongside my address. ♪
The stamp on the left depicts a bee (I love Japanese culture of respecting and admiring the nature in all its aspects) and the one on the right is a painting called Dancers and issued in 1980 as part of the series Japanese Modern Art.

Postcard from: Kyoto, Japan.
Received: May 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one bee 20 yen and one modern art painting 50 yen.

Thank you so much, Reiko!
{JP-269068}

Victorian Houses

Danielle went out for holidays too and sent me this wonderful card of San Francisco's famous Victorian houses and city skyline. The lighting of this picture is just amazing because despite having the cold colours on the front and the warm ones on the back you don't miss the perspective at all.

Postcard from: San Francisco, California, USA.
Received: August 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: $1.05 amish carriage at Pensilvannia county stamp. ♥

Thank you very much!!

Collegium Maius

Marcelina is a student and sent me this card of the Collegium Maius, the oldest part of the main University in Krakow.

At first, in 1400, it was a building with lecture halls, later a library, and now this is also a museum of Jagiellan University. There are beautiful historic rooms with original furnitures, collection of the European art or science instruments. Three times a day, the courtyard clock performs little show with wooden figures of kings and famous professors parading to solemn music.

I wish you could see her handwriting. Gorgeous! I had received cards from other postcrossers from Poland with a similar style. ♥

Watteau's Standing woman

The stamp is Watteau's 18th century Standing woman (Stojąca kobieta zwrócona tyłem pocz. XVIII w.) from a series of Lost works of art issued in 2011.

Postcard from: Czestochowa, Poland.
Received: May 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 3 zl with Watteau's Lost works of art.

Thank you, Marcelina!
{PL-437800}

Piața Unirii in Focșani

This postcard marked a milestone on my postcrossing stats: postcard number 50! That meant I could send ten cards at a time, which I actually don't (because I don't have the money). Mircea sent it from his hometown. He is on top 5 senders from Romania.

Piața Unirii means Unification Square and is located in downtown Focșani. The obelisc is called Monument of the Unification.

Pulmonaria officinalis (left) & Amaranthus caudatus (right)

Two beautiful nature stamps from 2012. The Pulmonaria officinalis is 1L and is paired with the brown bear; the Amaranthus caudatus (love-lies-bleeding) is 60 bani and comes with the turkey.

Postcard from: Focșani, Moldavia, Romania.
Received: May 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 1L and another 60 bani from the animals and flowers series.

Thanks, Mircea!
{RO-43719}

I came back home from my holidays to find these wonderful postcards in my letter-box:

Eestimaa

1. Angla windmills.
2. Taevaskoja and Ahja Primeval Valley.
3. Kingfisher.

Elena, who lives in St-Petersburg, went to Tallinn for holidays and sent me this. Elena was once my swap partner on Postcrossing and we have been swapping cards regularly since then.

Nissi by Mari Kaarma

Postcard from: Tallinn, Estonia.
Received: August 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 1€ stamp from 2012 featuring a woman of Nissi parish in late 19th century dress.

***

Police of Poland promotional card for Euro2012

Ania worked as a volunteer during the last Eurocup which was hosted by Poland and Ukraine. She gathered a few promotional postcards from the event and offered to send them to her readers. Of course, being a footie fan I requested one! Now I have a souvenir from the championship my country won.

Gniezno (left) & Sieradz (right) churches

Postcard from: Otwock, Poland.
Received: August 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 2zl Gniezno's church and two 20gr Sieradz's church.

***

Die Mosel von Koblenz bis Trier

Leonie, on the other hand, went to a short holiday trip to Trier and sent me this wonderful map card of the Moselle river from Koblenz to Trier with pictures of all the worth visiting buildings (castles!) along the river banks. What a wonderful place Germany is!

Pfälzer Hütte

Postcard from: Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Received: August 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.

Stamps: one 0.75€ stamp from 2012 featuring the Pfälzer Hütte, an Alpine refuge located in Liechtestein.

***

Thank you very much, ladies! I really liked your postcards and reading about your travels. ♥

Archs from the Alhambra and Albayzín

Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain, constructed during the mid 14th century. Stylistic elements used include the Calliphal horseshoe arch, the Almohad sebka (a grid of rhombuses), the Almoravid palm, and unique combinations of them, as well as innovations such as stilted arches and muqarnas (stalactite ceiling decorations).

Through the arches of the Alhambra, on the other side of the Darro river, you can see the houses of the disctrict of Albayzín.

Postcard from: Granada, Spain.
Received: November 2003.
Language: Spanish.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 0.53€ Basic Series S.M. El Rey.

¡Muchas gracias, Toni!

Alhambra and Sierra Nevada

From the Albayzín, on a hill facing the Alhambra, you can see spectactular views of the Alhambra with Sierra Nevada (literally snowy range) on the background. Alhambra, the red one, took its name from the colour of the bricks bathed in the sunset light.

Postcard from: Valdepeñas de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
Received: June 2012.
Language: Spanish.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 0.36€ Todos con Lorca, Palacio de Guevara.

¡Muchísimas gracias, Juan!

Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín were declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

Promotion card for Rotterdam

This is Rotterdam... but everything except for the white bridge --Erasmus Bridge-- is fake! There was a competition of the best city and this was the promotion card for Rotterdam made by Rivka de Jonge.

Rembrandt House in Amsterdam

According to the Dutch postal service press release:

PostNL is issuing two sheetlets featuring KLM’s miniature Delftware houses for collectors and other enthusiasts. Each sheetlet contains ten stamps with a replica of a typical 17th-century heritage building in the Netherlands. The stamp for Europe shows the “Three Herrings” house in Deventer (number 92 in the series) and that for World destinations the “Rembrandt House” in Amsterdam (number 48).

Postcard from: Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Received: May 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one class 1 for World stamp with Rembrandt House miniature.

Thanks, Eleanor!
{NL-1189539}

Old Town

From time to time, there comes a card that puzzles you. This one, although beautiful and serene, came with my address printed, not written, four big stamps covering the remaining space and a rubber stamp drawing of a mascot saying "Take it Easy!" in the only free spot available. No handwriting at all, no text, no sign, no clue on their Postcrossing profile. Only a return address without a name -- and printed, of course.

Stein-am-Rhein is a small town located near the German border in the Northern shore of the Rhein, just a few km away from Lake Constance. On the card, the Old Town as seen from the river with the former Benedictine monastery church of St. Georgen's bell tower in the centre.

Top left: wheat; bottom left: beaver & right: barley

One animal stamp issued in 2012, the Beaver; one Wheat and two Barley. The three grain stamps are from the "Agriculture & Food" series issued in 2008. The other two stamps in the set that are missing show Rye (0.20 CHF) & Oats (0.50 CHF).

Postcard from: Steim-am-Rhein, canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Received: May 2012.
Language: none!
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one Wheat 0.10F, two Barley 0.15F and one Beaver 1.00F.

Thank you, Swiss Person! ♪
{CH-108995}

Stari Most

Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over Neretva river. The Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century, is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. It was destroyed during the Bosnian War in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004. The reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar, UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a symbol of reconciliation, international co-operation and of the coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities.

Vijećnica

The Vijećnica is the largest and most representative building of the Austro-Hungarian period in Sarajevo, and was purpose-built as the city hall. It was handed over to the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1949. During the Siege of Sarajevo in 1992, the building was hit by heavy artillery and incendiary bombs, burned out and largely destroyed, causing incalculable damage to the physical structure of the building and to the library holdings. It is currenty being repaired.

Mrkva

My friend Toni went to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a photography course during a week in the summer of 2009 and as usual, he only told me about this trip afterwards by postcard. These two amazing views of pre-war Bosnia came to my letterbox as a very pleasant surprise. On both cards, this pretty stamp from the 2006 series "Vegetables": 1.00 convertible mark featuring a watercolour of carrots.

Postcards from: Mostar, Herzegovina-Neretva canton, and Sarajevo, Sarajevo canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Received: August 2009.
Language: Spanish.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 1.00 convertible mark Carrots for each card.

This week's theme is food and drink.

The Way of St. James in Navarre

I have only been once to Navarre -- a mountainous region in the North of Spain -- and forgot to buy some postcards for my collection. Thankfully, there is people willing to send me some cards who help me correct my past oversight.

The Way of St. James is a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, in Northwestern Spain. Pilgrims on the Way of St. James walk for weeks or months and they follow many routes (any path to Santiago is a pilgrim's path). However, we Spaniards consider the Pyrenees our starting point. Although there are more roads crossing the French border, the two most important starting points are Roncesvalles (French Way) or Jaca (Aragonese Way), which are joined into one path in Puente la Reina.

◄ Route

On the flip side of the card you can see the route in Spanish territory with the most remarkable towns. The small village where I spent those holidays, Sansol, isn't on the map. It has a population of only 100!☺

The Route of Santiago de Compostela was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Postcard from: Pamplona, Navarre, Spain.

Received: June 2012.

Language: Spanish.

Envelope: yes.

Stamps: one 0.36€ from the Todos con Lorca series, Palacio de Guevara (Guevara's Palace).

¡Muchas gracias por todo, Sonia!

Andalucía

This fabulous flower shaped card came from a small town in the Andalusian mountain range. Thanks to its four petals divided by half, it contains the eight provinces of the region. On them, you can see their most notable features. From top, clock-wise:

♪ Córdoba: Cathedral and former Great Mosque, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

♪ Granada: Court of the Lions in the Alhambra, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

♪ Cádiz: beach.

♪ Jaén: Cathedral, UNESCO World Heritage Site aspirant.

♪ Huelva: Castle of Cortegana, National Monument.

♪ Sevilla: Cathedral & Giralda, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

♪ Málaga: aerial view of the city.

♪ Almería: beach.

On the centre, a scene of bullfighting and the name of the region. Many topics related to Spain (like flamenco & bullfighting) are actually from Andalusian origin and not common in other areas of the country.

Isn't it simply gorgeous?! ♥

Postcard from: Valdepeñas de Jaén, Jaén, Spain.
Received: June 2012.
Language: Spanish.
Envelope: no!
Stamps: one 0.36€ from the "Todos con Lorca" series, Ayuntamiento (Town Hall).

¡Muchas gracias, Juan!

Church of Saints Simon & Helen

The Church of Saints Simon & Helen in Minsk, also known as the "Red Church" (Чырвоны касцёл) for its red bricks, was designed in neo-Gothic style by polish architects Tomasz Pajzderski and Władysław Marconi, and built during 1905-1910 as a result of a petition of the Catholic community from Minsk. Rebuilt into a cinema during the Soviet years, it was returned to the Catholic Church in 1990.

Fourteenth issue of "Architectural Monuments"

The stamps are part of the 14th definitive issue "Architectural Monuments" in 2012:

♪ Left: Church of Epiphany (Bogoyavlensky) in Polatsk, 1761-1777. 500 BYR.

♪ Right: Kosava Palace, 19th century. Class A stamp.

This postcard's theme: Architectural Monuments in Belarus.

Postcard from: Minsk, Belarus.
Received: May 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.

Stamps: one 500 BYR Church of Epiphany in Polatsk and two Kosava Palace stamps from 2012 "Architectural Monuments".

Thank you very much!
{BY-437096}

London Tower Bridge

I received another travelling card. Lately it seems my cards like to take a good tour around Europe before arriving in Spain. Jiri bought this one when he was living in London and, reading that I like nightviews, kindly sent it to me from his home in the Czech Republic. It was his last English card and he tells me he bought it because he never had the chance to see the bridge up like this. Isn't it a great view of the London Tower Bridge? I love it! ♥

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Impressed? Ha! Then look at the stamp on the flip side. An amazing illustration by Marina Richterová of an expressively conducting Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an original copy of the Don Giovanni score and the Prague's Estates Theatre in the background. It is 5.5 x 3.5 cm.

♪ England + Austria + Czech Republic ♪

Postcard from: Mutěnice, South Moravia (Jihomoravský kraj) Czech Republic.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one FABULOUS stamp of W.A. Mozart for European postage.

Thank you very much, Jiri!
{CZ-182199}

This weeks's theme is anything you wish

Vecrīga (Old Rīga)

A postcard of the Old Town Hall Square of Riga, UNESCO World Heritage Site along with all the buildings preserved in the Historic Centre of Rīga (Vecrīga) from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. On the right side, there is the Blackheads House, a medieval building for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants, that was destroyed during WWII and recently restored. On the backround, St. Peter's Church. Built in Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque style, the church was also burned down during the war and restored between in the 60's-90's. It has seven rooster figures (one of them can be seen at the top of the steeple).

Out of sight there will be the Town Hall, whose shadow can be seen on the picture.

Needless to say, the kind of card that makes my day!

Coat of arms of Saulkrasti

A simple and small stamp with the coat of arms of Saulkrasti, a small coastal town.

Postcard from: Rīga, Latvia.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 45c stamp with the COA of Saulkrasti issued in 2008.

Thank you very much, Raimonda!
{LV-67856}

Почта России

A card with a postbox from the Republic of Bashkortostan came to my own postbox. It is an old Russian box and the photo was taken by Denis Demkov. If you are interested in it, it is sold online at PostcardID.ru. The back side of the card is printed too: it has a coloured politic world map. Spain is cream coloured and Russia peach. Matvei is a 5 years old boy who sent this card with the help of his mom, but he didn't forget to sign the card! So sweet.

Moscow Kremlin (left) and Children's books (right)

Two lovely stamps and a peek on the world map. On the left, the Moscow Kremlin, UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most famous of Russian Kremlins. On the right, the 2010 stamp for Europa series themed Children's books. Very happy to get both of them!

Postcard from: Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 10 R from Kremlin series (Moscow's) and one 10.50 R Europa from 2010, Children's books.

Thank you, Matvei & Mom!
{RU-916766}

Mănăstire Pologravi

The Polovragi Monastery is located in the Gorj county in Romania. Founded before 1505 as stated in some inscriptions, nowadays it shelters an outstanding museum collection of icons and books of national patrimony. It is also home for a community of orthodox nuns.

Startflower (left) & peach blossom (right)

Thanks to a Romanian friend, I already have a few of these and I must say I love the Romanian series of flowers and animals Flora of Romania. On the left, there is the startflower stamp, whose scientific name is borago officinalis (hence its other English name, borage) which in Romanian is called limba mielului. We call this edible plant borraja in Spanish. This flower comes with a little lamb, I guess she likes eating it. ♪

Edited: In Germany, it is called Boretsch. Thank you Leonie!

On the right, a beautiful watercolour of the peach (prunus persica) blossom. So delicate!

Postcard from: Bucharest, Romania.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: one 1.60 L borage & lamb stamp and one 50 bani peach blossom stamp.

Multumesc, Dorin!
{RO-41769}

Palace square & Alexander column

I am making a good collection of cards from St-Petersburg, both from official and private swaps. Suddenly it seems I have been there, as every view makes me feel at home. This time, I got to travel to the Palace Square and see the impressive Column of Alexander in front of the -not less impressive- Hermitage or Winter Palace. Not only I do like the building itself but thinking of how many pieces of art are inside makes my head go dizzy! Stendhal syndrome from a postcard, could that happen?

Russian fauna (left) & painting by Z. Serebriakova

On the back of the card, a handful stamps representing Russian animals that I have received before: the fox (0.50), the bear (10 R) and the lynx (2.00) -- the lynx is a new addition I love because the Iberian lynx is an endangered species in Spain, and featuring them in stamps is a way as good as any to raise awareness. And they are cute wild cats.

The right stamp, however, depicts a painting of Zinaida Serebriakova, a Russian artist from the early 20th century, called The Shoots of Autumn Crops (1908). It belongs to a series issued to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the birth of the painter.

Another themed postcard! Russian art. ♪

Postcard from: St-Petersburg, Russia.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: five! One 0.50 fox, two 2.00 lynx, one 10 R bear and one 9.00 painting by Z. Serebriakova.

Thank you, Olga!
{RU-847580}

水房清流

This is a traditional ink painting on paper by Chinese artist Chen Youhua, called "Water Garden and Clear Stream" (although 房 means house, so it would be "Water House"?). It was exhibited at the Shangai Art Fair in 2011. The ink technique is amazingly detailed. The kind of add card that I love to receive!

澳门运动场

On the back of the postcard, two stamps of 1998 series of architecture: Estádio Campo Desportivo, also known as Macao Stadium.

Postcard from: Shenyang, China.
Received: April 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: no.
Stamps: two 150 fēn (分) of the Macao Stadium, issued in 1998.

Xiè xiè, Wang!
{CN-558664}

West & center part of the state

Nebraska became the 37th state to be admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867. Today, Nebraska is one of the country's leading producers of feed crops and livestock.

Downtown area

This is the downtonwn area of Omaha: business disctrict to the right and commercial shopping district to the left.

The Nebraska state capitol

Lincoln is the capitol city of Nebraska, about 45 min drive from Omaha. It is a small college town -- University of Nebraska. They have the country's only unicameral legislature.

Joslyn Art Museum

The local art museum, Joslyn Art Museum, is located in 2200 Dodge Street. They have a good collection of Western American art and one of the Little Dancer sculptures of Degas. The glass sculpture in the window is done by glass artist Dale Chihuly. Free entrance on Saturday mornings!

Round up time (top) & herds of bufallo (bottom)

Nebraska, where the West begins, has lots of cattle ranches and exports beef. You still can see some buffalos in the countryside -- along with loads of cows!

Go Green (left & centre), Rockefeller Center (top) & American Toleware (bottom)

All five postcards came together in an envelope safe and sound. These stamps made my day and put a big smile on my face. I am a huge fan of everything green, including the colour itself! I try to go green everyday and am glad to say that I follow both advices on the stamps: days are mostly sunny where I live so I can let nature do the work. Also, I just walk or take the bus everyday and share rides when I need to go somewhere farther. ♪

On the top right, a stamp of the Wisdom mural of the Rockefeller Center in New York City with a facial value of $1, and below the gorgeous coffeepot painted by Lou Nolan from the American series (American Toleware).

Postcard from: Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Received: March 2012.
Language: English.
Envelope: yes.
Stamps: four. Two Forever USA Go Green, "share rides" & "let nature do the work"; one $1 Wisdom, Rockefeller Center, New York City and one 5c American Toleware.

Thank you very much for these cards, Danielle! ♥

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