Most viewed of January 2012

The top 3 of the most viewed posts in January of 2012 are:

1 - Braga's Municipal Stadium - Portugal, posted in 29-12-2011

2 - Traditional grape crushing with the feet - Portugal, posted in 12-08-2011

3 - More birthday gifts from Switzerland, posted in 30-05-2011

SG-55137 - Mean Average Citizens

© ZoCard

SG-55137 sent by "loverainbow"

A very weird ad card of a "Compulsory National Survey to determine the mood of the Nation, cruel or kind."

Monserrate Palace - Portugal

© Grafipost

I forgot to upload this card... It's the one with the postmark of 11-11-11, from "ninocas"

"The Palace of Montserrate was designed for Sir Francis Cook by the distinguished British architect, James Knowles Jr. It is an example of mid-19th-century eclecticism, and it combines neo-Gothicism with substantial elements derived from the architecture of India. Montserrate is renowned for its gardens. The planned gardens are surrounded by a semi-natural oak forest." In: UNESCO

Archbishop's Palace and St. Barbara Garden - Portugal

© Sofoto

I bought this card in Coimbra, last December. It shows on of my favorite places in Braga: the Archbishop's Palace (XIV c.) and St. Barbara Garden.

Get well soon - Switzerland

A great surprise from "geminiscp": two health related postcards that she bought in Switzerland!

© Artwork by Barbara Eswards, Produced by Freshfish

© J. Siegmann

Snowy Serra da Estrela - Portugal

© Guia Turístico do Norte

RR Portugal x World G17, sent by martinha

A snowy view of Serra da Estrela.

Gongchen Bridge (maxicard) - China

RR Portugal x World G18, sent by barbra052

A great maxicard of the Gongchen Bridge at Hangzhou Grand Canal in Beijing.

Mateus Palace - Portugal

© Forways

It's the last postcard from the martinha's lottery. A great view of Mateus Palace in Vila Real.

"The reason to visit Vila Real, the capital of the province of Trás-os-Montes and birthplace of Diogo Cão (the explorer who discovered the Congo River in 1482), is for the Baroque Mateus Palace, 4km (2.5 miles) east of the town. Described by Sacheverell Sitwell as "the most fantastic country house in Portugal", it has been made famous worldwide for being featured on the label of Mateus Rosé wine and it is well worth a visit for a glimpse into the lives of the Portuguese aristocracy.

Built in 1745, it is considered a perfect example of baroque architecture, with an impressive façade made up of beautiful pinnacles on the roof and an ornate balustraded stairway, all reflecting on a pond in front of it.

Behind it is a delightful garden, among the most beautiful in Europe, with box hedges, statues, and a spectacular cedar tunnel about 35m (115ft) long." In: GoLisbon

Cliffs over the sea in Madeira - Portugal

© Fotoverlag Huber

This is the second card from martinha's lottery. This great view is from Madeira Island.

Angra do Heroísmo's Cathedral - Portugal

© Grafipost

A great surprise from Lurdes: the Cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo, at Terceira Island, Azores.(UNESCO)

"The Igreja do Santíssimo Salvador da Sé is the Cathedral of the Azores. The Church is an impressive building, built in the late 16th century. The main façade is constituted by a church porch, a high fronton with a clock, a main bell tower complemented by two lateral bell towers, with the spire pinnacles covered in blue and white tiles laid in a diamond pattern. The altar has a valuable carved silver frontispiece dating from the 18th century and polychrome azulejo tiles. Worldwide reputed for its outstanding acoustics, the Cathedral has become a favourite recording place." In: Portugal Attraction

Christ the Redeemer at moonlight - Brazil

© Rodolpho Machado Fotografia

This card came from "martinha" as a prize of a lottery! It's a beautiful moonlight with the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

"Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world. It is 39.6 metres (130 ft) tall, including its 9.5 metres (31 ft) pedestal, and 30 metres (98 ft) wide. It weighs 635 tonnes (625 long,700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. A symbol of Brazilian Christianity, the statue has become an icon for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931." In: Wikipedia

Storks' nest in Alentejo region - Portugal

© Photo by Michael Howard

RR Portugal X Portugal G17, sent by leninha

If I'm not wrong, it's the second time "leninha" sents me a postcard with storks. They are common in Alentejo and Algarve regions. This photo is from Alentjo region.

The Chapel Bridge in Lucerne - Switzerland

© Photoglob Zürich

Last December "geminiscp" visited again Lucerne, and she sent this great postcard with the Kapellbrücke or the Chapel Bridge with a beautiful rainbow.

"The Chapel Bridge (German: Kapellbrücke) is a covered wooden footbridge spanning diagonally across the Reuss River in the city of Lucerne in central Switzerland. Named after the nearby St. Peter's Chapel, the bridge is unique since it contains a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century, although many of them were destroyed along with most of the centuries old bridge in a 1993 fire. Subsequently restored, the Kapellbrücke is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, as well as the world's oldest surviving truss bridge. It serves as the city's symbol and as one of Switzerland's main tourist attractions." In: Wikipedia

ES-144945 - La Alhambra

© Postales Granada

ES-144945 sent by "cucutrash", an interior view of La Alhambra

"Rising above the modern lower town, the Alhambra and the Albaycín, situated on two adjacent hills, form the medieval part of Granada. To the east of the Alhambra fortress and residence are the magnificent gardens of the Generalife, the former rural residence of the emirs who ruled this part of Spain in the 13th and 14th centuries. The residential district of the Albaycín is a rich repository of Moorish vernacular architecture, into which the traditional Andalusian architecture blends harmoniously." In: UNESCO

The new kids in the Zoo - Portugal

© Publicards

A few months ago, a few new animals were born at the Lisbon Zoo. And to celebrate that they made some ad cards. This is one of them. It says "Come to see the new kids of the Zoo before they grow up". Sent by leninha.

IN-26566 - Khajuraho

IN-26566 sent by "vibha_forever", an erotic sculpture from one of the temples

"The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Only about 20 temples remain; they fall into three distinct groups and belong to two different religions – Hinduism and Jainism. They strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. The Temple of Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art." In: UNESCO

Waterfall in Serra da Estrela - Portugal

© Guia Turístico do Norte

During a trip in Serra da Estrela, "Blicas Blocas" saw this waterfall and sent it to me! :D It's my second waterfall from this sierra.

Christmas duck - Switzerland

© Klaus Kerres

My dear Alex sent this funny Christmas postcard!

Nurse duck - Switzerland

© Klaus Kerres

Alex sent this RAS postcard. I also have it from Anja.

Happy holidays - Portugal

© Kathy Klein, published by CTT/UNICEF

Sent by Oliverde to my family.

Waterfall in Jaú National Park - Brazil

I saw this beautiful waterfall in a store in Coimbra, last December. I bought it without any second thought! Today I discover that it belongs to an UNESCO place! Perfect!

© Photo by WWF/Juan Pratginestós

"The expanded property substantially increases the already impressive protection offered by Jaú National Park to the biological diversity, habitats, and endangered species found in the Central Amazon region. The area is one of the Endemic Bird Areas of the World, is considered as one of the World Wildlife Fund’s 200 Priority Ecoregion for Conservation, and it is also a Centre of Plant Diversity. The expansion of Jaú National Park to include an important sample of Varzea ecosystems, igapó forests, lakes and channels significantly increases the representation of the aquatic biodiversity of the Central Amazon region. Expansion of the site also enhance the protection of key threatened species including giant arapaima fish, the Amazonian manatee, the black caiman, and two species of river dolphin." In: UNESCO

Merry Xmas - Switzerland

"Carolisha" took this cute picture with her dog and made it a Christmas postcard!

Merry Christmas - Portugal

This year "PilotOne" made and sent this Christmas postcard! Well done!

Christmas - Netherlands

Biri Publications

Beautiful Christmas postcard sent from Tjitske.

Season's Greetings - Germany

© Quire Publishing BV

A fantastic Christmas penguin postcard sent by Anja. It says "Season's Greetings, Happy New Year".

Snowman - USA

The first person to see this postcard was my mother, and it made her to give a big smile! Also for me! Thanks "9teen87"!

Kiyomizudera temple - Japan

Asahi Card

RR Portugal x World G18, sent by "yayoi-sakura763"

It's been a while since I receive a card from Japan! Sakura sent this beautiful temple, the Kiyomizudera Temple (UNESCO)

"Kiyomizu-dera, officially Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera  is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) UNESCO World Heritage site. (It should not be confused with Kiyomizu-dera in Yasugi, Shimane, which is part of the 33-temple route of the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage through western Japan.)" In: Wikipedia

Give AIDS no chance (I) - Germany

© Edgar Freecards

RR Ad Cards G87, sent by "Goyesna"

This ad card is one of several from a campaign in Germany to prevent AIDS.

Christmas Market in Einsiedeln - Switzerland

"Azzurri" sent this christmas market in Einsiedeln. I guess we don't see this type of markets around here...

Tap Mun - Hong Kong

RR Portugal x World Group 18, sent by "yuen", a view of Tap Mun and an old woman drying the shrimps.

"Tap Mun, literaly means teh door to the Buddhist pagoda, and is also know as Tap Mun Chau. On the south eastern side of the island, gigantic rocks erecting like a forest of Buddhism pagodas given the island its name."

The lights of Manhattan - USA

© Izzo Design

This postcard is beautiful! It came from a trade with CanEtoiles.

"Top to bottom:

- The Manhattan Bridge after sunset

- The Statute of Liberty and New York Harbor at dusk

- An aerial view of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges

- The New York skyline at sunrise"

Arco da Porta Nova in Braga - Portugal

Photo by João Paulo, ilustration by Carlos Dias

A Christmas postcard from a friend from work. Two angels were added to Arco da Porta Nova (New Door's Arch) in Braga.

Most viewed of December 2011

This month I'm starting to show the most viewed posts of the month!

So the top 3 of the most viewed posts in December of 2011 are:

1 - More birthday gifts from Switzerland, posted in 30-05-2011

2 - Bunny Suicide - Germany, posted in 06-09-2011

3 - Chilam Jush Festival - Pakistan, posted in 17-06-2011