Yallingup Caves in Busselton - Australia

© Midge

unused

"Ngilgi Cave, previously known as Yallingup Cave, is a Karst cave to the northeast of Yallingup, in the southwest of Western Australia. It was discovered by Edward Dawson in 1899 when searching for stray horses. He acted as a guide to the cave from December 1900 to November 1937.

In many sections of the cave a red layer of soil can be seen, this is called Paleosol. […]

It was originally named for the nearby town of Yallingup but later renamed to acknowledge the cave's part in Australian Aboriginal mythology. Ngilgi (pronounced Neelgee) was a good spirit who triumphed in battle against an evil spirit Wolgine." In: Wikipedia

Cais da Ribeira in Porto - Portugal

© Ricardo Vicente (photo) / Kronos

unused, bought in Porto (Portugal)

A beautiful sunset view of the Douro River and the "Cais da Ribeira" of Porto's historic center.

IT-177360 - Napoli by night

© Carcavallo Editore

IT-177360 sent by "Betty1996"

"Betty" sent these views of the Gulf of Naples and from the historic center.

"Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe, covering 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres), and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Over the course of its long history, Naples has been the capital of duchies, kingdoms, and one Empire, and has consistently been a major cultural centre with a global sphere of influence, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. In the immediate vicinity of Naples are numerous sites of great cultural and historical significance, including the Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins of Pompeii, and Herculaneum." In: Wikipedia

Coach National Museum in Lisbon - Portugal

© Edição Vistal

unused, bought in Lisboa (Portugal)

I've never been at this Museum, but I want to go there for a long time...

"The National Coach Museum (Portuguese: Museu Nacional dos Coches) is located in the Belém district of Lisbon, in Portugal. The museum has one of the finest collections of historical carriages in the world, being one of the most visited museums of the city.

The museum is housed in the old Horse Riding Arena of the Belém Palace, formerly a Royal Palace which is now the official residence of the President of Portugal. The Horse Riding Area was built after 1787 following the Neoclassical design of Italian architect Giacomo Azzolini. Several Portuguese artists decorated the interior of the building with paintings and tile (azulejo) panels. The inner arena is 50 m long and 17 m wide, and was used for training horses and for horse riding exhibitions and games, which could be watched from its balconies by the Portuguese royal family.

The museum was created in 1905 by Queen Amélia to house an extensive collection of carriages belonging to the Portuguese royal family and nobility. The collection gives a full picture of the development of carriages from the late 16th through the 19th centuries, with carriages made in Italy, Portugal, France, Spain, Austria and England.

Among its rarest items is a late 16th/early 17th-century travelling coach used by King Philip II of Portugal to come from Spain to Portugal in 1619. There are also several pompous Baroque 18th century carriages decorated with paintings and exuberant gilt woodwork, the most impressive of these being a ceremonial coach given by Pope Clement XI to King John V in 1715, and the two coaches of the Portuguese embassador to Pope Clement XI, built in Rome in 1716." In: Wikipedia

GB-319427 - St John Ambulance

© A Post Office Picture Card Series

GB-319427 sent by "han_cat"

I'm very happy with this card! It's absolutely the perfect health care postcard!

Information on the card:
"St John Ambulance 1887-1987 (First Aid in Wartime 1940)
Reproduced from a stamp designed by Debbie Cook and issued by The Post Office on 16 June 1987"

From Wikipedia:
"St John Ambulance, branded as St John in some territories, is a common name used by a number of affiliated organisations in different countries dedicated to the teaching and practice of medical first aid and the provision of ambulance services, all of which derive their origins from the St John Ambulance Association founded in 1877 in the United Kingdom. Each national group falls within the charge of a Priory or National Council of the Venerable Order of Saint John in which each Priory ranks alongside the others.

In several priories St John Ambulance has commercial sections or subsidiaries operating to generate surplus for charitable activities; these are structured much like other commercial bodies. The membership aspect of St John Ambulance is largely ranked, and members fall into a hierarchical structure of command. Ranks run from corporals, through sergeants and officers all the way up to high national ranks, but there is significant variation between Priories and it is hard to generalise the structure too much from an international perspective." In: Wikipedia

Decorative tiles with the "Caravela" - Portugal

© Ricardo Vicente (photo) / Kronos

unused, bought in Lisbon (Portugal)

The decorative tiles are an old Portuguese tradition and they can be found everywhere: private houses, museums, churches, palaces, public buildings, metro or train stations. The card above shows some decorative tiles with the Portuguese boat named "Caravela" or caravel in english.

"A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century by the Portuguese to explore along the West African coast and into the Atlantic Ocean. The lateen sails gave her speed and the capacity for sailing to windward (beating). Caravels were much used by the Portuguese for the oceanic exploration voyages during the 15th and 16th centuries in the age of discovery." In: Wikipedia

International Youth Dance Festival - Macau

© Macau's Tourism Office

unused, offered by Blicas Blocas

I'm so happy :D This is the first card I get from Macau! It's from a set of postcards issued by the Macau's Tourism Office. The card above shows the biennal International Youth Dance Festival.

"Youths from around the world perform traditional and modern dances representing their country at historical sites and other venues"

That group is dancing in front of St. Paul Ruins, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Ruins of the Carmo Convent in Lisbon - Portugal

© Atlanticpost

RR Portugal x Portugal, Group 1, sent by "Vasco da Gama"

"The Carmo Convent (Portuguese: Convento da Ordem do Carmo) is a historical building in Lisbon, Portugal. The mediaeval convent was ruined in the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, and the ruins of its Gothic church (the Carmo Church or Igreja do Carmo) are the main trace of the great earthquake still visible in the city.

The Carmo Convent is located in the Chiado neighbourhood, on a hill overlooking the Rossio square and facing the Lisbon Castle hill. It is located in front of a quiet square (Carmo Square), very close to the Santa Justa Lift.

Nowadays the ruined Carmo Church is used as an archaeological museum (the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo or Carmo Archaeological Museum)." In: Wikipedia

Beach in Mallorca - Spain

© Tullio Gatti

unused

Mallorca is a popular place for vacations at the sea and night party.

"Majorca or Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the Balearic Islands.

The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca (in the municipality of Palma). The anthem of Majorca is La Balanguera.

Like the other Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Formentera and Minorca, the island is a highly popular holiday destination, particularly for tourists from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and the Scandinavian countries. The name derives from Latin insula maior, "larger island"; later Maiorica, "the larger one" in comparison to Minorca, "the smaller one."" In: Wikipedia

Turtle farm - Cayman Islands

© Anne Finn Powell

This funny postcard was the result of a trade with ConEtoiles from USA. It shows a turtle farm at the Cayman Islands.

" Watch out for those turtles! Cayman Islands [?] famous Turtle Farm."

Church of Santa Maria da Graça in Setúbal - Portugal

© Aníbal Santos (photo) / Iberponto

The Church of Saint Mary of Grace is also known as Setúbal's Cathedral. Sent by "nelinha".

"The Setúbal cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria da Graça; it was built in the 16th century to replace a small Roman Gothic chapel. The architect was António Rodrigues and the church was built in the Mannerist style. The outstanding features are the splendid 18th century blue and white tiled panels, depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and the carved gilt woodwork of the altar decoration from the 17th and 18th centuries. The painted frescoes on the columns supporting the nave are also worthy of note." In: Portugal Attraction

Wildlife - Australia

© Photo Cards Australia

unused

A cool postcard with some of the Australian wildlife.

"Australia has unique and varied wildlife.

Left: Wombat, Emu.

Right: Koala, Kamguru.

Centre: Dingo"

Basilica of St Mary of Health in Venice - Italy

© ARDO

uused, sent from Venice (Italy) to Amadora (Portugal), postmark from 10-06-1970 but the stamp was removed...


I've been there during my ERASMUS period in Italy, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is a beautiful church with great paintings.

"The Basilica of St Mary of Health (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute), commonly known simply as the Salute, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica located in the Dorsoduro sestiere of the Italian city of Venice. It stands on a narrow finger of land between the Grand Canal and the Bacino di San Marco making the church visible when entering the Piazza San Marco from the water. The Salute is part of the parish of the Gesuati and is the most recent of the so-called Plague-churches.

In 1630 Venice experienced an unusually devastating outbreak of the plague. As a votive offering for the city's deliverance from the pestilence, the Republic of Venice vowed to build and dedicate a church to Our Lady of Health (or of Deliverance, Italian: Salute). The church was designed in the then fashionable baroque style by Baldassare Longhena, who studied under the architect Vincenzo Scamozzi. Construction began in 1631. Most of the objects of art housed in the church bear references to the Black Death." In: Wikipedia

The view of the bay in Funchal, Madeira - Portugal

© Paulo Cova (photo) / Dima

I've never been in Madeira, and all the people that goes there loves the place. Above there is a view to teh bay of Funchal, the capital city of Madeira's Autonomus Region.

"The name Funchal, was applied by the first settlers that landed on its shores due to the abundance of wild fennel where, as tradition goes, the primitive burg was built. From the Portuguese word "funcho" (fennel) and the suffix "-al", to denote "a plantation of fennel":

«...Funchal, to whom the captain gave this name, because it was founded in a beautiful forested valley, full of fennel up to the sea..»" In: Wikipedia

Cathedral of Burgos - Spain

© ?

unused

An old postcard wit the facade of the Burgos' Cathedral.

"Our Lady of Burgos was begun in the 13th century at the same time as the great cathedrals of the Ile-de-France and was completed in the 15th and 16th centuries. The entire history of Gothic art is summed up in its superb architecture and its unique collection of works of art, including paintings, choir stalls, reredos, tombs and stained-glass windows." In: UNESCO

Cartagena de Indias - Colombia

© Yolanda Ecorla

Last year, "Carolisha" went to Colombia. This was the result of a trade with her. The Caale de La Iglesia at Cartagena de Indias (UNESCO), a very colorful street.

"Situated in a bay in the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena has the most extensive fortifications in South America. A system of zones divides the city into three neighbourhoods: San Pedro, with the cathedral and many Andalusian-style palaces; San Diego, where merchants and the middle class lived; and Gethsemani, the 'popular quarter'." In: UNESCO

Church of Our Lady in Bruges - Belgium

© Uitg. Thill

I received this postcard about a year ago... It shows the Church of Our Lady (UNESCO) in Bruges, Belgium, sent by nelinha.

"The Church of Our Lady (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) in Bruges, Belgium, dates mainly from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.

Its tower, at 122.3 meters in height, remains the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world (the tallest being the St. Martin's Church in Landshut, Germany).

In the choir space behind the high altar are the tombs of Charles the Bold, last Valois Duke of Burgundy, and his daughter, the duchess Mary. The gilded bronze effigies of both father and daughter repose at full length on polished slabs of black stone. Both are crowned, and Charles is represented in full armor and wearing the decoration of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

The altarpiece of the large chapel in the southern aisle enshrines the most celebrated art treasure of the church—a white marble sculpture of the Madonna and Child created by Michelangelo around 1504. Probably meant originally for Siena Cathedral, it was purchased in Italy by two Brugean merchants, the brothers Jan and Alexander Mouscron, and in 1514 donated to its present home. The sculpture was twice recovered after being looted by foreign occupiers—French revolutionaries circa 1794 and Nazi Germans in 1944." In: Wikipedia

"I didn't forgot" - Germany

© Éditions Cartes d'Art

unused, bought in Cologne (Germany)

German: "Ich hab's nicht wergesse..."

English: "I didn't forgot..."

Ginja de Portugal - Portugal

© Ed. 19 de Abril

This postcard, sent by "verafpfonseca", shows a reproduction of an old advertise of a liqueur named "Ginja de Portugal". I love Ginja served in a coup of chocolate!

"Ginjinha or simply Ginja, is a liqueur made by infusing ginja berries, (sour cherry) (Prunus cerasus austera, the Morello cherry) in alcohol (aguardente is used) and adding sugar together with other ingredients. Ginjinha is served in a shot form with a piece of the fruit in the bottom of the cup. It is a favourite liqueur of many Portuguese and a typical drink in Lisbon, Alcobaça and Óbidos. Other regions produce ginja with protected designation of origin, for example the Ginja Serra da Estrela." In: Wikipedia

Moliceiro Boat in Aveiro - Portugal

© Grafipost

These beautiful boats are only found in Aveiro, a particular city with canals. This postcard was sent by PilotOne, hangman prize from the Postcrossing Forum.

"The Aveiro lagoon (Ria) is the scenery in which the "moliceiros" (boats that carry "moliço" – algae and water plants used as dung) move themselves, not being, however, the only boats that can be found there. In the beginning of the XX century, there were in this region four well defined types of work: the gathering of the "moliço", the exploitation of the salt-pans, the fluvial transportation of the maritime fishing and the river fishing, corresponding to each one of these activities, respectively, the "moliceiro", the "saleira" (a flat-bottomed boat used to transport salt), the "bateira mercantel" (small flat-bottomed river-boat), the two types of "bateiras"of Murtosa and the "bateira" of Ílhavo." In: Aveiro University

Church of Saint Francis Xavier in Rhode Island - USA

unused, bought in Braga (Portugal)

I've found this postcard in a book fair. A religious book stand was also selling some religious postcards.


"In 1914 the Most Reverend Matthew Harkins, Bishop of Providence, realized the great need for a Portuguese-speaking parish in the Town of East Providence.  The Bishop appointed Fr. Joseph Lopes, an assistant pastor in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, to conduct a census in order to determine the number of parishioners that would form the nucleus of the new parish, Saint Francis Xavier Church.  In November of that year, a committee was formed to start fund-raising and build a new Church." In: Saint Francis Xavier Church

Collina Torinese Park - Italy

"Collina Torinese Park includes two protected areas, Bosco del Vaj Special Nature Reserve and Collina di Superga Park. It is one of the precious tesserae of the green areas mosaic surrounding Turin. Collina Torinese Park was established in 1991 to meet the needs to safeguard and enhance a well-preserved territory of great naturalistic, architectural, and landscape interest. The Park covers an area of about 750 ha mainly covered with woodlands in Bandissero, Pino, Turin, and S.Mauro. Such areas are now preserved by Ente di Gestione delle Aree Protette della Collina Torinese, whose offices are in Castagneto Po." In: Parks

NL-1042445 - Cow and heron

© Jannes (photo)

NL-1042445 sent by "robyntje"

"Robyntje" made this postcard, she used a photo of Jannes, which is a pretty cool photo!

Postcrossing Meeting in Paris

© Francis Debaisieux (photo) / Éditions Debaisieux

I was sorting some postcards and I've found these Salers Cows. They were sent by "octabis" from the Postcrossing Meeting in Paris (18/06/2011)

"The Salers is a breed of cattle which originated in Cantal in the Massif Central of France.

They are a large breed of cattle, with the female weighing in at between 700 and 750 kg (1,543 to 1,653 lb) and standing 1.40 metres (4.6 feet) tall. They have a thick mahogany red or black coat, and long, lyre-shaped, light-coloured horns. A small percentage are naturally born without horns (polled)." In: Wikipedia

CN-509359 - Nuorilang Waterfall

© China Intercontinental Press

CN-509359 sent by haibara_wch

It's the second time that I receive this postcard, but I don't mind! The view is outstanding! The Nuorilang Waterfall is located at the Jiuzhaigou Valley, a world heritage site by UNESCO

"Nuorilang Falls in Jiuzhaigou Valley is the widest waterfall in China. It is 320 metres wide and 20 metres high. The name Nuorilang means "majestic" in the Tibetan language. It is located near the intersection of where the Jiuzhaigou valley branches off to Zechawa Gully and Rize Gully. It is visible from the roadside, where steps lead downwards to a viewing platform. The platform allows visitors to view the falls upclose and to walk alongside the river as it flows down the gully." In: Asia Explorers

Map card - Greece

© Editions Haitalis

Another beautiful postcard sent by Alexandra.

Lago Martiánez in Tenerife - Spain

© Jose Barea (photo) / Ediciones A.M.

Last year "ludovico" sent this postcard of Lago Martiánez from Puerto de La Cruz, Tenerife.

"Lago Martiánez (Puerto de La Cruz): Exotic gardens and the blue hues of the ocean are strung together like precious jewels"

DE-947917 - St. Martin's Cathedral in Mainz

© Johknn Hinkel Verlag

DE-947917 sent by "prinzessinlilli"

"Mainz Cathedral or St. Martin's Cathedral (in German Mainzer Dom, Martinsdom or - officially - Der Hohe Dom zu Mainz) is located near the historical center and pedestrianized market square of the city of Mainz, Germany. This 1000 year-old Roman Catholic cathedral is the site of the episcopal see of the Bishop of Mainz.

Mainz Cathedral is predominantly Romanesque in style, but later exterior additions over many centuries have resulted in the appearance of various architectural influences seen today. It comprises three naves and stands under the patronage of Saint Martin of Tours. The eastern quire is dedicated to Saint Stephen.

The interior of the cathedral houses tombs and funerary monuments of former powerful Electoral-prince-archbishops, or Kurfürst-Erzbischöfe, of the diocese and contains religious works of art spanning a millennium. The cathedral also has a central courtyard and statues of Saint Boniface and The Madonna on its grounds." In: Wikipedia

NL-994379 - Kermit, the frog

© The Jim Hensen Company

NL-994379 sent by "Roelof "

Kermit is one of my favorite characters of the Muppets and he also appeared at The Sesame Street.

"Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over the years. Kermit was performed by Henson until his death in 1990. Since then, Kermit has been performed by Steve Whitmire. He was voiced by Frank Welker in Muppet Babies and occasionally in other animation projects.

Kermit performed the hit single "The Rainbow Connection" in 1979 for The Muppet Movie, the first feature-length film featuring Henson's Muppets. The song reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Kermit's iconic look and voice have been recognizable worldwide since, and in 2006, the character was credited as the author of Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons, which is an "autobiography" told from the perspective of the character himself." In: Wikipedia

Barcelos' Rooster - Portugal

© António Henriques (Photo) / Casa dos Postais

The Rooster of Barcelos is a popular icon of Portugal. They are all over the country in postcards, pottery and other types of souvenirs. This one was sent by Blicas Blocas.