Postcards Around the World: 2013/03

2013-03-31

Maps of Jeseník - Czech Republic

"Jeseník (Frývaldov until 1948; German: Freiwaldau) is a city and a district in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. From 1938 to 1945 it was one of the municipalities in Sudetenland.

Originally, Jeseník was a German town subordinated to Silesian Wrocław bishop. Original name is Freiwaldau. A source of the name is words of „frei vom Walde“. An adjective of “frei” means „free“, a preposition of “vom” means “from” and a noun genitive of “Walde” means “woods” – all together the name means “Free from Woods” Former Czech name of Frývaldov was a phonetic transcription of a German original (frei=frý, waldau= valdov).

After Second World War the town has been renamed, a reason was strong antigerman tendency. It’s named after surroundings mountains which are called Jeseníky.

Linguistically, “Jeseníky” is a noun in form of plural. Hypothetical singular is just “Jeseník” and this has been chosen as a new name." In: Wikipedia

All cards were sent by Sapic12.

2013-03-30

Church of St. Trophime, Arles - France (UNESCO WHS)

Unused, sent by Sapic12

Information on the back side: "The cloister of the church of Saint Trophimus (XIII and XIV centuries) - On the pillar angle of the two galleries Romanesque, Saint Paul, Saint Etienne and Saint Matthew."

This church in Arles belongs to the UNESCO WHS "Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments"

"The Church of St. Trophime (Trophimus) is a Roman Catholic church and former cathedral built between the 12th century and the 15th century in the city of Arles, in the Bouches-du-Rhône Department of southern France. The church is an important example of Romanesque architecture, and the sculptures over the portal, particularly the Last Judgement, and the columns in the adjacent cloister, are considered some of the finest examples of Romanesque sculpture.

The church was built upon the site of the 5th century basilica of Arles, named for St. Stephen. In the 15th century a Gothic choir was added to the Romanesque nave." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-29

Church of St. George (Bete Giyorgis) - Ethiopia (UNESCO WHS)

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century 'New Jerusalem' are situated in a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia near a traditional village with circular-shaped dwellings. Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilmigrage and devotion." In: UNESCO

2013-03-28

Madrid - Spain

Mónica Castro visited Spain a few months ago and sent me these cards of the capital city, Madrid.

Prado Museum

Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace

Cibeles Palace, Puerta de Alcalá, Retiro Park, Cibeles Fountain

2013-03-27

Armação de Pêra - Portugal

Sent by "Blicas Blocas"

"Armação de Pêra is a Portuguese parish (freguesia) in the municipality of Silves. The village used to be called Pêra de Baixo or Lower Pêra to distinguish it from the present Pêra, which was then named Pêra de Cima or Upper Pêra.

The village of Armação de Pêra is, today, a popular tourist center with fine beaches, hotels, cafés and restaurants. The village is on a broad bay that stretches from Pont da Galé to Senhora da Rocha. Its beaches extend from Praia dos Pescadores or the Fishermans Beach, to Salomão beach, including those of Maré Grande and Beijinhos." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-26

London 2012 Olympics & Paralympics - United Kingdom

"The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and commonly known as London 2012, was a major international multi-sport event celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It took place in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The first event, the group stage in women's football, began two days earlier, on 25 July at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. More than 10,000 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated." In: Wikipedia

Sent by Mónica Castro

"The 2012 Summer Paralympics, the fourteenth Summer Paralympic Games, and also more generally known as the London 2012 Paralympic Games, was a major international multi-sport event for the disabled governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), that took place in London, United Kingdom, from 29 August to 9 September. These Paralympics were one of the largest multi-sport events ever to held in the United Kingdom after the 2012 Summer Olympics, and were the largest Paralympics ever: 4,302 athletes from 164 National Paralympic Committees participated." In: Wikipedia

Sent by Fernanda Castro

2013-03-25

McCloud Falls, California - USA

Sent from Portugal by "PilotOne"

Back side of the card: "A well maintained trail provides a beautiful hike to 3 spectacular waterfalls along the McCloud River"

"It rises from several spring-fed streams in the Cascades approximately 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County. It flows initially west, passing south of Mt. Shasta and receiving streams that drain the southern slope of the peak. From Mt. Shasta it flows generally southwest through Lake McCloud and through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It joins Shasta Lake, formed by the Shasta Dam, approximately 15 miles (24 km) north of Redding, with the lower 10 miles (16 km) of the river forming the middle arm of the lake. The McCloud arm joins in at the Pit River Bridge on Interstate 5, 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the city of Shasta Lake.

The river is well known for a series of waterfalls which tumble over basaltic lava flows, known collectively as the Falls of the McCloud River." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-24

BY-639962 - Fish

BY-639962 sent by "Child_of_post-rock"

I have no idea how this fish is called... Any clue?

2013-03-23

Pitons - Saint Lucia (UNESCO WHS)

Unused, sent by "andreaeiko"

"The 2,909-ha site near the town of Soufriere includes the Pitons, two volcanic spires rising side by side from the sea (770 m and 743 m high respectively), linked by the Piton Mitan ridge. The volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumeroles and hot springs. Coral reefs cover almost 60% of the site’s marine area. A survey has revealed 168 species of finfish, 60 species of cnidaria, including corals, eight molluscs, 14 sponges, 11 echinoderms, 15 arthropods and eight annelid worms. The dominant terrestrial vegetation is tropical moist forest grading to subtropical wet forest, with small areas of dry forest and wet elfin woodland on the summits. At least 148 plant species have been recorded on Gros Piton, 97 on Petit Piton and the intervening ridge, among them eight rare tree species. The Gros Piton is home to some 27 bird species (five of them endemic), three indigenous rodents, one opossum, three bats, eight reptiles and three amphibians." In: UNESCO

2013-03-22

Emeral Pool at Morne Trois Pitons National Park - Dominica (UNESCO WHS)

Unused, sent by "andreaeiko"

"Luxuriant natural tropical forest blends with scenic volcanic features of great scientific interest in this national park centred on the 1,342-m-high volcano known as Morne Trois Pitons. With its precipitous slopes and deeply incised valleys, 50 fumaroles, hot springs, three freshwater lakes, a 'boiling lake' and five volcanoes, located on the park's nearly 7,000 ha, together with the richest biodiversity in the Lesser Antilles, Morne Trois Pitons National Park presents a rare combination of natural features of World Heritage value." In: UNESCO

2013-03-21

Map of old town of České Budějovice - Czech Republic

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"České Budějovice (German: Budweis or Böhmisch Budweis; sometimes referred to as Budweis in English) is a statutory city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region as well as its political and commercial capital, the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice, the University of South Bohemia, and the Academy of Sciences. It is located in the center of a valley of the Vltava River, at the confluence with the Malše.

České Budějovice, which is located in the historical province of Bohemia, is not to be confused with Moravské Budějovice in Moravia." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-20

Lugo - Spain (UNESCO WHS)

Unused

"The walls of Lugo are an outstanding example of the type of construction and architectural and archaeological group which illustrates various significant periods of human history. Starting with their Roman origins and passing through the problematical Middle Ages to the innovatory and disturbed 19th century, they unite in a single monumental construction over 2 km long different proofs and facets of the evolution of a town such as Lugo (itself a historical and artistic ensemble) from the original Lucus Augusti." In: UNESCO

2013-03-19

Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, Kassel - Germany (UNESCO WHS)

Unused

"The Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe is a unique park in Kassel, Germany. Art historian Georg Dehio (1850–1932), inspirator of the modern discipline of historic preservation, described the park as "possibly the most grandiose combination of landscape and architecture that the Baroque dared anywhere" ("vielleicht das Grandioseste, was irgendwo der Barock in Verbindung von Architektur und Landschaft gewagt hat.").[1] The area of the park is 2.4 square kilometres (590 acres), making it the largest European hillside park, and second largest park on a mountain slope in the world. Construction of the Bergpark, or "mountain park", began in 1696 and took about 150 years." In: Wikipedia

21/05/2013 Update: On the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, Bergpark was inscribed as a UNESCO WHS.

"Descending a long hill dominated by a giant statue of Hercules, the monumental water displays of Wilhelmshöhe were begun by Landgrave Carl of Hesse-Kassel in 1689 around an east-west axis and were developed further into the 19th century. Reservoirs and channels behind the Hercules Monument supply water to a complex system of hydro-pneumatic devices that supply the site’s large Baroque water theatre, grotto, fountains and 350-metre long Grand Cascade. Beyond this, channels and waterways wind across the axis, feeding a series of dramatic waterfalls and wild rapids, the geyser-like Grand Fountain which leaps 50m high, the lake and secluded ponds that enliven the Romantic garden created in the 18th century by Carl’s great-grandson, Elector Wilhelm I. The great size of the park and its waterworks along with the towering Hercules statue constitute an expression of the ideals of absolutist Monarchy while the ensemble is a remarkable testimony to the aesthetics of the Baroque and Romantic periods." In: UNESCO

2013-03-18

Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas - USA

This card has such a story... I was so happy to receive it, but them it has very disappointing... It was sent from Cairo, Egypt, was printed in Egypt, it says "Egypt" both on front and back sides, but the photo is from the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas, USA...

"Luxor Las Vegas is a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The 30-story hotel, owned and operated by MGM Resorts International, has a 120,000-square-foot (11,000 m2) casino with over 2,000 slot machines and 87 table games.

In the 2008 to 2009 renovation, it has a new, highly modernized, and contemporary design and contains a total of 4,400 rooms, including 442 suites, lining the interior walls of a pyramid style tower and within twin 22-story ziggurat towers that were built as later additions.

The hotel is named after the city of Luxor (ancient Thebes) in Egypt. Luxor is the second largest hotel in Las Vegas (the largest being the MGM Grand) and the eighth largest in the world. As of 2010, the Luxor has a 4 Key rating from the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, which evaluates "sustainable" hotel operations." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-17

Penguins - Russia

Sent from Portugal by "martinha"

Beautiful couple!

2013-03-16

Toledo - Spain (UNESCO)

Unused.

"Successively a Roman municipium, the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom, a fortress of the Emirate of Cordoba, an outpost of the Christian kingdoms fighting the Moors and, in the 16th century, the temporary seat of supreme power under Charles V, Toledo is the repository of more than 2,000 years of history. Its masterpieces are the product of heterogeneous civilizations in an environment where the existence of three major religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – was a major factor." In: UNESCO

2013-03-15

Uracher waterfall, Bad Urach - Germany

Sent from Portugal by "geminiscp"

"The Urach waterfall is located on the southwestern outskirts of Bad Urach in Maisental, a tributary of Erin. On the edge of the Swabian Alb springs the source of the Brühl Bach. This is the waterfall plunges 37 meters into the deep free, opens on a Kalktuffstufe and flows about 50 meters from a steeply sloping mossy Kalktuffpolster. Depending on the amount of water formed are several water channels, which then continue to flow together and as Brühlbach.

The distribution of the water source varies depending on weather and season of around 70 l / s, for example, in high summer, up to 420 l / s after heavy rains or melting snow." In: Waymarking

2013-03-14

Malecón (Avenida de Maceo), Havana - Cuba

Used, sent by Andreia Cruz

"The Malecón (officially Avenida de Maceo) is a broad esplanade, roadway and seawall which stretches for 8 km (4 miles) along the coast in Havana, Cuba, from the mouth of Havana Harbor in Old Havana, along the north side of the Centro Habana neighborhood, ending in the Vedado neighborhood. New businesses are appearing on the esplanade due to economic reforms in Cuba that now allow Cubans to own private businesses." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-13

Łazienki Park, Warsaw - Poland

Sent from Warsaw.

"Łazienki Park (Polish: Park Łazienkowski or Łazienki Królewskie, literally Baths Park or Royal Baths) is the largest park in Warsaw, Poland, occupying 76 hectares of the city center. The park-and-palace complex lies in Warsaw's central district (Śródmieście), on Ujazdów Avenue (Aleje Ujazdowskie) on the "Royal Route" linking the Royal Castle with Wilanów palace to the south. North of Łazienki Park, on the other side of Agrykola Street, stands Ujazdów Castle." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-12

Windmills, Kinderdijk - Netherlands (UNESCO)

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"The outstanding contribution made by the people of the Netherlands to the technology of handling water is admirably demonstrated by the installations in the Kinderdijk-Elshout area. Construction of hydraulic works for the drainage of land for agriculture and settlement began in the Middle Ages and have continued uninterruptedly to the present day. The site illustrates all the typical features associated with this technology – dykes, reservoirs, pumping stations, administrative buildings and a series of beautifully preserved windmills." In: UNESCO

2013-03-11

UA-361891 - St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery

UA-361891 sent by "knikson"

"St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery (Ukrainian: Михайлівський золотоверхий монастир, Mykhaylivs’kyi zolotoverkhyi monastyr; Russian: Михайловский златоверхий монастырь, Mikhaylovsky zlatoverkhy monastyr) is a functioning monastery in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The monastery is located on the right bank of the Dnieper River on the edge of a bluff northeast of the Saint Sophia Cathedral. The site is located in the historic administrative Uppertown and overlooks the city's historical commercial and merchant quarter, the Podil neighbourhood.

Originally built in the Middle Ages by Sviatopolk II Iziaslavych, the monastery comprises the Cathedral itself, the Refectory of St. John the Divine, built in 1713, the Economic Gates, constructed in 1760 and the monastery's bell tower, which was added circa 1716–1719. The exterior of the structure was rebuilt in the Ukrainian Baroque style in the 18th century while the interior remained in its original Byzantine style. The original cathedral was demolished by the Soviet authorities in the 1930s, but was reconstructed and opened in 1999 following Ukrainian independence." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-10

Göreme National Park - Turkey (UNESCO)

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"In a spectacular landscape, entirely sculpted by erosion, the Göreme valley and its surroundings contain rock-hewn sanctuaries that provide unique evidence of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period. Dwellings, troglodyte villages and underground towns – the remains of a traditional human habitat dating back to the 4th century – can also be seen there." In: UNESCO

2013-03-09

Cienfuegos - Cuba (UNESCO)

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"The colonial town of Cienfuegos was founded in 1819 in the Spanish territory but was initially settled by immigrants of French origin. It became a trading place for sugar cane, tobacco and coffee. Situated on the Caribbean coast of southern-central Cuba at the heart of the country’s sugar cane, mango, tobacco and coffee production area, the town first developed in the neoclassical style. It later became more eclectic but retained a harmonious overall townscape. Among buildings of particular interest are the Government Palace (City Hall), San Lorenzo School, the Bishopric, the Ferrer Palace, the former lyceum, and some residential houses. Cienfuegos is the first, and an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble representing the new ideas of modernity, hygiene and order in urban planning as developed in Latin America from the 19th century." In: UNESCO

2013-03-08

Map of Ireland

RR em Português, G55 sent by "fisherman"

2013-03-07

Square of the Church, Cangas de Onís - Spain

Unused, sent by Claúdia

"Cangas de Onís (Asturian: Cangues d'Onís) is a municipality in the eastern part of the province and autonomous community of Asturias in the northwest of Spain. The capital of the municipality is also Cangas de Onís.

More than seventy square kilometres of the concejo form part of the Parque nacional de los Picos de Europa. Within the park is the village of Covadonga, where the battle of Covadonga (about 722), the first major victory by a Christian military force in Iberia after the Islamic conquest, marks the starting-point of the Reconquista.

Until 774, Cangas de Onís was the capital of the Kingdom of Asturias. It was the site of the first church constructed in post-conquest Iberia, Santa Cruz de Cangas de Onís (737), built on an ancient dolmen." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-06

Main camp gate of Auschwitz I - Poland (UNESCO)

Tree postcards of the main gate of Auschwitz I concentration camp with the inscription "Arbeit macht frei" (Work will set you free)

Sent from Auschwitz

Unused

"The fortified walls, barbed wire, platforms, barracks, gallows, gas chambers and cremation ovens show the conditions within which the Nazi genocide took place in the former concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest in the Third Reich. According to historical investigations, 1.5 million people, among them a great number of Jews, were systematically starved, tortured and murdered in this camp, the symbol of humanity's cruelty to its fellow human beings in the 20th century." In: UNESCO

2013-03-05

Basilica Patriarcale, Aquileia - Italy (UNESCO)

Unused, sent by Sapic12

"Aquileia (in Friuli-Venezia Giulia), one of the largest and wealthiest cities of the Early Roman Empire, was destroyed by Attila in the mid-5th century. Most of it still lies unexcavated beneath the fields, and as such it constitutes the greatest archaeological reserve of its kind. The patriarchal basilica, an outstanding building with an exceptional mosaic pavement, played a key role in the evangelization of a large region of central Europe." In: UNESCO

2013-03-04

Strasbourg - France

Unused

On top: The Cathedral

"Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, German: Liebfrauenmünster zu Straßburg), also known as Strasbourg Minster, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of high, or late, Gothic architecture. Erwin von Steinbach is credited for major contributions from 1277 to his death in 1318." In: Wikipedia

On bottom: Palace of Europe

"The Palace of Europe (French: Palais de l'Europe) is a building in located in Strasbourg, France that has served as the seat of the Council of Europe since 1977 when it replaced the 'House of Europe'. Between 1977 and 1999 it was also the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament." In: Wikipedia

2013-03-03

The Hercules Tower, La Coruña - Spain (UNESCO)

Unused, sent by "joaninha"

"The Tower of Hercules has served as a lighthouse and landmark at the entrance of La Coruña harbour in north-western Spain since the late 1st century A.D. when the Romans built the Farum Brigantium. The Tower, built on a 57 metre high rock, rises a further 55 metres, of which 34 metres correspond to the Roman masonry and 21 meters to the restoration directed by architect Eustaquio Giannini in the 18th century, who augmented the Roman core with two octagonal forms. Immediately adjacent to the base of the Tower, is a small rectangular Roman building. The site also features a sculpture park, the Monte dos Bicos rock carvings from the Iron Age and a Muslim cemetery. The Roman foundations of the building were revealed in excavations conducted in the 1990s. Many legends from the Middle Ages to the 19th century surround the Tower of Hercules, which is unique as it is the only lighthouse of Greco-Roman antiquity to have retained a measure of structural integrity and functional continuity." In: UNESCO

2013-03-02

DE-1671103 - Mermaid

DE-1671103 sent by"jaegerpat"

An art work by Robin Pushe'e named "I'm a Survivor"

2013-03-01

TW-809355 - Peanuts

TW-809355 sent by "me7026"

On the back side the is a postmark of the "Snoopy Collections 2001/10/01-2012/03/04 Open in Taipei, Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa, CA"