A friend is... - Switzerland

© Alexander Holzach, published by Take Care Postcards

At the Postcrossing Forum we started the "Alien RR", this is the first one arriving from Alex that lives in Switzerland.

German: Ein freund ist jemand, der dich mag, auch wenn du mal bitterböse bist.

English: A friend is someone who likes you even when you are angry sometimes.

JP-177637 - Ryuzu Falls

JP-177637 sent by "Yuki55"

"Ryuzu no taki means "dragon head waterfall" in Japanese. The name comes from the shape of the falls, which resembles the head of a dragon. The waterfall is located on Yukawa River, shortly before the river discharges into Lake Chuzenji.

Ryuzu Waterfall is flanked by many trees which turn yellow and red during the autumn leaf season, adding to the fall's fiery, dragon-like appearance. Probably because of its shadowy location, Ryuzu Waterfall is one of the first spots in Nikko to see autumn colors. It is usually best in early October.

The waterfall is viewed free of charge from a small observation deck in the back of a rest house that also contains a souvenir shop and a food stand. It is possible to follow the river upstream for about 300 meters along a walking trail and enjoy more views of the impressive river as it rushes towards the lake. Further beyond, the trail continues towards the Senjogahara Marshlands." In: Japan Guide

GB-240650 - The Lake District

© J. Salmon Ltd

GB-240650 sent by "f1julia"

"The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains (or fells) but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth and the other Lake Poets.

The majority of the area was designated as the Lake District National Park in 1951. It is the largest of the thirteen National Parks in England and Wales, and the second largest in the UK (after the Cairngorms). It lies entirely within the modern county of Cumbria, shared historically by the counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire. All the land in England higher than three thousand feet above sea level lies within the National Park, including Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. It also contains the deepest and longest lakes in England." In: Wikipedia

Meeting in Massachussetts

© Sacha Goldberger, from "The Little Box of I Love You" published by Chronicle Books

This card came from Massachusetts from the postcrossing mini-meeting in July/2011. It says "You've got me wrapped around your finger".

Ancient mosaic of Leda and Swan - Cyprus

Photo by George Hadjimenikou published by Amnicard

This is my third swap with Nasia from Cyprus. This time she sent this ancient mosaic of Leda and Swan in Nicosia.

"Leda and the Swan is a motif from Greek mythology in which Zeus came to Leda in the form of a swan. According to later Greek mythology, Leda bore Helen and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, while at the same time bearing Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus, the King of Sparta. In the W.B. Yeats version, it is subtly suggested that Clytemnestra, although being the daughter of Tyndareus, has somehow been traumatised by what the swan has done to her mother (see below). As the story goes, Zeus took the form of a swan and raped or seduced Leda on the same night she slept with her husband King Tyndareus. In some versions, she laid two eggs from which the children hatched. In other versions, Helen is a daughter of Nemesis, the goddess who personified the disaster that awaited those suffering from the pride of Hubris." In: Wikipedia

Tibetan folklore (I)

A traditional Tibetan celebration. Trade with Chiu-Chiu.

Meeting in Lake Päijänne - Finland

This great postcard of Garfield came from a Postcrossing Meeting at Lake Päijänne, Finland, on 02/07/2011. It was sent by "dollart"

US-1136362 - Missouri

US-1136362 sent by "bcortelyou"

"Missouri: The beautiful scene offers a nostalgic glimpse of the past."

Casemates - Luxembourg

"Dollart" stopped by Luxembourg. She says that in 9 years not much have changed.

"The first tunnels for the underground defences below the old castle were dug out during the Spanish period in 1644. Extensions were made by the French engineer Vauban under Louis XIV in 1684 but it was from 1737 to 1746 that the Austrians completed the extraordinary complex of underground passages and galleries known as the casemates. With a total length of 23 km (14 mi) and depths of up to 40 m (131 ft), they accommodated 50 canons and a garrison of 1,200 men. In addition, they had underground facilities for housing equipment and horses as well as workshops, kitchens, bakeries and slaughterhouses. When the surface fortifications were dismantled in 1875, most of the underground defences remained largely untouched, 17 km (11 mi) of passageways remaining. In 1994, the casemates were added to the list of UNESCO's world heritage sites, attracting some 100,000 visitors a year.

In 1933, the Bock casemates were opened to the public. During the Second World War, they were used as a bomb shelter able to accommodate up to 35,000 people. Renovation work and repairs were undertaken in 2008–2009 including the opening up of the mine galleries which contained explosives able to blow up part of the Bock in case of need." In: Wikipedia

Rhine Falls - Switzerland

I love waterfalls and the sound of the water falling down... A few weeks ago I got a two more cards showing the Rhine Falls (Rhinefall) in Switzerland

sent by azzurri

sent by seemeith