Postcards Around the World

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