Postcards Around the World

2013-10-21

Ha Long Bay - Vietnam (UNESCO WHS)

New, sent by Manuela

"Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest." In: UNESCO

2013-10-20

BR-248519 - Ponta Negra Beach, Natal

BR-248519 sent by "MarianaEmer"

"Ponta Negra (lit. "Black Tip") is a famous beach and neighborhood located in the Brazilian city of Natal, the capital of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Located in the extreme south of the beach is the Morro do Careca (Bald Hill), a large dune and an iconic landmark of the city. Located in the extreme north of the beach is the Via Costeira (Coastal Way), a long coastal road that connects Ponta Negra with several other beaches of the city, such as Areia Preta and Praia dos Artistas.

The beach is completely urbanized and there are several shops, restaurants, bars, night clubs, and hotels.

The sand itself is lined with "tents", or huts, called "barracas" that serve food and drinks to beachgoers day and night.

A common sight on the beach are "jangadas", simple, multicolored, local fishing boats typical of northeastern Brazil." In: Wikipedia

2013-10-19

International Music Festival - Macau

New, sent by Blicas Blocas

Information on the back side: "Held in October, has won great acclaim for its opera production in unique locations such as the St. Paul Ruins, the serene Lou Lim Ieoc Garden and the imposing Senado Square."

2013-10-18

Albufeira - Portugal

Sunset in Albufeira, unused, sent by Cláudia

Several views of Albufeira, unused, sent by Claúdia

"Albufeira is a city in Portugal. It is the seat of Albufeira Municipality. It is a main tourist destination, due to its coastal location. The city has a population of 22,000. It is 250 kilometres (160 mi) from Lisbon, and is within close proximity of Paderne Castle. Lagos is located 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the west, and Faro 45 kilometres (28 mi) to the south-east. Facilities include a marina, golf courses plus a great many hotels, apartment blocks, restaurants and bars for the annual flood of visitors." In: Wikipedia

2013-10-17

Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid - Spain

New, sent by Claúdia.

"The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is a famous bullring in Madrid (Spain).

Situated in the Guindalera quarter of the district of Salamanca, it was inaugurated on June 17, 1931. It has a seating capacity of 25,000 and is regarded as the home of bullfighting in Spain.

This bullring was designed by the architect José Espeliú in the Neo-Mudéjar (Moorish) style with ceramic incrustations. The seats are situated in ten "tendidos". The price of the seats depends upon how close they are to the arena and whether they are in the sun or the shade (the latter being more expensive). The bullfighting season starts in March and ends in October; bullfights are held every day during the San Isidro Fiesta, and every Sunday or holiday during the season. Bullfights start at 6 or 7pm and last for two to three hours." In: Wikipedia

2013-10-16

Komodo Dragons at Komodo National Park - Indonesia (UNESCO WHS)

RR Portugal x World G42, sent by jejeirene

"These volcanic islands are inhabited by a population of around 5,700 giant lizards, whose appearance and aggressive behaviour have led to them being called 'Komodo dragons'. They exist nowhere else in the world and are of great interest to scientists studying the theory of evolution. The rugged hillsides of dry savannah and pockets of thorny green vegetation contrast starkly with the brilliant white sandy beaches and the blue waters surging over coral." In: UNESCO

2013-10-15

Buçaco - Portugal (UNESCO Tentative)

Sent by Marta.

Sent by Cristiana

"Measuring 1450m by 950m, the National Forest is surrounded by a wall with several gates scattered around the perimeter, providing access to the leafy woods which surround the church, part of a Carmelite convent, a monumental palace, and several other buildings of a religious nature. Bucaco's cultural landscape predates this, the only "wilderness” of its kind in Portugal, which was created by the Order of Discalced Carrnelites between 1628 and 1630. The friars of the Monastery of Vacarip, situated five kms away, had already been active in altering the natural environment, since the sixth century. The National Forest of Bucaco boasts a remarkable botanical and scenic heritage, with a large number of gigantic, century-old trees, in which one species is especially noteworthy, Cupressus Lusitanica Miller, originating in the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala, and commonly known as the Bucaco Cedar, which, due to its age, adaptation, number and height has become a symbol of the Forest." In: UNESCO

2013-09-14

Map of the Oregon Trail - USA

Used, sent by Sapic12

"The Oregon Trail is a 2,000-mile (3,200 km) historic east-west large wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail spanned part of the future state of Kansas and nearly all of what are now the states of Nebraska and Wyoming. The western half of the trail spanned most of the future states of Idaho and Oregon.

The Oregon Trail was laid by fur trappers and traders from about 1811 to 1840 and was only passable on foot or by horseback. By 1836, when the first migrant wagon train was organized in Independence, Missouri, a wagon trail had been cleared to Fort Hall, Idaho. Wagon trails were cleared further and further west, eventually reaching all the way to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. What came to be called the Oregon Trail was complete, even as improved roads, "cutouts", ferries and bridges made the trip faster and safer almost every year. From various "jumping off points" branched in Missouri, Iowa or Nebraska Territory, the routes converged along the lower Platte River Valley near Fort Kearny, Nebraska Territory and led to rich farmlands west of the Rocky Mountains." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-13

Map of Tenerife, Islas Canarias - Spain

Unused

Canary Islands is composed by seven islands. The postcard shows mainly Tenerife and some of the closest to Tenerife.

"Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands; it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 square kilometres (785 sq mi) and 898,680 inhabitants, 43 percent of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the most of any Canary Islands. Tenerife hosts one of the world's largest carnivals and the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is attempting to become a World Heritage Site. Tenerife is serviced by two airports, Tenerife North Airport and Tenerife South Airport, and is the tourism and economic centre of the archipelago." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-12

Ponta das Contendas Lighthouse, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores - Portugal

Sent by Lurdes

"Located along the maritime coast, in the south-east corner of the island of Terceira, called Ponta das Contendas, it is situated in an elevated zone, resulting in a focal point that is 54 metres above sea level. Although protected by a wall, the lighthouse (ARLHS AZO-007; PT-745; Admiralty D2664; NGA 23532 is on the edge of a high cliff, and accessible only from the Estrada 509, alongside several agricultural fields." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-11

Dragon Boat Race - Macau

Unused, sent by Blicas Blocas

Information on the back side: "One of the most colorful celebration of the Chinese calendar usually held in June at the Praia Grande Bay with local, regional and international team participation."

2013-09-10

Map of Turkey

Used, sent by "Sapic12"

"Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country, located mostly on Anatolia in Western Asia and on East Thrace in Southeastern Europe. Turkey is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. The Mediterranean Sea is to the south; the Aegean Sea is to the west; and the Black Sea is to the north. The Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles (which together form the Turkish Straits) demarcate the boundary between Thrace and Anatolia; they also separate Europe and Asia. Turkey's location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes it a country of significant geostrategic importance." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-09

Rochester falls - Mauritius

Unused.

"Rochester Falls is a waterfall on the Savanne River. It is famous for the strange rectangular form of its rocky flank.

It is located approximately 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from Souillac. The falls tumble from the Savanne River from a height of about 10 m (33 ft) where constant erosion has fashioned the basalt rock into upright columns. Youngsters often perform dare-devil dives into the water below." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-08

Mount Shasta, California - USA

Unused, sent by PilotOne

"Mount Shasta (Karuk: Úytaahkoo or "White Mountain") is an active volcano located at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California and at 14,179 feet (4,322 m) is the second highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth highest in California. Mount Shasta has an estimated volume of 85 cubic miles (350 km3) which makes it the most voluminous stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc.

The mountain and its surrounding area are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Shasta-Trinity National Forest." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-07

Iguazu Falls, Paraná - Brazil

Unused, sent by "Sapic12"

Unused.

"Iguazu Falls, Iguazú Falls, Iguassu Falls or Iguaçu Falls (Portuguese: Cataratas do Iguaçu; Spanish: Cataratas del Iguazú) are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentinian province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River rises near the city of Curitiba. The river flows through Brazil for most of its course, although most of the falls are on the Argentine side. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the boundary between Argentina and Brazil.

The name "Iguazu" comes from the Guarani or Tupi words "y", meaning "water", and "ûasú ", meaning "big". Legend has it that a god planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. The first European to find the falls was the Spanish conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541.

On November 11 of 2011, Iguazu Falls was announced as one of the seven winners of the New Seven Wonders of Nature by the New Seven Wonders of the World Foundation." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-06

Palacio Real (Royal Palace), Madrid - Spain

Unused, sent by Cláudia Ferreira

"The Palacio Real de Madrid (literally: Royal Palace of Madrid) is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family at the city of Madrid, but is only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid. The palace is owned by the Spanish State and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional, a public agency of the Ministry of the Presidency. The palace is located on Calle de Bailén (Bailén Street), in the Western part of downtown Madrid, East of the Manzanares River, and is accessible from the Ópera metro station. Several rooms in the palace are regularly open to the public, except during state functions.

In Spanish, it is sometimes incorrectly called "Palacio de Oriente" by confusion with the "Plaza de Oriente", the square which lies to the East (Oriental) side of the palace." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-05

Unawatuna beach - Sri Lanka

Unused, sent by "PilotOne"

"Unawatuna is a coastal town in Galle district of Sri Lanka. Unawatuna is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka and famous for its beautiful beach and corals. It is a suburb of Galle city which is situated about 5 km southeast to the city center." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-04

Tróia - Portugal

Sent by Flora.

"Tróia is a peninsula located in Grândola Municipality (parish of Carvalhal), Portugal, next to the Sado River estuary. Tourism is the peninsula's main activity due to its long beaches facing the Atlantic. There is a ferry boat connection between the peninsula and the city of Setúbal. Tróia has important archeological sites dating from the time when the peninsula was an island called Acalá, settled by the Romans." In: Wikipedia

2013-09-03

Drunken Dragon Festival - Macau

Unused, sent by "Blicas Blocas"

Information on the card: "An unusual local festival in which celebrates duly intoxicated perform a drunken dance with carved heads and tails of wooden dragons."

2013-09-02

Fortress of Suomenlinna, Helsinki - Finland (UNESCO WHS) (Postcrossing Meeting)

Sent by dollart from the Postcrossing Meeting in Helsinki, 14/02/2012

Sent by dollart from the International Postcrossing Meeting in Helsinki, 03/08/2013

"Built in the second half of the 18th century by Sweden on a group of islands located at the entrance of Helsinki's harbour, this fortress is an especially interesting example of European military architecture of the time."In: UNESCO