Belarus

 This lovely postcard arrived today. It was sent to me by Tacciana in Belarus via postcrossing [BY-90737]. As Tacciana sais, this old record player can be seen at the Belarusian Heritage Museum. Very impressive are the stamps, which "show the national holiday "End of Reaping". The lady in the stamp is wearing a namitka, a pice of white cloth tied in a very tricky way."

I was very happy with this postcard! I didn't know anything about Belarus, and now I know a thing or two! I hope I will receive more postcards from that country :)

Bosra, Syria

Bosra was an ancient city in southern Syria. It was built in 2nd century B.C. Nowadays is a huge archaeological site, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In this card you can see the Amphitheater.

Teide

Teide, the National Parque of Tenerife is absolutely amazing. The whole scenery seems like you are on the moon! It takes a bit of time to reach the top of the volcano and when you get there the air is so thin that you can hardly breathe, but it worths the effort!
It is an Unesco World Heritage Site.

Mount Teide or, in Spanish, Pico del Teide (Teide Peak), is the highest elevation in Spain and the islands of the Atlantic (it is the third largest volcano in the world from its base, after Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea located in Hawaii). It is an active volcano which last erupted in 1909 from the El Chinyero vent on the Santiago (northwestern) rift and is located on Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Olympia

This is the archaeological site of Olympia. It is an Unesco WHS. Although my parents are from a nearby village, it's been years since I last visited it.

Olympia (Greek: Ολυμπία, older transliterations, Olimpia, Olimbia), a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad (i.e. every four years), the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC. In 394 AD, ( after exactly 1170 years ) emperor Theodosius I abolished them as they were then considered reminiscent of paganism. The first olympic games were in Olympia in honor of Zeus.

Old Town of Corfu

This is the old town of Corfu. I went there for vacations on August of 2002 and I had a great time! Apart from the amazing old town, Corfu has wonderful beaches!!
 

Corfu (Greek: Κέρκυρα) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands. Its north-eastern coastline lies off the coast of Sarandë, Albania, from which it is separated by straits varying in breadth from 3 to 23 km (2 to 15 mi), including one near ancient Butrint, while the south-east side of the island lies off the coast of Thesprotia, Greece.The principal town (pop. 28,185) of the island is also named Corfu, or Kérkyra in Greek. Corfu is home to the Ionian University.

Schloss Neuschwanstein

 

This is probably the first postcard I ever bought! I was with my parents touring Germany back in 1989. This pictures the Royal Castle Neuschwanstein in Southwest Bavaria, which was Disney's inspiration for the Castle of the Sleeping Beauty. I remember only a few things from that trip, but the Castle is sure one of them. The funny thing is that I mostly remember the kitchen and not the other rooms =]

ps I like it that in the back there is a stamp that says "Schloss Neuschwanstein".

Neuschwanstein Castle (German: Schloss Neuschwanstein) is a 19th-century Gothic Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as a homage to Richard Wagner.

Vikos Gorge, Epirus

I am posting this card because it was a request from a very dear friend! This card is rather old and has weird size [16cm x 13,5cm]. It shows the river Voidomatis and above [or should I say all around?] the Vikos Gorge in Epirus [Northwest Greece]. It is one of the most beautiful places in Greece and luckily it is not crowded with tourists, because of the high mountains and the bad roads.
I will go to Epirus on December, so I will return with more postcards!!

Royal Salt Mine "Wieliczka" #2

This is another postcard of the Salt Mine, showing the Wessel Chamber, which is used as a sanatorium.
I did a little googling and I learned that it is one of the oldest salt mines, still working [they started mining salt there in the 13th century] and in 1978 it became an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Garden of the Gods

The name of the park dates back to August 1859 when two surveyors helping to set up nearby Colorado City were exploring the nearby areas. Upon discovering the site, one of the surveyors, M. S. Beach, suggested that it would be a "capital place for a beer garden." His companion, the young Rufus Cable, awestruck by the impressive rock formations, exclaimed, "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods." The beer garden never materialized, but the name stuck. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_the_Gods]

This one came to my hands by a private swap with Ron from Colorado!

Sir Stamford Raffles | Singapore

This postcard just arrived via postcrossing [SG-30976]  :) . It was sent to me by Carebear, who says that this is the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, the Engish man who founded the [in the beginning] small fishing village of Singapore!

After a small Internet search, I found out that even though the city of Singapore is one of the busiest harbors in the world, the actual country is rather small!

French Infanterie

This one is not written but I like the army theme. It pictures some French soldiers under a tent.

Pretty Girl

This is one of my favorites! This girl is so pretty!!

In the back there are a few words written in Greek but I can't make out what it says. The stamps seem to be Russian and it has no date.

Paris 1955 | France

Yet another pretty postcard from France, this time Paris. It pictures Place de la Concorde and you can see the Eiffel Tower. It was posted on 9/8/1955 and even though it is written in English the handwrite makes it hard to read [again if anyone can help... :) ].

Happy 1921 | France

 

This post card is a French "Happy New Year" card. It was posted on 1st January 1921 and has a stab of the Post Office of Lyon. Unfortunately I don't know French, so I don't know what it says [if someone could translate I would be sooo grateful]. I think it's kinda funny that the address is upside down from the text =]

Wiesbaden | Germany

 

This one pictures the Greek Church in Wiesbaden, Germany. In the back it only says: "Wiesbaden 4/11/09" and the address of the recipient. It would be nice to find a card of the same view in our days.

Monastiraki

Today I went for a walk at Monastiraki [a neighborhood in Athens filled with antique-stores, where you can find literally anything]. I started looking around when I bumped into a small store that sold old postcards! I got in and started snooping around! I found many hidden treasures, but I didn't have much time, so I bought only 5 vintage postcards. I will upload them all. Enjoy! :)

Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife | Spain

Puerto de la Cruz is located in Northern Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It is a very beautiful seaside city with bright colours and friendly people. Except of the piscines shown in the card, there are some natural pools shaped by lava. Many people bathe there.

Casa Milà/La Pedrera (1906-1912)

Casa Milà was designed by the most famous spanish architect Antonio Gaudi. It started to being built in 1906 and was finished in 1912. It is located at 92, Passeig de Gràcia in the Eixample district of Barcelona. It is even more spectacular when you see it in person. So much detail!
It is an Unesco World Heritage Site.

Piazza Cavour, Como

Tram in Piazza Cavour, Como.

Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Its proximity to Lake Como and to the Alps has made Como a popular tourist destination and the city contains numerous works of art, churches, gardens, museums, theatres, parks and palaces.
Como was the birthplace of a good number of historically notable figures, including the (somewhat obscure) poet Caecilius who is mentioned by Catullus in the first century BCE, the far more substantial literary figures of Pliny the Elder and the Younger, Pope Innocent XI, the scientist Alessandro Volta, and Cosima Liszt, second wife of Richard Wagner and long-term director of the Bayreuth Festival.
These celebrities have lived or owned properties in Como or on its lake :

• George Clooney - American actor
• Madonna - American pop singer
• Gianni Versace - Italian fashion designer
• Matt Bellamy - lead singer and guitar player of English rock band Muse

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Como)

Skyros Island

One of the many beaches of Skyros.

Skyros is the southernmost island of the Sporades, a Greek archipelago in the Aegean Sea. Around the 2nd millennium BC and slightly later, the island was known as The Island of the Magnetes where the Magnetes used to live and later Pelasgia and Dolopia and later Skyros. At 209 km² it is the largest of the Sporades, and has a population of about 3,000 (in 2003). Skyros is one of the municipalities that are not part of any provinces in Greece. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyros)

Santorini, Ia #2

Yet another aspect of Santorini. You can see the Red Beach and on top the village Ia.

Santorini, Ia #1

Greece has a vast number of islands (approximately 1400, of which 227 are inhabited). One of the most beautiful is Santorini. It has picturesque villages and amazing beaches. It is said that in Santorini you can see the most beautiful sunset in the world!

Poros Island

We went to Poros Island on 2-5 September 2010 for the wedding of some very dear friends. This small island is very picturesque...almost like traveling back in time! Wonderful buildings, nice people and beautiful beaches.

Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji #3

 

"Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji: Summer shower beneath thepeak." by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

So far I only have two views of Mt. Fuji. I hope someday I will have all of them :)

Berlin

New architecture in Berlin: Sony Center and debis complex on the Potsdamer Platz. In the foreground is the Kulturforum with Philarmonie and Church of St. Metthew.

Kolimpithres beach, Paros

Paros is an island of Greece in the central Aegean Sea. One of the Cyclades island group, it lies to the west of Naxos, from which it is separated by a channel about 8 km (5 mi) wide.
Historically, Paros was known for its fine white marble, which gave rise to the term "Parian" to describe marble or china of similar qualities. Today, abandoned marble quarries and mines can be found on the island, but Paros is primarily known as a popular tourist spot.

White Tower

This is an oldie!My parents sent it to me in 1993.

Thessaloniki is the 2nd biggest city in Greece. It has it's own vibe!I like it very much! On this card you can see the White Tower, which was used as a prison. Nowadays, is not so white anymore (hihi) and has become the symbol of the city!

Luxor Hotel

Royal Salt Mine "Wieliczka" #1

The St Kinga's Chapel, Leonardo da Vinci's fresco "The last supper" was the model for the rock-salt relief carved.

This "painting"is actually carved on a wall made of salt..pretty impressive!!

It is an Unesco World Heritage Site.

Beauty in the wind

Beauty in the wind. By Kaigetsudo Ando.
Hoei - Shotoku eras (1704-1716).
Tokyo Natioanl Museum.

New York

"East River skyline: Chrysler & United Nations Buildings
Photographer - Jon Ortner"

The theater of Palmyra

Palmyra was an ancient Syrian city, In the old times it was an important city of central Syria, located in an oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus. The theater today is having 9 rows of seating, but most likely had up to 12 with the addition of wooden structures. It has been dated to the early 1st century AD.
It is an Unesco World Heritage Site.

Sicilia

 

A friend of mine sent this to me on 19.08.2010.

It is a scene of tone-fishing at Favignaga, Sicily, a tradition that is becoming extincted.

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche | Germany

In the back it sais: "Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in den 50er Jahren".

The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche or Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is one of Berlin's most famous landmarks. The damaged tower is a symbol of Berlin's resolve to rebuild the city after the war and a constant reminder of the destruction of war.The church is located at the Breitscheidplatz, the center of former West-Berlin. It is still the commercial center of Berlin.

Disneyland, Paris

I received this one a few days ago. Some friends were in Paris for their honeymoon [ :) ] and they sent it to me!

Lago di Como, Italy

I had a shopping trip to Milan last year and we decided to go for one day at Lago di Como. The weather was fine and we had a great time. But one day is just too little for a place like that. I wish I can go back someday and spend some time around the lake!

Dinan, France

Dinan is a beautiful small medieval city in Northern France with cobbled rambling streets all carefully restored and preserved. Most of the houses are half-timbered dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, as you can see on the card. This is the square of Les Marciers, filled with small cafes and restaurants.

Saint Malo | France

I visited Saint Malo on April 2010.

Saint-Malo is a walled port city in Brittany in north-western France on the English Channel. It is a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine department.

Once you are there, I can advise you to do two things:

1. Just before sunset, take a long walk on the city walls. That way you will see the city from above and you will have a magnificent view of the sun setting into the sea!

2. You just HAVE TO try the seafood! Any seafood recipe we tried was amazing!!

Leros | Greece

Leros is a Greek island and municipality in the Dodecanese prefecture in the southern Aegean Sea. It lies 317 km (171 nautical miles) from Athens's port of Piraeus, from which it can be reached by an 11-hour ferry ride (or by a 45-minute flight from Athens). It has beautiful beaches and delicious food!

New York, New York

This postcard was sent to me by a friend in 2000.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona...I've been there in 2001. It is a beautiful city with amazing citizens!

Barcelona is the capital of the province of Catalunya. This region is well known for its economic and cultural differences with the rest of Spain. The most striking difference with the other Spanish regions though, is the Catalan language. Catalan is quite different from Spanish - it is spoken in Catalunya but also in a small part of France, the Balearic Islands and around Valencia - and the Catalan population takes great pride in using their own language.

Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji #1

"Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji: View through waves off the coast of Kanagawa" by Katsushika Hokusai

Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji is an ukiyo-e series of large, color woodblock prints by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849). The series depicts Mount Fuji in differing seasons and weather conditions from a variety of different places and distances. It actually consists of 46 prints created between 1826 and 1833. The first 36 were included in the original publication and, due to their popularity, ten more were added after the original publication.

I bought this one in a trip to Japan. Although I don't like art, there's something about Japanese traditional paintings!

Mount Fuji (Fuji-san) is the highest mountain in Japan, rising to 12,388 feet. Visible from Tokyo on a clear day, the beautiful cone-shaped mountain is located west of the city, surrounded by lakes in a national park.

Mt. Fuji is named for the Buddhist fire goddess Fuchi and is sacred to the Shinto goddess Sengen-Sama, whose shrine is found at the summit. It is the holiest of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains." Every summer, thousands of pilgrims and tourists climb to the summit, many of them hiking throughout the night to witness the sunrise from the summit. [link]

Venice, Italy

All though I've been in Venice many times, each time is better than the last :)

Venice and its lagoon is an Unesco World Heritage Site.

Corfu, Greece

What can anyone say?One of the most beautiful islands in the world!! :))))

[to be continued....]