Sälen | Sweden

This postcard shows a skier at Sälen, locality situated in Malung-Sälen Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 652 inhabitants in 2010.

Despite its small population, Sälen receives many tourists every winter. Sälen is best known for hosting the start of Vasaloppet, the oldest (since 1922), longest (90 km), and largest cross country ski race in the world, with over 15,000 participants in the main race alone. It is also known for its many alpine ski resorts, of which there are seven. The oldest resort in Sälen is Högfjällshotellet which was built in 1937 remains popular for recreation, cross country skiing and downhill skiing. Newer resorts with steeper mountains are Hundfjället and Granfjället. Other resorts are Stöten, Lindvallen, Näsfjället, Tandådalen, and Kläppen. Today Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen and Hundfjället are operated by the Skistar company. Lindvallen and Högfjället are connected with ski lifts, as is Tandådalen with Hundfjället The vertical height is up to 350 m. Most visitors are Swedish families with children; as such there is little in the way of nightlife, no central square or plaza, and accommodations are decentralized.

It was posted on 6 April 1982 [if I can read the stamp correctly] from Örsundsbro. It reads: 'Hello!! It's wonderful here. The sun is shining and it's not very cold. We are skiing every day. This is in the north of Sweden called Sälen. I have seen a lot of handsome boys. A letter will come later. With love Hanna'.

Nazaré and Vila Real de Santo António | Portugal

Last night we went to a Portuguese restaurant, so today I browsed through my collection and found these two postcards from Portugal.

This postcards shows washerwomen of petticoats at Nazaré, Portugal. Nazaré is a town and a municipality in subregion Oeste and Leiria District, in Portugal. It is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the Silver Coast/Costa de Prata, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 15,158, in an area of 82.43 km². The municipal holiday is September 8 with the Festas da Nazaré a religious and profane festival with processions, bullfights, fireworks, folk dancing and a fair. The town consists of three neighbourhoods: Praia (along the beach), Sítio (an old village, on top of a cliff) and Pederneira (another old village, on a hilltop). Praia and Sítio are linked by the Nazaré Funicular, a funicular railway. [wikipedia]

A game of squash from Brussels to West Sussex

I lived in Brussels for almost a year in 2007 and it is a place that will be forever in my heart. I still remember how mesmerized I was when I first saw Grand Place.

The Grand Place or Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by opulent guildhalls and two larger edifices, the city's Town Hall, and the Breadhouse (French: Maison du Roi, Dutch: Broodhuis) building containing the Museum of the City of Brussels. The square is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. It measures 68 by 110 metres (223 by 361 ft), and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Every two years in August, an enormous "flower carpet" is set up in the Grand Place for a few days. A million colourful begonias are set up in patterns, and the display covers a full 24 by 77 metres (79 by 253 ft), for area total of 1,800 square metres (19,000 sq ft). The first flower carpet was made in 1971, and due to its popularity, the tradition continued, with the flower carpet attracting a large number of tourists. [wikipedia]

The second postcard was sent at 20 April 1982 and it reads: 'Dear Rick, staying in Brussels for a few days. My squash has not progressed very far! If you have the time I will give you a game (we'll knock about). Best to leave a message with secretary. Love "D" '

Do you think they actually played that game of squash?