CISV International

This is a postcard of CISV. The design was done by Lisa Ahlstrand and Debbie Wise. CISV International is a global community of dedicated volunteers, creating opportunities for all ages to experience the excitement and enrichment of cultural diversity through our educational programmes. CISV was founded in 1950 on the belief that peace is possible through friendship – and that the real difference can be made by starting with children.

 

It was posted on 24 October 1989 from Hisings Kärra, Sweden. It reads: 'My dear friend Elena! Happy birthday [I wear our ring every day. Do you?] I hope you'll have a good day. I had a "good" birthday even if I was crying all the time. I had a GREAT summer and that's the best. I miss you a lot. Maybe we'll see each other next summer. Kim & I think of going to a seminar and then come to see you. Wouldn't that be great? I hope my dream will come true. Keep in touch! I love you & miss you Karin. Take care!

Golden Gate Bridge | USA

As you might know, I am an architect. A few days ago I visited an old mansion that is going to be demolished (it has no architectural or historical value), from which the owners wanted nothing! There I found many interesting old things (furniture, photographs, paintings etc). Among them were many old postcards! I will try to upload them all! The first one is the one you see above, picturing Golden Gate Bridge on a foggy day. It was sent on 7 May 1989.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937, and has become one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and of the United States. Despite its span length being surpassed by eight other bridges since its completion, it still has the second longest suspension bridge main span in the United States, after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. It has been declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide considers the Golden Gate Bridge "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world". [wikipedia]

From Bucharest to a greek Kafeneio in Athens

 Once again I took a walk at Monastiraki, where there is aflea market of antiques and old things. I found some beautiful postcards. The one I like the most is this :

 It is a card of Romania, but unfortunately the stamps cover the description of the place. In the back there are six different stamps!

But, what I like most in this card is that it is addressed to George Taflian and instead of an address it was sent to the local Kafeneioand at the bottom says: "Guys, hello from Bucharest to everybody".
Kafeneio is a Greek kind of cafeteria, where only men used to go. There they would drink traditional Greek coffee or ouzo, they would play cards and discuss about politics. Depending on in which neighborhood the Kafeneio was, you would see not only people of the lower class, but also people of the spirit [professors, writers, poets etc]. Kafeneia [plural of Kafeneio] still exist, but nowadays you may even see women there.