Berlin | Germany

This beautiful postcard was sent to me by Carina from Berlin, Germany via Postcrossing [DE-7301557]. It shows the Berlin Cathedral, the Palace of the Republic and the Spree seen from the Nikolai Quarter. She informs me that 'the view on this postcard is not what you would see today. The Palace of the Republic has been torn down. In it's place, the old Berlin Palace is been rebuilt.'

The Palace of the Republic (German: Palast der Republik) in East Berlin was the seat of the parliament of the German Democratic Republic (also known as East Germany), the Volkskammer (People's Chamber), and also served various cultural purposes. Located between Schlossplatz and the Lustgarten (referred to jointly as Marx-Engels-Platz from 1951 to 1994) on an island in the River Spree, it also housed two large auditoria, art galleries, a theatre, 13 restaurants, a bowling alley, a post office, and a discothèque. On 23 August 1990, the Volkskammer ratified the treaty on German reunification, which was later also confirmed by the Bundestag in Bonn. The building was constructed between 1973 and 1976 on the site of the former Berliner Stadtschloss (City Palace), and was completely demolished by 2008 to make room for a reconstruction of the Stadtschloss, which began in 2013.

Dublin | Ireland

 

This beautiful postcard was sent by Jana from Ireland via Postcrossing [CZ-1407509]. It shows some colourful front doors in Dublin. Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath) is the capital of and largest city in Ireland. Dublin is located in the province of Leinster on the east coast of Ireland, at the mouth of the River Liffey and bordered on the South by the Wicklow Mountains.

There is archaeological debate regarding precisely where Dublin was established by Celtic-speaking people in the 7th century. Later expanded as a Viking settlement, the Kingdom of Dublin became Ireland's principal city following the Norman invasion. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire before the Acts of Union in 1800. Following the partition of Ireland in 1922, Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State, later renamed Ireland.

As of 2010, Dublin was listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) as a global city, with a ranking of "Alpha-", which places it amongst the top thirty cities in the world. It is a historical and contemporary centre for education, the arts, administration, economy and industry.

Carnival of Binche | Belgium

This postcard is from Belgium but was sent from the USA. It was sent by Stefan via Postcrossing [US-3750646]. He writes: 'On the card you see people wearing a Carnival costume in the city of Binche in Belgium. It is on the UNESCO list. They dance funny and throw oranges to the bystanders.'

The Carnival of Binche is an event that takes place each year in the Belgian town of Binche during the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. The carnival is the best known of several that take place in Belgium at the same time and has been proclaimed as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity listed by UNESCO. Its history dates back to approximately the 14th century.

Events related to the carnival begin up to seven weeks prior to the primary celebrations. Street performances and public displays traditionally occur on the Sundays approaching Ash Wednesday, consisting of prescribed musical acts, dancing, and marching. Large numbers of Binche's inhabitants spend the Sunday directly prior to Ash Wednesday in costume.

The centrepiece of the carnival's proceedings are clown-like performers known as Gilles. Appearing, for the most part, on Shrove Tuesday, the Gilles are characterised by their vibrant dress, wax masks and wooden footwear. They number up to 1,000 at any given time, range in age from 3 to 60 years old, and are customarily male. The honour of being a Gille at the carnival is something that is aspired to by local men. From dawn on the morning of the carnival's final day, Gilles appear in the centre of Binche, to dance to the sound of drums and ward off evil spirits with sticks. Later during the day, they don large hats adorned with ostrich plumes, which can cost more than $300 US dollars to rent, and march through the town with baskets of oranges. These oranges are thrown to, and sometimes at, members of the crowd gathered to view the procession. The vigour and longevity of the orange-throwing event has in past caused damage to property – some residents choose to seal windows to prevent this. The oranges are considered good luck because they are a gift from the Gilles and it is an insult to throw them back. [wikipedia]

The postcard was sent from the USA with a Christmas stamp [2013].

Borne | The Netherlands

This is a multi-view postcard sent by Jantsje from Borne via postcrossing [NL-3215637].

Borne is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands. Its inhabitants also have the nickname Melbuul [which I am very intrigued to find out what it means]. Borne is the sister city of the German town Rheine.

It was postmarked on 10 November 2015 in Zwolle.

Vilnius | Lithuania

This is my first postcard from Lithuania! It is a multi-view postcard of Vilnius sent by Margarita via postcrossing [LT-473862]. 

Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, is known for its baroque architecture, seen especially in its medieval old town. But the buildings lining this district’s partially cobblestoned streets reflect diverse styles and eras, from the neoclassical Vilnius Cathedral to Gothic St. Anne's Church. The 16th-century Gate of Dawn, containing a shrine with a sacred Virgin Mary icon, once guarded an entrance to the original city.

It was postmarked on 02 November 2015 in Garliava, Lithuania.

Date of issue: 8th November 2014
Designer: Augustina Gruzdyte
Paper: chalky
Printing process: offset
Perforation: comb 13 1/4 : 13
Size of a stamp: 30 x 40 mm.
Sheet composition: 50 (10 x 5) stamps.
Printing run: 750.000
2.80 Lt. multicoloured. Santa by a balloon.

Gruss aus Nurnberg | Germany

 

I am not a big fan of painted postcards, but this one is really special! I love the illustration and the vintage feel it has. It was sent by Florian from Germany via Postcrossing [DE-4626965].

Nuremberg, a city in Bavaria, is distinguished by its medieval architecture, including the fortifications and stone towers of its Altstadt (Old Town). At the northern edge of the Altstadt, surrounded by red-roofed buildings, stands Kaiserburg Castle. The Hauptmarkt (central square) contains the Schöner Brunnen, the gilded “beautiful fountain” with tiers of figures, and Frauenkirche, a 14th-century Gothic church.

It was postmarked with a Schloss Ludwigslust stamp.

Theme: Series "Castles" - Castle Ludwigslust
Nominal Value: 0.80 €
Issue Date: 2 January 2015
Design: Nicole Elsenbach

Russian Textiles and Kremlins | Russia

This postcard was sent by Irina from Russia via Postcrossing [RU-4129126].

It was postmarked on 26 October 2015 in Moscow. They belong in the Sixth Definitives series - Russian Kremlins. The first one shows the Zaraisk Kremlin and the second one shows the Ryazan Kremlin.

La Giralda | Spain

This beautiful postcard was sent by Joey from Spain via Postcrossing [ES-377660]. It shows La Giralda. The Giralda (Spanish: La Giralda ; Arabic: الخيرالدة‎) is a bell tower of the Seville Cathedral in Seville, Spain. It was originally built as a minaret during the Moorish period, with a Renaissance style top subsequently added by Spaniards. The Giralda was registered in 1987 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO along with the Alcazar and the General Archive of the Indies. The tower is 104.1 m in height and remains one of the most important symbols of the city, as it has been since medieval times. [wikipedia]

The stamp used was issued in commemoration of the International Year of Water Cooperation [2013].

Nagasaki Kunchi | Japan

This is one of my favorite postcards I have ever received! It was sent by Saho from Nagasaki, Japan, via Postcrossing [JP-740124]. As she writes: 'Greetings from Nagasaki. This photo is "Nagasaki Kunchi". It;s one of the three biggest festivals in Japan and now has a history of 380 years. Nagasaki is such a beautiful city, surrounded by the sea and mountains."

Kunchi (くんち), also Nagasaki Kunchi (長崎くんち) or Nagasaki Okunchi (長崎おくんち), is the most famous festival in Nagasaki. It began as a celebration of autumn harvests in the late 16th century and became a shrine festival when Suwa Shrine was founded in 1642. Another purpose was to check for hidden Christians after the ban on Christianity. This is still evident today in the custom of garden showing (庭見せ niwamise), when the presenting neighbourhoods open up their homes to public scrutiny. One of the most famous performances of the festival is the "Dragon Dance" which was originally performed on New Year's Eve by the Chinese residents of Nagasaki. Rehearsals for the festival begin on June 1. From October 7-9 the presentations of the festival, which vividly reflect Nagasaki's colourful history, spill over from the three festival sites into the streets and create an atmosphere of celebration throughout the city. [wikipedia]

It was postmarked in 22 October 2015 with a stamp commemorating the International Letter Writing Week.

Samburu Warriors | Kenya

This is my first postcard from Kenya! It was sent by Kiyoung via postcrossing [KE-2528]. It shows some Samburu warriors. As my fellow postcrosser informed me 'Samburu is one of the 42 tribes in Kenya'.

The Samburu tribe are a Nilotic tribe that inhabits Kenya's northern plains. They are a Maa-speaking group, and are very similar to the Maasai tribe. Like the Maasai, the Samburu are nomadic pastoralists, moving from one place to another following patterns of rainfall in search of fresh pasture and water for their cattle, camels, goats and sheep.

The Samburus are considered even more traditional and remote than their Maasai kin, and have maintained the authenticity of their culture by sticking to their ancient traditions and defying modern trends.

Other neighbors of the Samburu tribe include the pastoral Turkana, Rendille and Borana tribes. Samburu history is intertwined with that of Kenya's other Nilotic tribes. Samburus are known to have originated from Sudan, settling north of Mount Kenya and south of Lake Turkana in Kenya's Rift Valley area. Upon their arrival in Kenya in the 15th century, the Samburu parted ways with their Maasai cousins, who moved further south while the Samburu moved north. The Samburu were not very affected by British colonial rule since the British did not find their land particularly attractive.

Traditionally, the Samburu believed in one supreme god - Nkai or Ngai - who was thought to reside in the mountains. Diviners often acted as intermediaries between other mortals and Nkai. Today, while many Samburu people still adhere to their traditional religion, some have adopted the Christian or Islamic faith. [Read more here]

She has also put these beautiful Kenyan stamps but also one Korean [as she originates from Korea].

Kremlinology | Russia

I received these postcards from Nastasia from Russia via postcrossing [RU-3960696]. The first one shows the view of the Kremlin in 1913. The second one shows popular festivities on Red Square marking the coronation in May 1896.

The Moscow Kremlin (Russian: Моско́вский Кремль, tr. Moskovskiy Kreml), usually referred to as the Kremlin, is a fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River to the south, Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square to the east, and the Alexander Garden to the west. It is the best known of the kremlins (Russian citadels) and includes five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. The complex serves as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

The name Kremlin means "fortress inside a city", and is often also used as a metonym to refer to the government of the Russian Federation in a similar sense to how the White House is used to refer to the Executive Office of the President of the United States. It had previously been used to refer to the government of the Soviet Union (1922–1991) and its highest members (such as general secretaries, premiers, presidents, ministers, and commissars). "Kremlinology" refers to the study of Soviet and Russian politics. [wikipedia]

The Confucius Temple of Kaohsiung | Taiwan

This lovely postcard was sent by Ming Jung from Taiwan via postcrossing [TW-1697292]. It shows the Confucius Temple of Kaohsiung. She writes: "Taiwan's total area is about 14400 square miles. It is shaped like a leaf that is narrow at both ends. It lies off the Southeastern coast of mainland Asia, across the Taiwan Start from China - an island on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean."

The Confucius Temple of Kaohsiung (Chinese: 高雄孔子廟; pinyin: Gāoxióng Kǒngzǐ Miào) is a temple dedicated to the memory of Confucius near Lotus Lake, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The temple was originally constructed in 1684, and renovated during the Qing dynasty. However, during the Japanese colonial period, the temple fell into disuse and disrepair. Only the Chongh Sheng shrine remained intact, and can be seen on the west side the Old City Elementary School. A new temple was constructed in 1977, now on the northwest corner of Lotus Lake. The new design was based on the Liu Song dynasty temple design as well as the design of the Qufu Temple of  Confucius. [wikipedia]

New Orleans | USA

This postcard was sent by Suzanne from the USA via postcrossing [US-3589883].

New Orleans (French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The population of the city was 343,829 as of the 2010 U.S. Census. The New Orleans metropolitan area (New Orleans – Metairie – Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area) had a population of 1,167,764 in 2010 and was the 46th largest in the United States. 

The city is named after the Duke of Orleans, who reigned as Regent for Louis XV from 1715 to 1723, as it was established by French colonists and strongly influenced by their European culture. It is well known for its distinct French and Spanish Creole architecture, as well as its cross-cultural and multilingual heritage. New Orleans is also famous for its cuisine, music (particularly as the birthplace of jazz), and its annual celebrations and festivals, most notably Mardi Gras, dating to French colonial times. The city is often referred to as the "most unique" in the United States.

New Orleans is located in southeastern Louisiana, straddling the Mississippi River. The city and Orleans Parish (French: paroisse d'Orléans) are coterminous. The city and parish are bounded by the parishes of St. Tammany to the north, St. Bernard to the east, Plaquemines to the south, and Jefferson to the south and west. Lake Pontchartrain, part of which is included in the city limits, lies to the north and Lake Borgne lies to the east.

Before Hurricane Katrina, Orleans Parish was the most populous parish in Louisiana. It now ranks third in population, trailing neighboring Jefferson Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish. [wikipedia]

Seebrücke in Ahlbeck | Germany

This postcard was sent by Sina from Germany via postcrossing [DE-4540900]. It shows the Seebrücke in Ahlbeck. Ahlbeck is part of Heringsdorf, a seaside resort in Germany on the island of Usedom in the Baltic Sea. It is situated right next to the border with Poland and the city of Świnoujście (Swinemünde in German), both are freely connected by a street and by 12 km (7 mi) of beach promenade.

Two major attractions include the famous "Seebrücke" or Pier, and a railway museum. Ahlbeck has scenic houses and mansions in the German Gründerzeit style of resort architecture. The bathing resort "Ostseetherme" is a popular tourist attraction. Close to it, there is an architecturally noteworthy observation tower with a lift. [wikipedia]

This stamp brought back a lot of memories. It shows Ludwigslut Palace [Schloss Ludwigslut in German], a place I visited a long long time ago with my family. It is a stately home or schloss in the town of Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, northern Germany. It was built as a hunting lodge, rebuilt as a luxurious retreat from the ducal capital, Schwerin, then became for a time (1765–1837) the center of government. It was the "joy" of Prince Christian Ludwig, the son of the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, hence the name Ludwigslust. [wikipedia]

Philippina "Pina" Bausch | Germany

This postcard was sent by Ingrid from Germany via postcrossing [DE-4540617]. It shows Wohnhaus in Schinkelstrasse in Halle [Saale]. Unfortunately I couldn't find any information about it. [Note added on 19.09.2015] Ingrid very kindly sent me  a message with this very interesting information: 

'The collection of extraordinary "New buildings" within the city Halle / Saale was a project of the "Kunsthalle Villa Kobe" which was unfortunately closed for economic reasons 2012. There is a catalog in which all the "new buildings" are listed, probably with background information, unfortunately only in libraries. Ronald Kunze (Hrsg.): Architektursalon. Neue Bauten in Halle (Saale). Halle 2002'

On the stamp you can see Philippina "Pina" Bausch (27 July 1940 – 30 June 2009), who was a German performer of modern dance, choreographer, dance teacher and ballet director. With her unique style, a blend of movement, sound, and prominent stage sets, and with her elaborate collaboration with performers during the development of a piece (a style now known as Tanztheater), she became a leading influence in the field of modern dance from the 1970s on. She created the company Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch (de) which performs internationally. [wikipedia]

Chaturbhuj temple | India

This beautiful postcard was sent by Ajay from India via postcrossing [IN-157492]. It shows Chaturbhuj temple. Chaturbhuj temple (Devanagri: चतुर्भुज मंदिर) is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The name Chaturbhuj (Devanagri: चतुर्भुज) is a derived from Sanskrit words चतु: = four and भुजा = arms, which literally means One who has four arms; and refers to Lord Vishnu.

The temple is Date-able to CIRCA 1100 A.D. This temple is also known as Jatakari (Devanagri: जटकारी) Temple on the name of the village Jatakari (Devanagri: जटकारी), where it is located. Yasovarman of the Chandela Dynasty built the temple at Khajuraho. [wikipedia]

The stamps show the Old Seminary in Kottayam, Samrat Ashoka and the Intenational Day of Yoga.

Krasnopresnenskaya metro station | Russia

This beautiful postcard was sent by Anastasia from Moscow via postcrossing [RU-3960707]. It shows Krasnopresnenskaya metro station in Circle Line, which opened on March 14, 1954. Anastasia writes: "Hello from Moscow! The Moscow Metro ranks with the world's largest subways and enjoys worldwide renown thanks to its 'underground palaces' - stations decorated like luxurious palatial halls!"

Krasnopresnenskaya (Russian: Краснопре́сненская) is a Moscow Metro station in the Presnensky District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow. It is on the Koltsevaya Line, between Kiyevskaya and Belorusskaya stations. Krasnopresnenskaya was designed by V. Yegerev, M. Konstantinov, Felix Novikov, and I. Pokrovsky and opened on 14 March 1954. The station has red granite pylons with white marble cornices and 14 bas-reliefs by N. Shcherbakov, Yu. Pommer, Yu. Ushakov, V. Fedorov, and G. Kolesnikov. Eight of the bas-reliefs depict the events of the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the other six show scenes from the Russian Revolution of 1917. Statues of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin originally stood at the end of the platform, though these had been removed by the early 1960s. Later, the passage to Barrikadnaya was built in the same location.

The station's round vestibule is located on the south side of Krasnaya Presnya street, between Druzhinnikovskaya and Konyushkovskaya streets. A sculpture by A. Zelinsky entitled "Combatant" is located in front. [wikipedia]

Goes | Netherlands

This postcard was sent by Anja from Goes via postcrossing [NL-3117511].

Goes is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on Zuid-Beveland, in the province of Zeeland. The town of Goes has approximately 27,000 residents. Goes was founded in the 10th century on the edge of a creek: de Korte Gos (the Short Gos). The village grew fast, and in the early 12th century it had a market square and a church devoted to Mary Magdalene. In 1405 Goes received city rights from William, Duke of Bavaria, by his right as count of Holland, and in 1417 it was allowed to build town walls. The prosperity of the city was based upon the cloth industry and the production of salt. In the 16th century Goes declined. Its connection to the sea silted up and in 1554 a large fire destroyed part of the city.

Although The Netherlands were neutral in the First World War, seven bombs hit Goes and Kloetinge, due to an error by a British airplane. A house in Magdalenastreet in Goes was destroyed and one person killed. Goes did not suffer extensive damage during the Second World War, but was under German occupation until 1944.

Goes did not experience much population growth until the 1970s and 1980s. Then, the city grew fast because of new districts like Goese Meer, Oostmolenpark, Overzuid and Ouverture being constructed. Goes is now the fourth largest economic centre in Zeeland. New districts are in preparation, amongst them Goese Schans, Mannee and Aria, where 3,000 new houses are to be built.

Goes is twinned with Panevėžys, Lithuania. [wikipedia]

Wrocław | Poland

This beautiful postcard was sent by Ula from Poland via postcrossing [PL-1107101]. She writes: "Welcome to Poland! I live in Wroclaw, capital city of lower Silesia. We have beautiful river Odra, the second longest river in Poland, with 200 bridges and footbridges! In my city feel the spirit of the past! Happy Postcrossing!"

Everyone loves Wrocław (vrots-wahf) and it’s easy to see why. Though in some ways it’s a more manageable version of Kraków, with all the cultural attributes and entertainment of that popular destination, the capital of Lower Silesia also has an attractive character all its own.

Having absorbed Bohemian, Austrian and Prussian influences, the city has a unique architectural and cultural make-up, symbolised by its magnificent market square. Wrocław’s location on the Odra River, with its 12 islands, 130 bridges and riverside parks, is idyllic, and the beautifully preserved ecclesiastical district is a treat for lovers of Gothic architecture.

But Wrocław is not just a pretty face. It is Poland’s fourth-largest city and the major industrial, commercial and educational centre for the region; virtually everything in southwestern Poland starts, finishes or is taking place in Wrocław. At the same time it’s a lively cultural centre, with several theatres, some major festivals, rampant nightlife and a large student community. [Lonely Planet]

Chile House | Germany

This beautiful postcard of Das Chilehaus was sent by Claus via postcrossing [DE-4484848]. He wrote: "The Chilehaus has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Warehouse district in July. It was built between 1922 and 1924 as an office building and it's shaped like a ship. The red bricks are very typical for Hamburg, many buildings were built with that material." I love it when fellow postcrossers actually read your profile and send you cards that you will probably like. I think Claus has nailed it!

A bit more trivia about the building: The Chilehaus (Chile House) is a ten-story office building in Hamburg, Germany. It is located in the Kontorhausviertel. It is an exceptional example of the 1920s Brick Expressionism style of architecture. This large angular building is located on a site of approximately 6,000m², spanning the Fischertwiete Street in Hamburg. It was designed by the German architect Fritz Höger and finished in 1924. [wikipedia]