dinsdag 1 december 2009

SLOVENIA ~Vintgar~


The Vintgar Gorge lies in the north-west of Bled, running along Radovna river and is 1,6km long. The scenery takes your breath away, a green river that winds through the rocks, graced by waterfalls, pools an rapids,small wooden catwalks and timber bridges and beautiful nature. Vintgar belongs to Triglav national parK

donderdag 26 november 2009

FINLAND


A typical Finnish landscape in southern Finland at the Baltic sea.

woensdag 25 november 2009

SCOTLAND ~Edinburgh~



Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland. Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock.

maandag 23 november 2009

FRANCE ~Paris~

Paris at night...

vrijdag 20 november 2009

FRANCE ~Cité de Carcassonne-UNESCO~

All this great cards are bought by a friend during his summer holiday in France.

Carcassonne is the only town in Europe fortified by a double enclosure which is still inhabited. The oldest parts of it dates back to the 6thC BC.


View of the Cité De Carcassonne from the river Aude.

woensdag 18 november 2009

FRANCE ~Paris-UNESCO~


Notre Dame Cathedral is a beautiful cathedral on the the Île de la Cité in Paris. Begun in 1163 and mostly completed by 1250, Notre Dame is an important example of French Gothic architecture, sculpture and stained glass.

The Notre Dame is the most popular monument in Paris and in all of France, beating even the Eiffel Tower with 13 million visitors each year. But the famous cathedral is also an active Catholic church, a place of pilgrimage, and the focal point for Catholicism in France - religious events of national significance still take place here.

FRANCE ~Paris~


The Eiffel Tower is a 19th century iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris that has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower, which is the tallest building in Paris, is the single most visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair.

zondag 15 november 2009

BELGIUM ~Leuven~



Leuven is Belgiums oldest and largest university city with lots of students from all over the world. Views of the Beguinage (Unesco), Town Hall, Old Market and Saint Peter's Church ( Unesco).

MALAYSIA

This set of 4 Malaysian cards are the largest ones I ever received. They all are 20cm by 15cm....

This scene was taken on Thaipusam Day held once a year attracting up to a million Hindu devotees and spectators. The festival which celebrates the birthday of Lord Subramaniam is a colurful affair with beating drums, chanting and the carrying of "Kavadis" to the temples located inside the limestone caves. The main temple cave has a ceiling of over 100m in height.

A popular and picturesque recreational retrait for city folks, Lake Titiwangsa is nested amidst lush greenery a backdrop of the Kuala Lumpur skyline.Tis venue is also a favourite location for festive celebrations, open air concerts and family-orientated events.

Putraya is the new <administrative Centre of the Federal Government of Malaysia.Situated 25km from Kuala Lumpur and 20km from the International Airport, the development of Putrajaya marks a new chaper in the history of modern city planning in Malaysia.

Amidst distinct architecture within Kuala Lumpur is the ever overwhelming skyscraper, the Petronas Twin Towers. Its 452m profile is decorated with traditional Islamic geometrics with the two towers linked by a skybridge on the 41st and 42nd levels.

donderdag 12 november 2009

PERU ~Lima-UNESCO~



Lima is the capital of Peru and is located on the central coast of the country in front of the Pacific Ocean. The Archbishop's palace of Lima is the residence of the Archbishop on the Plaza Mayor of Lima in the historic centre of Lima.

PERU ~Machu Picchu- UNESCO~


Machu Picchu "Old Peak" is a pre-Colombians Inca site located 2.430m above sea level. The Inca's started building it around AD1430.

PERU ~Cusco~


Cusco is a city in southeastern Peru.The inca ruins of Ollantytombs consist of some spectaculair terracing up the steep hillside. At the foot of the terraces are various other temples and a well-preserved Inca fountain.

PERU ~Amazon~


The Peruvian Amazon is the area of the Amazon jungle that is confined within the territory of Peru. This region comprises more than half of the country and is an area with great biodiversity. The Peruvian Amazon is the second largest jungle after the Brazilian Amazon.

PERU ~Colca Canyon~

At Mirador de Choquetico you can see wonderful Pre Inca teraces.

Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru. The canyon is home to the Andrean Condor "Cruz del Condor" and a popular tourist stop to view the condors. Peru's Andrean Condors are listed by the World Conservation Union as vulnerable. One of the world largest flying birds, he has a three-meter wingspan.

PERU ~Sillustani~


Sillustani is an ancient burial ground near lake Titiaca. The tombs are built above the ground and with much symbolism.You see a dynamited tomb, grave robbers often blew up these tombs for treasures. On the tomb is a carved lizard. It is a symbol of live because of its ability to regrow its tail.

PERU ~Alpaca~


Alpaca wool fetches high prices and can be woven into essential clothing and household items. With their unique grazing habits and softly padded feet, alpaca's help combat erosion and protect water supplies. Alpacas are kept in herds to graze on the andes in southern Peru.

dinsdag 10 november 2009

CANADA ~Montréal~


The stadium was built as the maine venue for the 1978 summer Olympics. It is now used for select Montreal Alouettes football games, as well for concerts and trade shows.

maandag 9 november 2009

BELGIUM ~Ostend~

The stamp is from a set of ten self adhesive stamps of "Suske en Wiske" or "Spike and Suzy" a very famous comic here in Belgium issued by the release of the 3D movie "De Texasrakkers".

Ostend is the largest and a thousand-year old city with marinas, an old fishing port, a casino and a high-speed ferry connections to England on our Belgian coast.

zondag 8 november 2009

MALAYSIA ~Kuala Lumpur~



Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia has grown from a tin-mining settlement to the present cosmopolitan and modern city of impressive and inspiring high-rise buildings and towers.A "belated" thank you Edna!!!

GREECE ~Crete~



The old Venetian harbour and the lighthouse of the 16C in Rethymno, Crete. It is the only lighthouse in Greece that has got Turkish/Othomans' appearance and is really unique.

zaterdag 7 november 2009

BRAZIL ~The Pantanal-UNESCO~

Two, both written and stamped cards from Brazil.
The Pantanal, portugese for "large swamp" is the world's largest freshwater wetland and lies in the western part of Brazil. It is home to iganuas, jaguars, cougars, crocodiles, deer and more than 650 species of birds and 200 varieties of fish.


woensdag 4 november 2009

TUNISIA ~Hammamet~

Thanks to Johan I got my first written and stamped postcard from Tunisia. He sent it to my from his holiday there!! Thanks a lot!
Hammamet is a town in Tunisia. Due to it beaches it is a popular tourist destination.

dinsdag 3 november 2009

BELGIUM ~Tremelo-Father Damien~

Belgium issued a sheetlet with 5 stamps on Oktober 5 for the canonization of Father Damien.  
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I visited the birthplace of Father Damien in Tremelo. It is now a museum with many personal belongings and items from Hawaii and Molokai where he lived and died, certainly worth a visit!! He must have been a really speciale person....
Father Damien or Saint Damien of Molokai, . (Dutch: Pater Damiaan or Heilige Damiaan van Molokai; January 3, 1840 – April 15, 1889), born Jozef De Veuster, was a Roman Catholic priest from Belgium . He won recognition for his ministry to people with leprosy (also known as Hansen's disease), who had been placed under a government-sanctioned medical quarantine on the island of Molokai in the Kingdom of Hawaii.

After sixteen years caring for the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of those in the leper colony, he eventually contracted and died of the disease, and is widely considered a "martyr of charity".
The canonization of Damien de Veuster to sainthood ends a process that began in 1977 when the Vatican elevated the Belgium native to venerable. Pope John Paul II beatified Damien and raised him to the title of blessed. Sunday October 11 2009 was the final step to sainthood.

woensdag 8 juli 2009

HONG KONG


Nighview of Hong Kong with many neon signs. This card shows the firework above the Victoria Harbour.

POLAND


Gdynia harbour

NORWAY ~Boroya~


Boroya is an island on the southern coast of Norway.

maandag 6 juli 2009

POLAND ~Warsaw-UNESCO~

....After spending a lot of time in hospital lately, I can finally upload a part of my received cards, they are from Germany, Poland, USA and Finland.



In the back you see the Royal Castle of Warsaw. It was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt based on some old paintings. The old town of Warsaw is a World Heritage site.

CHINA

This card I received through the official Postcrossing Project sent from the USA with a view of China.... I don't understand why someone sent an official showing another country...


Immortals' Bridge formed by fallen rocks.

USA ~Vermont~

Waits River, Vermont.

FINLAND


Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland.

Tampere is the third largest city in Finland and is also the largest inland city in the nordic countries.

GERMANY ~Oldenburg~


Oldenburg is a historical state in today's Germany named for its capital, Oldenburg. Oldenburg existed from 1180 until 1918 as a county, duchy and grand duchy. It was located near the mouth of the River Weser. Its ruling family was the House of Oldenburg, which also acquired Denmark and Russia.

donderdag 25 juni 2009

MESSAGE!!

After my mom in hospital is now also my hushband diagnosed with a serious illness. So I will not be able to do any swaps of trades for a while.... But I will try to upload all my received cards!

USA ~Virgin Islands~

Got a new place for my collection today and the stamp is also from the US Virgin Islands.It was such a lovely surprise card in my mailbox! :-)

The USA Virgin Islands is a group islands in the Caribbean that are a insular area of the US.

The USA Virgin Islands is a group islands in the Caribbean that are a insular area of the US.
Coke Beach in St Thomas is found on the northeast side of the island. Snorkeling right of the beach is one of the more popular things to do at Coke Beach.

woensdag 24 juni 2009

MALAYSIA

When I received this great card I was surprised to see how similar those clocks are looking to the ones here in Belgium.... Just like the writer of the card says I also saw this antique clocks in my grandparents house!


Silently and with deliberation, the watchmaker practices his gentle craft and tames the tyrant of the modern era.

dinsdag 23 juni 2009

FINLAND ~Chequered blue~

Received a wonderful butterfly maxi-card today. They are one of my favourite animals! I try to fill my own garden with lots of butterfly plants. It makes me each summer so happy to see them in my garden.... Gardening is also a great hobby of mine! :-)

The Chequered Blue Butterfly (Scolitantides orion) belongs to the Lycaenidae family of gossamer-winged butterflies. The male is 13 to 16 mm, and flight takes place in July. The butterfly lives in rocky areas up to 1000 m of altitude, on plants such as Sedum telephium and Sedum album.

maandag 22 juni 2009

HALLO AAN ALLE NEDERLANDSTALIGEN!!!

For the dutch speaking people: Bedankt voor het bezoeken van mijn postkaarten blog,mocht je gedurende één van de volgende weken een vakantie gepland hebben naar een verre of dichtbije bestemming dan zou je me heeeeeeel blij maken met een kaartje te sturen van daar... Ben ik ook een beetje op vakantie. ^___^
Je kan mijn adres altijd vragen langs email of hier een berichtje plaatsen. Misschien kan ik je ook wel helpen bij de een of andere verzameling.... HEEL ERG BEDANKT BIJ VOORBAAT en geniet van al die mooie plaaatsen op onze wereldbol... Groetjes, Gerda

RUSSIA ~Voronezh~

.... Start of a new week and the summer!!! Hoping for lots of cards from the many holidays from friends and family... Today I got a lovely view from Russia!



Voronezh is a large city, not far from Ukraine and located on either side of the Voronezh River.

donderdag 18 juni 2009

SPAIN ~Madrid~

A lovely card from Spain arrived today! :) I think it is so nice to read on the postmark: "The Friendship Postcard"....
For me is that is the feeling I have with each received card! :)


The Plaza Mayor is a central plaza in the city of Madrid. The Plaza is rectangular shape, measuring 129 by 94 meters, and surrounded by three-story residential buildings having 237 balconis facing the plaza. It has a total of nine entranceways.

dinsdag 16 juni 2009

FINLAND

Okay.... Its a bit strange to receive a wintery postcard at the start of the summer, but I like the view especially the shadow of the man waving! :)


maandag 15 juni 2009

USA ~Atlanta~

Two written and stamped cards from Vietnam and a great card from the USA arrived today.This is my third card from Ha Long Bay a UNESCO site in Vietnam and I love each view... By searching on the net about this place I found so much interesting information, I think it must be an amazing place to visit!


Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the state of Georgia. The card shows much of what Atlanta has to offer: Baseball=Atlanta Braves, Tree= Dogwood, Fruit= Peaches

VIETNAM ~Ha Long Bay- UNESCO~


Halong Bay is one of the world’s natural wonders, and is the most beautiful tourist destination of Vietnam. Halong Bay features more than one thousand awesome limestone karsts and islands of various sizes and shapes along the 120-km coastline of Bai Chay Beach.



donderdag 11 juni 2009

FRANCE ~Loire Valley-UNESCO~

Received a spectacular dam view today with stamps of The Simpsons... Now I got already Bart, Maggie and Lisa! :) And a beautiful multiview from France, it is also a new addition for my UNESCO collection.


Loire Valley is known as the Garden of France. It is an outstanding cultural landscape of great beauty, containing historic towns and villages, great architectural monuments,its many châteaux and fine wines.

USA ~Bonneville Lock and Dam~


Symbolic of Bonneville Dam to many, the spillway was a significant engineering accomplishment and was designed to whitstand floods of over 7.480.000 gallons per second.Gates are usually open during high spring river flows to help fish migrating downstream.

woensdag 10 juni 2009

BHUTAN ~Takshang Monastery~

Got again three lovely cards today, an interesting statue from the USA, a new beach from Brazil and after Sri Lanka a second new place this week! :) The card is sent from India a neighbouring country of Bhutan.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked nation in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalaya Mountains and is bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by People's Republic of China.

This monastery has been built in 1684, on the site where Guru Padmasambhava, the essence of Buddha Amitabha, landed on the back of a tiger and mediated for several months.Taksang is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan. It hangs on a cliff at over ten thousand feet above the bottom of Paro valley. The nameTaksang means “Tiger’s nest”, the monastery includes seven temples which can all be visited.

USA ~Richmond-Virginia~


This imposing work of art by Thomas Crawford is said to be the finest equestrian statue in the world. The monument forms a constellation of seven famous Virginia sons. George Washington is the Central luminary surrounded by Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Thomas Nelson,Jr., and Andrew Lewis.

BRAZIL ~Guarujá~


Guarujá is a popular beach resort near to Sao Paulo city.

dinsdag 9 juni 2009

MALAYSIA ~Pulau Redang~

Sometimes a picture say it all....


....Waving coconut palms on this sun-drenched beach on Pulau Redang in Terengganu make from this island the perfect tropical paradise.

The island is also an important conservation site for sea turtles.

CZECH REPUBLIC ~Orlic castle~


Orlic castle is one of the most beautiful Czech castles built by the Vlavce river. The castle originally from the 13th C was reconstructed in neo-Gothic style in the last century.

maandag 8 juni 2009

SRI LANKA ~Majestic Tusker~

What a great postcard day! :) Got three different continents; Europe with an overwhelming nature view of Scotland. America with a great lighthouse, the colors are giving the card a really special atmosphere... And last but not least a new country for my collection, Sri Lanka with a beautiful elephant card.... And also big thanks for all the amazing stamps on each of them!!


Feeding on Coconut Fronds- Kandy
A Tusker is an elephant that wear tusks ( they are unusually long teeth). The Indian elephant is the star of Sri Lanka's wildlife and the largest animal on the island.

USA ~San Diego-Old Point Loma Lighthouse~


The Old Point Loma Lightouse, active from 1855 to 1891, was re-lighted in ceremonies on March23, 1984. The lighthouse is the centerpiece of Cabrillo National Monument with a spectacular view of San Diego Harbor. It was not just for housing a light, it was also the home of the people who take care of the light.