China, Italy, Wales, art cards and a dog

Today I received six cards from six different countries, namely from China , Italy , Wales , Germany , USA  and Canada .

The card from China is a beautiful nightview of Shanghai Concert Hall.

Shanghai Concert Hall, China

Xie xie Sharih!

 

This lovely and sunny view is of the middle Cagnan at Piazza Santa Maria dei Battuti in Treviso, northern Italy.

Treviso, Italy

Grazie mille per la cartolina fragility!

 

My first card from Wales, this view depicts Bryn Cader Faner, an ancient stone circle. It is one of the wonders of prehistoric Wales, and one of the most unusual Bronze Age sites in Britain. The small cairn (a manmade pile of stones, often in a conical form) measures 8.5m wide and stands less than 1m high. The stones all appear to be of slate and many of the cairn stones had prominent quartz veining. 

Bryn Cader Faner and Snowdon, Wales

Thanks so much for the card miapearl!

 

The first of today’s two art cards, this painting by Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) arrived from Germany.

Paul Gauguin: Woman with Fan, 1902

Vielen Dank für die Karte Lolobili!

 

The second card depicts a painting by French painter and poet Francis Picabia (1879–1953), whose work I wasn’t familiar with. I love discovering ”new” artists through Postcrossing.

Francis Picabia: Deux nus, ca. 1941-1942

Thanks so much for the card RoseofSharon!

 

Last but not least, I received an animal card from Canada today. The dog on the card, Phoenix Dagda, recently passed away due to cancer. In order to celebrate his life and share the joy he spread, his owners are sending his picture around the world.

Thanks so much for the card petnan!

Mainly European cities…

…along with cards from USA , Ukraine  and Indonesia  arrived in today’s post. Again, that’s twice as many cards as yesterday.

What better way to start the day, erm, today’s selection of cards, than with a small breakfast on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France .

Merci beaucoup Pazzolina!

 

From one European capital to another, this amazing view shows the interior of the Roman Coliseum by torchlight. The Colosseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy , the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

 

Another beautiful view from Italy, this card shows the Piazza Libertà in Avellino.

Grazie mille per le due cartoline Asev!

 

This is a gorgeous multiview of Sylt, an island in northern Germany  that is well known for the distinct shape of its shoreline. Sylt is also known as Queen of the North Sea (Königin der Nordsee in German). The card came with a stamp of a lighthouse in Hörnum, which is located on the southern headland of the island.

Vielen Dank für die Karte *Pe*!

 

Another card from Germany, this idyllic view depicts Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria. The town is well known for its well-preserved medieval old town, which is a destination for tourists from around the world. 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Vielen Dank für die Karte xtlera!

 

Among today’s card was this gorgeous autumnal view of the White Lake State Park in Tamworth, New Hampshire, USA. Stunning, isn’t it?

White Lake State Park in Tamworth NH, USA

Thanks so much for the card dulcey!

 

I also received a card from Ukraine today. I assume it depicts traditional Ukrainian clothing.

Diakuyu tobi dlia lystivka raven!

 

Today’s final card is my first ever card from Indonesia. It’s actually an ad card for an Indonesian store chain rather than a viewcard showing the country’s sights. As it was sent to me for the “Quote on the back” tag (check out the Postcrossing forum) I guess the quote’s more important than the card. Here’s the quote:

“The most important thing we ever learn at school is the fact that the most important things can’t be learned at school.” (Haruki Murakami)

What a great quote and what a great way to end this post.

Terima kasih banyak ignorenzisiblis!

Post from Russia, Italy and the Netherlands

Today I received twice as many cards as yesterday.

The first two cards arrived from Russia , both showing amazing views of its capital Moscow. The building in the top photo is Russia’s House of Government, while the bottom photo depicts the Arch of Triumph and Poklonny Hill.

Moscow, Russia

Spasibo Alyss!

 

This lovely view shows the State Historical Museum and Red Square.

Moscow, Russia

Spasibo acereta!

 

I also received a card from Italy  today, more specifically from Padua in the north-east of the country. It depicts the Prato della Valle, a 90,000 square meter elliptical square, which is the largest square in Italy, and one of the largest in Europe. Today, the square is a monumental space of extraordinary visual impact with a green island at the center (l’Isola Memmia)surrounded by a small canal bordered by two rings of statues.

Padua, Italy

Grazie mille per la cartolina Edo!

 

Today’s final card arrived from Middelburg in the south-western Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Zeeland and dates back to the early 9th century or possibly the late 8th century.

Middelburg, Netherlands

Dank u zeer voor de briefkaart Eucalypta!

Post from Italy and Finland

I received two great cards today, one each from Italy  and Finland .

The first card shows the All Saints Church (Chiesa di Ognissanti in Italian) in beautiful Florence.

All Saints Church in Florence, Italy

Grazie mille per la cartolina micio!

 

The second card is a lovely view of Kajaani, a small town in central Finland.

Kiitos paljon henzku!

Japan, Finland, Russia and a couple of art cards

I received six lovely cards today: two from Japan  and one each from Finland , Russia , France  and USA .

This gorgeous autumnal view depicts Shinnyo-do temple in Kyoto, Japan. Beautiful, isn’t it?

Shinnyo-do Temple in Kyoto, Japan

Domo arigato april16!

 

Also in Japan, this card shows Lake Inawashiro, which is located in the middle of Fukushima Prefecture. It is also known as “Sky Mirror Lake” and is said to have the cleanest water in Japan. In winter swans migrate to the beaches of the lake and stay there until spring. I guess that’s why there are so many swan-shaped boats in this card. Mount Bandai, which is actually a volcano, is also visible in the background.

Lake Inawashiro and Mount Bandai, Japan

Domo arigato evitayueh!

 

Another autumnal view arrived from Moscow today. It depicts the Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye, a former royal estate just outside Moscow.  The church was built in 1532 to commemorate the long-awaited birth of an heir to the throne, the future Tsar Ivan IV (“Ivan the Terrible”). One of the earliest examples of a traditional wooden tent-roofed church on a stone and brick substructure, it had a great influence on the development of Russian ecclesiastical architecture. The church was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1994.

Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye, Russia

Spasibo vinnie!

 

This lovely card shows Turku, the oldest city in Finland and its first capital city (1809-1812). Turku is situated on the southwest coast of Finland, where it is a notable commercial and passenger seaport city with over three million passengers travelling through the port of Turku each year to Stockholm and Mariehamn.

Turku, Finland

Kiitos paljon MaHaKo!

 

Also among today’s post were two art cards. The first shows a beautiful painting by one of my favourite artists, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).

Pierre-Auguste Renoir: On the Terrace, 1881

Thanks so much for the card bluesunshine!

 

The second art card and today’s final card shows artwork by another French artist, Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863).  A French Romantic artist, Delacroix was regarded from the outset of his career as the leader of the French Romantic school. His use of expressive brushstrokes and his study of the optical effects of colour profoundly shaped the work of the Impressionists.

Eugène Delacroix: Jeune orpheline au cimetière, 1824

Merci beaucoup thaddee_calisson!

Cards from good ol’ Germany and down under

There were only two cards in today’s post, one from Germany  and one from Australia .

Hamburg is one of my favourite cities in Germany. This card shows you why.

Vielen Dank für die Karte RikeH!

 

Another lovely city view, this card shows Brisbane City Hall and Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland.

Thanks so much for the card crizle!

Letterbox full of postcards (Part IV)

Today’s final cards all arrived from the States and show great views of New York City and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The first card is a NYC skyline view showing mid-Manhattan as seen from the Hudson River with the Empire State Building in the background. The Empire State Building was the world’s tallest building from 1931 until 1972.

 

Another NYC card, this evening view shows Manhattan with the Brooklyn Bridge spanning the East River. The famous Pier 17 can be seen on the river front. Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. It is 5,989 feet (1825 m) long and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964.

 

This card shows Eastham Windmill, the oldest windmill on Cape Cod. It was built by Thomas Paine in Plymouth in 1680. It was moved several times before coming to rest in its current location in 1808.

 

And here’s another lovely view of Cape Cod. Note the footprints on the card. Quite cool, don’t you think?

 

Thanks so much for these cards EvansCrew!

Letterbox full of postcards (Part III)

Amongst today’s post were two art cards. Funnily enough both feature a nude theme.

The first card shows a painting by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973).  As one of the most recognized figures in 20th-century art, he is best known for co-founding Cubism. Picasso was born in the Andalusian city of Malaga in southern Spain. Here’s something I never knew about Picasso and I bet you didn’t either. His full name was Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso. Wow!

Pablo Picasso: The Two Brothers, 1906

Thanks so much for the card tobiejonzarelli!

 

This painting by Czech artist Günter Hujber (born 1966) very much reminds me of Salvador Dalí. Unfortunately I don’t speak Czech so I can’t understand what the title of this painting is. Anyone out there who could translate it for me please? It says “Don Quiote se snaží pod psím hradem zvednout dodělávající duhu.” If you know what this means, please leave a comment with the English translation. Thanks very much! It was painted in 1998 and depicts Don Quiote trying to raise The Dying Rainbow under the Dog Castle. Thanks very much Günter for translating the title into English!

Günter Hujber: Don Quiote is trying to raise The Dying Rainbow under the Dog Castle, 1998

Tusen takk for postkort Lorentze!

Letterbox full of postcards (Part II)

Two cards from Brazil arrived today. The first one shows the Metropolitan Cathedral in Porto Alegre in southern Brazil. I particularly like the blue sky in the background! 

Metropolitan Cathedral in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Muito obrigada para postal justeffens!

 

The second card from Brazil shows a lovely view of Largo do Machado. Again, just look at the lovely blue sky! You can almost feel the sunshine…

Muito obrigada para postal manepipoca!

 

Very much in contrast to the sunny postcards from Brazil, this wintery card from Japan depicts the Roka Bridge and Tsurugajo Castle in northern Japan. The traditional castle was built in 1384 and is situated in the centre of the town of Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture. It looks gorgeous…

Tsurugajo Castle in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

Domo arigato evitayueh!

Letterbox full of postcards (Part I)

Wow! My letterbox was full today.  I received thirteen postcards from eight different countries. In no particular order, the cards came from Gibraltar , Belgium , Belarus , Brazil , Japan , Norway , USA  and Germany . I wonder what our postman thinks when he delivers our post…

I absolutely love this card from Gibraltar. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

Muchas gracias por la tarjeta Penelopi!

 

This card shows the market place in Brussels, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in1998. Brussels is both the capital of Belgium and of the European Union. It also hosts the headquarters of NATO.

Muito obrigada para postal Ferro!

 

This impressive building is the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany’s capital city. It was built between 1884 and 1894 to hosue the Reichstag, the first parliament of the German Empire, which it did until 1933, when it was severely damaged in a fire. In 1999, the Reichstag became the meeting place of the Bundestag, the modern German parliament.

Vielen Dank für die Karte xtlera!

 

My first Belarusian card arrived from Minsk, the capital city of Belarus. The card depicts a “monument to all generations’ architects in the year of the 940th anniversary of Minsk“. I believe it is situated in front of Hotel Minsk.

Minsk, Belarus

Dziakuju felis!