"Hello"s from everywhere

China # water

2009-06-10T00:53:00.000-07:00

China is so differen and each place here is unique. I've been in two of thess three places.
This one is a view on Sanya Bay in Hainan Island, which is called Eastern Hawaii, because of the similar climate. It's a nice place to relax, blue sky, clean water of South Sea, lots of palms and exotic plants. Place of cheapest coconuts which are usually chilling in fridges right on the beach and others strange fruits.

Jilin is a popular destination for tourists to come each winter to view the magnificent rime ice(Chinese: 雾凇) on trees along the banks of the Songhua River, (the river is the only river in the region that doesn't freeze in winter). The rime ice is a natural phenomenon that occurs every year during January and February. It is a result of when water vapor rises up from the warm Songhua River to meet the cold -20 °C night air, causing the crystallisation of water vapour on willows branches. The ice-rimed trees in Jilin are one of the four natural wonders of China.

And one more photo of West Lake, this time The Dock for the King Pavillion.

USA # Mackinac Bridge

2009-06-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

The Mackinac Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Straits of Mackinac to connect the non-contiguous Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. Envisioned since the 1880s, the bridge was completed only after many decades of struggles to begin construction. The bridge (familiarly known as "Big Mac" and "Mighty Mac") connects the city of St. Ignace on the north end with the village of Mackinaw City on the south. It is the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western hemisphere. And it's really long!! (I recieved this postcard as a feed back from a woman whom I send a postcard through postcrossing. Very pleasant to recieve such cards)

Germany # Postdam & Bocholt

2009-06-05T05:31:00.001-07:00

Macedonia # Exploring countries

2009-06-05T04:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks Ana to discovering Macedonia for me! It's such a nice country. I was surprised that the capital Skopje (Ana's native city) is rather small, but it looks very cosy and really a nice place to live. When I look at this pic, I can see you - Ana, riding a bike, on the bridge or on the hilly slopes of mountainVodno, I swear ;)

Austria # Vienna

2009-06-05T03:57:00.001-07:00

A view on the buiding of The Opera house in Vienna in old times. The sender wrote that now the street in front of opera is rather crwoded)

Poland # Tarnobrzeg

2009-06-05T03:30:00.000-07:00

I was wondering why others bloogers post not all the cards they receive, but only the some of them. I was wondering & posted all of them (I received 5-6 a week), untill.. I found 7 cards in my mail box, and then 5!!! Now I understand others))) But still.. I'll try to post all of them, at list for some time.
A postcard from Tarnobrzeg (difficult to spell name), I couldn't imagine, that I'll receive one more postcard from here, but things happens :) Absolutely nice stamps.

Portugal # Bordo wine transportation

2009-05-30T03:46:00.000-07:00

I've already told you that b&w old photos are in my top list of favourites, and I'mvery glad that people are sending them to me. One more, and great again! Showing transportation of famous Bordo wine in old times!

Japan # Osaka Castle

2009-05-30T03:28:00.000-07:00

Osaka Castle (大坂城・大阪城 Ōsaka-jō^?) is a Japanese castle in Chuo-ku, Osaka in cherry blossoms. Beautiful! Is is one of Japan's most famous castles, and played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Monoyama period. Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling.
Thanks to Sakiko for this amazing view! I'm so happy that my "swaps" are always that beautiful!

USA # Virginia, Map of state

2009-05-30T03:07:00.000-07:00

My first map card! Depicting Virgina - an American state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern US. The state is known as the "Old Dominion" and sometimes as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of 8 US presidents. The state is geographically shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, home to much of the state's flora and fauna, as you can see on the postcard) Thanks to Chrissy!!
ps. Oh, and stamps are adorable, US - characters)

England # Kent, Hever Castle

2009-05-30T02:46:00.000-07:00

A postcard depicting Garten von Hever Castle in Kent, England was sent from Germany, from a girl who spends her holiday often here. A beautiful blossoming garden of 13th century moated castle, once Anne Boleyn's childhood home.

China # Kunming

2009-05-27T00:01:00.001-07:00

Kunming (昆明) is a prefecture-level city and capital of Yunnan province, in southwestern China. Because of its year-round temperature climate, Kunming is often called the "Spring City" or "City of Eternal Spring" (春城).
I heard alot of nice things about Kunming from my friend who already treavelled there, so next time I visit China, I'll definitely go to see this city.

There is a Stone Archway - the Gate of Mu Chieftain's Yamen (ancient government) on the postcard. Two words Zhong Yi ("loyalism") were carved on the archway. These two words were rewarded by Shenzong emperor to Muzeng in Ming Dynasty. Another two words Sheng Zhi ("imperial edict") were carved on above horizontal arch. Nowadays, this place is rebuilt to a public prinary school.

Estonia # Tallinn

2009-05-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

I've recieved two gorgeous cards yesterday, one of them is this one, view on Tallinn (too many double consonants in one word :)). I love it, so bright!

Portugal # Óbidos, Guarda & Serra de Estrela

2009-05-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

I've never been there. I've studied Spanish and I heard some Portuguese songs, to my mind Portuguese is the most beautiful language I've ever heard. I'm sure the country itself is as amazing as it's language. Make sure yourself! And thanks a lot to Marta, who sent these gorgeous cards to me!

Óbidos is a town of around 3,100 inhabitants and the seat of the municipality of the same name, located in the subregion Oeste and district of Leiria. The town of Óbidos is located on a hill and is still encircled by a fortified wall. The well-preserved mediaeval look of its streets, squares, walls and its massive castle have turned the picturesque village into a preferred tourist attraction in Portugal. If visiting, it is compulsory to try the local cherry liquor known as ginjinha.

Guarda is a city Marta is from. It was founded in in 1199 by the second king of Portugal, Sancho I. Guarda is the highest city in Portugal (altitude 1,056 m), located northeast of Serra da Estrela (The largest mountain in mainland Portugal). The main attraction of Guarda is the cathedral, known by Sé da Guarda, which is on the postcard :).

Serra da Estrela (English: Mountain Range of the Star) is the highest mountain range in Portugal and includes mainland Portugal's highest point. The range is at 1,993 m (6,539 feet) above mean sea level at its highest point. This point is not a distinctive mountain summit, but rather the highest point in a plateau, being known as Torre ("Tower" in English). The Torre has the unusual feature of being a summit that is accessible by paved road.
I'd like to climb Serra de Estrela some day)).

Germany # Dresden

2009-05-25T03:09:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Dresden on the River Elbe - the capital of Saxony. Just gorgeous postcards of night city with lots of famous buildings depicteded on it, like:

Brühl's Terrace (Brühlsche Terrasse) is nicknamed "The Balcony of Europe" and is one of the favourite inner-city places of both locals and tourists for walking, people-watching, and having a coffee.

The Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Court Church) is a Roman Catholic Cathedral. Previously the most important Catholic parish church of the city, it was elevated to cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dresden in 1964. It was built by architect Geatano Chiavery from 1738 to 1751.

The Semperoper is the opera house of the Saxon State Opera Dresden (German: Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden) and the concert hall of the Sachsische Staatskapelle Dresden. It was first built in 1841, by architect Gottfried Semper.

Austria # Grünau im Almtal

2009-05-23T00:43:00.000-07:00

There IS heaven on the Earth - Grünau im Almtal, a town in the Upper Austrai with a population a bit more 2000 people. An amazing place!

Portugal # Lisboa, Empire Square

2009-05-23T00:36:00.000-07:00

The Praça do Império measures about 280 m by 280, plus adjacent areas, and is the largest square in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the largest in Europe. Around the square are the Jeronimos Monastery and the Belem Cultural Center. In the center of the square is a 3.300 m² garden with large fountain in the middle. The square commemorates the Portuguese Empire and was built for the Exibition of the Potruguese World in 1940. + super stamp! :)

Poland # Tarnobrzeg

2009-05-23T00:27:00.000-07:00

From Tarnobrzeg town which is in south-eastern Poland, on the east bank of the river Vistula, with 49,753 inhabitants.

Belarus # Minsk, Mikhailauski square

2009-05-23T00:21:00.000-07:00

A card from post Soviet country, very typical. Wikipedia knows nothing about this particular park)

Australia # Navi Ship

2009-05-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

My first Australian postcard with pretty good stamps!

HMAS Darwin FFG 04 , Guided Missile Fregate.

I found out that HMAS is His Majesty's Australian Ship. This ship prefix is used for commissioned units of the Royal Australian Navy.

Poland # Wroclaw - Most Tumski

2009-05-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

This is one more postcard from Wroclaw from Ksenia. Thank you for this beautiful view of your home town! Is it foot-bridge? Seems like it is)
I haven't found many info about it, only that it replaced in 1889 an old wooden bridge over the north branch of the Oder river to connect Octrow Tumski and Wyspa Piaskowa. Until 1945, its name was Dombrücke.

China # Hangzhou WestLake

2009-05-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

For some reason I've started to receive more postcards from private exchnage than from postcrossing proeject. People who has an experience in collecting postcards from several years, how do storage and put them in order? :) I'm starting to be confused with some received cards)
Anyway, I'm totally happy to receive such a beautiful Chinese views by swap! This is Hangzhou's West Lake, an amazing place, I tell you! A little bit more than a year ago we were paddling at this lake, almost same as at the postcard :) Romantic and just awesome place! I'll go back again!

West Lake is located in the western area of Hangzhou city's historic center. There are dozens of lakes called West Lake worldwide, but "West Lake" usually refers to the Hangzhou West Lake. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with an area of around 6.5 square kilometers. The distance from north to south is about 3.2 kilometers, and east to west, 2.8 kilometers. The lake is divided by Gu Shan, Bai, Su and Yanggong Causeways into five areas. Ordered by their areas, they are Outer West Lake (外西湖), West Inner Lake (西裡湖, or 後西湖, or 後湖), North Inner Lake (北裡湖 or 裡西湖), Little South Lake (小南湖 or 南湖) and Yue Lake (岳湖). "Outer West Lake" is the largest. "Gu Shan" or Gu Hill is the largest natural island in the lake. Su & Bai Causeways run cross the lake. Three small man-made islands, "Xiao Ying Zhou" (小瀛洲), "Hu Xing Ting" (湖心亭), "Ruan Gong Dun" (阮公墩), lie in the center of Outer West Lake. Thus, the basic layout is "one hill, two causeways, three islands, and five lakes".

West Lake is not only famous for its picturesque landscape, it is also associated with many scholars, national heroes and revolutionary martyrs, thus embracing many aspects of Chinese culture. In addition, many ancient buildings, stone caves and engraved tablets in surrounding areas are among the most cherished national treasures of China, with significant artistic value.

Due to its prominent historical and cultural status among Chinese scenic resorts, West Lake was elected as a National Key Scenic Resort in 1982, one of Ten Scenic Resorts in 1985 and national 5A tourist resort in 2006. Moreover, the picture of "Three Ponds Mirroring the Moon" was printed on the backs of both the foreign exchange certificate one yuan bill issued by the government in 1979 and the fifth version of RMB one yuan bill issued in 2004, indicating the status of West Lake in China.

China # Great Wall & Yangzhong City

2009-05-08T22:46:00.000-07:00

Two Chinese postcards at my mail box at once! Great! Especially the first one, which is the Great Wall of China. The place which I haven't visited during smy China triep, because I visited so many more places and was so tired of all this sightseeing, and the Great Wall.. I wanted to feel all the mystery, power, and history of it. I wasn't ready last July, but I'm planning my next journey to China some day, for sure! Now I have one more fav card!

To say truth, this postcard dissapoined me a little bit. But now I know which is probably the most ugliest city in China, which I won't visit not for all the tea in China :) It's Yangzhong! "A beautiful and fertilegreen island. Yangzhong, with plain terrain, beautiful scenery and green and shady trees, is a shining pearl in the golden waterway of the Yangtse River" - that's what postcard says. But I don't think so.. Plobably forChinese people it's really beautiful, but for me there is no more beautiful thanancient Chinese arcitecture)

China # Shanghai, The Bund

2009-05-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

This is actually the very first postcard of mine, sent by the girl I met online. She's studing in China, same as I did year ago. She's travelling to the same places. And this make the postcard particulary special for me, besides it's really amazing!

It's a view of the night Shanghai. On the river Huangpu and on the Bund.

The Shanghai Bund has dozens of historical buildings, lining the Huangpu River, that once housed numerous banks and trading houses from Britain, France, the U.S., Russia, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the consulates of Russia and Britain, a newspaper, the Shanghai Club and the Masonic Club. The Bund lies north of the old, walled city of Shanghai. This was initially a British settlement; later the British and American settlements were combined in the International Settlement. A building boom at the end of 19th century and beginning of 20th century led to the Bund becoming a major financial hub of East Asia. The former French Bund, east of the walled city was formerly more a working harbourside.

Poland # Wroclaw

2009-05-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

USA # California Desert Park Anza-Borrego

2009-05-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California (at 600,000 acres = 2,400 km2) . Five-hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert. The park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish name borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake.

The card was send ba a female ranger working in this Park! She told me that it's the same as at the picture now in the Desert. But soon it'll be too hot, so she moves to cooler places. Awsome! To say truth, I though that all kinds of rangers exist only in western movies )

Taiwan # Danshui beach, one more Asian beauty

2009-05-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Tamsui Township (淡水, or Danshui, Danshuei) is a sea-side town in Taipei County, Taiwan. It is named after the Danshui River whose name means "Freshwater". The town is also popular as a site for viewing the sun setting into the Taiwan Strait.

Brazil # Rio de Janeiro

2009-05-04T09:26:00.000-07:00

I've never known that Rio de Janeiro means "January river" and it was real discovery for me. Stamps are gerat!

Finland # Cuisine

2009-05-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

Is there anyone who can read Finnish? :)

Taiwan # Another Asian riddle

2009-04-27T00:56:00.000-07:00

Just awsome b/w photo of Taiwanese life. At the top list of my favs at the moment. I've never been to Taiwan, but it reminded me of our bike-trip round the west lake in Hangzhou, China. And this make it so precious for me. I wish I can recive more like this!
There was quite big message in Chinese characters, but I doubt that they were traditional Chinese, 'cause even with the help of dictionaries I couldn't get the meaning :( Again a chinese friend's help is needed!

China # Pingyao ancient city wall

2009-04-27T00:41:00.000-07:00

Asian postcard are my favourite for sure. Their culture and nature are as mystericaly awsome, as are their postcards. I'm so glad to recive postcards from any Asian country, but China is the most beloved without exception!
It's still a puzzle for me, what is it depicted on the postcard. But as soon as I can guess and judging from my own Chinese experience it's looks like one of these ancient city walls. There are some lines of Pingyao poet on the card, and at the bottom there's a Taiyuan's post office is mentioned. Oh, and the postcard itself is from Beijing :) Waiting for my chinese friend to tell me the true!))

UPD: I found it, and I was almost right! These are walls of Pingyao ancient city! Pingyao still retains its city layout from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The streets and storefronts still largely retain their historical appearance. The city walls of Pingyao were constructed in the 3rd year of the Hongwu Emperor (1370). And Pingyao is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Germany # Sanssouci Park, Postdam

2009-04-27T00:39:00.000-07:00

A postcard from a man of my father's age, living with another man and 3 dogs, knowing a little of Russian writing. The postcard itself isn't that great, but the story of Sanssouci Park is amazing. I'm very glad that I discovered this place! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanssouci_Park)

Germany

2009-04-25T23:22:00.000-07:00

A cute card from a guy who's studing library science in Leipzig and planning to be a librarian in the children's library. A have no friend or acquaintance who has similar dream, probably it's because librarians in Ukrain don't earn a lot of money. Do they earning it in Leipzig?..

St. Augustine, Florida # The Bridge of Lions (1926 year)

2009-04-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

A postcard from sunny Florida. Looks more like England for me. Judging from the card of course)

The Bridge of Lions is a bascule bridge that spans the Intracoastal Waterway in St. Augustine, Florida and leads to Anastasia Island. Lions made of marble used to guard the bridge. The Bridge of Lions is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and twice, during the long fight to preserve it (which ran for over two decades) was included by the National Trust for Historic Preservation on its list of the "11 Most Endangered Historic Sites" in the nation. From its earliest days, it was hailed as "The Most Beautiful Bridge in Dixie." It has long been a symbol of the nation's oldest city.

Manchester # several view card

2009-04-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

First card from the country which language I study since the 5th grade and in which I've never been yet.
There are Piccadilly Gardens, River Irwell Walkway, Manchester University and The Library, St. Peters Square depicted on the card. And also, on the back side, the words by William Blake - "No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings". Thanks Stacy) And let me think that Mr Blake ment wings of love.

Some curious facts about Manchester

The first machine that had all the components now classically regarded as characteristic of the basic computer was designed and built here. It has the oldest public library in the English-speaking world. The first modern artificial waterway links Manchester to Worsley. It was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. The world's first passenger railway ran from here Dalton his atomic theory here and 100 years later Rutherford split them for him. It is home to the Halle orchestra, Britain's longest-established professional symphony orchestra 2.5 million people live here, with near 11 million people living within 50 miles. Over 85000 students study at its colleges and universities. There are over 500 licensed premises in the city centre.

Canadian Hadgehogs with love

2009-04-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

I would never guess where is this card from. Hedgehogs remind me about a happy summer in Russian village, golden autumn in Ukrainian forest, my childhood.. when father caught one for me, I put in the shoes box and fed with milk. But there is no connection with Canada when I see or hear about it, now I have )
And now I know when in the Eastern Ukraine trees become green, in the Western Canada the snow is melting.

Hidden senses from Germany

2009-04-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

A lovely card from young mother from Lehrte, Germany. Seems that the card reveals feelings of the sender at the moment :)

First, I was quite sure that it's a piece of a painting. Later on, by chance, I found out that it's a piece of designe book cover. Have a look - http://www.belenmena.com/

Belarus # Railway station Square. "Minsk Gate" (1953 year)

2009-04-25T03:40:00.000-07:00

The very first card. And that's why so special. No name written on it, just "Privet from Belarus!".