Ameira do Tejo Castle - Portugal

Amieira do Tejo is a parish also in Alentejo. I've been there on my last holidays and visited the castle. It was my 1st time there. The castle was nice but the best surprise was inside the tourism office, which is in front of the castle. The office sells a few cards. Some are not that great but the cards with this image are almost free, only 0.10€ each!!!

Photo by Manuel Ribeiro

In 1232, owing to a regal charter issued by King Sancho II, the dominion of the Knights Hospitaler expanded their influence into the south; The construction of the castle in Amieira only developed a century after the Hospitalers had taken possession of the territory.

Its construction was the responsibility of Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira, son of the Archbishop of Braga Gonçalo Pereira, prior of the Order of the Hospital. The castle of Amieira was constructed as part of the settlement's place in the new function of the Order: to assist the travelling pilgrims.

The fortress suffered various modifications over the centuries. During the reigns of King John II and King Manuel, there were remodelling to adapt the structure to the new military requirements. Simultaneously, it served as a prison, due to its excellent construction. Losing its military function, due to the change in the lines of defence over time, the castle fell in importance. In the 18th century, a great part of the historical structure was abandoned, and part of the fortress was adapted for civil residences. By this time, the prison tower was partially recuperated, but its military functionally was completed abandoned.

In the 19th century, the central courtyard was converted into a local cemetery, which continued to be used in this form until the 1940s. It has been listed as a National monument since 10 November 1922. - in: wikipedia

Montemor-o-Novo Castle - Portugal

This is one of the many castle in the Alentejo region. I've to Alentejo a few times in the last years but i didn't visit Montemor-o-Novo yet.

REUNIARTE

I've already posted a few cards of this castle, there's no need to add more information about it.

The card was sent by Vera.

Deserta Grande - Madeira

From a portuguese archipelago to the other one. The Deserta Grande Island is the main island of the Desertas Islands, a small chain of islands in the archipelago of Madeira, located to the southeast of the island of Madeira. The island is a nature reserve.

Photo by H. Costa Neves

The card sent by Manú, shows the Nature Reserve wardens station located on Fajã da Doca and supports all the conservation work on the reserve.
Fajã means piece of fertile land consequence of a landslide and this one formed in 1984. It is now a natural harbour and the official anchorage of the reserve.

Joana's Peak - Terceira Island

I need peace and quiet; Azores are the perfect spot to take a rest. I'd love to visit these islands but this won't happen any time soon.

This very greenish card was sent by Lurdes.

Photo by Luís Godinho

Joana's Peak in located on the Feteira parish- The peak is a basaltic scoria volcanic cone, which is about 500 metres in diameter. The highest part of the cone reaches the 331 metres above sea level.

Canadian Officials and NL-1697781

Still in North America, now i've officials from Canada and 1 from the Netherlands but showing one of Canada's most famous lakes.

 Photo by Eero Sorila

CA-321048, sent by Richard.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 140 metres (460 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) above the river. It is part of a private facility, with an admission fee, and draws over 800,000 visitors a year.

The bridge was originally built in 1889 by George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and park commissioner for Vancouver. It was originally made of hemp ropes with a deck of cedar planks, and was replaced with a wire cable bridge in 1903. In 1910 Edward Mahon purchased the Capilano Suspension Bridge. "Mac" MacEachran purchased the Bridge from Mahon in 1935 and invited local natives to place their totem poles in the park, adding a native theme. In 1945, he sold the bridge to Henri Aubeneau.

The bridge was completely rebuilt in 1956. - in: wikipedia

 

© Published and Distributed exclusively by The Postcard Factory

CA-326603, sent by Rose

 The Forks is a historic site, meeting place and green space in Downtown Winnipeg located at the confluence ofthe Red River and Assiniboine River.

The Forks’ unique history is apparent in its bustling market. Originally two adjacent stables for competing rail companies circa early 1900, the horse stalls were joined together by a courtyard and bridges to create The Forks Market, Winnipeg’s incomparable shopping experience.

The Forks Market offers a multitude of shops to browse for a wide variety of specialty items and souvenirs. Downstairs, The Market features an irresistible fresh food emporium with everything from gourmet cheeses to meats organic baked goods and wine. Upstairs, in the Market Loft, shoppers will find items ranging from cigars and aromatherapy products to crafts and artworks from 300 local and Canadian artisans.

A constantly changing array of artisans and vendors also sell their wares at day tables inside The Forks Market and outside on The Plaza. - in: http://www.theforks.com/attractions/at-the-forks/the-forks-market

Photo by Tim Van Horn

 CA-332861, sent by Tara.

Ice fishing hut on Lake Scugog.

Lake Scugog, minutes from Toronto, is a man-made lake, the old river bed is remnant in the many buoys that mark the main channels. The lake is shallow and the waters are murky and very weedy. The dark waters are a perfect home for the elusive walleye.

In winter, lake Scugog becomes an ice fishing shanty town, with many areas targeted for both walleye and jumbo perch. Small pixie spoons and live minnows are both quite effective this time of year. The deeper areas of the lake in 15-17ft of water are your best bet for some ice fishing action. - in: http://www.thefishinguide.com/scugog.shtml

NL-1697781, sent by Sari.
The card doesn't identify the image but this is definitely Moraine Lake.

US-2078239, US-2136363 & US-2196319

 More officials from the US, this time from Pennsylvania (again), Texas and NY.

Photo © Dan Amerson

US-2078239, sent by Don.

Pittsburgh is the seat of Allegheny County and with a population of 307,484 is the second-largest city in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With a metropolitan CSA population of 2,661,369 it is the largest in both the Ohio Valley and Appalachia and the 22nd-largest in the U.S. Pittsburgh is known as both "the Steel City" for its more than 300 related businesses and "the City of Bridges" for its world record 446 bridges.  

The card shows Downtown Pittsburgh, colloquially referred to as the Golden Triangle and officially the Central Business District, the urban downtown center of Pittsburgh. It is located at the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River whose joining forms the Ohio River. The "triangle" is bounded by the two rivers. The area features offices for major corporations such as PNC Bank, U.S. Steel, PPG, Bank of New York Mellon, Heinz, Federated Investors and Alcoa. - in: wikipedia

Photo by LoneStarMike

US-2136363, sent by Dee Dee.

Austin  is the fourth-largest city and the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, Austin is the 13th most populous city in the United States of America and the fourth most populous city in the state of Texas.  Austin is also the third largest state capital in the United States after Phoenix and Indianapolis.

Austin is known as a "clean air city" for the city's stringent no-smoking ordinances that apply to all public places and buildings, and all restaurants. - in: wikipedia

Photo by © Stephen Wilkes - Courtesy Peter Fetterman Gallery

US-2196319, sent by Liz.

The building form most closely associated with New York City is the skyscraper, which has controversially shifted many commercial and residential districts from low-rise to high-rise. Surrounded mostly by water, the city has amassed one of the largest and most varied collection of skyscrapers in the world. - in: wikipedia

American official cards

These are american officials, sent from different states of the US, Alaska, Pennsylvania, Washington and Minnessota.  

Photo © M. Niemar

US-2124932, sent by Jesse.

Mount McKinley or Denali is the highest mountain peak in the United States and in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,320 feet (6,194 m) above sea level. At some 18,000 feet (5,486 m), the base to peak rise is considered the largest of any mountain situated entirely above sea level. Measured by topographic prominence, it is the third most prominent peak after Mount Everest and Aconcagua. Located in the Alaska Range in the interior of US state of Alaska, it is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve. - in: wikipedia

  Photo © Thomas E. Walczak

US-2185668, sent by Julie.

On the back of the card: "The Logan Mills Covered Bridge, in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, spans the Fishing Creek in Loganton. Seen here in winter, the bridge was originally built in 1866, then rebuilt in 1979, and still allows traffic. Locals and tourists enjoy the charm and character of this lovely historic structure."

Photo by Laurel Mercury

US-2174496, sent by Brandy.

Located at the San Juan Islands, the Lime Kiln light, a name derived from the lime kilns built nearby in the 1860s, was first established in 1914. It was the last major light established in Washington. The lighthouse was updated five years later with a 38-foot octagonal concrete tower rising from the fog signal building. A fourth-order Fresnel lens was first exhibited from the new tower on June 30, 1919. The Coast Guard automated the Lime Kiln Lighthouse in August 1962, using photoelectric cells to turn the light on at dusk and off during daylight hours. In 1998, the drum lens was replaced with a modern optic, flashing a white light once every 10 seconds. Sitting on the rocky shoreline at a height of 55 feet, the beacon is visible for 17 miles. - in: wikipedia

US-2204964, sent by Sandra.

Split Rock Lighthouse is a lighthouse located southwest of Silver Bay, Minnesota, USA on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The structure was designed by lighthouse engineer Ralph Russell Tinkham and was completed in 1910 by the United States Lighthouse Service at a cost of $75,000, including the buildings and the land. It was built in response to the loss of ships during the famous Mataafa Storm of 1905, in which 29 ships were lost on Lake Superior. One of these shipwrecks, the Madeira, is located just north of the lighthouse. The light was first lit on July 31, 1910. - in: wikipedia