Safranbolu - Turkey

Another unesco card, this time from Turkey, sent by Leslie "ctrekoza".

"Safranbolu is a district and a town of Karabük Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, about two 200 kilometers north of Ankara and about a 100 kilometers south of the Black Sea coast.

The Old Town preserves many old buildings, with 1008 registered historical artifacts. The Old Town is situated in a deep ravine in a fairly dry area in the rain shadow of the mountains. The New Town can be found on the plateau about two kilometers west of the Old Town. The name of the town derives from saffron, since Safranbolu was a trading place and a center for growing saffron.Today saffron is still alive at the village of Davutobası which is 22 km.east of Safranbolu and probably one of the best quality saffron at the world.
Safranbolu was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1994 due to its well-preserved Ottoman era houses and architecture." - in: wikipédia.

Segovia Aqueduct - Spain

Only 1 card today but a nice one, showing an Unesco Heritage Site in Spain. It was sent by Olga "nott".

"The Aqueduct of Segovia (or more precisely, the aqueduct bridge) is one of the most significant and best-preserved monuments left by the Romans on the Iberian Peninsula. It is among the most important symbols of Segovia, as is evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms.

As it lacks a legible inscription (one was apparently located in aqueduct's attic, or top portion), the date of construction cannot be definitively determined. Researchers have placed it between the second half of the 1st Century AD and the early years of the 2nd Century.
The first section of the aqueduct contains 36 pointed arches, rebuilt in the 15th Century to restore a portion destroyed by Moors in 1072. The line of arches is organized in two levels, decorated simply, in which predominantly simple moulds hold the frame and provide support to the structure.

The aqueduct is the city's most important architectural landmark. It had been kept functioning throughout the centuries and preserved in excellent condition. It provided water to Segovia, mainly to the Segovia Alcázar, until recently. During the 20th Century, the aqueduct suffered wear and tear due to pollution from heaters and automobiles. The latter used to pass below the arches. Natural erosion from the granite itself has also affected the structure through the years. Contrary to popular belief, vibrations caused by traffic do not affect the aqueduct due to its great mass." - in: wikipedia.

Monaco

"Built in 1875 using white stone from La Turbie, the present-day Cathedral stands on the site of a 13th century church dedicated to Saint Nicolas and houses the tombs of the former Princes of Monaco. It is also the final resting placeof Monaco's much loved Princess Grace. Of particular interest are the retable (circa 1500) to the right of the transept painted by the Louis Bréa from neighboring Nice, the Great Altar and the Episcopal throne in white Carrara marble." - in: www.visitmonaco.com

"The Oceanographic Museum & Aquarium was inaugurated in 1910 by its founder, Prince Albert I, this exceptional museum of marine sciences is a monumental architectural masterpiece with a grandiose façade rising majestically above the sea to a height of 279 feet. It took 11 years to build, using 100,000 tons of stone from La Turbie.
The impressive rooms of the Museum, open to the public on two floors, contain remarkable collections of marine fauna gathered by Prince Albert, numerous specimens of sea creatures (stuffed or in skeleton form, including the skeleton of a 66 foot whale), models of Prince Albert’s laboratory ships, and craftware made from the sea’s natural products. Part of the first floor is dedicated to the oceanographic works of Prince Albert 1,“Career of a Navigator”." - in: www.visitmonaco.com

I bought this cards when i was in Monaco on January 2nd, 2007.

Viñales Valley - Cuba

"Viñales Valley is a karstic depression in Cuba. Tobacco and other crops are cultivated on the bottom of the valley, mostly by traditional agriculture techniques. Many caves dot the surrounding hillfaces.
Viñales is a major tourist destination offering mainly hiking and rock climbing. The local climbing scene has started to take off in the last few years with many new routes being discovered resulting in an increase in local tourism.
In 1999, the Viñales Valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape, both for its natural beauty and for the Vernacular architecture and traditions." - in: wikipedia.

Su Nuraxi di Barumini - Italy

My only card today, an Unesco whs from Italy sent by Elisabetta "isabetta".

"During the late 2nd millennium B.C. in the Bronze Age, a special type of defensive structure known as nuraghi (for which no parallel exists anywhere else in the world) developed on the island of Sardinia. The complex consists of circular defensive towers in the form of truncated cones built of dressed stone, with corbel-vaulted internal chambers. The complex at Barumini, which was extended and reinforced in the first half of the 1st millennium under Carthaginian pressure, is the finest and most complete example of this remarkable form of prehistoric architecture. " - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/833

Finally some cards

After a few days without any cards, today i've finally received 3 beautiful cards, 2 of them from 2 new countries.

"The Strait of Gibraltar is the strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain from Morocco. There are 13 km (8 miles) of ocean separating Europe from Africa at the strait's narrowest point.On the northern side of the Strait is Spain and Gibraltar, while on the southern side is Morocco and Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa." - in: wikipedia. This is a lottery card sent by Anna "bogdanovskaya".

"The Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 metres (1,053 ft), it is the tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 metres (919 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure, designed to symbolize Dubai's urban transformation and to mimic the sail of a boat." - in: wikipedia.

Card sent by Trupti.

The Hawkesworth Bridge spans the Macal River linking the twin towns of Santa Helena and San Ignacio in western Belize. Card also sent by Trupti.

Gozo - Malta

2 cards of Gozo sent by Jackie.

"Gozo is an island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, the island is part of the Southern European country Malta and is the second largest after the island of Malta itself within the archipelago. Compared to its neighbour island, Gozo is more rural and known for its scenic hills." in: wikipedia.

A colourful sunset in Xlendi Bay.

Ramla Bay; Inland Sea - Dwejra; Fungus Rock.

Mgarr ix-Xini.

Mgarr Harbour; Azure Window; Xlendi.

Great Wall of China

Card sent by Zhuo "monomomo".

"The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China, were built since the 5th century BC. The most famous is the wall built between 200 BC - 220 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang; little of it remains; it was much farther north than the current wall, which was built during the Min Dynasty." - in: wikipedia.

Badaling, the outpost of Juyongguan and the barrier to defend Beijing, has its name in virtue of it's location in the main artery of traffic that leads everywhere. It's the earliest section to open to the public and the most famous and best-preserved section of the Great Wall.

The Great Wall is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and also an Unesco World Heritage Site.

Japan

These are the great japanese cards i've received today from Noriko "lovelypostcard24".

" Himeji Castle is a flatland-mountain Japanese castle complex located in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture and comprising 83 wooden buildings. It was registered as the first Japanese National Cultural Treasure by UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Japanese National Cultural Treasure in December, 1993. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, it is one of Japan's "Three Famous Castles", and is the most visited castle in Japan." - in: wkipedia.

"Byodo - in Temple, formerly the villa of Fujiwara-no-Michinaga, was converted into a temple by his son, the Kanpaku (Imperial Regent), Fujiwara-no-Yorimichi, in 1052, during the glory period of the Fujiwara family. Phoenix Hall (Ho-o-do), an Amida Buddha hall, was built in the following year. A National Treasure, it is the only building dating back to the time of the temple's establishment. Its graceful appearance conjures up a paradise dreamed of by the Heian aristocracy. The garden, designated as a special place of scenic beauty, is a relic of the Heian Period. This majestic garden centers around Phoenix Hall, Ajiike Pond and incorporates the surrounding natural scenery, including the clear water of the Uji River and the mountains in front. The garden was a favorite among the aristocracy." - in: http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/sites/shrines/w_heritage/08/

"The buddhist temple Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera is a Unesco World Heritage listed site in the Eastern Kyoto region of Higashiyama and is one of the best known sights of the city.
The temple dates back to 798, but the present buildings were constructed in 1633. The temple takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means pure water, clear water or limpid water. It is notable for its vast veranda, supported by hundreds of pillars, that juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the city." - in: wikipedia.

"Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). An active volcano that last erupted in 1707-08, it straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures just west of Tokyo, from which it can be seen on a clear day. It is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshū. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers." - in: wikipedia.

"Rainbow Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing northern Tokyo Bay between the Shibaura Wharf and the Odaiba waterfront development in Minato Ward, Tokyo. It was completed in 1993. The bridge spans 570 meters (1870 ft) and carries three transportation lines: Metropolitan Expressway No. 11 Odaiba Route on the upper deck, and Route 357 (also known as "Rinkō Dōro", Portside Avenue) and the Yurikamome New Transit on the lower deck." - in: wikipedia.

Akihabara Shopping centre; Imperial Palace Chiyoda-Jo Castle; main gate of Senso-Ji Temple and Tokyo Station.

Bucharest - Romania

"Bucharest is the capital city, industrial, and commercial centre of Romania. It is located in the southeast of the country and lies on the banks of the Dâmboviţa River. It was originally known as Dâmboviţa citadel.

In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of the "Paris of the East" or "Little Paris" (Micul Paris). Although many buildings and districts in the historic centre were damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes and Nicolae Ceauşescu's program of systematization, many survived." - in: wikipedia

Card sent by "violeta13."

More cards from Portugal

Bocage Square in Setúbal. On the centre of this square we can see the Bocage monument. He is one of the greatest portuguese poets and he was born in Setúbal in 1765.

S. Filipe Fortress in Setúbal, a militar construction from the 16th century.

S. Filipe Fortress Church covered with blue and white portuguese tiles.

These 3 cards were sent by Américo.

Pena Sanctuary in Guimarães, inaugurated in 1947.
Card sent by Zé "zepombal".

Beautiful cards

Night scene of Kek Lok Si Temple, a famous Buddhist temple in Penang Island during the Chinese New Year. Since 1891, Kek Lok Si Temple is known as the jewel in the crown of heritage temples in Malaysia and has been identified as one of the largest and finest temple complexes in South-east Asia.

Card sent by SLLiew.

"The village of Piodão lies on a curve in the road, like a little crib nestling at the foot of a hill. The delightful, orderly appearance of the houses and streets, all built of schist, is interrupted by the deep blue of the windows and doors of some of the houses. This use of colour is said to originate from the fact that the one shop in the village stocked only blue paint, and due to the isolation it was not easy to travel elsewhere. It was also the isolation that preserved the historic characteristics of Piodão as we see them today. The charming, whitewashed parish church dedicated to N.S. da Conceição, with its unusual cylindrical buttresses, stands out among the small two-storey houses. The villagers built it with their own money and gold in the early nineteenth century. Due to its hidden position at the foot of the mountains, Piodão also used to be a haven for fugitives from justice." - in: http://www.visitportugal.com/
Card sent by Joana "joanatsukino".

Modena - Italy

"Modena is a city on the south side of the Po valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.
The city is known as "the capital of engines", since the factories of the famous Italian sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati are located here and all, except Lamborghini, have headquarters in the city or nearby. Lamborghini is headquartered not far away in a small village.
Luciano Pavarotti was born in Modena." - in: wikipedia.
The postcard was sent by Luciana "cleopatra-matta".

Brunei Darussalam

A new country today :) Brunei!! Thanks Dewi for the great cards and all the informations.

"Brunei Darussalam is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea it is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, and in fact it is separated into two parts by Limbang, which is part of Sarawak.
Brunei, the remnant of a very powerful sultanate, regained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984." - in: wikipedia.

This is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, built in 1958 by the 28th Sultan of Burnei. In it's construction it has been used italian marble, gold mosaic and english stained glass with design that reflects classical Islamic architecture.

The mosque was built inside a man-made lagoon surrounded by water villages.

The scene of a bustling Bandar Seri Begawan capital city day converts into a peaceful city of lights by night. The mosque on the left corner is called Jamé Asr Mosque built to commemorate Sultan's 25th anniversary accession to the throne.

The Royal Regalia Building in Bandar Seri Begawan. It was built also to commemorate the 1991 Silver Jubilee of his Majesty's accession to the throne. Inside there's a collection of Brunei unique collection of royal artefacts such as the crown and a royal chariot.

São Vicente - Cape Verde

São Vicente is one of the 10 islands of Cape Verde.

"It was discovered on in 1462. Due to its lack of water, the island was initially used only as a cattle pasture by some proprietors of the neighboring island of Santo Antão. The island remained practically uninhabited until the middle of the 19th century. It was only in 1838, when a coal deposit was established in Porto Grande to supply ships on Atlantic routes, that the population started to grow rapidly. Due to the lack of rain and consequent lack of natural resources, the economy of São Vicente is based mainly on commerce and services." - in: wikipedia.

1, 2, 3......... 9 postcards

Today was a great day, 9 cards :) 2 from Angola, 1 from Mozambique - a new country - and 3 from Portugal sent by Paulo, 2 from Portugal from Inês "askforanswers" and an Unesco card from France sent by Bruno "Scratcher".

The Bica Elevator is classified as National Monument and it is one of the Lisboa’s tourist attractions. Inaugurated in 1892, with conception of Raul Mesnier Ponsard, and capacity for 23 persons, this funicular started working in steam, and some years after, in 1914, it started working with electrical energy.Around this epoch several funicular, or lifts, were built with the propose to facilitate everyday life to those who travel around the “seven hills” city.

Electric tram in Lisbon.

The Pont du Gard was built shortly before the Christian era to allow the aqueduct of Nîmes (which is almost 50 km long) to cross the Gard river. The Roman architects and hydraulic engineers who designed this bridge, which stands almost 50 m high and is on three levels – the longest measuring 275 m – created a technical as well as an artistic masterpiece.

Pera River watermills in Pedrogão Grande.

As one of the oldest towns in Portugal, and 1 of the 12 historical villages of Portugal, with a history of Roman settlement recorded since the year 16 AD, Idanha-a-Velha has been described as a "modest village with a rich historical background".

Terceira Island is an island in the Azores, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.

This a card from a new country: Mozambique. The 5 star Hotel Polana located on the Bay of Maputo epitomises the luxury and hospitality of time gone by and assures guests of an extraordinary experience. At this Mozambique hotel tourists can enjoy an experience characterised by the magical mix of Colonial charm and African appeal with world-class comfort and service.

Luanda is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and administrative center. It is the world's most expensive city for expatriates to live in.

Kicombo - Kwanza Sul, Angola.