Gerulata - Slovakia

One of my postcard goals for this year is to reach 1800 sent and received official cards. The other one is to have cards from 1000 UNESCO sites. I'm almost there. Gerulata in Slovakia, was added last year to the WHS List as part of the Western segment of the Danubian Limes of the Roman Empire.

This card with an altar and a stone piece was sent by Misino.

Gerulata was a Roman military camp located near today's Rusovce, a borough of Bratislava, Slovakia. It was part of the Roman province of Pannonia and was built in the 2nd century as a part of the frontier defence system. It was abandoned in the 4th century, when Roman legions withdrew from Pannonia.

Today there is a museum, which is part of the Bratislava City Museum.

Archaeologists have unearthed its remnants and their discoveries are on exhibition in the hall of the museum, which is open in summer and can be found behind the Catholic Church of St Mary Magdalene in the town. Beyond the remains of the Roman forum, fragments of structures and gravestones, bronze, iron, ceramic and stone pieces are on show in a museum showing daily life. - in: wikipedia

Rock of Cashel - Ireland

A few days ago Heidi was in Ireland to play in a parabadmington tournament and she also had the opportunity to meet a few postcrossers there. Meeting postcrossers always been buying and signing card. I've some nice Irish cards but this one that she sent me, with the sheep, has to be one of my favs ever. 

The other one was sent by Lotti always 12 years ago. 

The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland’s most visited attractions and is a spectacular archaeological site.

 

Photography reproduced from the original artistic work © Liam Blake

A collection of medieval ecclesiastical buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale. The 12th-century round tower is the oldest surviving building on the Rock, which also include a high cross and the ruins of a Romanesque chapel. 'Cormac's Chapel' is one of the earliest and finest churches built in the Romanesque style. The 13th-century Gothic Cathedral is a large cruciform Gothic church without aisles, built between 1230 and 1270. There is also a 15th-century castle and the 'Hall of the Vicars' is the entry point to the ecclesiastical enclosure. The Hall houses the museum where the original Cross of St. Patrick can be found.

The Rock of Cashel is an ancient royal site of the Kings of Munster and first attained importance as a fortress. Its origins as a centre of power go back to the 4th or 5th centuries. Two of the most famous people of Irish legend and history are associated with the Rock of Cashel. They are St. Patrick whom according to legend, arrived in Cashel in AD 432 and baptized King Aengus who became Ireland’s first Christian ruler. The second was Brian Boru, he was crowned High King here in 990. He is the only King who was able to unite all of Ireland under one ruler for any significant period of time. - in: https://www.discoverireland.ie

Veurne - Belgium

Veurne is a little city in the Belgian province of West Flanders, a stone's throw from the coast and the French border. I've never heard about it but it seems a very interresting place to visit and I can see why Óscar went there.

Several Renaissance-style buildings, mostly built using the local light-coloured brick, adorn Veurne's central market square. Among these are the city hall (Landhuis) and belfry, which was recognized by UNESCO as part of the Belfries of Belgium and France World Heritage Site in 1999 to highlight its historical importance in civic functions, use as a status symbol of the influence of the town, and architecture. - in: wikipedia

Cap de Creus - Spain

These last days I've received a few surprise cards from friends who have been traveling. Well, in Gemma's case it was a short trip as she doesn't live that far from Cap de Creus. 

The Cap de Creus Natural Park lies at the easternmost side of the Iberian Peninsula, it is a space of great biological, geological and scenic importance (...).

Foto: Jordi Puig

Cap de Creus Natural Park, the first maritime-terrestrial park in the country, protects the cape of Creus peninsula and its marine environment.

They are areas of exceptional biological, geological and scenic quality, which required protection with a special care regime. The geological configuration, unique in the world, and the rich vegetation, in which Mediterranean and continental elements coexist, have led to numerous strange species, some endemic.
In addition to the unquestionable biological and geological value of the area, is the exceptional scenic beauty that it offers: wild, varied and colourful. Abrupt cliffs, dark rocks furrowed by the wind and salt, islands and secluded coves. There are a number of places that are exposed to the fury of the tramontana winds and others that are shielded from this dry and wild wind, where the views are simply unrepeatable, as appreciated by celebrities such as Josep Pla or Salvador Dalí. - in: https://www.catalunya.com

FOTW Azores

Last month we restarted the Winner of the Month game and this month Tiago was the lucky winner. I was the false winner but I kinda feel like I'm the winner too just because Tiago sent me this FOTW card, still missing in my collection.

 

www.postcardsmarket.com

The Azores have an area of 2,333 km², a population of 245,746 and have three capitals, Ponta Delgada, Horta and Angra do Heroísmo.  

Unique: 

 * São Miguel Island - the largest island seduces with the "Sete Cidades" and "Fogo" Lagoons. The power that emanates from the earth is felt in the geysers, the hot thermal waters, in the volcanic lakes, as well in the "Cozinho das Furnas", slowly cooked inside the earth;

Famous:  

* Pico Mountain - is the highest point on the island with 2350 meters of altitude and also the highest point of Portugal;  

* Whale and dolphin watching - the islands are showing nature in its purest state and are one of the largest whale sanctuaries in the world;

History:  

* Diogo de Silves - discovered the first two islands around 1427, Santa Maria and São Miguel;  

* Terceira Island - Literally means "Third Island". It was originally called the Island of Jesus Christ and was first settled in 1450.

PT RR - Surprise Group * June 22

These last couple of days I've received only few postcards, 3 or 4 a week and I'm afraid a few may have gotten lost. 

Nothing got lost when it comes to the Portuguese RR. These are June's cards, sent by Nídia, Diana and Rui.

Photo by Charley Fazio

The Church of Chagas do Salvador (Saviour wounds), is of medieval foundation and its history also intersects with the imaginary created about the Battle of Ourique and according to legend the temple was founded by King D. Afonso Henriques after the victory he achieved over the five Moorish kings.  It is known that the building was in ruins at the beginning of the 17th century, and King Filipe III authorized its reconstruction in 1621. 

The church, whose works lasted for many years, is a Mannerist building, with a single nave, developed chancel, bell tower and well proportioned façade.

 

 

A few years ago I visit Santa Maria da Feira with a friend of mine. Although it was a short visit, I remember seing Lóios Convent. 

Lóios Convent belongs to a monumental complex together with the town's Main Church and the magnificent staircase. 

Located in the center of the city, it is now a regional museum which promotes national and international exhibitions in the areas of painting, archaeology, history and art history. 

The Convent dates back to the 16th century and was built on the initiative of the third Count of Feira, D. Manuel Pereira.

 

Design: Luís Chimeno * Foto: Manuel Ribeiro

The Monastery of Flor da Rosa is situated in Flor da Rosa, near Crato in the Portalegre District of Portugal. It is an imposing monument of the 14th century, founded in 1356 by the Knights Hospitaller. It is considered both as one of the most important Gothic monuments in Portugal and as the best Portuguese example of a fortress church. 

The monastery was made up of three different buildings, a Gothic-style fortress church, a Gothic castle-like palace, and accommodation for the monks. The entire complex has been much altered over time, particularly in the 16th, 17th and 20th centuries.

The complex acquired its present form in the 1990s when parts were transformed into a hotel of the Pousadas de Portugal chain. The monastery was classified as a National Monument in 1910. - in: wikipedia

Okavango Delta - Botswana

The Okavango Delta was the 1000th site to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2014. This is an important protected wildlife area in Botswana, a sanctuary to some of the world's most endangered animals and birds. 

A new UNESCO site in my collection and my 1st card from Botswana. It was sent by Nancy.

 

This delta in north-west Botswana comprises permanent marshlands and seasonally flooded plains. It is one of the very few major interior delta systems that do not flow into a sea or ocean, with a wetland system that is almost intact. One of the unique characteristics of the site is that the annual flooding from the River Okavango occurs during the dry season, with the result that the native plants and animals have synchronized their biological cycles with these seasonal rains and floods. It is an exceptional example of the interaction between climatic, hydrological and biological processes. The Okavango Delta is home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large mammal, such as the cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, African wild dog and lion. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

RU-9193121

It has been a while since I've received russian cards for the last time, both official and from tags/rr's in the forum. The last official before this one, arrived in February.

 

RU-9193121, sent by Denis.

Bikanin's windmill from the village of Volkostrov (Medvezhyegorsk district, Republic of Karelia) was built in 1928, was transported to the museum of wooden architecture "Kizhi" in 1961. Postbased mill with eight sails and one pair of millstones. Log construction. Was used as a flour mill (flour), a crushing mill (grain). - in: http://russian-windmills.ru

FI-4190276

Before postcrossing I had never heard of the Aland Islands and would never recognize it's flag.

 

The self-governing province of the Åland Islands lies off the southwest coast of Finland. Åland is an autonomous, demilitarised, Swedish-speaking region of Finland. Åland consists of more than 6,700 islands, but the current population of over 30,000 live on only 60 islands. Over 40 percent of the inhabitants live in the only town, Mariehamn, which is one of Åland’s 16 municipalities. - in: https://um.fi

 

Finnish Postcrossing Friends * www.korttientalo.fi

FI-4190276, sent by Ilse.

The flag of Aland is the Swedish flag defaced by a red cross symbolizing Finland. Aland Islands is the autonomous province of Finland.

Flag was adopted in 1954 and was first hoisted on 3 of April of 1954.

 

Cruise Meetup in Jyväskylä - Finland

I've been on a cruise as an extra activity during a meeting but I've never been to a cruise that was also a meeting. That's what Heidi and a few other Finnish postcrossers did last month.

Photo: Noora Joensuu - Layout: Silpa Forsman

In the Jyväskylä region, the wonderfully lush nature surrounding the bodies of water is always close by. The largest of the lakes in the Jyväskylä region is Päijänne, which is also the longest lake in Finland. You can boat along the canal routes in the Päijänne all the way up to Pielavesi in the north and to Lahti in the south. On Lake Päijänne, you can also comfortably reach Jyväsjärvi and Jyväskylä harbour, known as the Lutakko harbour, along the Äijälänsalmi Strait. in: https://visitjyvaskyla.fi

Albert Dock - Liverpool

It was supposed to be already known which new sites would be classified as World Heritage Sites, but the committee meeting, scheduled for June, was postponed and there is still no new date. In these meetings it is decided which sites receive world heritage status but it is also decided which sites are inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger and which sites are deslisted. That's exactly what happened to Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City last year. 

Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004 and on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2012 following concerns about the proposed development of Liverpool Waters. The project has since gone ahead along with other developments both inside the site and in its buffer zone.  
The Committee decided to delete the property “Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City” (UK) from the World Heritage List, due to the irreversible loss of attributes conveying the outstanding universal value of the property. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

Albert Dock was one of the locations classified and the card was sent by Adam.

Top photopgraph: Anita Smith

The Albert Dock is a complex of dock buildings and warehouses located to the south of the Pier Head. Designed by Jesse Hartley and Philip Hardwick and opened in 1846, the Albert Dock warehouses were the first in the world to be entirely fireproof, due to their construction from only iron, brick and stone, with no structural wood. The dock was home to many advances in docking technology including being the first to have hydraulic cranes.

 During World War II the buildings suffered significant damage and general docking decline in the city after the end of the war saw them fall rapidly into disrepair. In the 1980s the area underwent massive regeneration after the creation of the Merseyside Development Corporation and the complex was reopened to the public in 1984, as part of the tall ships festival. 

Today they form a focal point for tourism in the city, being home to Tate Liverpool, Merseyside Maritime Museum and The Beatles Story. They also constitute the largest single collection of Grade I listed buildings anywhere in the UK. - in: wikipedia

Düsseldorf - Germany

I've hundreds of cards from Germany but I believe this is my 1st card from Düsseldorf, which is a surprise considering that the city is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in the state and the seventh-largest city in Germany. I bet many postcrossers live there but this isn't a Postcrossing card. It was sent by my coworker and friend Natália, who has recently been to Düsseldorf to visit her son and meet her newborn granddaugther. 

 

Foto: OutdoorPhoto - fotolia.com, Heinz Waldukat - fotolia.com; D. Laubner, T. Krüger

Modern art and style meet centuries-old structures and historic sites in this vibrant city full of unique attractions.

Düsseldorf’s worldly appeal is nothing new. Napoleon himself fell for the charms of this city on the Rhine, dubbing it 'Little Paris'. Founded 730 years ago, the capital of the North-Rhine Westphalia state is certainly steeped in history, most evident in the narrow, cobbled streets of the picturesque medieval Old Town. But the city has a sophisticated modern edge, too. Gleaming new architecture has transformed the skyline, and the ever-expanding arts scene – 26 museums and 100-plus galleries – rivals that of much larger cities. Add to that stylish shopping, vibrant nightlife and great restaurants, and there are more than enough attractions in Düsseldorf to keep any visitor busy. - in: https://www.timeout.com