Golden Gate Bridge - USA

These Golden Gate Bridge cards were both in my favorites wall. Great shots!!

 

Photo by Ken Glaser Jr.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1937, and has become one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and of the United States.

 

Despite its span length being surpassed by eight other bridges since its completion, it still has the second longest suspension bridge main span in the United States, after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City. It has been declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide considers the Golden Gate Bridge "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world". - in: wikipedia

US-6969657

Yay, a new Happy Postcrossing from... card!! I'm still missing many, many countries.

www,papersisters.de

US-6969657, sent by Liz.

A flag full of stars, representing the states; iconic symbols and monuments, such as Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Route 66; wildlife in the majestic National Parks across the great country; country music; hamburgers; trucks and american football. USA are all of this and much more. 

Virtual Meetings in Brazil

 These days when so many things are done at a distance or virtually, postcrossing meetings have also adapted to this reality and have started to take place in the zoom chat rooms. The postcrosser friends from Brazil have already done a few and I participated in 2 or 3. Like in the so-called normal meetings, the conversation lasts for hours and many subjects are discussed.   

Meeting may be vitual but postcards are still real. These two were designed and sent by Valéria.

Photo by Canva * Design by Valéria Formigoni 

In July Postcrossing turned 15 and some meetings were held, some of which were virtual. This was, if I'm not mistaken, my first virtual meeting. In addition to the Brazilian postcrossers, some portuguese also participated. 

Take a look at the lovely postcrossing stamp. 

Brasil 2020 - Design by Valéria Formigoni *Photos by Adobe Stock and Canva / Postcrossing is a registered trade mark

This Halloween meeting, took place in October, I think that I also participated in this one, but the postcard only arrived this week. 

Well done Valéria, these postcards are fantastic.

Porto Novo - Cape Verde

One last card from Africa, also from a Portuguese speaking country, Cape Verde. 

 

  © José Pereira

Porto Novo, is a city situated on the southeastern coast of Santo Antão island. At the 2010 census, the town had 9,310 inhabitants, which makes it the most populous settlement of the island.

Luanda - Angola

Angola is also an hard to get country but I'm lucky to have a few cards from there. In Paulo's envelopes I've found five or 6 new cards. These two are from Luanda, Angola's capital city.

Fotografia: Francisco Bernardo

The Palace of the National Assembly of Angola is a complex consisting of three buildings and two parking lots. It was built by the Angolan government from 2010 to 2015 to function as the new seat of the country's legislative power.

 

Fotografia de arquivo INFOTUR

The Iron Palace is a historical building in Luanda, believed to have been designed and built by – or by someone associated with – Gustave Eiffel.

The history of the structure is shrouded in mystery since no official record of it exists. It is believed to have been pre-built in the 1890s in France and was destined to be placed in Madagascar via boat. Instead, the building ended-up in Angola's Skeleton Coast after the ship carrying it was drifted by the notorious Benguela currents. Portuguese rulers of the colony then claimed the ship along with all its contents, including the palace.

During the Portuguese era, the building had a great deal of prestige and it was used as an art center. But after the independence of Angola, the palace was left in neglect with its surrounding area eventually ending up as a parking lot. It was also heavily damaged during the Angolan Civil War leaving some of its structures in a rusted and rotting condition. - in: wikipedia

However the building was revamped and repaired in the 2010s with the help of a diamond company as well as municipal funds. 

East-Timor

For many of us it is unthinkable to stop collecting cards but to some others, for whatever reason, it comes a day when that decision has to be made. That's what happened to Paulo, he decided to stop collecting cards and knowing that I might be interrested in getting some of his "leftovers", he send me 2 big, fat envelopes with hundreds of cards. Most of them are from Portugal and Spain but there are also a few from some rare and hard to get countries. This one from East-Timor has to be the rarest. This is only my 3rd card from this country, one of the newest in he world.

Comprising the eastern half of the island of Timor, just north of Australia, Timor-Leste — then known as East Timor — was under Portuguese control from the 16th century until 1975 when it finally declared its independence. Soon afterward, however, Indonesia claimed the territory and quelled the independence movements, with over 200,000 dying from the violence and famine. In 1999, Indonesia allowed East Timor to vote for its independence, and 78 percent of voters chose sovereignty. East Timor became its own nation in 2002 and is now officially known as Timor-Leste. - in: https://matadornetwork.com

AU-732072

Hello and Happy New Postal Year. Hope 2021 brings lots of happy mail to our mailboxes. 

For those who are postcrossers, have you already checked your 2020 postcrossing stats? In 2020 my mailbox was happy 53 days, with a total of 106 official cards. I've sent 110. Most of the sent and received cards are from Germany, USA and Russia. No surprises here. Besides these three countries, I've received cards from 25 other countries and sent to 21 others. 

This card was one of the two officials I've received from Australia. 

Photograph: Michael Boniwell

AU-732072, sent Corinna.

The Mount Buffalo National Park is a national park located in the alpine region of Victoria, 350 kilometres (220 mi) northeast of Melbourne.

Mount Buffalo National Park has sheer cliffs, imposing granite tors, tumbling waterfalls, snow gums and stunning wildflowers. The park features over 90 kilometres of walking tracks, panoramic scenery, waterfalls and scope for adventurous pursuits such as rock climbing and hang-gliding. - in: https://www.big4.com.au