Vienna - Austria

Not so long ago Heidi sent me an Andorra card and this week i've received 2 cards from her. What a surprise, a double surprise. This card is from Vienna, where she spent 4 days there and had time for a postcrossing meeting. 

On November 26 she met with Elenna, oldieoma, robin67, amaterasu98 and erlkoenigstochter.

This palace on the card, the Hofburg, was one of the monuments they visited.

"Hofburg Palace is a palace located in Vienna, Austria, which has housed some of the most powerful people in Austrian history, including the Habsburg dynasty, rulers of the Austro-Hungarian empire. It currently serves as the official residence of the President of Austria. It was the Habsburgs' principal winter residence." - in: wikipedia

Belgrade - Serbia

This was a RAS week. If i'm not mistaken, i've received 4 RAS cards in the last few days. They definitely made me smile :). This one from Serbia was sent by Ana.

Once again, thanks dear Ana!!

On this Belgrade card there's the New Belgrade, the left bank of Sava River; the Avala, Monument to the Unknown Soldier; Topcider, Knez Milos Mansion; sculpture "Woman Harvester" and the lake.

More Russian cards

I'm getting a lot of russian cards and i really don't mind because, as you can see, the last cards are great. These ones were sent by Natalia "sixthsense".

A Moscow view with the river Moscow and the Kremlin.

This is the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl in Bogolyubovo.

Bogolyubovo is one of the Golden Ring cities. "These ancient towns, which also played a significant role in the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church, preserve the memory of the most important and significant events in Russian history. The towns have been called "open air museums" and feature unique monuments of Russian architecture of the 12th–18th centuries, including kremlins, monasteries, cathedrals and churches.
The church is an Orthodox church and a symbol of mediaeval Russia.

The church was commissioned by Andrei Bogolyubsky.

In 1992, the church was added to the World Heritage List as part of the site White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal." - in: wikipedia

New Russian Unesco whs

I really like these unesco cards from Russia. I wasn't expecting them to be so great. Thanks Olya "reddew".

The sites are: Cultural and Historic Ensemble of the Solovetsky Islands, Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings and Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin.

"The Solovetsky Islands are located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, Russia.

Historically the islands have been the setting of the famous Russian Orthodox Solovetsky Monastery complex. It was founded in the second quarter of the 15th century by two monks from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. By the end of the 16th century, the abbey had emerged as one of the wealthiest landowners and most influential religious centres in Russia.

The existing stronghold and its major churches were erected in stone during the early reign of Ivan the Terrible at the behest of St. Philip of Moscow.

After the October Revolution, the islands attained notoriety as the site of the first Soviet prison camp (gulag). The camp was inaugurated in 1921, while Lenin was still at the helm of Soviet Russia. It was closed in 1939, on the eve of the World War II. By the beginning of the war, there was a naval cadet training camp for the Soviet Northern Fleet.

In 1992, they were inscribed on the World Heritage List "as an outstanding example of a monastic settlement in the inhospitable environment of northern Europe which admirably illustrates the faith, tenacity, and enterprise of later medieval religious communities"." - in: wikipedia

"Situated on the ancient trade route between Central Asia and northern Europe, Novgorod was Russia's first capital in the 9th century. Surrounded by churches and monasteries, it was a centre for Orthodox spirituality as well as Russian architecture. Its medieval monuments and the 14th-century frescoes of Theophanes the Greek (Andrei Rublev's teacher) illustrate the development of its remarkable architecture and cultural creativity." - in: www.whc.unesco.org/en/list/604

"Built on an ancient site, the Kazan Kremlin dates from the Muslim period of the Golden Horde and the Kazan Khanate. It was conquered by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 and became the Christian See of the Volga Land. The only surviving Tatar fortress in Russia and an important place of pilgrimage, the Kazan Kremlin consists of an outstanding group of historic buildings dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, integrating remains of earlier structures of the 10th to 16th centuries." - in: www.whc.unesco.org/en/list/980

Almeirim - Portugal

This portuguese card from Almeirim is a lottery card but i didn't know i was one of the winners of that lottery. Susana "susanaportugal" hosted the lottery to celebrate her birthday in October.

On this card there's the gate and the palace of the Alorna Farm. The history of this farm dates back to the 18th century.
Nowdays the farm is known for its wine production.

Typical Frisian House

This afternoon i went outside to take some pictures because it was snowing and snowing a lot. Snow is the main reason why i like this season. I don't really like Christmas but i love, love snow.

The 2nd german card of the day is this christmasy RAS card from Claus. He went to spend a few days on the Amrum Island, one of the North Frisian Islands on the German North Sea coast. Even if i don't like Christmas, this typical house with a snowy tree outside, makes me wish for a white Christmas.

The Frisian houses are made of red brick and have a thatched roof and white or blue window frames and doors.

DE-755932

Today is my day off, i slept all morning and when i got up i immediately went to check the mailbox. Nice way to start the week, 6 cards, including this official from Leipzig in Germany.

DE-755932, sent by "amicodipenna".

"The St. Nicholas Church has long been one of the most famous in Leipzig, and rose to national fame with the Monday Demostrations in 1989 when it became the centre of peaceful revolt against Communist rule.

The church was built around 1165 when Leipzig, also known as St. Nicholas's City, was founded. It is named after St. Nicholas, the patron saint of merchants and wholesalers, and is situated in the very heart of the city on the intersection of two then important trade roads. It is built partially in the Romanesque style but was extended and enlarged in the early 16th century with a more Gothic style. The interior was remodelled by German architect Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe in the neoclassical style.

The church has been a Protestant seat since 1539 after the Protestant Reformation, but the Catholic Church is allowed to use it too." - in: wikipedia