Czech cards

After the polish cards now i've 3 czech card, also sent by Emerich.

"Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic.

Its history and growth have been largely affected by exploitation and further use of the high quality black coal deposits discovered in the locality, giving the town a look of an industrial city and a nickname of the “steel heart of the republic” during the communist era of Czechoslovakia. Many of the heavy industry companies are being closed down or transformed." - in: wikipedia

The Ostrava industrial complex was listed in the tentative UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001.

Třebíč is already a Unesco site. "The city was once a centre of Jewish culture in Moravia and the uniquely preserved Jewish Quarter bears silent witness to the cohabitation between Jews and Christians in this city. When we take our tour we will go to the Jewish quarter and the Basilica of St. Prokop, which were inscribed in the UNESCO list in 2003.
Třebíč dates from 1101 when a Benedictine monastery was established here. Thanks to its position on the banks of the River Jihlava and the munificence of its founders the city became an important centre for religious life and education. Today it is an important economic, administrative, political and cultural centre in south-west Moravia. The city offers a wide range of active recreation opportunities in the picturesque environment of the foothills of the Czech-Moravian Vysočina (Highland) region." - in: http://en.czech-unesco.org/trebic/introduction/

Broumov is a town in the Czech Republic, in the Náchod District of the Hradec Králové Region near the Polish border.
On the card there's the Peace Square, with Mary Column.

More polish cards

These are cards from Stargard Szczecinski with it's Town Hall, Artus Court in Gdansk and Wroclaw Town Hall.

Stargard Szczecinski Town Hall is the biggest medieval town hall in Pomerania. It was built around 1250 and it was rebuilt in 14th cent. Today's late-gothic fasade dates from the second half of 16th century. A great fire in 1635 destroyed the Town Hall together with town's archives. It was rebuilt but destroyed again in 1945. The last rebuilt was in 1957 - 61.

The Artus Court is a building in the centre of Gdansk, Poland, which used to be the meeting place of merchants and a centre of social life. Today it is a point of interest of numerous visitors and a branch of the Gdańsk History Museum.

Wroclaw's splendid Gothic Town Hall is the cynosure of the Market Square, and for centuries the most important building in the city. Although construction began in the 13th Century, extensive modifications continued to be made right up to the 16th Century meaning that the hall showcases a mix of architectural styles, principally Gothic and Renaissance. The Town Hall even boasts it's own astronomical clock.
It was under the Town Hall's vaulted ceiling and sculpted pillars that the Wroclaw's political big wigs debated difficult decisions through the ages, and guests of honour were received.
Today the building has lost its political functions and tourists are allowed to ogle at the splendid interiors of rooms such as the Burgher's Hall and the Great Hall, visit the Museum of City Art or sample some finely fermented hops at the famous cellar bar, Piwnica Swidnicka.

Polish religious temples

These polish have been sent by Emerich and they show the cathedrals of Lodz and Gorzów, the Basilica in Wadowice and the Skalka Sanctuary in Krakow.

Łódź is the third-largest city in Poland and this is the Basilica Cathedral St Stanisław Kostka.

Gorzów Wielkopolski is a city in western Poland. The card shows the St. Mary Cathedral, the oldest building in the city. It was founded at the end of the 12th century.

Wadowice is a town in southern Poland, 50 km from Kraków. The city is best known for being the birthplace of Pope John Paul II.

The Virgin Mary’s Offertory Minor Basilica is closely connected with the childhood and youth of Karol Wojtyła. He was baptized here on the 20^th of June 1920 and in May 1929 had his First Holy Communion here.

"The Skalka Sanctuary and St Stanislaw's Church are a Roman Catholic Church and monastery on the banks of the Vistula River in Krakow. The original Romanesque church which stood on this site was the place of one of Poland's crucial historic events - the murder of Stanislav, bishop of Krakow by the king, Boleslav. There are differing reasons why this happened but regardless, the people were not happy and Stanislav was eventually made a saint by Pope Innocent IV in 1253 - he has been called the saint of moral order. He was the first n ative Polish saint and remains patron saint of Poland. His relics are now in Wawel Cathedral.

The current Gothic church which stands on the site dates from the 14th century, with a Baroque update from the mid-18th century. Beginning in the 19th century, the church became a place for burial for well-known artists and writers, including Nobel Prize winning poet Czeslaw Milosz." - in: http://www.krakow-poland.com/Tourist-Attractions/Skalka-Sanctuary,bgh

São João del Rei - Brazil

Marcelo also sent me these two cards from São João del Rei, another city in Minas Gerais state. At first i thought these two churches were the same but looking closer, they're different. The 1st is the Our Lady of Carmo Church and the 2nd the St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Our Lady of Carmo Church was built in 1733 and is one of the most important colonial churches in the city.

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is a Catholic church founded by the Venerable Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi. The church, begun in 1774, is one of the major landmarks of colonial architecture in the state.

Diamantina - Brazil

From North to South America with brazilian cards sent by Marcelo. These are from Diamantina, a city in the state of Minas Gerais.

Diamantina was built during the colonial era in the early 18th century. As its name suggests, Diamantina was a center of diamond mining in the 18th and 19th centuries. A well-preserved example of Brazilian Baroque architecture, Diamantina is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

This is a stone path built by the slaves in the 19th century nd it was part of the ancient Royal Road. Along the way is possible observe the native forest, rivers, waterfalls and panoramic views of Diamantina.

Crystals Waterfalls is located 14 km from the city. This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the region.

Colorado - USA

My trades with Emerich are always big trades, always more than 10. This time we traded 20 cards. These are from Colorado, USA.

Colorado is noted for its vivid landscape of mountains, forests, high, mesas, canyons, plateaus, rivers, lakes and desert lands.

An autumn view somewhere in Colorado.

Garden of the Gods is a public park located in Colorado Springs. It contains numerous trails for hiking, walking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

Notchtop Mountain and Two Rivers lake, Rocky Mountains National Park.

American Basin located high in the San Juan Mountains.

Pikes Peak as seen from rampart Range Reservoir in early morning.

Colorado alpine lake.

Point Pelee - Canada

Another card from Canada but this one was sent by Sue.

"Point Pelee National Park extends from the mainland of Essex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It consists of a peninsula of land, mainly of marsh and woodland habitats, that tapers to a sharp point as it extends into Lake Erie. Point Pelee is the southernmost point of mainland Canada, and is located on a foundation of glacial sand, silt and gravel that bites into Lake Erie. This spit of land is slightly more than seven kilometers long by 4.5 kilometers wide at its northern base." - in: wikipedia