12th Postcrossing Anniversary Meeting

Last month Postcrossing turned 12. I'm sure this special event was celebrated by many postcrossers around the globe. In Portugal a few portuguese and foreign postcrossers got together in Cascais to share their love for postcards and Postcrossing. It was impossible for me to go there but I got these cards sent by Zé and Vitória and another one sent by Paula that I'll show in the next post.

Forways, Lda

Located in the heart of Cascais, between the Hotel Albatroz and the "Chalet Faial", Conceição Beach is connected to Duquesa beach. Its name is due to the existence of a chapel next to the beach built in honor of Our Lady of the Conception. It is one of the most frequented beaches in the town due to its privileged location, close to all kinds of transport and with easy access.

Forways, Lda

The Museum Condes de Castro Guimarães, the former "Torre de S. Sebastião", was built in 1900 by Jorge O'Neill. A classic example of "summer architecture", the building features ecletic elements, inviting visitors to enter a kingdom of fantasy and wonder celebrated in this XIXth century revival of the era of romance.

In 1910, the Count Manuel de Castro Guimarães aquires the house and after is dead (1927) donated his state, including his garden, to the people of Cascais. His desire was to built an art museum and a public library. The museum opened on July 12, 1931. - in: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/NR/exeres/52715CD8-0F36-4633-A656-D68F210B2BB5

Meeting with Luzia in Lisbon

Last May Luzia from Brazil visited Portugal with her husband and she met some of her postcrossing friends. I also met her, but not in Lisbon, we met in Coimbra. 

Her meeting in Lisbon was quite big and international. She met Leninha, Paula, Joaninha, Edite, Ana Maria, Luís, Zé, Gracinha, Vitória and Inês from Portugal, Vanesa from Spain and Raquel, a portuguese living in Belgium. 

This 1st card was sent by Leninha. An ilustration of St. Jorge Castle with a few typical characters of Lisbon. 

Mafalda Silva © Forways Lda

Gracinha sent me a card with some typical symbols of the portuguese capital, a kiosk, Fernando Pessoa statue, the trams, tiles and the traditional portuguese pavement, known as calçada. 

© New Jump Lda

One of the best known monuments of Lisbon is Jerónimos Monastery. 

This is an highly ornate monastery that is situated in the Belém, western Lisbon. This grand religious building was historically associated with the early sailors as explorers, as it was from here that Vasco da Gama spent his last night before his voyage to the Far East.

The card was sent by Zé. 

Luís sent a night view of Restauradores Square. This large square commemorates the country's liberation from 60 years of Spanish rule in 1640. 

objectoanonimo.com

Beautiful trams in beautiful Commerce Square. 

Vitória sent me this card and used a stamp with the cathedral of my city.

© 2007 Edições 19 de Abril * Manuel. M. Pinturache

Another tram, this one crossing Augusta Street.
This last card was sent by Vanesa.

PT RR - Group 60 * Castles

Cards with castles, forts & fortress, palaces and other similar structures are always welcome.  

Rui sent me a card from Funchal, on Madeira island with São João Baptista Fortress and Inês sent Lagarteira Fort from Vila Praia de Âncora in norhern Portugal. 

Foto: helloguidemadeira.com / Cristiano Abreu

The Fortress was completed in the second half of the 17th century, and is located 111, 5 meters above sea level. This fortress was used as the city warehouse to store gunpowder (this gunpowder was meant for all the forts and towers of the Island).

Initially it was designated São João Fortress, afterwards it was renamed as São Filipe and São Miguel and later it recovered its original name.

In the middle of the 20th century, it was given to the Navy to accommodate its Communication Centre. Due to the great number of antennae on the fortress, the population began to call it “Radio Peak” (Pico Rádio).

It offers a panoramic view over the city of Funchal. - in: http://www.cm-funchal.pt/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=416%3Asao-joao-baptista-fortress&catid=85%3Ahistorical-area-of-sao-pedro-&Itemid=231

Grupo MJF

The Âncora Fort (Anchor Fort), also known as Lagarteira Fort, is located on the current parish of Vila Praia de Âncora.

According to the tradition, the toponymy Âncora is connected to the drowning episode of the Queen Urraca with an anchor tied to her neck as a punishment for adultery by her spouse, Ramiro II of Léon.  

PT RR - Group 59 * I wish

For this group of the RR in the portuguese speaking community, I wanted to receive churches, castles or snow. Both, Joana and Luzia, sent me churches. 

© Collection «Les authentiques et les imaginaires»

Joana lives in Mont-de-Marsan but she has never visited this church. 

St. Marie Madeleine Church is the most important church of this town. It was built between 1825-1829. 

 Foto: Paulo Laborne

I really like cute little chapels like this one in Catas Altas, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. St. Quitéria Chapel was built in the 18th century on a hill overlooking the Caraça mountain. 

March Alternative RR (IV)

In this last group I've cards from Australia, Malaysia, Russia and Taiwan. 

Photographs:Lynette Traynor and State Library of Victoria

The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) was a First World War army corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. It was formed in Egypt in December 1914, and operated during the Battle of Gallipoli. General William Birdwood commanded the corps, which comprised troops from the First Australian Imperial Force and 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The corps disbanded in 1916, following the Allied evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula and the formation of I ANZAC Corps and II ANZAC Corps. The Corps was reestablished, briefly, in the Second World War during the Battle of Greece in 1941. - in: wikipedia

Card sent by Azzi.

I thought this was a WWII propaganda card but this is actually the cover of a british war comic magazine, published  from 8 March 1975 to 23 January 1988. 

Card sent by Miza.

Orenburg is the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast (region), Russia. It lies on the River Ural, 1,478 kilometers (918 mi) southeast of Moscow, on the boundary of Europe and Asia. Orenburg is also very close to the border with Kazakhstan. - in: wikipedia

Card sent by Vera.

Mazu Temple in Penghu is the oldest Mazu Temple in both Taiwan and Penghu. It has a history of 400 years and is now listed as the country’s first-class historic site. Mazu is the most commonly worshipped sea Goddess in areas south of the Yangtze River. She also represents one of the most dominant folk religion in Taiwan. 

Card sent by Chien.

Satay is a dish of seasoned, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce. Satay may consist of diced or sliced chicken, goat, mutton, beef, pork, fish, other meats, or tofu. These are grilled or barbecued over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings. Satay can be served in various sauces, however most often they are served in a combination of soy and peanut sauce. Hence, peanut sauce is often called satay sauce. in: wikipedia

C. K. says it is a must try food in Malaysia.

March Alternative RR (III)

A bit of nature from Australia, Taiwan, China and Austria. 

Peter Matthews, QLD

Never-ending blue sent by Krystiina. 

Photography © 2012 Lin Chien Chuan Art Co. Ltd

Menghuan Pond is located in Yangmingshan National Park, in northern Taipei City During winter, the pond covers 10000SQ. M and sometimes has a higher water level, while during summer, the pond sometimes may dry up. 

card sent by Rachel.

Miancimu Peak is one of the many peaks of the Meili Snow Mountain, located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northeast of Deqin County of Yunnan Province. It sits on the border of Yunnan Province and Tibet. Meili Snow Mountain is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism.

Card sent by Rain.

© Photo Lohmann

The small hotel village of Hochsölden is in the middle of the Ötztal Alps. On the sunny and snowy plateau high above Sölden you will enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and slopes.

The small district is located at 2,090 metres above sea level and virtually in the middle of the Sölden skiing area. 

The card was sent by Grace. 

March Alternative RR (II)

On this 2nd round of the March Alt. RR, I've cards from the USA, Germany and Netherlands.

Photo: Alan Schein, NYC

On the back of the card: With its huge dome, the Capitol is the most impressive building in Washington, housing the legislative branch of the Government. 

This nice card was sent by Mimi.

Foto: Ullstein-Bild

Marina sent a card with Brandenburg Gate and the infamous Berlin Wall. 

The Berlin Wall enclosed West Berlin from August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989, cutting a line through the entire city center. It was supposed to prevent East Berliners and citizens of East Germany from fleeing to the West, but the Wall was unable to entirely stop the mass of people from fleeing. Consequently, in 1961, the SED, the ruling Communist Party in East Germany, began adding more border fortifications to the Wall, creating a broad, many-layered system of barriers. In the West people referred to the border strip as the “death strip” because so many people were killed there while trying to flee. With the downfall of East Germany in 1989, the Berlin Wall that the SED had for so long tried to use to maintain its power, also fell. The fall of the Wall marked the definitive end of its dictatorship. - in: http://www.berliner-mauer-gedenkstaette.de/en/the-berlin-wall-10.html

© WERBEVERLAG R. 

Also from Germany, a card sent by Manu with Herrenchiemsee Palace. 

In 1873 King Ludwig II of Bavaria acquired the Herreninsel as the location for his Royal Palace of Herrenchiemsee (New Palace). Modelled on Versailles, this palace was built as a "Temple of Fame" for King Louis XIV of France, whom the Bavarian monarch fervently admired.

The actual building of this "Bavarian Versailles", which was begun in 1878 from plans by Georg Dollmann, was preceded by a total of 13 planning stages. When Ludwig II died in 1886 the palace was still incomplete, and sections of it were later demolished. - in: http://www.herrenchiemsee.de/englisch/n_palace/index.htm

Foto: Laura Visser

A beautiful snow view of Oranjepark in Apeldoorn, a city in the province of Gelderland in the centre of the Netherlands.

The card was sent by Franciska.