San Pedro de la Roca Castle - Cuba

Two cards of the San Pedro de la Roca Castle in Santiago de Cuba. The 1st was sent by Zé Pombal and I forgot who sent the other one. 

 mcphoto.blogspot.es

This 17th-century fortress, situated on a rocky promontory at the coast of Santiago city, is the best-preserved monument of Spanish-American military architecture.

Giovan Battista Antonelli, a member of a Milanese family of military engineers, designed it in 1637, inspired by Italian and Renaissance design principles.

It was primarily established to guard against commercial and political rivals in the Caribbean region, European colonies, and raiding pirates. It features a strong defensive series of forts, barricades, citadels, armories, and batteries.

Photo by A. Cavalli

Due to sporadic construction work, completion of the citadel took nearly 42 years. Despite many overseas attacks and natural disasters like earthquakes, this massive historical complex of fortifications still stands.

The castle went through a massive restoration project in the 1960’s. Today it is one of the best preserved castles in the America’s, as well as the best example of a renaissance fortress. Since 1997, it is a World UNESCO heritage site too. - in: http://www.everycastle.com/Castillo-de-San-Pedro-de-la-Roca.html

Paraty - Brazil

When it comes to Brazil, I'm more interrested in it's historical places than in the sunny beaches. Paraty is one of the historical cities I'd like to visit. These cards sent by Luzia and Déa made me discover a bit more about the city, it's history and beauty. 

Foto: Paulo Laborne

Paraty is a coastal historic town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was first settled by the Portuguese in 1667. Its old churches, cobbled streets and nearby forests, waterfalls, islands and emerald-green sea attract lots of tourists interested in mixing cultural tourism and more natural settings.

 Design / Photo by H. Sealaender

 Paraty grew in the 18th century as a strategically important port for exporting the gold mined in Minas Gerais. When shipments in nearby Rio began to attract the attention and ambition of pirates and privateers from rival European powers, the Portuguese began using Paraty as their safe port for getting their gold to Lisbon. Together with Ouro Preto, the town was part of the Royal Road (Caminho Real or Caminho do Ouro, Gold Road), a route used to export gold in colonial times. It was also an obligatory sleep-over stop for travelers between Rio and São Paulo until the late 1800s, when the inner road was opened. This caused Paraty to be forgotten, stalled in time, away from "progress" and disfiguration and helped it preserve its old city as it was in the past. In the 1970s, it was rediscovered as a popular tourist destination. - in: wikitravel

 Design / Photo by H. Sealaender

Paraty is known for the cobblestone-paved streets throughout the Historic Center District.

Paraty has been able to maintain many of its historic buildings. Much of the architecture of the city has not changed for 250 years or more.

Once a month when there is a Full Moon and the tide is high, seawater rises from its normal levels, and pours into the Historic Center District through special openings in the seawalls separate the city from the harbor. The streets are only flooded for a short time, until the tide recedes. The water is usually only six to ten inches deep and a few merchants near the seawall put out small bridges to span the flooded streets for the benefit of pedestrians. - in: wikipédia

Baiana - Brazil

An old baiana lady sent by Luzia to wish me an happy new year. 

Salvador, located on the north-eastern coast of Brazil, is a city steeped in tradition where a melting pot of cultures and strong African heritage point to its glorious past. 

Any visitor to Salvador can’t help but notice the elaborately clad women parading in the Baiana de Acarajé costumes about the square. But their swishing petticoats are more than just a costume — they are a link to the African history of Bahia.

Foto by Lita Cerqueira

The Baianas are an important part of the food culture. The women can be found in all corners of Bahia selling acarajé, which is a mix of black eyed peas, shrimp and spices formed into balls and fried in palm oil. They create a similar treat called abará, which is essentially the same as the acarajé except the mixture is wrapped into a banana leaf and steamed instead of fried. The women also sell cocadas, a sweet mixture of shredded coconut, eggs and sometimes sugar and condensed milk. 

Whatever treat you try with the Baianas de Acarajé, be sure to admire their tradition and their talent, as they are the heart of the Bahian culture. - in: https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/an-introduction-to-baiana-de-acaraje-traditional-dress/

Nagoya Castle - Japan

Two different cards of the same castle in Nagoya, the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. 

The 1st card was sent by Hiroko and the 2nd by Kenji.

Nagoya Castle was constructed on the orders of Ieyasu Tokugawa in order to secure an important position on the Tokaido road and to ward off attacks from the direction of Osaka. Construction was completed in 1612, and the castle is typical of those built on flatlands. Until the Meiji Restoration, Nagoya Castle flourished as the castle in which the Owari lineage of the Tokugawa family, the foremost of the family’s three lineages, resided.

In May 1945, during the air raids on Nagoya in the Second World War, most of the buildings including the main and small dungeons, and the Hommaru Palace, were burned down. Fortunately, however, three corner towers, three gates, and most of the paintings on the sliding doors and walls in the Hommaru Palace survived the fire, and have been handed down as Important Cultural Assets. - in: http://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/13_english/index.html

JP-1057972

Kompirasan, formally known as Kotohira-gu, is the main shrine of multiple Kompira shrines found around Japan that are dedicated to sailors and seafaring. Located on the wooded slope of Mount Zozu in Kotohira, the approach to Kompirasan is an arduous series of 1,368 stone steps. 

At around 365 steps, you will see the Omon Gate.

JP-1057972, sent by Sihori.

Over many centuries, Kompirasan had been revered as a mixture between Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple, until it was officially declared a shrine in the beginning of the Meiji Period during government efforts to separate the two religions. Nevertheless, the former symbiosis is still visible in Kompirasan's architecture which displays both Shinto and Buddhist elements.

Despite being among the more challenging shrine approaches in Japan, Kompirasan is a highly popular site visited by pilgrims from across the country. - in: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5451.html

RU-6165577

It already happened twice to get Armenian cards sent as officials from Russia. I definitely don't mind and in both cases the cards were great. 

Beautiful view of Khor Virap Monastery with Mount Ararat in background.

RU-6165577, sent by Anastasia. 

The Khor Virap (meaning «deep dungeon») monastery is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Armenia. It stands before the snowcapped flanks of Mount Ararat offering a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia.

It is where Grigor Luisavorich (St. Gregory the Illuminator) was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. This caused the conversion of the king and Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301. To this day you can visit the underground chamber he was imprisoned, located in the nondescript St. Gevorg Chapel apart from the main church. - in: http://www.atb.am/en/armenia/sights/christ/khorvirap/

Maribor - Slovenia

It was from Maribor that Ana sent me her wishes for an happy 2018. By the way, Ana has recently restarted to write on her blog, which is one of my favorite postcard blogs. Hope she keeps showing her cards again.

Maribor, Slovenia's second biggest city, is the centre of the Štajerska region. It is situated along the banks of the Drava river and set against the backdrop of the Pohorje mountains and rolling vine-covered hills. Its character is quite different from that of Ljubljana. Even though it was settled quite early in history, it only began to flourish in the Middle Ages. - in: https://www.visitljubljana.com/en/visitors/explore-the-region/slovenian-attractions/maribor/

Foto: E. Golob

Many historical structures stand in Maribor. Of the remains of city walls surrounding the old downtown, the most prominent are the Judgement Tower, the Water Tower, and the Jewish Tower. Maribor Cathedral was built in the Gothic style in the 13th century. Maribor Synagogue was built in the 14th century, and is the second oldest synagogue of Europe. Today it serves as a centre for cultural activities. Other prominent Medieval buildings are Maribor Castle, Betnava Castle, and the ruins of Upper Maribor Castle on Pyramid Hill. Town Hall was constructed in the Renaissance style, and the Plague Column in the Baroque style. - in: wikipedia