Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * September '24

 Here comes the 3rd post in a row with MFS RR cards.

 

 www.papersisters.de

Marena likes all kinds of music, especially 80's and 90's pop. I like music too, and I'd probably mention those 2 decades as my favorites but nowadays I'm mostly enjoying the silence.

 

www.papersisters.de

Sea has an important rule in Portugal history and culture, our long coastline, bathed by the Atlantic ocean, attracts many tourists but I'm a mountain kind of person. 

If I check the senders of my Happy Postcrossing cards, I think that Annerie is probably the person who sent me most of them.  

 

When I first saw this card, I thought for a few seconds that it was another Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius card. But no, Nataliya sent a beautiful snowy view of Tolgsky Monastery. The monastery was founded by the Rostov Bishop Prokhor in 1314 on the banks of the River Volga in the village of Tolga which has since been incorporated into Yaroslavl. It was founded on the site where an icon of the Virgin Mary and the infant Christ miraculously appeared. This icon is now known as the Our Lady of Tolga Icon and was said to be wonder-working. 

The monastery was closed in 1917.  All services were completely stopped at the monastery in 1928. During the Soviet era the former monastery was used as a children's colony and its buildings were left in ruins. In 1987 it was reopened, but as a convent rather than a monastery, and underwent large-scale reconstruction work. In 2003 the Our Lady of Tolga Icon was returned to the convent and has since became the largest convent in Russia and a popular place of pilgrimage in Russia. - in: https://rusmania.com

lookphotos / Konrad Wothe

All these cards are great but Beate made me super happy with this card of an UNESCO site in Lybia. It was a wonderful surprise.

Leptis Magna is one of Libya's crown jewels in terms of its ancient ruins and heritage sites. Located in the northwestern part of the country, it was once the largest city of the ancient region of Tripolitania. Leptis Magna was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.
Originally founded in the 7th century BCE by the Phoenecians, it was later taken over by Carthaginians in the latter part of the 6th century BCE. With the natural harbor of Wadi Labdah, the city grew to become a major Mediterranean and trans-Saharan center of trade.
Leptis Magna later became a Roman colonia - a community with full rights and citizenship - with Leptis-born Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211 CE) conferring upon the city legal freedom from property and land taxes. Over the following centuries, Leptis Magna began to witness its decline due to increasing insecurities at the Roman Empire’s frontiers - ultimately leading to an incursion in 363 CE and further economic difficulties for the empire.
In 642 CE, the Arab conquest that swept across the Middle East and North Africa brought the final conclusion of Leptis Magna’s decline.
Today, Leptis Magna can attribute its preservation to being buried by sand until the early 20th century, where early Punic structures can be seen near the excavated amphitheater and forum - the heart of the Roman city during its height. Other well-preserved buildings include Roman baths, erected by Emperor Hadrian (117-138 CE), along with a circus (racecourse) - a popular venue for entertainment during the empire. These, among many other structures, paintings, and sculptures, are just some many examples of the grandeur of Leptis Magna. - in: https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * August '24

Lets go back to summer with these MFS RR cards that I've received in August. They're from Finland, Russia, Japan and South Korea.

 

Ruotsinpyhtää is a town in southern Finland, near Anna's childhood home area. The local church was built in 1771 from wood. It was renovated in 1898 to its current gothic revival appearance.

When I posted July's card, I've said that Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is probably one of the places / monuments in Russia that I've the most cards from. In August, Inesa sent me another card. 

The monastery ensemble includes over 50 buildings of different significance.  The largest building of the monastery is the Assumption Cathedral constructed in 1559-1585 by the orders of Ivan the Terrible to celebrate the annexation of Kazan and Astrakhan Khanates to Russian lands. This majestic cathedral is very similar to the Assumption Cathedral of Moscow Kremlin. Its white stone facades harmoniously contrast with the four bright-blue domes, which sparkle with golden stars. The fifth dome of the Assumption Cathedral is gold-plated. - in: https://www.advantour.com

Hirosaki Saisho-in five-story pagoda is considered to be the most beautiful pagoda in Tōhoku region. Tomoko wrote that five-story pagodas represent the Buddhist view of universe, which consists of five elements, earth, water, fire, wind and sky. 

The construction of this pagoda began in 1656 and was completed in 1667.  It was built during the Edo Period using a construction method with no nails. The pagoda is designated as a national important cultural heritage site.

This is a detail of a traditional Korean roof with Japsang figures. Japsang is a group of small animal-shaped statues made of clay and placed on top of the roofs, lined up on the edge of vertical ridges at the eaves. During the Joseon Dynasty (1392 CE – 1910 CE), which was under the influence of the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368 CE – 1644 CE), Koreans began to place Japsang on top of the roofs of royal palaces.

Japsang is always installed in odd numbers, ranging from 3 to 11, and comprises different animals – dragon, phoenix, lion, giraffe, sea horse, haetae (a mythical unicorn lion), and monkey – considered sacred and becoming guardians to the building.

Japsang figures were used as decorative symbols to represent the authority, dignity, and grandeur of a building and as shamanic symbols to protect from and chase away evil spirits, harmful energy, and misfortune. Like the Chinese, it is believed that Koreans’ greatest fear was a fire during that time since most of the buildings were made of wood. Japsang, therefore, was believed to prevent fire in a shamanistic way. - in: https://www.rubensdelacorte.com

Card sent by "hellow0rld".

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * June '24

 I've been waiting to get the last June's card of this RR and it finally got here. It was so worth to wait for it.

 

Photo: Wallis - C. Moirenc 2004

 

 Life got in the way and Juliette only was able to send this card last month. I was saw happy to see it in my mailbox. It was one of the many french card on my favorites wall and I like it so much.

Photo: Matti Karjanoja

Aerial view of Senate Square in Helsinki, sent by Flora.

The Senate Square and its surroundings form a unique and cohesive example of Neoclassical architecture. The square is dominated by four buildings designed by Carl Ludvig Engel (1778-1840): Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland. A statue of Alexander II (1894) stands in the middle of the Senate Square.
Helsinki Cathedral is arguably Finland's most famous and photographed building. The oldest stone building in Helsinki is the Sederholm House located on the southeast corner of the square. Today the building hosts the Helsinki City Museum. The Esplanade park and the Market Square are just a block away. - in: https://www.myhelsinki.fi

Photo: 2016 Anthony L. Iezzi

Nan always sends me great cards and I truly like this one. I really like old steam locomotives. This one, locomotive nº 89, is one of the Strasburg Rail Road locomotives. 

Strasburg Rail Road™ is America’s oldest operating railroad with a charter dating back to June 9, 1832. First used for passenger and freight transportation, the short line limped along for more than a century until in 1958, on the verge of abandonment, the railroad was salvaged and given new life as a tourist railroad.
Locomotive No. 89 ran on the Canadian National Railway for most of her life before being sold to the Green Mountain Railroad in New Hampshire. After just a few years on the Green Mountain RR, the locomotive was sold to the Strasburg Rail Road in late Spring 1972. Today, No. 89 is still an active locomotive at Strasburg and is often the locomotive of choice to pull smaller train consists. - in: https://www.strasburgrailroad.com

Even though Tanya is from Belarus, I believe that most of the cards she has already sent me, are from Russia. This a peak of the Bombai mountains.

US-10804668

 Of all the cards I could post tonight, this is the one that make the most sense to post on a Halloween night.

Have you ever wonder why pumpkins are so popular in USA? 

Before becoming a major cultural symbol in America, pumpkin was used as a marketing tool by people who discovered that they had plenty of it. Initially, in colonial America, people fed on bread and beer, something they acquired a taste for from their colonisers. As food shortages hit when world wars took place, people started hoarding pumpkins since they were plentiful and could be used on the bread as a filling/dressing.

 

US-10804668, sent by Gianina.

It then struck them that pumpkin was theirs to make use of, since they always had enough of them and could easily become a part of mainstream food. From there, pumpkin became an accessory, a decoration item, a US symbol.
Once Thanksgiving became an official holiday in 1844, there was no going back for pumpkins. It now offers the “authentic and wholesome American” feel and is synonymous with everything festive. 

Almost every US TV show or Hollywood film that has an Autumn/Fall theme has pumpkins feature in a prominent manner. Atleast one episode of every US show that airs during the festive time has pumpkin being marketed as an American thing to eat/play with. Every iconic successful US show has had atleast one dedicated Halloween/pumpkin-themed episode including 'Friends', 'Brooklyn 99', 'The Simpsons', 'Modern Family', 'The Office' and the list is endless. Popular culture has reinforced the idea of a pumpkin being quintessially American and rightfully so since the fruit is indigenous to the region. It’s been a long walk for pumpkins, from being native to the Americas and still being ignored to now finding a space at the top shelf. What adds is that the humble fruit is a rich source of antioxidants, fiber, potassium and vitamin C and makes a great dessert item. It’s also kids’ favourite thing to play with during Halloween with almost every house in the US and Canada doing their own version of Jack - o lanterns. - in: https://www.wionews.com

Baracay Island - Philippines

Over the years I've received many cards sent by Marie, most of them from Canada, where she lives, but this one is from her home country, the Philippines. 

Boracay is the most iconic island in the Philippines.
The tranquil waters and famous white sands of Boracay are the main reasons why this tiny island in the Philippines’ Western Visayas region is a paradise getaway for both tourists and locals.

 by Carlos Jurew

A traditional Paraw ride is a unique way to explore Boracay’s waters. These double outrigger sailboats offer a serene experience, especially at sunset. 

The Paraw (also known as parao) is a traditional outrigger sailing boat from the Philippines. Locals believed the first boats were adopted from Borneo and Malay traders who frequently visited the Philippines.
Paraws are made with wood and bamboo. They come in different sizes and shapes, but the most common form is the double outrigger. It is a configuration that gives more stability and increased seating capacity.
Traditionally, paraw sailboats are mainly used for fishing and inter-island travel. However, today, paraws are commonly used for recreational trips such as island hopping and sunset tours. - in: https://happinessontheway.com

Shirakawa-go - Japan

All of these cards are from the lovely Shirakawa-go village. Shirakawa-go together with Gokayama in Toyama, was registred as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. 

Back in 2009 Adriana sent me my 1st card from there and that was when I fell in love with this place.

 Located in a mountainous region that was cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time, these villages with their Gassho-style houses subsisted on the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. 

 

JP-1792846, sent by Misa.

The large houses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs are the only examples of their kind in Japan. Despite economic upheavals, the villages of Ogimachi, Ainokura and Suganuma are outstanding examples of a traditional way of life perfectly adapted to the environment and people's social and economic circumstances. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/734

© Hiroyuki Yamaguchi

JP-329605, sent by Momoko. 

The village is located in the Shogawa river valley stretching across the border of Gifu and Toyama Prefectures in central Japan. Both villages, Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama, are famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. 

Gassho-zukuri means "constructed like hands in prayer", as the farmhouses' steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. 

 

JP-2133180, sent by Miho.

The architectural style developed over many generations and is designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter. The roofs, made without nails, provided a large attic space used for cultivating silkworms. - in: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5950.html

BY-3207973

 I've a few cards of Belarusian churches in my wall of favorites and this card could have been there if I'd seen it before. Beautiful church. 

Luzhki - is a village of Sharkaŭshchyna district, Vitebsk region of Belarus. The main attraction of the village Luzhki is St. Michael the Archangel Catholic church, which was built from 1744 to 1756.

 

 

BY-3207973, sent by Ira.

Originally, the church in the village of Luzhki was part of the monastery, which was founded here in 1741. After the uprising of 1830, this monastery, like many other Catholic monasteries in the territory of modern Belarus, was closed. And in 1843 the church in the village of Luzhki was transferred to the Orthodox Church, a little rebuilt and converted. After the First World War, when the village of Luzhki was part of Poland, the church again moved to Catholics. In 1949 the church in the village of Luzhki was closed by the Soviet authorities. Later, the building of the temple was refurbished and used as a warehouse for mineral fertilizers. In the late 1980s, the church was returned to the Catholic Church and restored. 

The church in the village of Luzhki is a very vivid embodiment of the architecture of the so-called "Vilna" baroque. This ancient and very unusual church stands out among other churches of Belarus in that its main facade gives the impression that it is bent inside. This effect is achieved due to the fact that the two high towers of the main facade are not in the same plane with it, but are rotated at an angle. - in: https://vedaj.by