Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * August '25

No, I didn't make a mistake, these are the postcards from the August's group of last year. One of the cards didn't make it here and it had to be resent. 

www.papersisters.de

Is not that I don't like plants and flowers but gardening isn't definitely one of my hobbies. There's a lot of flower pots in my house but if they depended on me to survive, I'm sure most of them would be dead by now. 

This Happy Postcrossing card was new in my collection and it was sent by Daniela.

The retablos are one of the most distinctive features of the Baclayon church on the island of Bohol. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved colonial churches in the Philippines.

Originally founded in 1596, Baclayon Church was constructed by the Jesuits using coral stones held together with egg whites and lime. Its massive walls and resilience over time have made it one of the best-preserved colonial churches in the country. The architectural style combines Baroque and Neoclassical elements, while the interior features elaborate woodcarvings, ancient frescoes, and an altar adorned with gilded ornaments. Although it suffered severe damage during the 2013 earthquake, the church has since been restored and continues to serve as a vital religious center. - in: https://en.webtours.bg

The card was sent by Jill, who used a Pope Francis stamps to make the roman catholic theme even more complete.

 

Unfortunately mm6's 1st card got lost in the mail and she had to resend it. 

Kaiping, Jiangmen is home to Guangdong's first World Cultural Heritage, Kaiping Diaolou. Most of these unique structures were built by returning overseas Chinese in the 1920s and 30s, resulting in a fusion of Chinese and Western architectural styles. The Diaolou are categorised into three types: watchtowers, residential towers, and communal towers. Watchtowers were typically built at the entrance of villages, equipped with searchlights and alarm devices to fend off bandit invasions, while residential towers and communal towers are mainly for residential purpose. - in: https://www.gbayouth.org.hk

 

And another card from Asia. Hirosaki Castle, in Japan, sent by Tomoko.

Hirosaki Castle was built in 1611 by the Tsugaru Clan. A three-story castle tower, fortified moats, castle gates and some corner turrets (yagura) survive or were reconstructed. The castle is located in Hirosaki Park, a spacious public park of about 0.6 square kilometers.
The castle's original five-story keep burnt down in 1627 after being struck by lightning. Rebuilt in 1810, the present three-story keep is the only one in the Tohoku Region that was not rebuilt in the modern era, amongst only a handful in all of Japan. - in: https://www.japan-guide.com

US-12661365

 I think I've never posted so many cards in a row from the US or any other country. But this is the last one, for now. A new FOTW for my collection.

 

www.postcardsmarket.com

US-12661365, sent by Beth.

The USA have an area of 9.833.517 km², a population of 324.099.593 and its capital is Washington D. C.
Unique:
* Statue of Liberty - symbol of the American Dream;  
* Boing Everett Factory, WA - the largest building in the world by volume at 13.385.378 m3;
Famous:  
* Benjamin Franklin - one of the Founding Fathers of the US;
* The bald eagle - symbol of freedom and national bird of the United States since 1782;
History: 

* Declaration of Indepence - July 4, 1776 (from the Great Britain);

* Constitution - June 21, 1788.

Mountain Lion Cubs - USA

 Aren't these mountain lion cubs adorable? this beautiful card was one of my favorites and it was sent by Taylor.

Did you know that Puma concolor holds the Guinness record for the animal with the greatest number of names? In English alone it has more than 40. Mountain lion, puma, panther, wildcat, catamount, painter, cougar... — different names, same animal. 

Photo by Michael Mauro

Much of Colorado, including the Front Range, is prime mountain lion country. These large, powerful predators have always lived here, preying on plentiful deer and playing an important role in the ecosystem. 

The mountain lion (...) exists only in the Western Hemisphere and is one of North America's biggest cats. In Colorado, population estimates range from 3,000 to 7,000 mountain lions. A lion's natural life span is probably about 12 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. 

Lions are very powerful and usually kill large animals, such as deer and elk. Natural enemies include other large predators such as bears, lions, and wolves. They also fall victim to accidents, disease, road hazards, and people. - in: https://steamboatsprings.net

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 How fantastic it must be to walk through a slot like that! This one is a sandstone slot in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

A slot canyon is a long, narrow channel or drainageway with sheer rock walls that are typically eroded into either sandstone or other sedimentary rock. 

Slots like these are beautiful but can be dangerous when it rains as they flood easily and can be difficult to get out of quickly due to the steep walls.

Photography: David Muench

US-12661367, sent by Megan & Layla.

Glen Canyon is the broader sandstone canyon system carved by the Colorado River through Navajo and Wingate sandstone, much of it now submerged beneath Lake Powell following the construction of Glen Canyon Dam. Protected today as Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the canyon includes stretches of river both above and below the reservoir, along with significant archaeological and cultural resources tied to the region's long Indigenous history. - in: https://www.grandcanyonjourneys.com

Canyon de Chelly - USA

 I'm not done with American cards yet! I actually got one more official card yesterday. I'me getting a lot of official cards from the US but those that i'm sending are not getting there. 

The 1st one of these is an official but the other was sent by Carol to wish me an happy birthday in.... 2011!

 

US-12661364, sent by Sydney.

Canyon de Chelly is a protected site that contains the remains of 5,000 years of Native American inhabitation. Canyon de Chelly is located in the northeastern portion of the US state of Arizona within the Navajo Nation and not too far from the border with neighboring New Mexico. It is located 472 km (293 miles) northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. Canyon de Chelly is unique in the United States as it preserves the ruins and rock art of indigenous peoples that lived in the region for centuries - the Ancestral Puebloans and the Navajo. Canyon de Chelly has been recognized as a US National Monument since 1931, and it is one of the most visited National Monuments in the United States today.

Photo by George H. H. Huey

On the back of the card: Fall foliage and a silver ribbon of water flowing in Chinie Wash enhance the beauty of the red rocks seen from Tsegi Overlook.

Canyon de Chelly sits at an elevation of over 1829 m (6,000 ft) and bisects the Defiance Plateau in eastern Arizona. The tributaries of the Chinle Creek, which runs through Canyon de Chelly and originates in the Chuska Mountains, have carved the rock and landscape for thousands of years, creating red cliffs that rise up an additional 305 m (1000 ft).
Canyon de Chelly is one of the longest continuously inhabited places anywhere in North America, and archaeologists believe that human settlement in the canyon dates back some 5,000 years. Ancient prehistoric tribes and peoples utilized the canyon while hunting and migrating seasonally, but they did not construct permanent settlements within the canyon. Nonetheless, these prehistoric peoples did leave etchings on stones and on canyon walls throughout what is now Canyon de Chelly. - in: https://www.worldhistory.org

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The Fire Island Lighthouse, the sixth tallest lighthouse in the country and the tallest in New York City!

 If you dare to climb  the 182 steps of the tower, on a clear day, you can see the New York City skyline in the distance.

 

US-12661343, sent by Erin.

The Fire Island Lighthouse is an iconic landmark on the western end of the island.
The current lighthouse stands 180 feet tall (51 meters), and was built in 1858. It dwarfs the original 1826 lighthouse which stood at only 74ft. The Fire Island Lighthouse has served as a navigational aid for local mariners and was the first light immigrants saw when coming to America in the 1800s. The lighthouse light remained dark for twelve years (1974-1986 when the United States Coast Guard decommissioned the tower. Luckily the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society was formed and raised over $1.2 million to relight the light on Memorial Day of 1986.
Today, the lighthouse is run by volunteers who share their passion for the history of Fire Island, the lighthouse, and Long Island. - in: https://fireislandferries.com

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This card deserves a post on its own. Pamuk says Colonial Williamsburg is the most beautiful palace in the US. I don't know about that but I'm sure I'd like to visit it.

Colonial Williamsburg is the world’s largest living-history museum and serves as a window into 18th-century Virginia on the eve of the American Revolution. Once the capital of the colony, Williamsburg was at the center of political debate, revolutionary fervor, and the daily lives of ordinary Virginians. Today, the restored city features original and reconstructed buildings, allowing visitors to walk the same streets as figures such as Patrick Henry, George Wythe, and Thomas Jefferson. 

The historic area is brought to life by costumed interpreters, craftsmen, and reenactors who demonstrate trades, politics, and military practices of the period. Taverns, homes, shops, and government buildings show the breadth of colonial society, while military encampments and militia drills highlight Virginia’s role in the Revolution. - in: https://thelibertytrail.org

 

© The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

US-12661349, sent by Pamuk. 

More than 300 buildings comprise the colonial capital city. 89 of those buildings are original to the 18th century, while the rest were carefully reconstructed based on extensive research and archaeological evidence. This preservation process started with the founding of Colonial Williamsburg in the 1930.

One of the area’s most recognizable landmarks is the Governor’s Palace.
Originally completed in 1722, the Palace was home to seven British royal governors, Virginia’s first two elected governors (including Thomas Jefferson), and hundreds of servants and enslaved people. After a fire destroyed the Palace in the late 1700s, Virginia’s capital moved from Williamsburg to Richmond. The Governor’s Palace was meticulously reconstructed in the 1930s, and today you can tour its lavish interiors and explore its sprawling gardens. - in: https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com