Kairouan - Tunisia

Kairouan is a city in northern Tunisia, 50 km (31 mi) from the east coast and 184 km (114 mi) from Tunis. 

The city was founded by the Umayyads around 670. In the period of Caliph Mu'awiya (reigned 661–680), it became an important centre for Sunni Islamic scholarship and Quranic learning, and thus attracting a large number of Muslims from various parts of the world, next only to Mecca and Medina. - in: wikipedia

It is classified as UNESCO WHS since 1988.

The 1st of these cards was sent by Emerich and the 2nd and 3rd were both bought by me, in Expo 98 in Lisbon and at the collectors fair in my city a few days ago.

Carte d'Or

Kairouan is an important religious pilgrimage site and, for history lovers, one of Tunisia's star tourist attractions. This bustling city is jam-packed with some of the country's best examples of Islamic architecture, from grand mosques and tombs with ornate decoration to the Medina back alleys lined with candy-coloured houses.

Kairouan is also a major shopping destination and is famous for the quality of its carpets. When all the craning your neck at mosque minarets and admiring gorgeous tile work gets too much, it's time to hit the souks for a bit of bargaining with the town's many craftsmen. - in: http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/kairouan-tun-kr-k.htm

The Mausoleum of Sidi Sahab, generally known as the Mosque of the Barber, is actually a zaouia located inside the city walls. It was built by the Muradid Hammuda Pasha Bey (mausoleum, dome and court) and Murad II Bey (minaret and madrasa). In its present state, the monument dates from the 17th century.

The mosque is a veneration place for Abu Zama' al-Balaui, a companion of the prophet Muhammad, who, according to a legend, had saved for himself three hairs of Muhammad's beard, hence the edifice's name. The sepulchre place is accessed from a cloister-like court with richly decorated ceramics and stuccoes. - in: http://www.travellino.net/places/866

 

The Great Mosque of Kairouan, also known as the Mosque of Uqba, is one of the most important mosques in Tunisia, situated in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Kairouan. Every city in Tunisia has a Great Mosque, but the Great Mosque in Kairouan is the most important of all.
It is the oldest Muslim place of worship in Africa and is commonly regarded as the fourth holiest site in Islam (after Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem). Established by the Arab general Uqba ibn Nafi in 670 AD (the year 50 according to the Islamic calendar) at the founding of the city of Kairouan, the mosque is spread over a surface area of 9,000 square metres and it is a model for all later mosques in the Maghreb.
For centuries, the Great Mosque of Kairouan has served as a pilgrimage destination for North Africans not able to make the long trip to Mecca. According to popular belief, seven trips to Kairouan was worth one hajj to Mecca. - in: https://www.alluringworld.com

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - June '26

 I was hoping to get cards today but the mailbox was empty. 

June 's MFS RR cards from Germany, USA, Russia and Belgium.

 

www.papersisters.de

Nadine send this Happy Postcrossing card with a few inspiring German women. The ladies mentioned on the card are: Sophie Scholl (1921 - 1943), a student and anti-Nazi political activist, active in the White Rose non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany; Elly Beinhorn (1907 - 2007), a pioneering female aircraft pilot; Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717), a entomologist, naturalist, and scientific illustrator; Melitta Bentz (1873 - 1950), inventor and entrepreneur known for revolutionizing the process of coffee brewing with her invention of the coffee filter; Margarete Steiff (1847 - 1909) , a seamstress who in 1880 founded Steiff, a maker of toy stuffed animals; Clara Schumann (1819 - 1896), pianist, composer, and piano teacher. She married the composer Robert Schumann; Marlene Dietrich (1901 - 1992), actress and singer; Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876 - 1907), Expressionist painter and draftswoman; Bertha Benz (1849 - 1944), automotive pioneer. She was the business partner, investor and wife of automobile inventor Carl Benz; Käthe Kollwitz (1867 - 1945), artist who worked with painting, printmaking (including etching, lithography and woodcuts) and sculpture..

How many of these women had you heard of before?

 

Photo by William Carr

A dreamy snowy view of Bryce Canyon in Utah. 

Bryce Canyon National Park in Southwestern Utah is famous for the largest collection of hoodoos—the distinctive rock formations at Bryce—in the world. It was declared a National Moument in 1923, and officially established as a National Park in 1928. - in: https://www.nationalparks.org

This card was sent by Nan.

 

This beautiful card of the Ipatiev monastery, was sent by Natasha.

Ipatiev monastery, founded around 1330, is a male monastery situated on the bank of the Kostroma River just opposite the city of Kostroma. 

According to the legend it was founded by the Tatar prince Chet, who adopted Christianity under the name of Zechariah. In 1613 the monastery was the place where Moscow boyars came to invite Mikhail Romanov to become the new ruler. As a result, the first prayer of thanksgiving was prayed in Trinity Church to mark the salvation of Russia from the turmoil the coming of the new ruling dynasty. After that event, the monastery became a holy place for the Romanov dynasty. There, for many years the Fyodorovskaya icon of the Mother of God, the patroness of the new royal family was kept. - in: https://www.advantour.com

And finally, Lara's card, of the beautiful city of Dinant. After my trip to Belgium a few years, I promised myself that I'd travel to the country again to visit this city.

 Dinant, a picturesque city located on the banks of the majestic Meuse river and surrounded by the scenic landscape of the Belgian Ardennes.

Chichicastenango - Guatemala

You have the patience, you might find some treasures!! I was able to find 2 cards from Guatemala in that fair and I really like this one.It depicts a procession in Chichicastenango, a city in a mountainous region about 140 km northwest of Guatemala City.

Chichicastenango was the ancient capital of the Quiché Kingdom and is a vital center of Maya culture in Guatemala. Known for its thriving artisan traditions, the town is often called the “Mecca of the Mayas.” It is historically significant as the place where the Popol Vuh, the sacred Maya text, was discovered in the Spiritual Temple, the same location where the Church of Santo Tomás now stands.

Foto: Thor Janson

The heart of Chichicastenango’s cultural event is the Patron’s Day Festival on December 21st, celebrating Saint Thomas, the town’s patron saint. The festival is a lively mix of traditional dances, colorful costumes, marimba music, and Mayan ceremonies, showcasing the deep cultural and spiritual roots of Chichicastenango’s habitants. These rituals and performances offer a unique insight into the local’s rich heritage, blending ancient practices with modern festival elements like the multiple groups of traditional dancers, musicians, and cofradías (brotherhoods), participating in high spirited street processions. - in: https://columbusguatemalatravel.com

Tungurahua volcano - Ecuador

 A few weeks ago I went to the collectors fair in my city and saw, literally, thousands of cheap cards. However I only bought 14. I was surprisingly very selective. Only 14 but I think I bought some interresting cards. One of them was my 2nd card of the Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador. I got the 1st one many years ago, from a UNESCO swap. This volcano is part of the Sangay National Park, a UNESCO WHS since 1983.

Tungurahua is an active stratovolcano located in the Cordillera Oriental of Ecuador. It is one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes. Three major volcanic edifices have been sequentially constructed since the mid-Pleistocene over a basement of metamorphic rocks. Tungurahua II was built within the past 14,000 years following the collapse of the initial edifice. Tungurahua II itself collapsed about 3000 years ago and produced a large debris-avalanche deposit and a horseshoe-shaped caldera open to the west, inside which the modern glacier-capped stratovolcano (Tungurahua III) was constructed. 

 

 Foto: Isabel Wuth

Tungurahua causes many tremors in the nearby city of Banos. Tungurahua has had at least seventeen eruptions in historical times. Prior to a long-term eruption beginning in 1995 that caused the temporary evacuation of the city of Banos at the foot of the volcano, the last major eruption had occurred from 1916 to 1918, although minor activity continued until 1925. - in: https://volcano.oregonstate.edu

The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta - Indonesia

 As I'm writings this post, the UNESCO comittee is chosing this year's new sites. I checked the new inscribed properties, 13 so far, this morning and I've 2 of them. There's still more to come and hopefully, one will be the portuguese candidate. Fingers crossed.

And speaking of new sites, three years ago, Indonesia inscribed the Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta on the WHS list. I've all the Indonesian sites now (again). 

 

The central axis of Yogyakarta was established in the 18th century by Sultan Mangkubumi, and has continued from that time as a centre of government and Javanese cultural traditions. The six kilometre north-south axis is positioned to link Mount Merapi and the Indian Ocean, with the Kraton (palace) at its centre, and key cultural monuments lining the axis to the north and south that are connected through rituals. It embodies key beliefs about the cosmos in Javanese culture, including the marking of the cycles of life. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

 

Tugu Jogja, is more than just a landmark. It stands at the center of a symbolic line connecting the majestic Mount Merapi, the Yogyakarta Kraton (Royal Palace), and the mystical South Sea. This monument is a testament to the city's spirit, resilience, and deep-rooted Javanese philosophy, witnessing centuries of history unfold around it. 

Initially, the monument was named Tugu Golong Gilig. Built by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono I in 1755, it had a cylindrical pole ("gilig") with a sphere ("golong") on top. It symbolized the unity of the people and the ruler ("Manunggaling Kawula Gusti") and served as a focal point for the Sultan's meditation, aligning the palace with the peak of Mount Merapi. 

The original monument collapsed during a massive earthquake in 1867. The Dutch colonial government rebuilt it in 1889, but with a significant change in design. The new square structure with a golden spire, named De Witte Paal (The White Pole) or Tugu Pal Putih, intentionally disrupted the original philosophical meaning, altering the sacred axis. - in: https://tugujogja.com/

GR-112432

 Almost 20 years of postcrossing and only 3 officials from Greece. I loved that Faye wrote so much on such a limited space. In a few sentences, she told me everything I needed to know about the Heptapyrgion or Yedi Kule, the Castle of Thessaloniki, located in the Old Town.

 

GR-112432, sent by Faye.

The fortress of Heptapyrgion is one of the best well-preserved fortification monuments in Greece, a symbol of the power of the city of Thessaloniki, but also a site with a heavy historical impact due to its use as a prison in recent years.

The fortress has towered over the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, for over 1,000 years. It was first constructed during the Byzantine era (330 AD to 1453 AD), although this most recent version was rebuilt by the Ottomans after they conquered the city in the 1400s.
After the Ottoman invasion, Heptapyrgion remained a prominent point within Thessaloniki’s acropolis. It was under the military’s control, becoming the residence for the city’s military advisor and a garrison for about 300 troops. But by the 19th century, the military’s interest in the fort had dwindled. It was soon converted into a prison.
To the Greeks, Heptapyrgion is haunted by memories of turbulent periods within their recent history. The fortress held political prisoners during troubled times like the fascist dictatorship of 1936, the years of Nazi occupation and the civil war that followed it, and the seven year-long military junta that began in 1967. Those interned there faced harsh conditions. Torture was common, and hundreds of inmates were executed at an infamous spot not far from the fortress. - in: https://www.thessalonikitourism.gr

 

Happy Postcrossing from Finland

 A few weeks ago I won a lottery on IG, hosted by Päivi, and one of the prizes was this card, a new one in my Happy Postcrossing collection.

 

www.papersisters.de

Finland, the country of the lakes, Santa Claus, saunas and if you're lucky, you might see the northern lights. The country is home to a few dear friends and it was in the summer cottage of one of them, that I tried the karelian pie.