The Amphitheatre of El Djem - Tunisia

 I already had an interior view of El Djem Amphitheatre, sent by Boguslaw in 2011, and now I also have an exterior view that shows all its grandeur.

El Djem is home to the second-largest colosseum in the Roman world (after Rome's). UNESCO classified it as a WHS in 1979. 

It was 149m long by 124m wide, with three tiers of seating 30m high. Its seating capacity has been estimated at up to 35,000 – considerably more than the population of the town itself. Built entirely of stone blocks, with no foundations, its facade comprises three levels of arcades. Inside, most of the supporting infrastructure for the tiered seating has been preserved.

The colosseum is believed to have been built between AD 230 and 238, and is generally attributed to the African proconsul Gordian, a local landowner and patron. Stone for construction had to be hauled all the way from the quarries at Sullectum (modern Salakta), 30km away on the coast, and water was brought 15km by underground aqueduct from the hills northwest of town.

The colosseum later doubled as a last line of defense. The Berber princess Al Kahina was besieged here by Arab forces at the end of the 7th century. According to legend, the colosseum was linked by tunnel to the coastal town of Salakta, enabling Al Kahina to torment her besiegers by waving fresh fish from the top of the walls.

When you enter the colosseum for the first time, you’ll be struck by the indulgent grandeur of the Roman vision. The south side of the amphitheater is the most intact, allowing a sense of how the seats swept down from the upper tiers to the marble-walled arena, beneath which ran arched corridors. 

You can still climb to the upper seating levels and gaze down on the arena. It’s also possible to explore the two long underground passageways that were used to hold animals, gladiators and other unfortunates in their last moments before they were thrust into the arena to provide entertainment for the masses. It was here that many spent their final lonely minutes, listening to 35,000 people baying for their blood. - in: https://www.lonelyplanet.com

Sousse - Tunisia

Located 140 km south of the capital, Sousse is one of Tunisia's most popular holiday resorts, blending  resort comforts with historic and cultural sites. It is known as the "jewel of the coast" that overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and enjoys a charming nature.

Founded by the Phoenicians in the first millennium BC, it is considered a destination for tourists in Tunisia and the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, because of its charming beaches. And archaeological areas and places of entertainment, as well as a constellation of the most beautiful hotels and resorts.

I bought this card in Lisbon during the Expo 98 (in full, 1998 Lisbon World Exposition).

At the heart of the city lies its medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988. Well-preserved ramparts surround the medina. It houses iconic monuments such as the Ribat, the Great Mosque, and the Kasbah. These are all fine examples of early Islamic military architecture. - in: https://tunisia-travel-guide.com

The well-maintained ramparts measure nearly two and a half kilometres and enclose the historical centre.

Chenini - Tunisia

 Besides it's beautiful name, Chenini is also considered the most beautiful village in southern Tunisia. The village Like Matmata, Chenini is one of the elements included on the UNESCO tentative list, under the name Cave dwelling and the world of ksour in southern Tunisia.

 

18 km south-west of Tataouine, a crescent-shaped cliff carries an impossible village: houses half-dug into the rock, lined up in terraces along the ridge, a mosque, now painted white, in the middle and, right at the top, the ruins of a ksar founded in the 12th century. Chenini is the most photographed Berber village in Tunisia, and it has lost none of its soul: Amazigh is still spoken here, bread is still baked under the embers, and oil is still pressed in caves. - in: https://djerba.holiday

Matmata - Tunisia

 I've said before that getting cards from places on the UNESCO tentative list is almost as good as getting cards from classified sites. I already have cards from all the Tunisian sites and now I've cards from a few villages, on the tentative list due to their troglodyte houses. 

These are the underground houses of Matmata.

 

 Matmata sits in a hilly landscape of soft sandstone 40 km inland from Gabès, in southern Tunisia.

The Berbers built these over a thousand years ago as an ingenious response to an extreme environment. These underground homes offered protection from the intense summer heat, the cold winters, and even served as shelter in times of possible invasion.

 These houses were built by digging deep circular pits — typically 6–8 metres deep and 10 metres across — and then carving living rooms, kitchens and storerooms horizontally into the pit walls. The result is a cool, naturally air-conditioned dwelling invisible from the surface.

 

Several of these houses are still inhabited. A handful are open to visitors for a small fee, and three have been converted into basic hotels — the most famous being Hotel Sidi Driss, which George Lucas used as the Lars family homestead in the original Star Wars (1977) and revisited for Attack of the Clones (2002).

Sidi Bou Said - Tunisia

Last week I had the (un)fortunate idea of ​​looking for postcards on olx (an online marketplace). I found two lots of super cheap postcards and couldn't resist. One of the lots had dozens of postcards from Africa and the Middle East. Although it was clear that the postcards were a few years old, I thought it was worth buying them. And it was. There are too many postcards to show, but I'll show some in the next few days. 

 

Most of the postcards are from Tunisia, many of them from places listed as World Heritage Sites. I already had postcards from all of them, including Sidi Bou Said, which was added to the UNESCO list this year. Only the middle postcard was part of this lot; the others were sent by Déa and Maïte in 2007 and 2012.

Sidi Bou Said is a town located about twenty kilometers north-east of Tunis. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Picturesque white and blue village Sidi Bou Said enchants with the magic of its colors, its streets of bougainvillea and the beauty of its traditional architecture, jealously preserved.

 

 It developed around the tomb of a Sufi master and saint, known as Sidi Bou Saïd, who lived in the 12th-13th centuries. Through its architectural fabric and urban planning in symbiosis with the natural environment, its recognisable aesthetic created by emblematic colours, and a mystic aura associated with the Sufi spirituality that permeates the site, the property brings together geomorphology, architecture, and spirituality. - in: https://whc.unesco.org
 

If there is an attraction not to be missed in Sidi Bou Said is its cafe. They are meeting places for artists for over a century. The most famous are the Café des Nattes, a typical Arabic coffee shop, located in the square at the top of the main street. 

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - August '26

 Lets move on to August.  These cards are from India, Belarus, Finland and Italy.

 

Photo: Sreekanth Sekar

What a beautiful animal.

The Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), once widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, has in recent years come under threat. Due to a variety of factors such as habitat encroachment, rapid urbanization, and man-animal conflict, they are becoming increasingly rare outside the bounds of designated nature preserves and protected areas. - in: https://wildlifesos.org

In India, the leopard population is believed to be 12,000 to 14,000 individuals.  

I didn't need to look up information about these mills because Kate told me everything I needed to know about them.

The cards features de only operating windmill in Belarus. It was built in 1905 and it is located in a museum complex.

The watermill, in the village of Krasnikovo, Kursk Oblast, Russia, it is the only functioning watermill in Russia that has been preserved in its original form. Built in 1861, without a single nail, it operated continuously for agricultural purposes until 2006. Currently, it serves as an important historical monument and tourist site, holding regular demonstrations of traditional flour milling for visitors.

Photo: Esko Pärssinen

I visited Turku in 2019 and Leena lived there a few years ago when she was studying. 

Turku is the oldest town of Finland. The earliest records of the city date back to the 13th century.
Turku is unique for several reasons. The city is most famous for its old city charm and historical sites, such as Turku Castle. Turku also has a thriving urban scene with exquisite restaurants and cafés. The charming River Aura, that runs through the city centre, adds to the city's charm with riverboats moored along the riverbank. Turku is also famous for its old port, and the proximity to sea and the archipelago. - in: https://www.visitfinland.com

 

 

Foto: Luigino Visconti

 We don't know exactly where Christopher Columbus was born but it is known that he lived part of his life in Genova and this is his house. 

 This small house was identified in the nineteenth century as the home of the Colombo family in the period from 1455 and 1470, when Cristopher was growing up from the age of 4 till he was 9. It was certainly not a luxurious home: on the ground floor there are small spaces dedicated to a shop and kitchen, with a basin to collect water and a rudimentary latrine; upstairs, two small rooms, perhaps for eating and for the night.
The building was damaged during the bombing to which the “Sun King” subjected the city in 1684. It was the only one to be rebuilt, due to the importance of those who had lived there and subsequently surviving the widespread demolition that affected the area in the 1930s.
It is a small memorial to the great navigator, inside which displays and objects tell his story and, above all, recount his daily life. - in: https://www.museidigenova.it

The card was sent by Daniela.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * June '26

 I have to go back in time again because one of the postcards from June only arrived now this week.

 

Photo: Niclas Nordlund

On the island of Sälskär, stands the stately whitewashed Sälskär Lighthouse, built in 1868.
It is Åland's oldest sea lighthouse and has also been called the most beautiful lighthouse in the Baltic Sea. Until 1948 it was manned and in 1949 it was automated. Today it is powered by solar energy. The lighthouse is 39 metres high and there are 164 steps up to the lantern. In 2022, the lighthouse was completely renovated but has now reopened to visitors. A hiking trail with information boards runs across the island. - in: https://www.eckerolinjen.se

The card was sent by Flora and was also signed by a few other postcrossing during a Postcrossing meeting. 

Matthew is in the USA but this card is from the UK. 

Beachy Head is the great chalk headland, rising to 162 metres (531 feet) above the waves. It is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain.
From the clifftop the view runs west over the full rhythm of the Seven Sisters and east across Eastbourne to the pier. Far below, the red-and-white Beachy Head Lighthouse stands in the sea, while the older Belle Tout lighthouse sits back on the grass. It is one of the most recognisable coastal scenes in England. - in: https://sevensisters.co.uk

On the back of the card: The tallest volcano in the contiguous United State, Mt. Rainier is considered "episodically active" by geologists, meaning that it may erupt again in the future. Each year, approximately two million people visit the national park to hike, camp, sightsee and climb.

The card was sent by Rosanne.

www.papersisters.de

Grace noticed that this card was missing in my collection. 

2026 is the year of the Fire Horse. It is viewed as a year of optimism and opportunity, with strong public and investor confidence pointing towards economic growth, particularly driven by AI advancement.
In Chinese culture, the Horse is known for its energetic and dynamic nature. It symbolizes vitality, speed, and perseverance. People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to possess similar traits, such as being hardworking, warm-hearted, and independent.
The Horse is also associated with success and good fortune. There is a phrase "马到成功" in Chinese. It represents achieving success swiftly and smoothly, just like when a victorious horse arrives at the battlefield. It implies that success can be achieved rapidly and effortlessly. Some people may wear clothing or accessories depicting horses or incorporate horse imagery in their homes for positive energy and fortune. - in: https://www.chinahighlights.com